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Weird to Exist: Simple Comics About Complex Emotions
A vibrantly coloured yet darkly humorous comic collection about the absurdity and beauty of being alive.
We've all felt the pain that comes from realising a beautiful moment will soon become a distant memory. We're all guilty of avoiding deadlines by researching obscure facts about dirt or bingeing scary conspiracy videos. Inspired by these universal experiences and existential musings, Alison Zai walks the line between laughing so hard that you burst into tears and crying so hard that you break into laughter.
Weird Exist is divided into three intrinsic human acts - to exist, to love, to create - and ultimately touches on how weird it is to do all of that. Also included is Zai's popular long-form comic, Bee Real, which follows one little irritable bee's enlightening mission to extinguish the sun. With sharp levity and emotional complexity, this colourful collection finds the fun in life's hard truths.
We've all felt the pain that comes from realising a beautiful moment will soon become a distant memory. We're all guilty of avoiding deadlines by researching obscure facts about dirt or bingeing scary conspiracy videos. Inspired by these universal experiences and existential musings, Alison Zai walks the line between laughing so hard that you burst into tears and crying so hard that you break into laughter.
Weird Exist is divided into three intrinsic human acts - to exist, to love, to create - and ultimately touches on how weird it is to do all of that. Also included is Zai's popular long-form comic, Bee Real, which follows one little irritable bee's enlightening mission to extinguish the sun. With sharp levity and emotional complexity, this colourful collection finds the fun in life's hard truths.
144 pages, Hardcover
Published May 31, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
March 22, 2022
Bizarre, sad, darkly funny and full of emotion.
October 3, 2024
A collection of Instagram cartoons that didn't really do much for me. The cartoons about love and existence are just flat or obvious or not particularly funny. The gags about creativity were a little better, and I almost liked the longer story about a bee confronting the sun for making it sweat, but dropping a very bad pun in for the last line ripped my growing goodwill away.
FOR REFERENCE
Contents: Intro -- To Exist -- To Love -- To Create -- Bee Real -- Thanks -- About Me
FOR REFERENCE
Contents: Intro -- To Exist -- To Love -- To Create -- Bee Real -- Thanks -- About Me
June 12, 2022
”Isn’t it profound, how such a brief experience can be so special?”
This is such a lovely little book with brightly colored illustrations ranging from simple humorous bits to striking commentary on the absurdity of life. I definitely enjoyed these comics.
And “Bee Real” was so lovely!! oh the unexpected places in which we may find love…
This is such a lovely little book with brightly colored illustrations ranging from simple humorous bits to striking commentary on the absurdity of life. I definitely enjoyed these comics.
And “Bee Real” was so lovely!! oh the unexpected places in which we may find love…
May 4, 2023
we may never see each other again, isn’t that sad?
even if that was true, isn’t it profound, how such a brief experience can be so special?
wow. wowowowowowow. i’ve been following alison zai for a hot minute on instagram, but when i found out she had published a physical bound copy of her work, Weird to Exist: Simple Comics About Complex Emotions, i knew i had to snatch a copy up and i am so happy i did. this book and the comics within is are so deeply relatable to me, spanning the three intrinsic human acts of existing, loving, creating, and how weird it is to do all of that; and a longer form mini comic titled “bee real,” which is an amalgamation of the previous topics. the art is so colorful and bright, a perfect partnership with the comics a little dark but deeply honest and real. i was giggling throughout the whole book and moved multiple times.
the physical copy is so stunning and of great quality—highly recommend for anyone who loves to ponder about existential musings and life’s complexities with dark humor, bright colors, and a playful spirit. 🐰
even if that was true, isn’t it profound, how such a brief experience can be so special?
wow. wowowowowowow. i’ve been following alison zai for a hot minute on instagram, but when i found out she had published a physical bound copy of her work, Weird to Exist: Simple Comics About Complex Emotions, i knew i had to snatch a copy up and i am so happy i did. this book and the comics within is are so deeply relatable to me, spanning the three intrinsic human acts of existing, loving, creating, and how weird it is to do all of that; and a longer form mini comic titled “bee real,” which is an amalgamation of the previous topics. the art is so colorful and bright, a perfect partnership with the comics a little dark but deeply honest and real. i was giggling throughout the whole book and moved multiple times.
the physical copy is so stunning and of great quality—highly recommend for anyone who loves to ponder about existential musings and life’s complexities with dark humor, bright colors, and a playful spirit. 🐰
September 19, 2022
I follow Zai on tumblr and have always been a fan of her comics.
