The representations of different side effects of Hannah’s powers are also accurate, showing how they’re a detriment but how they can also lead to superpower-like feelings and results. But like medication, superpowers can be used to aid in solving your problems but they don’t automatically fix them. There’s also a bit of poking at the notion that having superpowers automatically fixes your problems in Side Effects. It’s easy to harp on the tendency for modern media to rely on superpowers and superheroes to tell stories, but when used to create compelling and purposeful narratives like in Life is Strange and Side Effects that criticism holds no weight.

It explores the ordinary through the extraordinary, something that one of my favorite video game franchises Life is Strange has perfected and that this book echoes.

The “superpower” dimension isn’t simply thrown into the story for extra pizzazz, but is used to highlight the complexities and emotions commonly felt from the side effects of medication.

Comic life 3 landscape