Seriously Funny: Brian Rea's Illustrations Light Up Bowdoin's Humor Issue
Looking for a hit of wit that doesn’t require a screen refresh or a stand-up stream? Start here: Seriously Funny, a recent feature from Bowdoin Magazine, is a smart, wry look at the delicate business of being hilarious. But what makes the piece truly sing? The deadpan brilliance of illustrator Brian Rea.
You might know Rea from his iconic New York Times Modern Love illustrations—his linework is instantly recognizable: deceptively simple, emotionally loaded, and quietly funny. In Seriously Funny, Rea’s drawings bring a whole new layer to the dialogue between two comedy writers, Chip Leighton and Kerry Elson, who unpack why domestic life (and its micro-irritations) is a bottomless comedy goldmine.
This isn’t a laugh-track version of funny. It’s more like:
Your kid asking if Grandma ever had kids.
Apologizing to your partner for breathing in front of the cereal drawer.
Writing about your mom offering up a Tupperware of your childhood like a gift from the past.
Rea illustrates these moments with a kind of winking empathy, turning awkwardness and absurdity into quiet visual punchlines. His illustrations are the guideposts through the feature—part commentary, part confessional art.
If you’re into observational humor, hand-drawn storytelling, or just need a reminder that everyday messiness is universally funny, this one’s worth a slow read. Better yet, it’s the kind of story you can pass along to your group chat with a “yep, this is us.”
