Seen: True Stories of Marginalized Trailblazers

I have noted that these days are the Golden Age of Comics, as there are so many different genres, topics, and audiences being catered to by publishers. I am surprised not only what's out there but also what I miss, which includes this relatively new series of nonfiction graphic novels aimed at upper elementary readers. Thus far, there are two books in Seen: True Stories of Marginalized Trailblazers, one published in 2020 and the other this year. I like their size, small enough to pop into a pocket, and price-point, $5.99. They also have pretty extensive teaching guides, questions, and prompts as back matter, which seems to promote these books for classroom use. "But are they any good?" you might ask. Stick around and see what I think!

The first book from this series focuses on Edmonia Lewis, an internationally-renowned sculptor of mixed heritage. She was born in upsate New York, to a Mississagua Ojibwe mother and African-American father, and she lived from 1847-1907. She learned to be an artisan from her mother's side of the family, making and selling shoes and other household items.

While contending with much adversity in terms of family tragedies, racism, and sexism, she attended school and university, both which were not really promoted for women, let alone Black women. She also ended up being trained in sculpture, though she had to travel to Italy to become established. One of her most acclaimed pieces, The Death of Cleopatra, is heavily featured here. To be honest, I had never heard of her before I read this book, and I hope it will work to make her less obscure.

This book was a collaboration between relative newcomers to the comics field, writer Jasmine Walls and artist Bex Glendining. They both speak about their work on this book in this interview.

The reviews I have read about this book have been mixed. Sara Smith wrote that she did not "feel that the creators have embraced the graphic narrative format, but that this was a more complex picture book." Jennifer Wharton wrote, "The unique subject matter, accessible art, and extensive resources for teaching in the back (they include educational standards, a multiplicity of questions on the art and subject, and educational activities) should make this a stand-out title."

Rachel Carson, the subject of the second biography in this series, was more well known to me. She was the author of Silent Spring, a book that examined the harmful effects of pesticides, and a key early figure in the environmentalist movement. She started her career as a marine biologist and writer who spent a long term at the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She published multiple books about biology and the environment, and she ended up becoming a very important public intellectual who helped direct government policy. 

This book was a collaboration between writer Birdie Willis and artist Rii Abrego. In terms of comics, Willis has written a number of Over the Garden Wall stories. Abrego has drawn a number of comics for various publishers and has also drawn a graphic novel titled The Sprite and the Gardener due to be published later this year.

Most of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. In a starred review for Booklist, Sarah Rice called it "an ideal choice for tweens and teens with an interest in science or anyone looking for an introduction to Carson." As of this review, it has a 4 (out of 5) star rating on Goodreads.

Looking at both books shows some obvious commonalities. Both extensively lean on narration and captions to convey information. At times, this makes it feel like the words are more important than the illustrations in steering the story, and that these are more picture books than graphic novels. Still, I really like the illustrations in both, and I feel that they would be engaging for younger readers.

Both books contain a lot of information, but they vary in how much they convey personality. In addition to her many accomplishments, the Rachel Carson book also pays particular attention to her lifelong relationship to Dorothy Freeman, who was her neighbor and frequent correspondent. Their friendship is a close one, which may or may not have been romantic. This book captures that ambiguity, especially in a few wordless sequences where a good deal of emotion is implied. I think this second book did a better job of depicting Carson as a person. In the Edmonia Lewis book, her playful, comedic side is described a number of times but never really shown. The different time periods and existing primary documents mean that there is only so much to draw from, and the result is that one book feels a bit more personal than the other.

Both books are pocket-sized, and relatively inexpensive for color graphic novels. They are pretty short, about 60 pages each, and with all the teaching material built into the books, I feel like these might have been published to be bought up and used as class sets. Certainly, the subjects of these books would are worthy of study, and these books would be a handy way for both students and teachers who might be unfamiliar with the format of graphic novels to get acquainted with it. I am pretty eager to see if this series continues, and who else might be featured in future volumes.

Both books were published by BOOM! Box, and they offer more info about them here and here.

The Way of the Hive

 

The Way of the Hive was originally published as Clan Apis more than 20 years ago, first as five comic books, then as a collected trade paperback, and it holds up incredibly well. It tells the tale of a young bee Nyuki, who grows from a larva under the tutelage of an older bee named Dvorah. It's a tale full of adventure, humor, and also some sadness, as you can read in my original, glowing review here. 

This updated edition is even better, as it is published in color, and features some touched-up artwork. If you want to learn about bees, including their lifespans, behaviors, or other biological information, this is the book for you. It's engaging, educational, and, best of all, entertaining. I consider it a must-have for a wide age range of readers.

This book's author Jay Hosler is a professor at Juniata College. He's published multiple comics and graphic novels about biology and evolution, including Last of the Sandwalkers, The Sandwalk Adventures, and Evolution: The Story of Life on Earth. He speaks about the reissue of this book in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read about this edition have sung its praises. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews summed it up in one word, "Sublime." Johanna Draper Carlson called it "timeless."

