Tapas Tuesday: “Rescue Me”

Rescue Me by Sharean Morishita is a hard read for the right reasons. It approaches issues of domestic violence and interpersonal relationships head on and with nuance.

Reader Warning: This review for Rescue Me contains mentions of domestic violence and abuse as depicted in this webcomic. If you’re currently in a toxic and abusive relationship, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Iceberg. That’s what Sandra’s co-workers call her. Her appearance gives the impression of someone unapproachable. She doesn’t smile or make direct eye contact. At home, however, she takes care of her alcoholic grandfather. He’s abusive, and his friends take advantage of Sandra’s money.

But she believes that she can save him. She wants to help him unlearn his toxic behavior and quit drinking. Her grandfather’s abuse worsens after she befriends a co-worker, his father, and their dog. She wants to rescue her grandfather, but it’ll be at the cost of her health and independence.

After reading and reviewing Sharean’s other work, I decided to check out Rescue Me. Overall, her storytelling never ceases to amaze me. This story, unflinching and honest, shows the importance of self-care and realizing when someone refuses to change.

Sandra’s narrative arc personally resonates with me. She’s a complex character going through a challenging time. While it’s understandable that Sandra’s the only family her grandfather has, the story clearly demonstrates how persisting in that mentality can destroy her well being and mental health. She needs to put herself first. However, she thinks that she can’t rescue herself if she can’t save her grandfather from his destructive behavior.

A difficult but realistic depiction of toxic relationships and abuse, Rescue Me also shines with its message of hope.

Rescue Me is completed and available to read on Tapas and on the creator’s website.

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Sharean’s short comic, School Memories, is available now on Kindle!

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Learn more about Sharean and check out her webtoon resources here.

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Check out more webcomics by Black creators here.

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For more great webcomic recommendations, check out our Wednesday Webcomics archives! You can also find more about Black creators and their works on The Geekiary here.

Author: Bradda M.

Bradda M. currently lives in Virginia. He teaches ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) at a public school and spends his free time reading and watching movies each night with his partner. For The Geekiary, he writes about webcomics and SFF media.

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