Rachael Smith’s new book, Glass Half Empty, announced

By John Freeman on October 25, 2022

Icon Books has announced Glass Half Empty, a new book tackling issues caused by alcoholism from award-winning author Rachael Smith, due for release in January 2023.

Alcoholism is a serious issue, tackled in the new book in Rachael’s Frank, self effacing style. There are an estimated 602,391 dependent drinkers in England alone, according to the charity, Alcohol Change. Only 18% are receiving treatment.

In the United States, statistics from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism note alcohol contributes to about 18.5 percent of Emergency Department visits and 22.1 percent of overdose deaths related to prescription opioids. An estimated 95,000 people (approximately 68,000 men and 27,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually,15 making alcohol the third-leading preventable cause of death.

At age ten, Rachael Smith was going to group meetings to help her handle her dad’s alcoholism. After his death, trying to manage her grief, she found herself with her own problematic relationship with alcohol.

From the award-winning author of Quarantine Comix, Wired Up Wrong and Stand in Your Power, this is another extremely honest auto-bio comic shining a light on the reality of mental health. Rufus the cat (recent star of a New York Times cartoon) and Barky, the giant black dog inside her head, are returning characters fans of Rachael Smith will be heartened to be reunited with.

– Glass Half Empty by Rachael Smith
Published by Icon Books on 5th January, 2023 | Pre-order now from Icon Books

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.