A Real Celebrity
This comic is about what happens when you survive a difficult situation, return to the life you had before, and realize you’re no longer the person who left it. Kitty comes home a war hero, but struggles to adjust to civilian life and reconnect with the home he left behind. He’s treated like a celebrity, but Kitty just feels like someone who no longer belongs.
More broadly, it explores what happens to your identity when you spend a long time adapting to an unfamiliar environment. You learn how to survive there. You change yourself to fit what the environment demands of you. And sometimes, when it’s finally over, you discover that the person you became to get through it doesn’t quite fit into your old life anymore.
At home, Kitty feels like a stranger. At war, he knew exactly who he was.
This is an excerpt from the prequel I’m working on for my graphic novel We Come Here to Starve. Link in bio to read 🤍
Returning to civilian life after serving in war can be a profound and disorienting experience, as vividly depicted in the story of Kitty. Many veterans face a similar challenge of reconciling the person they became during deployment with the life they once had at home. When immersed in an environment of conflict, survival requires adopting new behaviors, mindsets, and roles that may feel alien once the danger has passed. This transformation can leave returning individuals feeling like strangers in their own homes, disconnected from family, friends, and community. One of the hardest aspects is the contrast between being a celebrated hero and feeling internally lost or changed. Kitty’s story reveals this tension well: while others see him as a celebrity for surviving the war, he struggles with loneliness and a sense of not belonging. This resonates with many veterans who report feeling misunderstood or isolated despite acknowledgment of their service. The comic also touches on the complex dynamics in personal relationships after deployment. Loved ones may long to reconnect with the person they knew before the war, but veterans often return fundamentally altered. This can cause strain and emotional distance that may only heal with time, patience, and empathy from both sides. From personal experience and stories shared widely among military communities, healing and reintegration are ongoing processes. Finding new purpose and identity beyond the soldier role is essential. For some, this means getting involved in veteran support groups, therapy, creative outlets, or new career paths, which help bridge the gap between past experiences and future possibilities. Kitty’s decision to reenlist highlights another reality: some veterans feel a stronger sense of belonging and importance in the military environment than in civilian life. The intense camaraderie, clear mission, and necessity of their role provide meaning that may seem missing upon return. Recognizing this can help caregivers and communities better support veterans by acknowledging their unique perspectives and challenges. In summary, the story of Kitty shares a powerful message about identity, change, and the courage required not only in war but also in healing and finding one’s place again after surviving profound trials. It sheds light on a universal human experience of evolving through hardship and seeking acceptance in a world that moves on without you.