rutu modan – Comicsgirl https://www.comicsgirl.com Thu, 18 Dec 2014 02:06:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://www.comicsgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/cropped-EdenMiller2017-1-32x32.jpg rutu modan – Comicsgirl https://www.comicsgirl.com 32 32 59683043 Library Con at Petworth Neighborhood Library & Comics by Women https://www.comicsgirl.com/2014/08/03/library-con-at-petworth-neighborhood-library-comics-by-women/ Sun, 03 Aug 2014 18:32:16 +0000 http://www.comicsgirl.com/?p=4161 library-conYesterday, I was a speaker at Library Con at the Petworth Neighborhood Library. It was a small, mostly family-oriented event but well-organized and fun. I am always going to be a fan of events that make comics — of all genres and styles — more accessible to more people.

I first saw Jacob Mazer of Animal Kingdom Publishing discuss his work and the anthology of comics, prose, poetry and criticism he edits. It’s still a young publication, but I definitely think there’s room in the world for more things like this, allowing comics to reach audiences they may not otherwise. Not everything in the second issue is to my tastes, but there is some thought-provoking work in it.

Then I saw Gareth Hinds, whose adaptation of Romeo and Juliet came out last year. He talked about always loving to draw as a child and comics ended up coming naturally to him. He worked in video games for a long time before quitting to create graphic novels full-time. He broke down his process for each book and I was interested to hear he changes techniques and styles for each specific book. He also spoke about the challenges of adapting classic literature.

After that, it was my turn. I talked about comics by women (what else?) and I think it went well for it being such a big topic. My concept was not to give history but offer up titles that people can buy right now. I had a good discussion with the attendees too.

You can download my PowerPoint presentation or a PDF of it, but I’ve also created a list of the creators and titles I discussed below (with links to their websites where appropriate).

I have reviewed some of these books and written more about some of these creators. You should be able to find what you need through the tags.

History/background

 lumberjanesMainstream: Superheroes

Mainstream: Sci-fi/Fantasy

Children and Young Adult Comics

marblesAutobiographical

Manga

  • Kyoko Okazaki: Pink, Helter Skelter
  • Moto Hagio: A Drunken Dream, The Heart of Thomas
  • Takako Shimura: Wandering Son
  • Moyoco Anno: In Clothes Called Fat, Insufficient Direction

UK, Europe and Around the World

  • Mary Talbot: The Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes, Sally Heathcoate: Suffragette
  • Isabel Greenberg: Encyclopedia of Early Earth
  • Julie Maroh: Blue is the Warmest Color
  • Marguerite Abouet: Aya series
  • Rutu Modan: Exit Wounds, The Property

strong-femaleOnline comics

Minicomics & cutting-edge creators

Through the WoodsPublishers, groups and events

Top Picks of Comics by Women for 2014

]]> 4161 The D.C. Area Comics Scene for Oct. 1 https://www.comicsgirl.com/2013/10/01/the-d-c-area-comics-scene-for-oct-1/ Tue, 01 Oct 2013 22:32:32 +0000 http://www.comicsgirl.com/?p=3957 DC Conspiracy
Comics Making Studio with Members of the DC Conspiracy at the Artisphere, Sept. 21

News/reviews/interviews: 

Event coverage:

Multimedia:

Debut comic:

Kickstarter:

Events:

Have comic news or events related to the D.C. area to share? Email me by 4 p.m. Tuesday. More information is here.

]]> 3957 The D.C. Area Comics Scene for Sept. 3 https://www.comicsgirl.com/2013/09/03/the-d-c-area-comics-scene-for-sept-3/ Tue, 03 Sep 2013 21:38:47 +0000 http://www.comicsgirl.com/?p=3935 News/reviews/interviews:

New releases:

Events:

Have comic news or events related to the D.C. area to share? Email me by 4 p.m. Tuesday. More information is here.

]]> 3935 Review: Exit Wounds https://www.comicsgirl.com/2009/02/15/review-exit-wounds/ Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:55:23 +0000 http://www.comicsgirl.com/?p=726
Exit Wounds HC
But at tfaw.com

It took me much too long to get to Rutu Modan’s Exit Wounds. I meant no disrespect to her or her book, though.

At SPX 2007, this book had recently came out and everyone was raving about it and how she was doing watercolor paintings in people’s copies of it and just generally being awesome. Being overwhelmed and out of money, I didn’t buy it.

And while I never forgot about it, in the year or so since, I also never quite getting around to buying it. But that’s where the library comes in.

Exit Wounds is the sort of comic (or “graphic novel” if you prefer to call it that) that you give to people who aren’t sold on the medium. This is a story for grown-ups. It’s not humorless or overtly dark, but it reminds me of what my mom would say when I’d ask her what certain movies were about when I was a kid.

This is a book about people.

Koby, a Tel Aviv taxi driver, gets mixed up in a woman named Numi’s obsession with finding his father — her lover — who may have been killed in a terrorist attack. As the story unfolds, both Koby and Numi begin to realize how little they knew of Koby’s father, Gabriel. Gabriel’s presence looms over the entire book, even though he never once appears.

Koby harbors a lot of anger toward his father; Numi, for her part, seems to have idealized the man. As they search for the man that they both actually knew little about, they do connect with each other. It’s a painful and beautiful journey. Modan never heightens the drama for effect — she’s just telling a story. The raw moments are always quietly told and Modan doesn’t shy away from the preposterous humor of these character’s lives.

Modan’s style of art here is clean and simple but still emotional, reminiscent the European ligne claire style. Her muted color palette gives the book a certain amount of warmth. She has a lovely eye for people and facial expressions, making this book engrossing. I loved getting to know both Koby and Numi and I want the best for the both of them, whatever their futures may hold.

I’d actually love to see this made into a movie (provided, of course, it was done right). It’s a beautiful story and I think one that would do well on screen.

Buy this for yourself. Buy it for your friends, comic-book doubters or otherwise. I really can’t wait to see what Rutu Modan does next.

]]> 726