Part11

My backstory

Artwork by Mads Horwath 27 September 2024

Comic
Serial

Panel 1 of a 10 panel comic. A solitary figure wearing headphones walks along a footpath in the countryside, hands in their pockets. As they walk along they say "I can't control how people think of me."

In panel 2 the figure carries on walking down the path, but looking down at the litter of plastic bottles and cans says "Just as much as I can't control the state of the world."

In panel 3 they raise a finger to their chin and say, "But what I can do is pick at my skin."

In panel 4 they continue to pick at their arm such that large chunks start to fall away. "It's a condition called Dermatillomania or, compulsive skin picking" they continue.

In panel 5 as they continue to pick at their arm which no has no hand, they say "And I don't want to get rid of it for hopes of one day..."

In panel 6 they are now sitting on a park bench as a dog walker passes bay, continuing to pick they at their arm which is almost missing from the shoulder. They continue "... I pick off the parts of myself I do not like"

In panel 7 we see just a pile of dust and bits of skin, with the headphone resting next to them. A narrative text box continues "Until I fully disintegrate."

In panel 8 the pile of dust starts to blow away and the narration reads "And the wind carries me away".

In panel 9 we see the cloud of dust drifting over trees, mountains and hills. With the words "to be part of the mountains and the trees"

In panel 10 we see a peaceful rocky landscape with the final words "So I can finally be something beautiful"

My backstory. © Mads Horwath for Wellcome Collection.

About the artist

Mads Horwath

Mads on Instagram

Mads Horwath is an American cartoonist living in London. You can find their work in The New Yorker and Financial Times. Mads has lived with dermatillomania since they were a kid and got scars from a poison-ivy rash.