The Way of the Hive was published by Harper Collins, and they offer more info about it here.

Not A Place To Visit

 

Earth Day is coming up soon, and I could think of no better book to review at this time than this great collection of visual essays Not A Place To Visit. All of the works in these pages explore the environment and how people have transformed it (usually for the worse). All of these essays have some basis in the author's experiences, from his childhood in Colorado, when he lead a privileged life due to his parents both being employed by the petroleum industry.

To his later life when he takes on all sorts of jobs, including working on a paddlewheel cruise ship on the Columbia River, catering to wealthy tourists.

Among the many topics he covers in these essays are the effects of fracking, dams, earthquakes, and floods. He also looks at the impact of industry on the salmon population and California’s Salton Sea. The illustrations are straight-forward and bold, a combination of black & white and color images rendered in pencils. They suit the text passages very well, and both combine to convey a train of thought about how changes in the western United States reflect those in the entire country and also the world. 

All of these considerations have serious implications for the future of how people will have to adapt, but I also appreciated how the past is not shown to be simply "the good old days." Humans have always had some sort of impact on the Earth and its ecosystems, only that the affordances of contemporary technology have hastened and heightened these effects. Also, there are certain trajectories that are tied to capitalism, with those from lower SES groups feeling the brunt of pollution and environmental change. This book is not only informative, it is important for our potential future on Earth.

Not A Place to Visit was created by T. Edward Bak. He has created a number of comics over the past decades, with many appearing in prominent anthologies and sites like The Nib. He has also worked on a longer work, Wild Man, The Natural History of Georg Wilhelm Steller. He speaks about his many comics projects in this expansive interview.

The reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Publishers Weekly called it a "quiet but inspiring dispatch." John Seven wrote that he appreciated Bak's combination of commentary and science and opined that this book "is an excellent primer to where he might be headed and I hope he gets the chance to move further in that direction because I think comics could benefit from his voice." This book is currently rated 4.04 (out of 5) stars on Goodreads.

Not A Place To Visit was published by Floating World Comics, and they offer a preview and more info about it here. Bak also has a Patreon here.

Science Comics: Rocks and Minerals: Geology from Caverns to the Cosmos

 

Earth Day is approaching, so why not review a book about what makes up the Earth? Science Comics: Rocks and Minerals: Geology from Caverns to the Cosmos contains so much information and covers a lot of ground (ha!). The story framework here focuses on two characters, Sedona, a seasoned geologist who wrangles geodes and crystals, and Wally, a young man who is eager to be her assistant and also discover rare, expensive, and exceptional rocks. 

Sedona in action!

The story begins when he brings a rock to her and he asks her what it is. Her response begins way back at the Big Bang and then covers the formation of elements, stars, and planets. Her tale also touches on volcanoes, plate tectonics, erosion, weathering, geologic ages, the three types of rocks, as well as relative and radioactive dating. The amount of sheer information in this book is staggering, but it is presented in an engaging, relatively breezy way because of expert storytelling. Many pages also resemble scientific diagrams and maps, making this book a content area teacher's dream.

I've read almost all of the books in the Science Comics series, and this one is as terrific as some of the best entries. I was not really surprised by that, as it was written and drawn by Andy Hirsch, who has also created books on Dogs, Cats, and Trees for the series. You can check out some of his drawing process in this video.

All the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. In a starred review from School Library Journal, John Peters summed up, " A rock-solid review for serious students of our planet’s story, infused with humor and wonder." Sara Smith wrote, "The coloring is beautiful and bright, and some of the illustrations of the different rock formations and minerals reminds me what I liked about them as a kid."

Science Comics: Rocks and Minerals: Geology from Caverns to the Cosmos was published by First Second, and they offer a preview and more about it here.

Some Recent Silver Sprocket Publications

In this time of social distancing and no comics conventions, I have been checking out books from various small, independent presses whenever I can. That's how I came upon the two titles I am reviewing today, from one of my favorite presses Silver Sprocket.

That Full Moon Feeling is a queer, supernatural, love story about a witch and a werewolf who meet on a dating app. They go on a series of dates, but each one ends in disasters, like being attacked by a swamp monster, a necromancer's army of skeletons, disembodied hands, or giant praying mantises. Somehow, despite all these adversities (or maybe because of them?), they find a connection.

I loved this story, as it is very sweet without being cloying. I found a lot to empathize with a situation where two people just figure out that they are right for each other, and I loved the amount of character work done throughout the book. Both Suzy (the witch) and Jada (the werewolf) are unique, and I found it easy to fall in love with both characters. Also, although this book is clearly set in a fantasy realm, it is an authentic and refreshing take on contemporary romance. 

