Flop Sweat NUMBER 5 by Lance Ward

"Flop Sweat #5" by Lance Ward

Flop Sweat is an ongoing serialization of Lance Ward’s autobiographical comics arranged chronologically. Previous self-published collections of these comics were featured in The Best American Comics. Ward’s life has been rife with pitfalls: abandonment, addiction, mental illness, sexual assault, arrest, attempted suicide, and even a death experience (not “near-death”, he was clinically deceased!). Yet, through it all he has somehow maintained a positivity about and loyalty to his art, even after crushing his drawing hand!

This fifth issue finds Lance moving in with two near strangers and suffering dire consequences. As a result, he ends up back in a psyche ward and eventually in a group home. Life improves when Lance is assigned a therapist and a roommate who quickly becomes a friend. During therapy, he grapples with his sexuality and reminisces about a past relationship and a job at a sex shop.