Abby Kacen is a cartoonist migrating between the midwest & southeast who uses visual storytelling to explore emotional growth, change, and identity.

Kacen received a BFA in interdisciplinary arts at Lamar Dodd School of Art in 2016 and an MA in nonprofit leadership in 2020 at the University of Georgia. She specializes in grants + fundraising and youth programming, is a community organizer, and builds resources for working artists.

She is currently working on a new graphic novel that is a sequel to her self-published book 'Sid & the Sickos (2021)' and is expected to be self-published in 2025.

You can find her work on Instagram @mild_pain and Patreon. Her open resources live here.

PUBLICATIONS

Mild Pain No. 1, 2022
Sid & the Sickos Zine No. 3, 2022
Mild Pain No. 2, 2023
Sidewalk Rambles, Tidelines Zine, 2023
Mild Pain No. 3, 2024
Sid & the Sickos 2nd Edition, 2024
Splintermouth Anthology, 2024
The Setlist Anthology, 2024
Mild Pain No. 4, 2024
My Big Day, SAW Anthology, 2025
Rustbelt Review Volume 7, 2025

PRESS

More Than Doodles, Red & Black, 2018

Conversation Over Comics, Red & Black, 2019
Classic City Comics, Ampersand Magazine, 2019

FLUKE, Cedar Blueprints, 2019
Local Stories, Voyage ATL, 2021
Stories & Insights - Meet Abby Kacen, CanvasRebel, 2022

Shoutout Atlanta, 2022
Sid and the Sickos Review, Razorcake Zine, 2022
Mild Pain No. 1 Review, Razorcake Zine, 2023
Local Stories, Voyage Ohio, 2024
Gutter Boys Interview, 2024
FLUKE Pre-Party Live Comics Readings, 2024
Chicago Zine Fest Spotlight Feature, 2024