Gothic Viewpoint: Erik van Os on His Work in Progress
On his website gothic-novel.com, artist and writer Erik van Os details his intense creative project, a story he’s been working on for more than a decade and a half. We talked to him about what the story is, and what it will turn out to be.
Classic Tales: The Story Behind African-American Classics
Co-editors Tom Pomplun and Lance Tooks discuss the work behind their new book, African-American Classics, which features the works of Trevor von Eeden, Jeremy Love, Christopher Priest, and many others.
Work in Progress: Julia Wertz
Artist and writer Julia Wertz explains the meaning behind her previous works and how it’s her upcoming books that are the real stories she wants to tell.
Paul Kupperberg on Archie and the Gang in the 21st Century
Get ready for the big wedding! Archie Comics’ Lt. Kevin Keller is marrying his sweetheart, Clay Walker. Longtime comics scribe Paul Kupperberg discusses the nuptials as well as all the new events coming up for Archie and the Gang.
Beyond Innocent: The Avi Arad Interview
Hollywood producer Avi Arad discusses his new book, the manga thrill ride The Innocent, a wild ride incorporating vengeance and the afterlife.
Someday Is Now: Michel Choquette Revisits the ’60s in Comics
At the end of the 1960s, writer Michel Choquette was tasked with creating a special insert for Rolling Stone: a collection of comic strips by the era’s great minds and talents that would define the decade that had just ended. It took 40 years for the massive collection (which features works by such luminaries as C. C. Beck, René Goscinny, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby, Moebius, Art Spiegelman, Gahan Wilson, and many others) to come to fruition, but it’s time is now, and here’s what Choquette has to say about it.
Do the Math: Larry Gonick on The Cartoon Guide to Calculus
For nearly 40 years, cartoonist and professor Larry Gonick has been using comics to educate. From history to science to mathematics to sex, there’s very little Gonick hasn’t covered, and even more, he’s shown that comics can be just as educational for adults as they are for children. His latest, The Cartoon Guide to Calculus, takes that ever-so-complicated math course we all loved in school and presents it with great depth and style. Here’s how Gonick approaches his works and using comics to reach and teach.
What a Kick: The Kagan McLeod Interview
Kagan McLeod has been redefining cool for a while now with Infinite Kung Fu, a hip, fun, totally addictive series that was originally brought to life as a self-published comic and is now being published by Top Shelf. Mixing genres and styles effortlessly, McLeod creates a blend that transpires most kung-fu tropes to be startlingly original. And did we mention how fun it is? Check it out, but first check out this interview with Kagan.
Danny Fingeroth and Roy Thomas: The Story Behind The Stan Lee Universe
The Stan Lee Universe collects decades’ worth of Lee’s greatest archives, from his notes on the creation of the Fantastic Four to radio interview transcripts to his interactions with luminaries of film, music, and pop culture. It’s a mind-bending trip through comics history, a treat for all true believers. In this interview, Danny and Roy discuss the book, a compulsively readable document for any comics fan.
Cast Away: P.C. Cast on House of Night
Bestselling prose author branches out into comics with her supernatural House of Night comics. But these aren't just adaptations of her popular books. Instead, these fill in the blanks in between books, offering new insights into her characters and her stories. Here's her take on working in comics.
The Empire Strikes Back: The Nate Powell Interview
Following up a book as moving and well-received as Swallow Me Whole would seem like a great challenge. It’s one that Nate Powell met with Any Empire, his broad, ambitious look at how violence, nationalism, prejudices, and belief systems permeate our society. We caught up with Nate to discuss what this book meant to him and the important message he wants to bring across with it.
The Bicycle Thief: Alex Jansen Discusses Kenk
Igor Kenk became one of Canada’s (and the world’s) most illustrious thieves when he was arrested for stealing nearly 3,000 bicycles in Toronto in2008. It was a strange case that immediately took fire and made Kenk a celebrity and antihero of sorts. It also inspired the beautifully depicted new graphic novel Kenk, by Alex Jansen (publisher of Pop Sandbox), Jason Gilmore, and Nick Marinkovich. The wildly inventive art style combines with the oddness of Kenk’s story (and Kenk himself) to create an intense and vivid portrait of a very interesting man. Already published in Canada, Kenk was named a Best Book of 2010 by Quill & Quire, Canada’s top literary magazine, and has been a bestseller in Canada. We talked to Jansen about creating the book.
Butcher’s Tale: Jim Butcher Discusses The Dresden Files
Bestselling prose author Jim Butcher talks about the ongoing success of the graphic-novel adaptations of his Dresden Files series, starring Chicago’s favorite wizard police consultant.
Magical Comical Tour: An Interview with Lev Grossman
Lev Grossman’s world is full of books, whether he’s writing them or reviewing them, and he has a special fondness for comics. Besides being the book critic for Time, he’s published the novels Warp, Codex, The Magicians, and the recently released The Magician King. Lev talked to GraphicNovelReporter about his comics-related writing, how he dreams of writing his own comic book, and his septuagenarian mother’s Death Note jewelry.
From Eloise to Nina: Hilary Knight Talks About Some of His Favorite Leading Ladies
Legendary artist Hilary Knight created the look of the cantankerous Eloise half a century ago. Now he’s giving the world the hilarious (and opinionated) Nina, who can’t wait to tell us all about how That Makes Me Mad! Here, Hilary Knight discusses both of these amazing girls and the impact of comics on us all.
What a Year: Alison Bechdel, Co-Editor of The Best American Comics 2011
What do you say about a year like 2011? If you’re talking comics…plenty. Alison Bechdel, who this year joins Jessica Abel and Matt Madden to edit the annual anthology The Best American Comics,discusses her favorites, what she looks for in a best comic, and much more.
Like Clockwork: Sean O’Reilly on Clockwork Girl, Arcana, and More
Sean O’Reilly’s world is full of comic books. He reads comic books, writes comic books, and even edits and publishes comic books. His publishing company, Arcana Studios, is the largest comic book publisher in Canada, and it releases both his and other people’s works. His graphic novel Clockwork Girl, which he made with Kevin Hanna and Grant Bond, was published by HarperCollins this year, and an animated movie version of it will soon be released, starring the voice talents of Alexa Vega, Jesse McCartney, Ann Moss, Jeffrey Tambor, and Brad Garrett. O’Reilly talked to GraphicNovelReporter about his history in comic books, the steps of creating Clockwork Girl, and what we can expect from Arcana Studios in the future.
