Outbreak Diaries: March 2020 to September 2021

Outbreak Diaries: March 2020 to September 2021 is an autobiographical comic series penned by Vancouver-based author Jason Turner. Presented in intimate diary format, the series chronicles the experiences of Jason and his partner as essential workers throughout the pandemic. Amid their roles at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), Turner navigates the complexities of resentment and the challenges posed by public interactions, which paradoxically impede their engagement in the solidarity necessitated by the crisis. Confronting the realities of panic-induced stockpiling during the confusion of the initial wave, Turner’s narrative exposes the fragility of human altruism. Amid the chaos, glimmers of hope arise through virtual connections that provide solace beyond physical boundaries. Turner further delves into the corrosive impact of unending exposure to media reports of death tolls and dire economic predictions. Within the fabric of daily journal entries translated into comics, his work becomes a mirror reflecting the ever-shifting dimensions of the COVID-19 narrative and the nuanced ambivalence experienced by these essential yet often overlooked workers.