Lilly Wave is a visual history on the life, experiments, and addictions of John C. Lilly—the man whose development of the isolation tank, controversial studies in dolphin cognition, and ketamine-fueled dives into the nature of consciousness made him perhaps the most notorious researcher of the psychedelic era. Blomerth’s unique storytelling style and his vibrant illustrations breathes new life into the facts, inviting us to reexamine Lilly’s legacy and the impact of his research on our understanding of the human mind.
by Brian Blomerth
Since 2019 Brian Blomerth’s stunningly original comix histories have combined detailed research and riotous visual wit to illuminate the discovery of LSD (Bicycle Day) and the popularization of psilocybin mushrooms (Mycelium Wassonii).
Lilly Wave is the third entry into Bloomer’s ongoing series. In Lilly Wave, we are presented with a vivid and insightful exploration of the life and legacy of John Cunningham Lilly, who was one of the most influential and controversial psychedelic researchers of the 1950s through 1970s, before he lost the plot in ketamine dependence. Blomerth takes on the challenging task of unraveling the complexities of Lilly’s story.
by Brian Blomerth
(Spread)
Featuring alien visitations, interspecies encounters, and no shortage of concerned onlookers, Lilly Wave sees a beloved artist working from an expanded palette of industrial ink-splatter and oceanic airbrushing to bring readers a story that’s equal parts cosmic and paranoid, transcendent and tragic. May Lilly Wave inspire us to approach our own explorations of consciousness with curiosity, compassion, and a deep respect for the mysteries of the mind.
Brian Blomerth is an illustrator, cartoonist and musician based in Brooklyn whose previous publications include the wildly popular visual histories Brian Blomerth’s Bicycle Day (2019) and Brian Blomerth’s Mycelium Wassonii (2021). A veteran of the underground music and arts scene whose work has graced numerous album covers, posters, and clothing lines, Blomerth is also the author of the zines Xak’s Wax, iPhone 64: A User’s Guide, and Hypermaze.
by Brian Blomerth
(Spread)
Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the Founder and President of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics, among numerous other studies on the use of marijuana and psychedelic drugs in cancer treatment, psychotherapy, and the catalyzation of religious experiences. In 1986, he founded MAPS, which has since become one of the world’s foremost non-profit research and educational organizations investigating the healing potential of psychedelics.
Brian Blomerth’s Lilly Wave is available from Mexican Summer
©2024 Brian Blomerth
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