Good job Wiley! You’ve aptly depicted the mind of an autistic child. As a child of the 60’s, I grew up in an alternate world of imagination and had limited awareness of reality. There was very little understanding of what was going on with us on the autism spectrum. This is a good start.
This strip + AshburnStadium’s comment, had me look up ‘Asperger’s Syndrome’ and was quite amazed to find it a close description of Shaun in ‘The Good Doctor’ :
I do not understand autism that well but I like the impression done here (the comments certainly support that). Otherwise, never saw Planet 51, but the “Right Stuff, Wrong Planet” tagline fits too (especially if Lost Leonard landed here right now).
It’s a memo to all the people who are currently dealing with their autistic spectrum kids whose daily routines have been disrupted. More anxiety. More seizures in those who have been quiet for months. …
This parallel’s Philip K. Dick’s “The Martian Time-Slip” where the protagonists’ son has autism and is the only one that’s aware of the Martians living on what was thought to be a barren planet. For all of his isolating reality bending perspectives, I thought it was very humanizing of him to consider that what we see as a disability may actually be a special power…
The liberal radio talk-show host Thom Hartmann is a big supporter of the Hunter Academy, named for the hypothesis that ability to focus and tune out distractions was a survival characteristic for our ancestors who had to hunt their food to stay alive.
There seems to be something deeper going on here. Wiley is a metaphorical cartoonist and no stranger to confessional. So let me propose this: Leonard is really him and Jack is a child with autism who has intersected his life — a nephew or a friend’s son perhaps? — who helps keep him grounded, particularly through moments of great insecurity. I believe the key is the final line of the strip, where he writes, “Thanks, Jack.” Thoughts?
I must have had something like this. As a kid I would make up scenes, and try to get other kids to ‘play’ in them, but none of them ever did. I finally realized they couldn’t, because they didn’t ‘see’ it. But, when I discovered theatre, some were more receptive, and tried to, based on their own ‘vision’. Made for some very interesting improvisations.
Pointspread over 4 years ago
Nice. Thanks Wiley!
Cheapskate0 over 4 years ago
Any relation to Calvin’s Spiff? (Or Pascuale’s dream ship in Rose Is Rose?)
Bilan over 4 years ago
Tell Jack to stop sniffing the Oblitium Nitrate.
Say What Now‽ Premium Member over 4 years ago
Good job Wiley! You’ve aptly depicted the mind of an autistic child. As a child of the 60’s, I grew up in an alternate world of imagination and had limited awareness of reality. There was very little understanding of what was going on with us on the autism spectrum. This is a good start.
willispate over 4 years ago
as someone who is born with Autism, I fully support this comic. thank you Wiley.
Enter.Name.Here over 4 years ago
Reality is far more than we can possibly imagine. All we know is what our limited biological senses allow us to know.
kaffekup over 4 years ago
It reminds me of the last episode of St Elsewhere, my all-time favorite show.
The entire series was revealed to have been an autistic kid’s daydream as he looked at a building in a snow globe.
chief tommy over 4 years ago
How did Jack fix the positioning system? Did Jack provide the fuel?
Bryan Farht over 4 years ago
This is just one consequence of authism, but it’s a good start if you want to understand it better.
Ron Shannon over 4 years ago
Nor how blessed they are.
saltylife16 over 4 years ago
Now I understand how my GPS system works
Old Crusty over 4 years ago
Beautifully scripted panel showing a caring and loving take about an autistic child. Brought a tear to my eye.
freewaydog over 4 years ago
GO AUTISM!!! Way to represent! :D
DaBoogadie over 4 years ago
Thank~you Wiley, it’s good to be understood in a positive light. I haven’t always experienced that.
dflak over 4 years ago
I never gave up daydreaming. Too many adults have.
Pickled Pete over 4 years ago
This strip + AshburnStadium’s comment, had me look up ‘Asperger’s Syndrome’ and was quite amazed to find it a close description of Shaun in ‘The Good Doctor’ :
https://www.healthline.com/health/aspergers-symptoms-in-adults
morningglory73 Premium Member over 4 years ago
What’s real anyway?
1953Baby over 4 years ago
“Trelane, it’s time to come in now.”
Redd Panda over 4 years ago
Has Mr. Miller encountered one of us in his personal life? It would seem so.
rs0204 Premium Member over 4 years ago
That was a very sweet strip.
Because, we may never know the astounding places a special mind might go…does not make those places any less tangible!
Thank you Wiley
JenSolo02 over 4 years ago
Beautiful! Thank you, Wiley
mizdurble over 4 years ago
Very clever strip.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Just because I’m ignoring the rest of the world it doesn’t mean I am not doing something interesting.
poppacapsmokeblower over 4 years ago
Kids, bless them all.
