After the flare

A comic about relapse and recovery

Jul 15, 2026

Alt-text is available for each individual panel if you scroll further down this page. — *After the Flare*, a comic by Celestine Fraser, 2026.

Dear every body,

How are you?

Hello from London, where we’re in the middle of our third heatwave this year. We’re all hot, sweaty and operating well below our baselines (which in disability-speak, we call flaring). In light of this, I’m sharing something a bit different with you today… Not an essay but rather, my first comic! It’s called After The Flare.

You can read it above, on one page, or below, a panel at a time. Each panel has its own alt-text, so if you’re using a screen-reader, that’s probably the best way to read it.

Panel 1: In a text box at the top of the image, cursive black handwriting reads “When I finally return to life, after weeks in bed…”. Below it, there is a simple black-and-white illustration of a young woman in the shower, seen from behind. She has short hair worn in a bob, and has one hand raised above her head, holding a sponge. Soap suds fall from the sponge, and a sheet of water comes out of the shower head.

Panel 2: In a text box at the top of the image, cursive black handwriting reads “The FRUIT tastes SWEETER.” Below it, there is a simple black-and-white illustration of a young woman with dark hair in a bob eating a slice of watermelon, which she holds in her hands. Her mouth is wide open, and her eyes are closed in concentration. Her cheeks are flushed with pleasure, and big drops of watermelon juice fall as she eats. Her dark t-shirt is stained with watermelon.

Panel 3: In a text box at the top of the image, cursive black handwriting reads “The BIRDS sing LOUDER”. Below it, there is a simple black-and-white illustration of a young woman with dark hair in a bob sitting in the open window of a tall brick building. Her mouth is open with excitement, and she is looking at the birds, most of which are in flight but one of which is on the ground. Musical notes indicate that the birds are singing.

Panel 4: In a text box at the top of the image, cursive black handwriting reads “And EVERYONE looks extremely ATTRACTIVE.” Below it, there is a simple black-and-white illustration of a young woman with dark hair in a bob looking with desire at a group of four indistinct men and women. Above her, a thought bubble says “Kiss?”. The indistinct people are merely grey outlines (their faces are not visible), and above their heads are four small black hearts.

Panel 5: In a text box at the top of the image, cursive black handwriting reads “There is a lot to catch up on, now I am ALIVE again!” Below it, there is a simple black-and-white illustration of a hand holding a pen, writing a TO-DO LIST. The to-do list shows three tasks: ‘Reply emails’, ‘Book skydive’, ‘Find a wife’. There is a small tick-box beside each task, and ‘Reply emails’ and ‘Book a skydive’ have been ticked already. Clearly, ‘Find a wife’ remains a work-in-progress.

Panel 6: In a text box at the top of the image, cursive black handwriting reads “I’m so happy to be CURED!!!!!!” Below it, a black-and white illustration of the silhouette, from behind, of a woman with a bob standing naked on top of a cliff, her arms outstretched and her hands open. In speech bubbles, she is saying “Disabled?!” and “I am GOD!” Beside her, a manual wheelchair has been seemingly abandoned. She is above the clouds, and there are mountains in the distance, and a large sun.

Panel 7: In a text box at the top of the image, cursive black handwriting reads “The problem is… I’m too EXCITED to SLEEP.” Below it, a black-and white illustration shows a young woman with dark hair in a bob jumping on a bed, with a look of joy on her face and her arms and legs folded in motion. Beside her, text reads “boing boing.”

Panel 8: In a text box at the top of the image, cursive black handwriting reads “And after a week of this, I get a BAD FEELING in my body.” Below it, a black-and white illustration shows a young woman with dark hair in a bob curled up in a foetal position, her hand holding her chin and a look of pain or concern on her face.

Panel 9: In a text box at the top of the image, cursive black handwriting reads “Oh FUCK.” Below it, there is a simple black-and-white illustration of a young woman with dark hair in a bob tucked up in bed, with a look of devastation on her face, and tears falling down her cheeks. A signature in the bottom right says Celestine Fraser.

If you’d like to see more comics on Body Babble, let me know! I’m new to making them so would love to know what you think. And please do share this with anyone you think might relate or enjoy it.

I’ll be back soon with some more prose.

Keep cool!

Celestine x

Thank you…

Thanks to Naomi Chapman for review of my early sketches, and Sonaksha for advice on sharing my comic online.

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