Alcohol

A homeless couple spends their drunken days on the streets of a port city when an act of violence plunges them even deeper into the whirlpool of fate.

Alcohol is a melancholic tale of addiction and a struggle that vaguely resembles life on some foggy backstreets. It is a subtle tragedy that neither points fingers nor absolves the main characters of their responsibility.

Publishing information

Year of publication

2023

Page count

Original title

Alkoholi

Original language

Finnish

Original publisher

Asema kustannus

About the author

Mika Lietzen (b. 1974) is a comics artist and illustrator from Turku, Finland. Lietzen uses simple linework to tell humane stories. One common theme that recurs in his stories is that they are set in Turku or Southwest Finland, places that he is personally familiar with.Lietzen is a celebrated creator who has been nominated for Finland’s most appreciated comic art prize Comics Finlandia (Sarjakuva-Finlandia) three times.

Author page

Reviews

"Lietzen skilfully conveys the story with few words, and with images of serene beauty that serve as a strikingly effective contrast to the story."

Saku Schildt, Soundi Magazine

"Mika Lietzen examines the everyday life of an alcoholic couple in Turku in a graphic novel with a poignantly documentary style."

Matti Komulainen, Turun Sanomat

"Lietzen's discreet and calm illustration style and pale colours balance out the darker tones of the story(...)Alcohol might not be an upbeat story, but it has something to say."

Titta Lindström, Kirjavinki.fi