MamaBear3 over 4 years ago
In honor of National Autism Day, April 2nd. Thank you, Wiley Miller!
WGillete over 4 years ago
Beautifully done, Wiley. My son had a form of autism.
Linguist over 4 years ago
@dflak
I have always found it easier to live within my imagination than the imagination of others.
Thank you Wiley!
mourdac Premium Member over 4 years ago
Incredible, Wiley. Thank you.
sandpiper over 4 years ago
One of the most touching depiction I can remember. Beautiful
wallylm over 4 years ago
I do not understand autism that well but I like the impression done here (the comments certainly support that). Otherwise, never saw Planet 51, but the “Right Stuff, Wrong Planet” tagline fits too (especially if Lost Leonard landed here right now).
Durak Premium Member over 4 years ago
This is how I pray that those in comas, or in a locked-in-state, like in the Trumbo book or the Metallica song are.
The ability to transcend the physical would be a blessing for many.
Thank you, Wiley. Bless you.
momkastner over 4 years ago
Love this
wndflower1 over 4 years ago
all comments so far seem to be missing the entire point. the point is about autistic kids!
COL Crash over 4 years ago
Autism isn’t a disability! It’s a gift of a different perspective than most folks.
wbezemek over 4 years ago
It’s a memo to all the people who are currently dealing with their autistic spectrum kids whose daily routines have been disrupted. More anxiety. More seizures in those who have been quiet for months. …
williamferry over 4 years ago
My oldest son has autism. This gave me all the feels, and got me thinking, too. Thank you! <3
mistercatworks over 4 years ago
Jack’s fixed the alien’s “thing” with a tablet computer? This sounds more like one of the Captain’s stories.
Neat '33 over 4 years ago
Makes me think of the great Rod Serling and all those wonderful Twilight Zone episodes !
Font Lady Premium Member over 4 years ago
Really makes you wonder about all the anti-vaxers out there that would rather have a dead child than an autistic one.
Solaricious Premium Member over 4 years ago
This parallel’s Philip K. Dick’s “The Martian Time-Slip” where the protagonists’ son has autism and is the only one that’s aware of the Martians living on what was thought to be a barren planet. For all of his isolating reality bending perspectives, I thought it was very humanizing of him to consider that what we see as a disability may actually be a special power…
tad1 over 4 years ago
Wonderful, absolutely wonderful. :)
Teto85 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Anybody remember that tv show St.Elsewhere? The big twist was that it was all the imaginings of an autistic little boy.
Richard S Russell Premium Member over 4 years ago
The liberal radio talk-show host Thom Hartmann is a big supporter of the Hunter Academy, named for the hypothesis that ability to focus and tune out distractions was a survival characteristic for our ancestors who had to hunt their food to stay alive.
raiderjph3 over 4 years ago
Love this..my granddaughter is autistic, and I can relate to this story
dtdbiz over 4 years ago
There seems to be something deeper going on here. Wiley is a metaphorical cartoonist and no stranger to confessional. So let me propose this: Leonard is really him and Jack is a child with autism who has intersected his life — a nephew or a friend’s son perhaps? — who helps keep him grounded, particularly through moments of great insecurity. I believe the key is the final line of the strip, where he writes, “Thanks, Jack.” Thoughts?
Nuclear Nemesis over 4 years ago
Just shared it on Facebook.
Eugeno over 4 years ago
I must have had something like this. As a kid I would make up scenes, and try to get other kids to ‘play’ in them, but none of them ever did. I finally realized they couldn’t, because they didn’t ‘see’ it. But, when I discovered theatre, some were more receptive, and tried to, based on their own ‘vision’. Made for some very interesting improvisations.
Dr_Fogg over 4 years ago
Reminds me of the Rain Man movie. We know a family with 3 severely autistic kids. The oldest is the worse. Big and violent. Very sad.
bakana over 4 years ago
That Jack is a good kid.
He fixed my car for me once.
The Engine Computer module was dead, but he did something and it started working again.
TimWilliams3 over 4 years ago
look up Dr Who car. Looks just like this one
TimWilliams3 over 4 years ago
https://www.google.com/search?q=whomobile&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALeKk036cSvOXCpDVfx6OFzbbm0grM7v5w:1585530430916&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiM1fWQgcHoAhXIWc0KHQPUBE4Q_AUoAXoECAwQAw&biw=1912&bih=928
Laurie Stoker Premium Member over 4 years ago
This is actually really sweet! Thanks, Wiley!
hench over 4 years ago
wonderful strip
nburk over 4 years ago
very nice……