Obituary: DAR!

A couple of weeks ago, artist Erika Moen announced that she would be ending her comic, DAR! A Super Girly Top Secret Comic Diary, on the 29th of this month. The strip launched in 2003, with Moen still in college, discovering her sexual identity and struggling with depression and relationship issues. Over the six years the strip ran, we watch as Moen develop as a woman, and as an artist.

Erika Moen discusses identity in DAR!

Through her diary comic, Moen has shared some of the most intimate details of her life and given her readers a little window into her world. At it’s completion DAR! proves to be a beautiful story about a confused college kid that grows into a full fledged woman, married and happily supporting herself as an artist in Portland. As a young artist myself, I find the story Moen has told over the past six years in DAR! to be incredibly inspirational. Her achievements and journey to becoming an artist make me feel hopeful about finding the path to my own career. It’s sort of a triumphant story. The first few years of the comic left me sympathizing with a young girl having relationships troubles. I felt like I wanted to hold her hand, but I also felt oddly comforted – like I wasn’t alone in the scary world of relationships and identity issues. The last couple years of DAR! have shown us a very different Moen, more lively, financially stable and doing what she loves, with a man she loves.

While I’m sure her life will take her on more twists and turns, this particular moment I feel was a perfect end-note to DAR!. Now working as a full time artist out of Periscope Studio, the conclusion to DAR! will give Moen extra time to work on new projects. I’m excited for her to be taking this next step in her life, and super excited to see what this talented artist puts out next. Now, I’m not gonna lie, I teared up a little bit when I read that last strip today. The absence of DAR! is going to leave a huge hole in my Google Reader feed. I think Gary Tyrell put it best saying, “I’m going to miss that feeling I get where it’s like the two of us are hanging out and we’re probably a little drunk as she’s telling me about her day and then the tender moment ends with farts.”

Despite how much DAR! will be missed, I’m very much looking forward to her next project, whatever that may be. Moen has several mincomics and prints up in her store, as well as the first collection of DAR!. Expect to see to see volume two up early this year. If you want to know more about Erika Moen, follow her Livejournal or check out her impressive portfolio. Keep your eyes peeled for new stuff from her, because I have a feeling that it’s going to be great.