Graphic content: Metroactive of Santa Cruz, Calif., profiles local artist and comics creator Kristin Olson, known as "Koak," whose often-disurbing autobiographical work is on display through March 15:

"It's a lot easier to do personal stuff if you have this -- I know it's not really a security blanket, but if you just kinda have this little blockade, you can pretend it's not you. And when you're doing really sexual or open stuff, it's kind of a safe wall for doing stuff like that, especially on the Internet. It just makes it a little bit easier."