This was a really nice collection, a bit overwhelmingly sad when consumed all at once, because it deals with depression a lot, but very good.
As to the book as an object it's really cute and I know this is a weird thing to say but it smells so nice lol.
This was a really nice collection, a bit overwhelmingly sad when consumed all at once, because it deals with depression a lot, but very good.
As to the book as an object it's really cute and I know this is a weird thing to say but it smells so nice lol.
December 25, 2022
i just love alison zai! the bee piece has stuck with me since middle school and now i have it forever in this book
October 5, 2024
I’ve seen some of these comics online, and while I loved them then, having them in a physical format let the comics resonate further within me. I love this collection and plan on shoving it into the faces of everyone I know.
June 9, 2022
Superb, a lesson in primary colours, brevity of wit and a literal embodiment of the 🥲 emoji.
December 30, 2025
Delightful in many ways.
October 9, 2022
Simple and accessible, these comics will stick with you.
December 23, 2025
BEE REAL changed the course of my life three years ago
July 19, 2023
O livro mais precioso que existe. Lindo
May 6, 2025
Perfect read for the first day of my period
November 24, 2025
ISN’T IT PROFOUND HOW SUCH A BRIEF MOMENT CAN BE SO SPECIAL??
yeah it is
V silly n cute i love.
yeah it is
V silly n cute i love.
December 6, 2025
Librarian rec!
January 6, 2023
Big concepts covered by simple drawings. Brilliant, moving, and engaging. A quick read but one I often come back to.
August 13, 2022
“Weird” is right but the author portrays complicated emotions in an interesting fashion.
December 31, 2022
If you’re depressed, read this book. It’s the best. The humor is fricken amazing. And so are all the creatures.
July 26, 2022
There are tons of web comics out there. Oodles and oodles of them. My fiancé loves them and tends to send me a ‘Best Of’ sort of email digests, so I suppose I’m used to seeing the best of them, though I’ve seen a fair variety. This one is more along the lines of thoroughly average.
I’ve no idea how the publishing business selects which ones to make into a book. From what I’ve read the standard seems to be cutesy, quirky but not over the top, not too clever, funny but not too funny. Something that resonates with an average millennial, who likes political correctness, their precious Mr. Rodgers-approval-stamped individuality, emotions…and more emotions. Oh, and talking about those emotions.
Is it weird to exist? F yeah. Does there need to exist a book of cartoons about it? Well, presumably so, so that others can relate to the weirdness of existence.
I mean, sure, whatever, it’s cute, brightly colored, goes by very quickly, you might get a laugh or two out of it. re there tons of stronger, smarter comic out there on the web no one’s done into a book yet? You bet. See if you can find them.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
I’ve no idea how the publishing business selects which ones to make into a book. From what I’ve read the standard seems to be cutesy, quirky but not over the top, not too clever, funny but not too funny. Something that resonates with an average millennial, who likes political correctness, their precious Mr. Rodgers-approval-stamped individuality, emotions…and more emotions. Oh, and talking about those emotions.
Is it weird to exist? F yeah. Does there need to exist a book of cartoons about it? Well, presumably so, so that others can relate to the weirdness of existence.
I mean, sure, whatever, it’s cute, brightly colored, goes by very quickly, you might get a laugh or two out of it. re there tons of stronger, smarter comic out there on the web no one’s done into a book yet? You bet. See if you can find them.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
June 4, 2022
I’m a long time fan of Zai’s comics and have been awaiting the arrival of my preorder for quite some time. This collection of comics is well worth the wait. These absurd comics capture the essence of hard to nail down feelings. They are so simple but poignant and make you realize how universal these mixed emotions are. I hadn’t read the long series “Bee Real” before and thoroughly enjoyed it. I would’ve purchased the book just for that alone.
Thank you, Alison Zai, for creating these comics that help me feel less alone.
