By now you’re probably wondering just what in the heck is the Awkward Yeti, and why does he have conversations with his heart and his brain. In 2012, cartoonist Nick Seluk started an online comic series called “The Awkward Yeti.” According to Seluk’s website, www.awkwardyeti.com, Lars, the aforementioned yeti, “experiences everyday social awkwardness at work, in his social life, even while dating.” It goes without saying that the brain and the heart are major players in the rise or reduction of one’s social awkwardness, so it made sense that these important organs needed a spin-off series of their own. Thus, the “Heart and Brain” comic strip was born, and now — ta-da — a collection of hilarious cartoons is available in book form.
Let me describe a few of my favorite panels. A full-page drawing shows Lars lying in bed, wide awake. He’s having a sleepless night because he’s worrying about stuff, something we all experience from time to time. What makes this cartoon so funny and poignant is Seluk’s on-target depiction of Lars’ brain sitting on top of the pillow, pulling his owner’s eyelids wide open and saying, “Hey. We forgot to do all those things today, and everyone is going to be upset.” My first thought after seeing this drawing was, “Oh, my god. This cartoon is about me!”
Another favorite page illustrates the push-and-pull relationship between the heart and the brain. “Let’s get a kitty!” blurts out super-excited Heart to Brain. “Are you ready to take care of it?” asks the ever-pragmatic Brain. Doing a little happy dance, Heart smiles and replies, “No, you’ll do that!” Well, isn’t that a familiar scenario? Your brain comes up with a list of reasons not to do something — it’s a real kill-joy — while your heart skips straight to emotional need, ignoring reason, logic and anything else resembling a thoughtful process. More power to the heart, I say, or I wouldn’t have some of the wonderful things in my life!
“Heart and Brain” also reveals the fragility of the human heart. Brain might be a big worry-wart, but it’s much more insulated from the slings and arrows of life than Heart. Another one-page panel shows Brain standing next to a bruised Heart, hobbled with a sling, leg cast and crutches. “Heart, what happened?” inquires a concerned Brain. Dazed and googly-eyed, Heart replies, “I watched the news.” Amen to that.
