“Flop Sweat #6” by Lance Ward

Flop Sweat is an ongoing serialization of Lance Wards autobiographical comics arranged chronologically. Previous self-published collections of these comics were featured in The Best American Comics. Wards life has been rife with pitfalls: abandonment, addiction, mental illness, sexual assault, arrest, attempted suicide, and even a death experience (not near-death, he was clinically deceased!). Yet, through it all he has somehow maintained a positivity about and loyalty to his art, even after crushing his drawing hand!

In issue six, Lance does a deep dive into the inner workings of the sex shop that employed him: gay cruising, peep-show booths, police raids, poppers, etc. More questioning of his sexuality after (and during) an experience with a male co-worker is followed by a grave mistake at his group home. After an eviction, Lance must make a potentially life-altering decision.

• Featured in Ryan Carey’s “Top Ten Comics Series of 2021” in Four Color Apocalypsehere!

Published by Birdcage Bottom Books

5.5 x 8.5, 32 pages. $6
Full-color covers and interior. Saddle-stitched