LGBTQ+ stories have been given far more space in the 2020s to breathe. From slice-of-life narratives like Hecate's Will to magical adventures like the upcoming Nimona movie and The Owl House, queer characters are finally able to lead narratives without those narratives being inherently about them being LGBTQ+. The depth of character within these, from slice-of-life to completely different narratives, is far greater than in previous one-note stories.
Among the newer varieties of narratives are simple webcomic memoirs, especially one by Nimona writer and artist ND Stevenson. Much like Gender Queer, another queer autobiographical narrative, Stevenson's substack webcomic, I'm Fine I'm Fine Just Understand, deals with the difficulties the people who are in the LGBTQ+ experience. However, because of its extended format and Stevenson's self-effacing humor, it also brings to bear a unique sense of millennial dread that makes the comic. I'm Fine I'm Fine Just Understand has a unique voice and structure that makes it an unparalleled voice in the library of great queer narratives.
I'm Fine I'm Fine Just Understand Portrays Real World Issues
I'm Fine I'm Fine Just Understand is a graphic diary, a comic strip wherein Stevenson puts his thoughts week-by-week down for readers. "Romance" for example, walks through ND and their partner's experience at a couples' spa after ND's surgery, and how the experience was different from when they were masculine-presenting. Much like Gender Queer, Stevenson's narrative goes in depth on the writer's perceptions of the world around them and how his experiences are different after transitioning. He jokingly wonders whether being able to spend time with his partner during a romantic getaway was "gay privilege." In the October 6, 2022 comic, "Victoria's Secret," Stevenson deals with the difficult concept of gender binaries and the desire to be a manly man and "a fairy princess" at the same time.
This is all handled with humor and fun on par with Stevenson's other well-known comics. However, plenty are far less about jocular approaches to gender. The September 14, 2022 webcomic, "Mad Genius," outlined Stevenson's difficulties with navigating the perilous work/life balance of being a showrunner and a comic writer while navigating the fallout of the pandemic. His August 11, 2022 webcomic, "Happiness," deals with feeling dissociated with their own body when smiling for photos. The webcomic takes these moments that many feel and delves into how Stevenson processes them.
ND Stevenson's Webcomic Weaves in a Daily Life Narrative
All the comics from I'm Fine I'm Fine Just Understand have different agendas. Some intend to inform others about the queer experience. Others deal with the pain of being an empathetic person with various human failures. Some are less grandiose in their agendas. August 4, 2022's comic, "Layover," for example, is just a recollection of Stevenson's attempts to open a late-night bottle of wine.
Stevenson's autobiographical comic strips feel very much like a blend of his personal diary and Gender Queer's pointed lessons, with even the less-pointed strips having information about gender and how these thoughts and difficulties are present in Stevenson's everyday life. By blending together the many facets of their life, ND Stevenson's I'm Fine I'm Fine Just Understand managed to be a long-form Gender Queer with a unique voice that is warm and heartfelt.