About

Story Synopsis

Chris has always been easy to overlook. After moving to a new town, he expects another lonely year of keeping his head down and staying invisible. Instead, he finds himself drawn into the orbit of Jeremy, a popular swimming champion chasing an Olympic dream.

Set against the backdrop of high school life and elite athletics, "Good Invisible Student" is a coming-of-age story about friendship, perseverance, and discovering who you are when the world expects you to be someone else.

About the Author

Emily Muto has been creating comics for 30 years. From shoujo manga "The Way to Your Heart" to Webtoons-style full-color "Unbreakable Bond," each project has been an opportunity to improve as an artist and storyteller.

"Good Invisible Student" is a passion project created in the spare moments between work, family life, and homeschooling my son. By embracing a simpler artistic style, I'm learning to let go of perfectionism and focus on what matters most: telling a heartfelt story. Every page is a reminder that art made with love is enough.

A Washington native, I'm currently living in Idaho with my wonderful husband and son. I love rain, old-growth forests, reading, exercising, and video games. This comic helps me unwind and find harmony, and is created in Clip Studio Paint EX with a Wacom Intuos 5 tablet.

Why This Story?

The idea for this came after becoming a mother. The postpartum depression hit hard and it was difficult to transition from producing art and comics extremely frequently to practically nothing overnight. High stress and anxiety were a constant companion. My eldest sibling noticed my distress and offered comfort. With my new baby in the stroller, we'd walk and talk together nearly daily, and the seed for this story was planted. Over several walks, we brainstormed and discussed characters and scenarios that greatly helped pull me out of the dark uncertainty I felt as a new mother. Now, as my baby has become a little boy, I have my moment to form it all into this very special comic.

And if you've read "Unbreakable Bond," you may recognize some of the characters, in their high school years. My sibling's characters will also be included, and together will shape the life of Chris in beautiful, unexpected ways.

Thanks, Nikki. This one's for you.