Thank you, Alison Zai, for creating these comics that help me feel less alone.
September 8, 2022
brb dissociating
June 1, 2022
delightful and also 2 real
July 12, 2022
Such beautifully hilarious portrayals of human emotions. So relatable to the point of poignancy but also equally humorous. Uniquely endearing drawings made me smile throughout the reading experience.
August 1, 2024
An endearing collection of comics that will hopefully make you feel understood. It feels like a warm hug when you need it most - a new all-time favorite.
November 20, 2022
I know this is a graphic novel/web comic, so I approached it in a vastly different way than I would a regular, text-based book, and adjusted my expectations accordingly.
That said, even as a web comic, this book just falls quite short for me. I had no prior knowledge of this book or its author, but was intrigued by the title and hopeful about the prospect of simple comics dealing with complex emotions. Unfortunately, though...this book just doesn't land for me. In my opinion, the tone and language just don't work, and relied too-heavily on this trying-too-hard internet-speak, where characters say things like "B/C" and "LOL." (I do think there's a way to do internet-speak in a pleasing and more fluid manner, but I have rarely seen it done well in actual dialogue and this book was no different in that regard.
This is a super quick and easy read, but not one I'd recommend.
That said, even as a web comic, this book just falls quite short for me. I had no prior knowledge of this book or its author, but was intrigued by the title and hopeful about the prospect of simple comics dealing with complex emotions. Unfortunately, though...this book just doesn't land for me. In my opinion, the tone and language just don't work, and relied too-heavily on this trying-too-hard internet-speak, where characters say things like "B/C" and "LOL." (I do think there's a way to do internet-speak in a pleasing and more fluid manner, but I have rarely seen it done well in actual dialogue and this book was no different in that regard.
This is a super quick and easy read, but not one I'd recommend.
March 10, 2024
This book was funny (look at some of the details in the drawings, you will crack up) and truly captured the "2 am on a weeknight" brain vibes. IYKYK. You ever have conversations with your friends about how it's weird to exist, how you shouldn't have spent the day in bed, etc.? Ya been to therapy? This book will get you.
The final section, To Create, was my favorite. Almost all of these panels delighted me, because I could relate to them as an artist. The excitement! The dread! The self-worth through productivity! That is not something I have seen illustrated often, so that was a bonus.
The final section, To Create, was my favorite. Almost all of these panels delighted me, because I could relate to them as an artist. The excitement! The dread! The self-worth through productivity! That is not something I have seen illustrated often, so that was a bonus.
November 2, 2023
This must be what it felt like to read Matt Groening in the 80's. Or Jack Kerouac and the Beats in the 50's. (Gonna admit I'm just on the edge of being too old to "get it", so I say well done, young people.)
Alison Zai has invented a new way to make cartoons: inventive in narrative arc of the panels/punchline, inventive in cartooning style. Laugh-out-loud velocity for me was once every eight pages.
Alison Zai has invented a new way to make cartoons: inventive in narrative arc of the panels/punchline, inventive in cartooning style. Laugh-out-loud velocity for me was once every eight pages.
August 20, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this title through a Goodreads giveaway
Mostly unrelated comics (i.e., not a story comic) that touch on mental health, relationships, and bees. I enjoyed reading this collection and even shared a few with friends! I look forward to more of this artist's work.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this title through a Goodreads giveaway
Mostly unrelated comics (i.e., not a story comic) that touch on mental health, relationships, and bees. I enjoyed reading this collection and even shared a few with friends! I look forward to more of this artist's work.
October 19, 2022
A collection of short, mostly one page, comics about depression, anxiety, creativity and many other "complex emotions". I enjoyed Alison Zai's illustrations, which are simple, fun and creative. Overall, the messages were all pretty depressing but there were definitely a bunch of times where I truly related. Definitely a fun gift for your anxious friend's coffee table.
January 9, 2023
Came across this comic strip on a ‘not feeling very inspired’ kind of day. I read it twice in an hour. First time, I laughed at the dark humor Alison Zai intelligently hid inside these characters. The second time was a serious read. I was very impressed by Alison’s honesty & brevity. I am sure, Illustration of her most vulnerable moments of life wasn’t easy. Kudos!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews