Sally here with words and images from Lynda Barry, Hilda Terry, Jillian Tamaki and Eleanor Davis, and Huda Fahmy – plus much more!
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The National Cartoonists Society announced the finalists for its annual Reuben Award for outstanding cartoonist of the year. Lynda Barry is once again on the list of 5 finalists, as well as Hilary B. Price (and Glen Kean, Stephan Pastis, and Mark Tatulli.) The Washington Post has more details HERE. Lynda Barry’s comments regarding the nomination are great:
” “My personal reaction as a cartoonist is a feeling-combo of honored, giddy and delighted,” Barry says of the Reuben nomination. “My deeper reaction as a professor … is much more than that. Showing people how to make comics and tell their stories by drawing and writing things by hand on paper in a way that is nondigital, non-searchable, non-‘scrapeable’ or monetizable now feels like something of a revolutionary act. Being a cartoonist and being recognized as a cartoonist means more to me now than it ever has.“
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Speaking of the National Cartoonists Society, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund wrote about some of the first women to be recognized by the Society. Hilda Terry was the first women to be nominated to join (by her husband, Gregory D’Alessio) in 1950, but she had to fight a fair amount of push back from the organization, which was historically all men. Discovering nothing in the rules that prevented women from joining, Terry wrote a biting letter which demanded that the Society either change its name to “National MEN Cartoonists Society”, or admit women. With the support of folks like Milton Caniff and Al Capp, Terry was eventually recognized by the Society, along with Edwina Dumm, and Barbara Shermund. Terry quickly set about nominating other women and years later won an award for animation from the Society.
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Jillian Tamaki sat down via DM with Eleanor Davis (for The Comics Journal) and discussed Davis’ most recent book, Why Art?, her activism, her current project (a new 100+ page graphic novel!!), and a lot more. I found one part of the interview particularly interesting, and it contributed to the ongoing conversation in my head about the different way that women navigate life and the creative process:
“Tamaki: I realized that we were doing that very stereotypical “woman” thing of praising each others work while criticizing our own haha. If we really want to be taken seriously we should be icy ice queens who just pontificate and never explain shit or express any doubt!
Davis: Oh my gosh, my mom said a very interesting thing. [I had just met Eleanor’s parents at a book festival in Arizona. -JT] When talking about meeting you, she said “It’s so nice that you and Jillian can be friends while at the same time you’re competitors.” But it’s never occurred to me that we could be competitors! I aspire to keep up with you artistically, but as far as “success” goes, mostly I think of it being you and me and Sophia [Foster-Dimino] & Gabrielle [Bell] and all the other women against the world, against history, against this raging current that’s pummeling all of us.
Oh goodness, and when you cite people like that it’s like, their individual things are so rich that it’s like comparing… planets. I am capable of really horrible jealousy but that’s not how it manifests, anyway.
Haha me too – I think I’m just in a mood right now, like, “competitive? me? never!” when really I’m violently competitive in a lot of ways. But luckily with the women artists who I think of as my crew (peers? contemporaries?), I’ve narcissistically chosen to consider y’alls achievements and success as also being my own somehow.“
Read the rest of the conversation HERE.
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Web comics are a fascinating platform for sharing stories, making connections, and finding ways to relate to one another. For Huda Fahmy, her Instagram comic – Yes, I’m Hot in This – is a way to deal with the misconceptions she faces on a daily basis as a woman who wears a hijab. The Huffington Post reports:
“American Muslim women who wear the hijab often experience bigotry and hate. It’s important to tell their stories…
“Muslim women don’t often get a platform to tell our stories or share the silly ― sometimes stressful ― idiosyncrasies of our day-to-day lives,” [Fahmy] said. “
Figuring it out as she goes, Fahmy has been drawing and posting her comic for a year now and has gained thousands of followers, who revel in her humorous look at her “mundane yet meaningful” life. Read more about Huda Fahmy HERE – and follow her on Instagram.
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- MoCCA is going on this weekend in Manhattan – among many workshops and other offerings is the event above, featuring Kriota Willberg, Lauren Weinstein, and Kate Lacour talking “pathology, anatomy and BODIES“.
- Forbes has an article about Ellen Forney and her book Rock Steady: Brilliant Advice from My Bipolar Life – read it HERE.
- Chicago Magazine chats with Nicole Hollander about her new memoir, We Ate Wonder Bread.
- GG has been interviewed and her latest comic I’m Not Here has been reviewed a number of places recently – new interview on The Comics Journal HERE; review on High-Low HERE and on The Hidden Hipsters HERE.
- Rob Clough takes a look at Anna Haifisch‘s Von Spatz on High-Low – read the review HERE.
- The Comics Beat has a preview of Ann Nocenti and David Aja’s new project – The Seeds – coming soon from Dark Horse’s imprint Berger Books – check it out HERE.
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Announcing the Spring Semester of thee Santoro Correspondence Course for Comic Book Makers
8 weeks! $500 bux! 10 spots available!
Rolling start date because of spring break – start NOW!
Deadline to apply is April 12th.
Read all about the course HERE and email santoroschool@gmail.com for more details or to apply.
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Suzy and Cecil – 4-6-2018 – by Gabriella Tito
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Joanie and Jordie – 4-6-2018 – by Caleb Orecchio