The artwork complemented the story perfectly, with characters being imbued with lots of heart and emotion. Also, there is a lot of delight in the various monsters and other horrific denizens of this world, not to mention that animal familiars that Suzy associates with. In addition to all the fun imagery, there is also an interesting incorporation of technology in the storytelling, like the interactions on the dating app, texting, and the various group messages that Jada receives from her pack.

This book's creator Ashley Robin Franklin also has published a number of other comics, including the horror/romance tale One Million Tiny Fires. She discusses her career and work on That Full Moon Feeling in this interview.

All of the reviews of this book have found it delightful. Ryan C. wrote that it "lithely threads the needle between two genres that are by and large of little interest to me, specifically romantic comedy and the supernatural, yet nevertheless managed to warm my cynical middle-aged cis white male heart and plant an entirely unforced smile on my face for the duration of its 64 pages." David Charles Bitterbaum called it "a stupendous comic. It is very sweet, fantastically illustrated, and immensely cute."

You can find more info and a preview of That Full Moon Feeling here.

I was way more familiar with this creator's work, as Matt Lubchansky is an Associate Editor and regular contributor to The Nib, so I see a lot of their work regularly. The Antifa Super-Soldier Cookbook is a hilarious, long-form satire about Max Marx, a radical who gets a huge call-up from Antifa. Because of his past successes, the secret council selects him to become a super-soldier.

I love how this book amplifies a paranoid conservative conspiracy theory that what is a loose affiliation of political activists is really a covert, highly organized organization along the lines of COBRA. Their various training initiatives and sabotage operations are shown in nefariously absurd detail, but underlying the silliness is the serious counterpoint that in the police/political realm, such action is actually happening. I found much to laugh at in this book, but the humor is tempered with an edge about what is occurring in our country/world today.

Well suiting its subject matter, the artwork in this book is appropriately over-the-top, with shady police officers, fantastical inventions, and lots of bombastic action. I especially adored all the nifty gadgets built into Max's new robotic body. This book is an excellent satire that balances ridiculous and outrageous imagery with sobering social commentary.

The reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Brett Schenker called it "a solid satire that has fun with the absurd reality some people live in." Ryan C. wrote about it coming from a specific political stance, opining "If...you’re a rational and well-adjusted human being, then you’ll probably get a solid kick out of it."

Also, for those interested, Lubchansky speaks more about this book and their career in this interview.

You can find a preview and more info about The Antifa Super-Soldier Cookbook here.

Because of profanity and adult themes, I recommend both of these books for more mature readers.

Impossible Jones: Grin & Gritty!

 

Impossible Jones: Grin and Gritty! is a comic I supported via Kickstarter, and I am happy to have just read the book. It is a fun superhero tale about a thief named Isabelle who gets caught in some weird teleportation gizmo on a job, and days later she reappears altered, now with superpowers. She is a sort of combination of Plastic Man and Harley Quinn, and over the course of this book she learns more about her abilities and how to use them. She also has a pretty quick sense of humor, so although she experiences lots of danger she is pretty snarky about it all.

Impossible Jones can change her shape and appearance, which comes in handy for lots of the scrapes she finds herself in. Her first inclination is to go after her crew to get revenge for what happened to her, and as a result, she inadvertently gets affiliated with the local superheros of New Hope City. They are a motley bunch that include figures such as the Polecat, Even Steven, and Captain Lightning. Still not altogether altruistic, she thinks that the hero angle will provide her the perfect cover for occasional thefts, but she keeps getting thwarted by the schemes of villains like Mr. (Gila) Monster, Homewrecker, The Saint of Knives, and holiday-themed thief Holly Daze. 

As you can probably tell from this description, these comics are relatively light-hearted, action-dramas reminiscent of classic superhero tales. I would not call this book all ages, though my 5-year-old was very curious about it and kept sneaking over my shoulder to read it along with me. I think that the stories are well told, the world-building solid, and the characters appropriately colorful and interesting. I am particularly intrigued to see what will come of Even Steven, an enigmatic character who seems to be incredibly powerful and visually inspired by Steve Ditko-created characters like The Question. 

There were many moving parts in this book, and I found each of the four chapters to be exciting, engaging, and suspenseful. The ending is entirely open-ended, begging for more tales to be told in this universe. Impossible Jones is good, mostly clean, superheroic fun.

The main creators involved with this book are writer Karl Kesel and artist David Hahn. Kesel is a veteran of the comics industry since the 1980s as a writer and inker, having done the majority of his work at DC Comics on characters like Superman and Harley Quinn. Hahn is another comics veteran, best known for his work on the Bite Club series as well as Batman '66. Both creators speak about their collaboration on Impossible Jones in this interview.

I was not able to find many reviews for this book, but what I did find has been very positive. Edo Bosner wrote in the most direct way, “It’s really fun, you should read it.” It currently has a 4.6 (of of 5) star rating on Goodreads.

Impossible Jones: Grin & Gritty! was published by Panic Button Press, and they offer more info about it here. There is a Kickstarter for a follow-up comic book in this series happening right now.