Epic Journey: Craig Thompson Talks Habibi
With Habibi, Craig Thompson elevates the graphic novel form to even higher levels. Here, he discusses the work that went into creating this masterpiece and the implications its winding, twisted, religiously and socially inspired tales create. Also, Craig shares some of the work-in-progress artwork that went into creating Habibi.
Give Us Liberty: The Lagos Brothers Discuss The Sons of Liberty
With The Sons of Liberty, brothers Alexander and Joseph Lagos have created a rich historical graphic series that turns two young escaped slaves into superheroes battling against the evils of slavery. Mentoring them along the way is Benjamin Franklin, helping to create a book that is moving, lively, touching, and compulsively readable. The Lagos Brothers talked about their groundbreaking work here.
Coffee Break: Shannon Wheeler on TMCM and More
With the recent release of the Too Much Coffee Man Omnibus from Dark Horse, 20 years’ worth of Shannon Wheeler’s angst-filled antihero have been collected into one enormous volume. It’s a huge achievement; a bible of ennui and unexpected non-adventure, starring an everyman who just happens to wear an inexplicable coffee helmet. We sat down to ask Mr. Wheeler a few questions about what all of this means.
Moving Pictures: Gordon McAlpin on Multiplex
What really goes on behind the scenes at your local multiplex? Gordon McAlpin gives us a backstage pass to all the antics in Multiplex: Enjoy Your Show. Here’s his take on the little scenes behind the big screens.
Roz Chast A to Z
Cartoonist Roz Chast takes us inside her greatest fears and annoyances...A to Z.
Comics by Design: An Interview with Neil Egan
Neil Egan is the creative director behind the wildly inventive books at Abrams ComicArts. We talked to him to discuss his creative process and how he manages the many artistic struggles that go along with meeting these creative demands.
Behind the Cowl: Chris Burnham
Born in Connecticut and raised in Pittsburgh, the Chicago-based illustrator Chris Burnham has gained notoriety and increased attention in the past several months for his exclusive contract signed with DC Comics in April 2011 as well as his recent work on Grant Morrison's Batman Incorporated series. Yet, any investigation of his catalog will reveal an intriguing and amazingly diverse portfolio of non-spandex, independent work that is equally praiseworthy.
Artist Unmasking: Fiona Staples
A 2010 Eisner Award nominated artist for her work on Aaron Williams' North 40 and a 2011 Shuster Award winner for Outstanding Comic Book Cover Artist, the Canadian-born Fiona Staples' brief career as comic illustrator has been one rich in collaborative talent and diverse productivity. From small, independent works onto coloring John Wagner's Button Man for 2000AD in the span of less than two years, Staples has gained notoriety and acclaim for her varied work on The Secret History of The Authority: Hawksmoor and North 40 for Wildstorm, Mystery Society for IDW Publishing, and, most recently, her covers or interior work for properties such as Jonah Hex, Superman, Batman, and T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents. The buzz and attention continues, however, as Staples announced her role as illustrator on the forthcoming Saga title with Brian K. Vaughan from Image Comics in 2012.
Defending the Art: Charles Brownstein of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Since 1986, the nonprofit Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has been defending the First Amendment rights of comics and graphic novels creators, retailers, and readers. They’ve defended dozens of cases in the decades since, and they are now working on one involving a young American man stopped and charged by customs in Canada for possessing comics they found offensive on his laptop. We talked to the CBLDF’s executive director, Charles Brownstein, about that troubling case and the organization’s ongoing efforts to protect free speech.
Wicked Ways: Ronald Wimberly on Adapting Ray Bradbury
How do you approach a legendary work like Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes and turn it into a graphic novel? Very carefully. That’s exactly what creator Ronald Wimberly (author of the critically acclaimed Sentences) did when he took, with Bradbury’s approval, the classic book and turned it into an exciting new graphic adaptation. We discussed the process with him.
G Is for G-Man: Chris Giarrusso on His Kid Superhero
G-Man, Chris Giarrusso’s awesome all-ages superhero series, is one of the most fun and exciting new properties to come down the pike in ages. Here, Chris opens up about his inspiration for the character and how he uses G-Man as a way to reach kids and why comics make you smarter.
Getting His Sidekicks: Dan Santat
Get ready for a charming adventure series for kids of all ages in Dan Santat’s new book Sidekicks. The picture book author describes his foray into graphic novels in this interview.
A Real American Hero: The Joe Simon Interview
After nearly a century on this planet, the great Joe Simon shares his reflections on life in the funny papers in My Life in Comics…and here in this exclusive interview.
Behind Masks: The Art and Story of Aaron Rintoul
A bold experimental work, Masks is a new story from writer/artist Aaron Rintoul and published by Septagon Studios. The story follows a woman named Sara, who captures glimpses of people’s past lives and other jarring events. Meanwhile, she tracks a killer in a tale that is both haunting and jarring. But even more affecting is the stunning artwork, a mixture of digital photography and painting. We talked to Rintoul about how he made it all work.
Empire State Blues: An Interview with Jason Shiga
Love makes us do crazy things. For writer/artist Jason Shiga, it inspired a cross-country bus trip to meet up with the girl he’d lost his heart, a trip that inspired the hilariously funny and charming Empire State, now out. It’s a look at the down side of love, but it’s also heartwarming in its own way, a slight departure for the radically creative talent behind Meanwhile. Here’s what Shiga had to say about the book.
Carla Jablonski's Resistance Effort
Noted children’s author Carla Jablonski teams up with artist Leland Purvis in the wonderful Resistance trilogy, set against the backdrop of World War II France. It’s a tough, historically accurate look at one family’s struggle to remain together (and alive) during this tumultuous time while also living up to their own political and moral ideals of what is right. With Book 2, Defiance, recently out, we talked to Carla about how this remarkable series came to life.
Down on the Farm: Galit and Gilad Seliktar Discuss Farm 54
The brother-and-sister team of Galit and Gilad Seliktar discuss their moving, challenging new book Farm 54, which weaves Galit's real-life stories of growing up in Israel with some subtle fictional nuances to create a mesmerizing experience. Here's how the two describe the book.
Ghost in the Machine: Brooke Gladstone on the Media and Us
As host of NPR’s On the Media, reporter and writer Brooke Gladstone has some unique and interesting opinions about the role of media in our lives and how it affects us. But also, as she points out in her new book, The Influencing Machine, we have a huge say in how we affect it: That is, the media is a mirror reflecting society for better or for worse. More challenging ideas abound in this fun, insightful book, and we’re happy to give Brooke the forum in which to discuss it. Here’s her take on all things media.
Life After the Deluge: Josh Neufeld's New Project
We first met author and illustrator after he published his bestselling nonfiction book A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge. For his newest project, Josh illustrated journalist Brooke Gladstone’s edgy and informative book about how the media works (and doesn’t work), The Influencing Machine. We talked to the artist about what his work added to the project.
Trailblazing with Nick Bertozzi
Writer and illustrator Nick Bertozzi finds a way to not only make the adventures of Lewis & Clark come alive, but also to make them heart-poundingly exciting and real in his new graphic novel Lewis & Clark. We talked to the creator about this little piece of American history.
To Infinity and Beyond
Step inside Dave Roman’s wildly funny and inventive Astronaut Academy and you’ll meet an eclectic cast of characters all ready for their space-time closeup. We talked to Dave about what went into making this fun, adventurous graphic novel. Here’s what he had to say.
Ramona Fradon: A Woman's Life in Comics
Ramona Fradon is a trailblazer. As one of the first women in the comics industry, she began working for DC Comics in the 1950s and has illustrated thousands of pages. Recently, Fradon contributed illustrations to the hit books The Adventures of Unemployed Man. She talks about her storied career in this insightful interview.
The Joe Kelly Interview
The talented creator behind the production team Man of Action, the animated Ben 10, and Four Eyes opens up about his extensive comics work.
Inside the Creative Mind: Behind the Scenes with Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison's work often produces very polarizing responses in the world of comics. Readers either adore him and hail his books as genius for his creativity and challenging scriptwriting or criticize him for being too difficult to understand. There is often no middle ground. Although he has often talked about his work as part of a public relations campaign during the launch of a new title, rarely has Morrison ever revealed much about his process and approach to scriptwriting and the craft of creating comics...until now.
Holms, Sweet Holms
Squish, a new early-reader graphic novel series starring a single-celled super amoeba and a few of his single-celled friends, is brought to us by a pretty familiar early-reader graphic novel dynamic duo. Jennifer and Matthew Holm are the successful brother-sister, writer-artist team behind the Babymouse series, and in this new follow-up series about a character named Squish, they seem to have two new goals in mind. First, they are out to introduce readers to a whole new set of characters, adventures, and epic single-celled battles between good and evil. Second, they are clearly cognizant that Squish, his friends, and their adventures provide an excellent opportunity for early-reader teachers of both language arts and science.
Back to Business
Corey Michael Blake is the CEO and founder of Round Table Companies, a venture that is now taking some well-known business books and repositioning them as graphic works. First up: A selection of six popular books that have graced the bestseller lists. Those books include The Long Tail by Chris Anderson; The Art of War by Sun Tzu; Overachievement by Dr. John Eliot; How to Master the Art of Selling by Tom Hopkins; Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get a Life by Larry Winget; and Mi Barrio by Robert Renteria. We talked to Blake about what he was looking for in this new comic book-based business program.
Lovers' (Memory) Lane
San Francisco-based artist MariNaomi shares the romantic ups and downs of an American teenager and young adult in her new book Kiss & Tell: A Romantic Résumé, Ages 0 to 22. The engaging memoir details MariNaomi’s outlook growing up and discovering who she really is in this world, all of which she discusses in this interview.
Judging a Book by Its Cover
Colleen AF Venable has the distinction of being the art and design editor for First Second Books (or, as she points out, since she’s the only designer on staff, she’s actually the entire design department). We wanted to talk with her so we could see all of the work and thought that goes into the design of a graphic novel…everything from how the cover catches the reader’s eye to how the packaging suits the needs of the story. Here’s what she had to say.
Laurell K. Hamilton Talks Graphic Novels (and Giant Cobras)
The Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novels have sold more than six million copies and made its writer, Laurell K. Hamilton, a #1 New York Times bestselling author. Recently, Anita took on graphic-novel form, giving her many fans a chance to see their tough-as-nails heroine as depicted by top comics artists. Hamilton gave GraphicNovelReporter some behind-the-scenes information on the graphic novel process, how she wishes she could draw, and the imaginative fun of creating giant cobras.
Spacing Out: An Interview with Ben Hatke
After a successful appearance in Kazu Kibuishi’s Flight anthology, Ben Hatke breaks out on his own with the winning Zita the Spagegirl, an action-packed romp starring a very precocious little girl lost around the stars and trying to find her way home. Zita embarks on a madcap adventure to rescue her friend Joseph, avoid the creepy aliens who want to harm her, and get back to earth. It’s a tall order, and there’s a lot of fun to be had (mostly for the reader) along the way. We talked with Hatke about the new book and how much fun it was for him to work on it.
Drew's Clues
Nancy Drew has been given a graphic novel makeover, thanks to the husband-and-wife writing team of Stefan Petrucha and Sarah Kinney and artist Sho Murase. GraphicNovelReporter talked to all three to see how Nancy Drew has been brought to new life in comic form.
American Anthem: The Charles Santino Interview
Writer Charles Santino has been working on comics for decades, and when he saw an opportunity to adapt Ayn Rand’s book Anthem to the graphic-novel format, he rang up artist Joe Staton, and the pair got to work. With two longtime comics pros working on such a famous book, the result is an interesting, compelling read. We talked to Santino about adapting the book.
A Good Joe: The Joe Staton Interview
Joe Staton is one of the true greats of the comics industry, a legend who’s been in the business for decades and illustrated almost every character imaginable. We interviewed Joe about his long history in the business, how the industry has changed, and how he views it now.
Queen for a Day: The Queenie Chan Interview
Queenie Chan was barely an adult when she began drawing, but in a short amount of time, she was able to make a successful manga career out of it. Launching her career with The Dreaming, she expanded her work with TokyoPop by working as an illustrator on some of the graphic novels based on Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas books. Chan talked to GraphicNovelReporter about how she got started, what her work process is like, and what advice she has for people interested in making their own comics professionally.
Images of the Mind: An Interview with Darryl Cunningham
Darryl Cunningham’s Psychiatric Tales: Eleven Stories About Mental Illness is a hard-hitting look at very real images of mental illness, culled primarily from Cunningham’s experiences working in a psychiatric ward and also from his own personal battle with it. The book, newly released, is getting acclaim for its upfront honesty and daring coverage of something many don’t like to discuss. We talked to Cunningham about what it was like to create this book.
Vietnamerica the Beautiful: An Interview with G.B. Tran
G.B. Tran's parents fled their native Vietnam before he was born and raised him here in America. All his life, Tran's parents tried to build a connection between Tran and his heritage, but it was one he resisted. It wasn't until fairly recently that he made a trip to his parents' homeland, and that trip inspired the heartwrenching and poignant memoir Vietnamerica. We talked to Tran about the powerful experience of creating this book.
A Superpowered & Educational Interview with Dr. James Bucky Carter and Erik Evensen
A superhero duo themselves, Dr. James Bucky Carter and Erik Evensen team up to give educators Super-Powered Word Study, a textbook that uses comics to teach words and word parts to students in grades five and above.
Comics on the IPad: Operation Ajax Takes the Stage
Daniel Burwen is the founder and CEO of Cognito Comics, which began in 2008. This year, Cognito will unveil an interactive graphic novel for the iPad called Operation Ajax. Based on actual events, the story takes full advantage of all the graphic qualities the iPad has to offer and seeks to interact with readers in a new and inventive way. Here’s a look at what’s in store.
The Alchemy of Adaptation: Derek Ruiz and Daniel Sampere on The Alchemist
Sea Lion Books’ publisher Derek Ruiz has tackled one of the most beloved and life-changing books published in the relatively recent past: The Alchemist, a book cited by many as one of the most inspirational they've ever read. We talked to Derek about what it’s like to adapt a classic and how working on it inspired him personally.
Diana Gabaldon and Outlander: The Graphic Novel
Mixing fantasy, romance, and historical fiction effortlessly, Diana Gabaldon has created a worldwide phenomenon with her bestselling Outlander prose series. With the recent release of the Outlander graphic novel The Exile, Gabaldon has released her work to a whole new audience…and, perhaps even more notably, she has introduced a huge audience to a graphic-novel market they have never encountered before. The author took time out of her busy schedule to answer our questions.
Creature Feature: Doug TenNapel on His Body of Work
Acclaimed writer and artist Doug TenNapel discusses the rerelease of Creature Tech, the success of Ghostopolis, his work in comics, movies, and video games, and the faith he puts into his career.
Cowboys in Space: Erik Jensen and R. Emery Bright Discuss The Reconcilers
Set in the year 2165, The Reconcilers takes place in a world where corporations have taken over and become the ultimate leaders of humanity. Humans toil for the good of business, and laws form around corporate needs. In this interview, two of the creators behind this ambitious sci-fi series discuss what’s in store for it.
Bill Zimmerman and Your Life in Comics
Through his interactive website and his multiple books, author Bill Zimmerman has tried to reach out to kids and inspire them to write, draw, and get creative. His latest, Your Life in Comics, is an incredibly timely book that integrates comics and learning in an exciting way.
Homer, Sweet Homer: Gareth Hinds on The Odyssey
Writer and artist Gareth Hinds takes on one of the greatest stories of all time in The Odyssey, his graphic-novel adaptation of Homer’s classic. Here he discusses his inspiration, the challenges of adaptation, and more.
Oh, the Horror! The Jim Trombetta Interview
Life before and after the Comics Code Authority was very different, as Jim Trombetta shows in The Horror! The Horror! Comic Books the Government Didn’t Want You to Read. His collection of impressive scary tales runs the gamut of creepy to cleverly obscured political commentary, all done in old comics horror series. We talked to Trombetta about the book.
Here and Now: Barry Deutsch on Hereville
Meet Barry Deutsch, the creator of Hereville and Mirka, the 11-year-old dragon-fighting heroine of his wonderfully witty adventure.
We Interrupt This Broadcast: The Eric Hobbs Interview
Even decades later, the story of Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds radio broadcast (and the widespread panic that ensued) is legendary. It was a pivotal event in American history, as well as an inspiration for many. That list includes writer and artist Eric Hobbs, who turned the bizarre and frightening real-life event into the springboard for his vividly entertaining and harrowing book The Broadcast. Here’s how he was inspired.
New Tricks: An Interview with Alex Robinson
Alex Robinson is the award-winning writer of Box Office Poison, Too Cool to Be Forgotten, and Tricked, which is being rereleased this fall by Top Shelf. We caught up with Alex to discuss the reissue and his work.
Good Times
Jen Wang is the creator behind Koko Be Good, the exciting and beautifully rendered story of a woman desperately trying to change her ways…to varying degrees of success. It’s a heartfelt and often romantic book as well as an unflinchingly honest one. Here’s how its creator describes the book.
Best of the Best: Matt Madden on The Best American Comics 2010
For the past three years, the Best American Comics series, edited by Jessica Abel and Matt Madden, has profiled a diverse and eclectic group of comics work and honored it for its achievements. Also each year, Abel and Madden work with a guest editor to make selections. This year’s edition featured guest editor Neil Gaiman. We talked to Madden about the experience.
Pika Don: The Latest Book from the Stanford Graphic Novel Program
Adam Johnson runs the prestigious Stanford Graphic Novel Publishing Program, a class wherein students work together for an entire semester to create a graphic novel. Every aspect of the book—writing, drawing, inking, publishing—is done by the students, and the results can be impressive. This year’s book, Pika Don, was just recently published, so we talked to Johnson about the work that went into it.
Inverna Lockpez's Cuba: Remembering a Revolution
Inverna Lockpez left her native Cuba in the late 1960s to seek a new beginning in America. Now a widely respected artist, she has crafted the story of her life in her homeland in Cuba: My Revolution, a semiautobiographical tale of what it was like to be a woman in Castro’s Cuba in the 1960s.
Cataloguing Comics: Robert G. Weiner on Comics and Libraries
With more and more librarians embracing graphic novels and promoting them to their patrons, the new reference Graphic Novels and Comics in Libraries and Archives is perfectly timed. We talked to author Robert G. Weiner about the book.
Temperance Unbound: The Cathy Malkasian Interview
With Temperance, Cathy Malkasian (Percy Gloom) takes her art to a whole new level. A dark tale of violence set amid a vivid fantastical land, Temperance is an allegory that works wonders. We talked to Malkasian to get her take on the book and what it meant to her to produce this monumental epic.
Good Night: The Audrey Niffenegger Interview
Audrey Niffenegger is the author of the prose novels The Time Traveler's Wife and Her Fearful Symmetry, as well as two novels in pictures, The Adventuress and The Three Incestuous Sisters. She talked to us about her inspiration for The Night Bookmobile and its transition from short prose story to graphic novel.
Belle Yang's Forget Sorrow
With the publication of Forget Sorrow: An Ancestral Tale, Belle Yang has taken on the graphic memoir. Reminiscent of Satrapi’s Persepolis, Bechdel’s Fun Home, and Spiegelman’s Maus I and Maus II, Yang’s book focuses on her relationship with her father and the history of her family in a powerful and emotional way.
Bard Attitude: Why Kill Shakespeare Is Both Fun and Literary
Don’t let the title fool you. Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery, creators of the excellent Kill Shakespeare series, have the utmost respect for the Bard. Alas, there’s nothing rotten with the state of these comics. And the pair are convincing readers young and old to come onboard the Shakespeare bandwagon with their bestselling books. We got the story behind it straight from the guys themselves.
Author, Author: Daren White and Eddie Campbell Discuss The Playwright
Eddie Campbell and Daren White introduce us to the Playwright, a man who might seem somewhat embittered by life but is actually surprisingly open to it. Meet this conundrum in their compelling and wonderful new book, and read here about what this fictional man meant to the two creators behind him.
Getting the Ax: Top Shelf's New Manga Translation
Ax is the new manga anthology series from Top Shelf that brings some of the most exciting and diverse works from Japan and translates them for a new American audience. If you’re looking for a good opportunity to sample the manga field and learn about what it can offer, Ax is your chance. We talked to series editor Sean Michael Wilson about Ax and its impact on the art form.
Dan Goldman: Red Is the New Hit
With his supernatural thriller Red Light Properties taking off, Dan Goldman lets us in on the inspiration behind the chills.
Eighteen Is Enough: The Tracy White Interview
Tracy White’s compelling and raw memoir How I Made It to Eighteen explores a dark period in her life. Here, she discusses how it all came to be and how it became her riveting new book.
Nick Percival Talks Legends
Nick Percival has turned the lovely world of fairy tales on its ear with his bold (and sometimes violent) Legends: The Enchanted. The series is an imaginative retelling of some of folklore’s finest. We talked to him about the series and the work the goes into making it a hit.
Seeing Green: The Joshua Dysart Interview
Writer Joshua Dysart has brilliantly reinterpreted Neil Young's album Greendale into graphic form. In this interview, he discusses how it all came together and how both the album and the book still resonate with the state of America today.
Understanding Booth
C.C. Booth explores the strange and complicated history behind John Wilkes Booth and what drove him to become the country’s most infamous assassin.
The Art Behind To Teach: An Interview with Ryan Alexander-Tanner
Ryan Alexander-Tanner is the artist behind Dr. William Ayers’ words in a new comic book called To Teach: The Journey, in Comics. He talks about the creation process behind the book here.
Blood Banks: An Interview with Vampire Huntress Author L.A. Banks
After writing more than 40 novels, L.A. Banks comes out with her first graphic novel.
Life After Gargoyles: Greg Weisman Speaks
Gargoyles creator Greg Weisman explains how his animated show become a comics series.
Trickster Tales: An Interview with Matt Dembicki and Michael Thompson
Artist Matt Dembicki and storyteller Michael Thompson talk about their work with Native American stories in Trickster.
Play Ball! An Interview with A. David Lewis and Matt Roscetti
A. David Lewis is following up his graphic novel Some Kind of Slaughter with the online comics series Brave Play, a collaboration with artist Matt Roscetti. Combining America’s favorite pastime with an eerie otherworldliness, Brave Play is an exciting new venture, and we talked to both creators about the work.
Finger on the Pulse: An Interview with Anne Elizabeth
Anne Elizabeth talks about the release of her first graphic novel, Pulse of Power.
An Interview with Dr. Bill Ayers
Dr. Bill Ayers is a Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is also the author of To Teach: The Journey, In Comics, which uses the comic book format to reach out to teachers. Here, he discusses his work.
A Scary Trio: Dean Koontz, Frankenstein, and Fear Nothing
Master of horror Dean Koontz is embarking on a new career: comics. With new stories based on his Fear Nothing series coming from Dynamite in August, as well as the second volume of the adaptation of his Frankenstein series coming in November, he talked to GNR about the world of comics and how it fits in with his frightening creative vision.
Rasl Dazzle
Indie creator Jeff Smith's brilliant Rasl is a dimension-hopping adventure series. Here, Smith talks about how it came to be, what's going on in the world of Bone, and how Nikola Tesla continues to fuel some incredibly bizarre conspiracy theories.
Of Dorks and Diaries: Rachel Renee Russell
The bestselling author behind The Dork Diaries discusses her funny heroine, her love of comics and books, and what’s next.
American Legend: The Joe Kubert Interview
Master artist and comics legend Joe Kubert talks to GNR about his lates work, Dong Xaoi: Vietnam 1965, his amazing history in the comics business, and so much more.
Girl Power: Willow Dawson on No Girls Allowed
The bold and vibrant No Girls Allowed is an irreverent, educational look at how girls and women have had to sometimes hide their own gender to get ahead in history. Despite the fact that they had to hide their femininity, they still serve as excellent role models for girls today. Here, artist Willow Dawson explains the reasons and philosophies behind the book.
Going Bananas: Mark McKenna Discusses Banana Tails
Mark McKenna has been writing and illustrating comics for decades, both in the major leagues and in the small-press world. For the past decade or so, he’s been doing Banana Tail, his self-publishing comics project that combines comics with learning (as well as some vivid illustration). He’s also a very active lecturer on the school circuit. We caught up with him to talk about the work he’s doing.
Four Days of Writing with Mark Siegel
Mark Siegel, First Second's editorial director, puts his skills as a writer and illustrator to use for others in a four-day-long teaching course. Here are the important details for anyone interested.
Starr Report: Jason Starr Talks About The Chill
Bestselling prose author Jason Starr brilliantly tackled comics with The Chill. Here’s what he had to say about the experience!
They're a Peach: An Interview with Lindsay Cibos and Jared Hodges
Peach Fuzz creators Lindsay Cibos and Jared Hodges talk about their past work and a new piece with polar bears.
The Secrets of Life and Death: A Pre-MoCCA Q&A with Jaime Hernandez and Todd Hignite
Jaime Hernandez and Todd Hignite discuss the decades of comics history that led to The Art of Jaime Hernandez.
Cartoon Legacy: An Interview with Andrew McGinn
If you’re no longer a fan of daily comic strips, you have found an ally in Andrew McGinn. The author of The Legacy presents a funny and searing view of the business. We talked to him about it and more.
A Bronx Tale: An Interview with Peter Milligan
With a brand-new noir thriller out from Vertigo and a career as one of the most inventive and eclectic comics writers of the past two decades, Peter Milligan is a comics superstar. We caught up with him to talk about The Bronx Kill and more.
M.K. Perker Discusses Insomnia Café
Writer and artist M.K. Perker talks about his comics background and how it all brought him to this point: the debut of his impressive graphic novel Insomnia Café.
Jane Yolen and Foiled: The GNR Interview
Bestselling author Jane Yolen tackles her first graphic novel in Foiled. She's already at work on two more graphic-novel projects, and we caught up with her to talk about her delightful new work.
An Interview with Christopher Hart
Prolific artist and writer Christopher Hart talks about his books, including his latest release, Manga for the Beginner: Chibis.
Cliff Meth and the Invincible Gene Colan
Cliff Meth pays tribute to the life and artwork of Gene Colan in a new collection. Here, Cliff discusses the importance of Colan's work and its long-lasting legacy in comics.
All About Benjamin
The talented writer and artist behind Orange and Remember discusses manhua and the impact of his work in this revealing interview.
Copper Talk with Kazu Kibuishi
Kazu Kibuishi discusses his new collection, Copper, what inspired him and the freedom working on a webcomics series affords him.
The Puppet Masters: An Interview with Van Jensen and Dusty Higgins
Writer Van Jensen and creator-artist Dusty Higgins discuss their critically acclaimed work on Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer, an original, fun, and inventive take on a story that was already far darker than most people know.
Of Gods and Men: An Interview with George O'Connor
George O’Connor has just begun a new series focusing on the gods of myth, a series he's both writing and illustrating. But he took some time out from his busy schedule to answer our questions about the king of the gods, comics collecting, and more.
Sublife Goes On: An Interview with John Pham
Writer/artist John Pham takes us on a journey through his imaginative Sublife.
Power Talk: Comics in the University Classroom
Randy Duncan and Matthew J. Smith have written the book on The Power of Comics, a first-rate resource for college-level comics courses. We talked to the two professors about how they developed their comics criteria and how other teachers can too. Plus: Both share their syllabi from their courses!
Teeth Marks: An Interview with Raina Telgemeier
Raina Telgemeier discusses the book that everyone is talking about: her memoir Smile. Here’s how a painful childhood accident turned into one of the most talked-about books of the season.
Love, American Style: Ted Rall on The Year of Loving Dangerously
Before Ted Rall was an incredibly popular and controversial editorial cartoonist, he was a young man on the run—a past he documents in wild abandon in The Year of Loving Dangerously.
The X Effect: An Interview with John Byrne
Comics legend John Byrne takes us on a trip through history with a look back at the biggest comics superhero team of all, the Uncanny X-Men, and how his work shaped the world of the team and comics ever after.
Looking Back with Charles Vess
The beautiful artwork of Charles Vess has been gracing comics for more than three decades. Now he takes a look back at his extensive body of work in the collection Drawing Down the Moon and in this revealing interview.
A Conversation with Norm Breyfogle
One of the most revered Batman artists of all time, Norm Breyfogle has been working in the comics industry for decades, putting his definitive stamp on the world's most famous characters. Here's his perspective looking back.
Alan Grant on Batman and Beyond
Longtime Batman writer Alan Grant discusses his career in comics, from his beginnings in England through his tenure on the Dark Knight Detective, and on to his views on comics today.
Yaoi Love: An Interview with Makoto Tateno
For more than two decades, Makoto Tateno has been steaming up the world of manga with her bestselling stories. We talked to the writer about her work and what she sees ahead for the yaoi genre.
The Power of Fables: An Interview with Bill Willingham, Part 1
Bill Willingham discusses his work on Fables, including the new prose novel based on it, as well as the politics of the comics industry, his upcoming work on Justice Society, and more.
The Power of Fables: An Interview with Bill Willingham, Part 2
Bill Willingham discusses his work on Fables, including the new prose novel based on it, as well as the politics of the comics industry, his upcoming work on Justice Society, and more.
The Power of Fables: An Interview with Bill Willingham, Part 3
Bill Willingham discusses his work on Fables, including the new prose novel based on it, as well as the politics of the comics industry, his upcoming work on Justice Society, and more.
Black Book: Laurie Faria Stolarz Interviewed
Laurie Faria Stolarz is the acclaimed author of such young adult books as Bleed, Project 17, and the Touch series. In this interview, Stolarz explains what inspired her to create her latest work, Black Is for Beginnings, as a graphic novel companion to her Blue Is for Nightmares series and discusses how she was able to transition easily between the two formats. She also describes how her upbringing in Salem, Massachusetts, influenced her writing and research on the paranormal subjects in her work and reveals how she stays current on what’s important to her teen audiences.
New York Story: Kevin Baker's Luna Park
Bestselling prose author Kevin Baker breaks into comics with the brilliant and powerful Luna Park. Here, the writer shares what it was like to take on comics for the first time, how his story was inspired, and what he’d like to do next.
Batting 1,000
Tony Isabella shares his massive list of 1,000 Comic Books You Must Read. Here, he talks about what made the list, what didn’t, and much more.
Hat Trick
Return to Wonderland with author Frank Beddor! But be careful…it’s even more dangerous than you remember. Beddor discusses his imaginative series here.
Let's Get Physical
Physics professor James Kakalios is a comics fan through and through. Who better to write The Physics of Superheroes? We talked to him about his favorite stories, the best science bloopers in comics, and where they got it right.
Traveling Pants: An Interview with Eddie Campbell
For 30 years, popular artist Eddie Campbell has been documenting his life in a series of revealing autobiographical comics. More than just memoirs, these are powerful, critically acclaimed works of art, and now the majority of them have been collected in Alec: The Years Have Pants. Get to know Eddie even better in our interview.
Cannon Fodder
Writer-artist Kevin Cannon began creating an usual challenge to himself: the 24-hour story. A series of those events led to the creation of the swashbuckling, seafaring adventure Far Arden, and here he discusses his inspiration for this wildly inventive book.
The Wondrous Comics Life of Junot Díaz
Pulitzer Prize–winning author Junot Díaz discusses the role of color and racial politics in comics both in the past and today. In this compelling interview, he notes how far the format has come…and how it’s still got a long, long way to go.
