Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Girly comics

A writers' site that I frequent has a list of links for many well-known comic book writers' and artists' web pages. It's a very comprehensive list, except for one thing: it's all guys. Out of the 49 names listed, there's not a single lady creator. Comics has long been considered an old boys' club, but that's hardly the case anymore. I compiled my own list of female comic creators, and I'd thought I'd post it here as well as on the forum (but here you get added commentary! Whooo!)

Alison Bechdel http://dykestowatchoutfor.com/

I can't believe I only recently discovered Alison Bechdel. 'Dykes to Watch Out For' is one of the most addictive comics I have ever read. It's like printed crack. 'Fun Home' is my new barometer for autobiographical comics. the layouts and storytelling in it are just astounding.

Faith Erin Hicks http://www.faitherinhicks.com/

FEH's art is fun and clear, ditto for her story-telling. She manages to use geek cliches (ZOMBIES!) to her advantage rather than as a cheap way to pander to her readers.

Hope Larson http://hopelarson.com/

Hope Larson has a whimsical but solid style. I like how she uses gutters (aka the space between panels, not actual sewer gutters).

Kate Beaton http://www.harkavagrant.com/

You like history? Kate Beaton loves history so much she'd marry it. Or at least draw a very cool webcomic about it.

Madeleine Rosca http://clockwork7.deviantart.com/

So cute, so creepy. I just learned that there is an omnibus edition for 'Hollow Fields,' which I plan to get my mitts on as soon as I can.

Amy Reeder Hadley http://www.tentopet.com/
Christy Lijewski http://nyanko-chan.deviantart.com/
Svetlana Chmakova http://www.svetlania.com/
Rivkah http: www.rivkah.com/about/
Queenie Chan http://www.queeniechan.com/

Tokyopop has (rightly) gotten a lot of flack in the past for how they treated English language creators, but one of the good things they did was propel a lot of female creators to the forefront of this new wave of manga. The names listed above are just a few of the crators who got a break through Tokyopop.

Chynna Clugston http://newwavezombie.blogspot.com/

I have to be honest, I've never really gotten into Chyna Clugston. