Are art and past friendship enough to overcome the painful void left behind by both time and grief? 
Disconnect from Magnus Merklin and Black Panel Press opens with three young musicians recording themselves making music in the bright, youthful hope that the footage will be featured in the eventual documentary about their rise to stardom. Fast forward, and those dreams are cut short by the death of one of the trio. Adrift and grieving, the remaining two go their separate ways for a time as they process the hole left in both of their lives.
A year later, the two friends reunite at the summer home where they used to play music together. The house is full of old instruments and a host of memories. Life hasn’t turned out as expected for either of them. Adrift, nearly giving up on old dreams, the pair struggle to reconnect with the weight of so much pain still hanging over them. That’s when they discover an unfinished song left behind on a laptop, perhaps the creative inspiration they both need to pick up their instruments again and find their way back into the music. However, still drowning in grief, carrying fears and hurts they aren’t sure how to express, finishing the song will require them both to face themselves and each other if they hope to find something fresh on the other side of their pain.
With the comic’s title serving as both the name of the characters’ band and one of the core themes of the story, Merklin focuses his attention closely on the emotional journey of his two characters. Isolated at the summer home, the emphasis remains solidly on the two friends and their memories. The plot is a mix between present-day conversations, efforts to finish the song, and flashbacks to the happier times they shared before everything came crashing down. In many ways, this focus serves the story well; Merklin has ample time to explore his characters as they slowly allow themselves to be vulnerable about how much they have lost. At the same time, there is little else to fill out the story beyond this reunion—the rekindled friendship and flares of conflict that make up the healing journey. The shifts and passage of time are occasionally abrupt, but overall, the story is a striking and deeply personal look at what it means to create and to live when someone who was once a significant piece of that creativity is simply no longer there.
As both writer and artist, Merklin brings a striking visual style to the book. Anthropomorphizing stylized animals as the characters, the book unfolds in black and white with heavy line work except for the sequences where music comes into play. The more connected the characters are to the music—whether it be their own or the constant soundtrack of their favorite songs—the more color grows across the page in geometric designs. It’s an excellent creative decision the elevates the reading experience while also helping chart the experiences of the characters. From isolating sorrow to tender moments to youthful joy—the art has a bold, sometimes punk aesthetic that suits the characters and adds a fresh layer atop the more somber subject matter.
Black Panel doesn’t attach an age rating, but due to the overall themes, scattered sexual references, and some strong language, the book is best suited to adults—particular those in their 20s and 30s who may find themselves facing similar questions and challenges to these characters. That being said, there’s also plenty here that older teens may also appreciate, especially those who connect with any part of the subject matter. Overall, the book is more of a grounded emotional journey, but it moves with a quick enough pace that it’ll appeal to more readers than only those inclined toward more literary comics. For any reader trying to create art in the midst of pain, for musicians, and for anyone who wants to settle into a deeply vulnerable story told through distinct and striking visuals—Disconnect should be worth the read. Despite having areas where it could perhaps have gone deeper, it’s a book willing to take a hard journey that I expect will resonate with many who open up these pages.
Disconnect
By Magnus Merklin
Black Panel Press, 2025
ISBN: 9781990521379
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
Creator Representation:Â Danish,