The Big Picture
Josh Elder discusses his latest project, the nonprofit effort Reading With Pictures, which helps teachers incorporate comics into the classroom.
Photographic Evidence
Emmanuel Guibert followed up Alan’s War with the poignant and impactful nonfiction work The Photographer. Here, he talks about the entire process of creating this magnificent work, in all its painstaking detail.
Very Vlad Things
Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon, the masterminds behind the bestselling The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation, now take you back to the 15th century for a horror story unlike any other—Vlad the Impaler’s. Here’s what Jacobson and Colon had to say about the life that inspired the legend of Dracula.
Breathed in Bloom
Berkeley Breathed, the man behind Opus, Bill the Cat, Milo Bloom, Steve Dallas, and so many more of our favorite characters from the '80s, talks about his life creating Bloom County and what it means to look back on it now.
Spending Time in the Fairy World
Holly Black has just released the second book in her Good Neighbors trilogy, Kith. With a year-long space between the release of each of the books (the final book, Kind, will be out in October of 2010), fans have a long wait for their fix, but it’s worth it.
The Art of Ball Peen Hammer: Talking with George O'Connor
One of the most buzzed about books of the fall, Ball Peen Hammer, also contains some of the most stylized artwork. We talked to George about how he came to work on this powerful new book.
Behind Forty-Five: A Talk with Andi Ewington
An ambitious project from writer Andi Ewington brings together the work of 45 different artists in one book. Here, the author discusses the scope of this huge project.
Good and Evil: An Interview with Mark Waid
Comics legend Mark Waid discusses his ongoing Irredeemable series, his incredible body of past comics work, and what’s in store next.
Days of Thunder: An Interview with Dwight Jon Zimmerman
With a remarkably thorough way of explaining the entire scope of Vietnam, Dwight Jon Zimmerman has tackled a seemingly insurmountable project and made it so much more than a simple comic retelling of the war. The Vietnam War: A Graphic History is a history lesson that truly teaches the depth of its subject.
Apocalypse Now
Set in a future world that’s as bleak as it is disturbing, Adam Rapp’s Ball Peen Hammer is an unsettling piece of work…but also compelling and fascinating. The man behind the story talks about the creation of this dark tale.
Father Figure
Laurie Sandell’s father was always a mystery. Slightly dangerous, confusing, but utterly brilliant, he seemingly could talk his way into and out of anything. But who and what was he truly? Sandell set out to find out the truth.
Worlds Beyond
Brian Fies asks a very intriguing question: Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow? That’s the world we were promised so many decades ago, and the world we worked so hard to achieve. We talked with Brian to find out where that world is now.
Alex Eckman-Lawn: The Artist at Work
Talented artist Alex Eckman-Lawn discusses his inspirations as a comics artist and how he came to illustrate the new noir series Awakening—and as a bonus, he walks us through the creation process by showing how he created the artwork for one of the pages of the book. Step inside the artist’s mind and see the creative process through his eyes.
The Mouse Roars
Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm talked to GNR about how they work together on their bestselling Babymouse series, how the books came about, and what’s next for their tiny protagonist.
Small Steps
David Small is an award-winning children's book author, but he'll soon be known for his staunch graphic memoir Stitches, a stunning exploration of his childhood. With a cold and distant mother and a father who subjected him to bizarre experiments, Small escaped his childhood relatively intact, but without one of his vocal cords. Here, he explains why the time was right for him to tell his story now.
Kazu Kibuishi's Magical Kingdom
Following the success of his highly praised Flight series of anthologies, writer and artist Kazu Kibuishi got busy creating Amulet, one of the most fun and creative fantasy stories to come down the pike in ages. Here he discusses both and details what’s in store for each.
Beating the Forecast
Josh Neufeld talks about his experiences helping people recover from the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In the lives of seven remarkable people he met in New Orleans, he was able to create a classic work that captures the horror of what the victims went through—and how they survived.
Walking on Air
The visionary creator behind Air and Cairo discusses her seamless world of the magic and the mundane and how they all blend together on her outstanding new series.
The Scott Christian Sava Chronicles
When Scott Christian Sava sets out to write a graphic novel, he starts with a simple concept and asks “What would happen if…” The results are a series of cheery, self-contained children’s books that each revolve around an idea, often spelled out in the title: Pet Robots, Gary and the Pirate, My Grandparents Are Secret Agents.
War Stories
When C. Tyler went looking for her father’s past, his story of his experiences in World War II, she found a wall built up around him. With her father not wanting to share what he went through, Tyler thought that part of his life would be lost to history forever. Until one day he opened up. Here, she discusses how that day turned into the incredible memoir You’ll Never Know.
A Dork Is Born
Rachel Renée Russell is putting dorks on the map with her hilarious and charming new kids’ series Dork Diaries, starring the irrepressible Nikki Maxwell, unlikely eighth-grade star. Here, Rachel discusses how Nikki and the series came about—and why it has hit so big.
Jeremy Love's American Style
Writer and artist Jeremy Love discusses his beautifully done series Bayou and explains its historical roots, as well as his inspiration for creating the story.
Passion Under the Sun
Nicole Chaison finds a little inspiration from Joseph Campbell, a superstar football player, and the epic battles of heroes throughout history. But what she makes of that inspiration is instead one of the funniest memoirs out there.
Lunch Is Served
Jarrett J. Krosoczka created a fun new kids’ character with Lunch Lady, his heroine du jour for solving classic school crimes.
Flood Lines
Writer A. David Lewis explains how he and his coauthor came to be inspired by the many flood myths that permeate so many different human cultures, and how that inspiration in turn led to the gorgeous comic series Some New Kind of Slaughter.
Making UDON
UDON’s manga line recently debuted, making a huge impact with its new releases, translations of popular Japanese manga aimed specifically at kids ages 7 to 12. This long-ignored market is getting some special attention with this new line.
The Rules According to Jimmy
Jimmy Gownley and his fun-filled creation Amelia have taken the world by storm. First as a self-publishing phenomenon, and now as a release from a major publisher. He gives us the scoop on where Amelia came from and where she’s going next, as well as an exclusive on what the next volume will be!
Frankie in Earnest
Young readers are in a Pickle and loving it. Eric Wight’s funny series is catching on with beginning readers, and we caught up with him to ask him how he created the character and the books.
The Song Remains the Same
Small presses face innumerable challenges starting out today. One indie owner, Rachel Dukes of Poseur Ink, discusses the ups and downs of running a small press, as well as her new anthology, Side B, in this interview.
