Kyla Smith

There are two things Julie and her dad don't talk about. The first is swimming. The second comes to light after an ordinary outing gives way to something more. A story about what happens when long-buried secrets rise to the surface. Made for the Utot Komiks Challenge: School Edition, a comic sprint that encourages its participants to just make comics! This digital edition is free, and any money made through the pay what you want option will go toward funding the debut print run for TCAF 2024.

This is a 20-page comic collecting my hourlies from February 2022 (note: I was not awake for 20 hours). Some of these were originally posted on Twitter in this thread. Some of these are exclusive to this zine (surprise!).

With its iconic purple hue and smooth taste, ube has found its way into the hearts—and bellies—of people across the Islands. Turning food purple is just one thing ube does. This starchy root vegetable, also known as purple yam, has seen a rise in popularity over the past few years. A common ingredient in many Asian and African cuisines, ube is extremely versatile in both sweet and savory dishes.