Overcoming Self Doubt: Reviewing ‘The Last Gay Man On Earth’
by Jude Locke
Summary
While The Last Gay Man on Earth certainly speaks strongly to the queer community, I feel it is a passionate piece that can readily resonate with anyone who has ever felt othered or worried that they’re not enough or can’t do enough. It acts as a reminder that while new experiences and putting ourselves out there can be absolutely horrifying, they might also be worth it. Even if the chance you take ends the exact way you worried it would, often you are better for making the effort in the first place.
Overall
8.5/10The Last Gay Man on Earth is a photo comic by Ype Driessen that is being published by Street Noise Books and is currently available for Pre-Order with a 6/5/23 release date.
In this publication, we follow Ype as he struggles with internalized homophobia, self doubt, and journey to self actualization.
Ype cites that he’s written comics since childhood, and in college switched over to photography as the primary visual format to tell these stories. While he’s not entirely confident in his photography, he primarily writes from his own life and the style both lends itself to his unique voice and story, as well as reviving a previously antiquated art form.
Approaching middle age, and faced with the decision of a potential vacation with his longtime partner, Ype is forced to confront his long term fears of seemingly everything holding him back. Working from home creating his comics, he is afraid of driving, biking, flying, along with being perceived in certain ways. At one point we see him nervously zip up his hoodie when a repairman comes by as he’s determined at the last minute his shirt is ‘too gay’.
Without giving too much away of the climax , I quite enjoy the sentient roomba companion helping talk some sense into our protagonist.
The more time we spend wondering ‘what if’, the less time we spend experiencing.
The Last Gay Man on Earth is available for pre-order at Street Noise Books.