A Return to the Classics
Steve Saffel edited the massive new collection The Best of Simon and Kirby, a behemoth and fitting tribute to two of the most influential legends the industry has ever seen. It can’t have been easy. Here’s what went into this labor of love.
The Long and Winding Career of Arthur Suydam
One of the most storied creators in comics, as well as music and film, Arthur Suydam has been creating and interpreting comics characters for decades. With a penchant for larger-than-life drawings (and specializing in zombies), Suydam is a unique and eye-catching illustrator. We talked to him about his creations Cholly & Flytrap and his career in the industry.
The Claws Come Out: Chris Claremont and Matthew K. Manning on Wolverine
Two writers discuss the past, present, and future of Wolverine, one of the truly great characters in comics. Legendary X-Men writer Chris Claremont and Wolverine expert Matthew K. Manning answer our questions about Logan.
A Force to Be Reckoned With
Michelle Obama, Sarah Palin, and Hillary Clinton could probably not be any more different, but all three of them have had their life stories turned into Female Force comics. The company’s president Darren G. Davis discusses his company and its success in this interview.
Blast from the Past: Rick Geary’s History in the Making
Rick Geary has an eye on the past, but with a very modern sensibility. That's what's helped him create some very exciting adventures and mysteries that all have historically accurate ties, including The Complete Adventures of Blanche.
C.M. Butzer Discusses Gettysburg
C.M. Butzer worked an astounding amount of research into an extraordinary visual treat, Gettysburg: The Graphic Novel. Going to great lengths to pay tribute to this moment in our national history, he’s created a unique historical work in the graphic format.
Snikt!—Barry Lyga Presents Wolverine from Another Point of View
It’s a new day at Professor Xavier’s school for mutants, and one new recruit is about to get an eyeful—which he’s more than happy to share with us through his blog. Writer Barry Lyga gives us the scoop on Wolverine: Worst Day Ever. Plus, take a look inside the book!
Smile Like You Mean It
The long-awaited The Eternal Smile, new from Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim, is finally here. Meet the two creators behind the book in this interview and learn how the two friends decided to work together—and whether their friendship can survive a Star Wars vs. Star Trek debate.
School Days: Ariel Schrag Discusses Likewise
Ariel Schrag documented her high-school years in four raw, unflinching memoirs. With the release of the fourth and final edition, Likewise, which chronicles her senior year, she talks about what it’s like to share your coming-of-age with the world.
Corporate Rock and Comics Are for Suckers: An Interview with Mitch Clem
Mitch Clem started Nothing Nice to Say, a webcomic about “the awesomeness and the absurdity” of the punk rock scene, back in 2002. Here he talks about the recently released anthology of his popular and controversial series.
Surrogate Father
Author Robert Venditti discusses the inspiration behind his bleak sci-fi book The Surrogates. Plus, we give you a look inside the upcoming sequel!
Looking Back with Alan Davis
For the past quarter of a century, Alan Davis has been one of the most recognized and popular comics artists. Arriving in the States in the mid-'80s as part of the British Invasion of comics, he went on to take part in classic books and characters. In this interview, he looks back on that career and where it's brought him.
From Comics to Music and Back Again
Gerard Way may be best known for his immensely successful band My Chemical Romance, which has constantly reinvented its sound, finding greater and greater commercial success and picking up a Grammy in 2008, but his true passion, going all the way back to his childhood, is comics.
Mister M: A Career Retrospective with Dean Motter
Dean Motter gives us a retrospective of his fascinating career in this in-depth interview. Talking about everything from his pivotal Mister X series to his work on properties like Batman and The Prisoner, he opens up about the secrets behind his work, his collaborators, and his design and writing inspirations.
A Return to Dreaming
David B., the bestselling creator of Epileptic, shows you the vivid power of dreams in his latest, Nocturnal Cospiracies. Dreamland is a strange and dangerous place in these short stories.
Whole Hearted
Step inside the frightening, surprising, and bizarre world concocted in the minds of two teenage stepsiblings. Nate Powell introduces you to a decidedly twisted and engrossing experience in Swallow Me Whole, and here he discusses how it all came about.
Robots, Their Programming and How to Break into the Business
In a business that's tough to break into, and more difficult to get noticed in, some creators opt to self-publish. Felix Tannenbaum is one such creator. He talks here about what it took to get his book, Chronicles of Some Made, printed (and even distributed), with a little help from the Xeric Foundation.
Reliving History
As the inauguration approaches, we take a look back at the amazing year that just was with Dan Goldman, illustrator of 08.
Interview with Author Peter David and Stephen King's Historian Robin Furth on Journey to the Dark Tower
Stephen King’s Dark Tower series has been reborn in a best-selling graphic novel series from celebrated comics author Peter David and King historian and assistant Robin Furth. Here, they talk about the series’ past, present, and future.
Art Spiegelman and His Breakdowns: The GNR Interview
It’s been 30 years since a young, struggling, and virtually unknown comics artist named Art Spiegelman decided to publish Breakdowns, a massive retrospective of the work he’d done in the six years prior. Today, the reemergence of Breakdowns is an event, a cultural touchstone from a Pulitzer Prize-winning artist. Back then, it was an ambitious, risky, and, Spiegelman freely admits, unasked for.
Q&A with Jeff Smith, Creator of Bone
Artist and author Jeff Smith is the creator of the Bone series, which has been hailed as one of the 10 greatest graphic novels of all time. Here, he recalls the origins of his seminal work.
Jessica Abel and Matt Madden, Authors of Drawing Words & Writing Pictures, Want You to Be Creative Too
Between the two of them, Jessica Abel and Matt Madden have created numerous graphic novels and comic series, including Mirror, Window, Soundtrack, Black Candy, and Odds Off. This year, they published an instructional guide on writing graphic novels called Drawing Words & Writing Pictures, based on classes they teach at Manhattan’s School of Visual Arts. In this interview, they explain what inspired them to write this textbook and highlight what both aspiring cartoonists and artists in general will be able to take away from these lessons.
Meet Lucy Knisley, Author of French Milk
The author of French Milk discusses life after France and how her book went from a self-published travelogue to a bestseller from a major publisher.
Interview with David Heatley, the Author of My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down
David Heatley turns the art of the comics memoir on its ear with My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down. The book is not only frank and honest, but also challenging. In this interview, Heatley describes the process of creating the book, how it changed his life, and how reaction to it has somewhat separated him from the comics community.
