Crawlspace

Crawlspace is a graphic novella by Violet Kitchen, published by Bulgilhan Press in 2025. Originally written for their thesis at the Center for Cartoon Studies in 2023, this work marked Kitchen’s publication debut with Bulgilhan Press and represents a deeply personal exploration of finding belonging in uncomfortable places.

The story follows Kel, an isolated middle schooler who can’t help but dream about small spaces—the comfort of fitting somewhere perfectly, the safety of enclosed places. As Kel navigates the awkward rituals of adolescence, their fascination with small spaces becomes an escape, a refuge from the difficulties of social belonging. But what happens when a refuge becomes a trap?

Kitchen’s work has been described as fundamentally about what it happens to not fit in socially, but knowing in the innermost regions of your being that there are places you can fit in, even if they’re not safe. This tension between finding belonging and the risks it entails runs through Crawlspace, told through interconnected spreads that create an immersive reading experience.

According to coverage from AIPT Comics, Kitchen described the work as “at least semi-autobiographical,” noting their own love of playing in big cardboard boxes and being in closets as a child. “There was something very protective about small spaces; they’re a very controlled environment.”

The book runs 112 pages in a landscape format (6” x 8.25”), printed in CMYK with pantone-matched yellow, designed by Rachel Bivens (Kitchen’s co-founder at Go Press Girl!). It was released at MICE (Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo) in December 2025.

Kitchen is also known for winning the 2025 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Minicomic for Allodynia, making Crawlspace the work that followed their award win. The two books share themes of interiority, isolation, and the search for connection—even in imperfect, uncomfortable places.

Perfect for fans of autobiographical comics, coming-of-age narratives, and the tradition of emotionally resonant work from the small press scene.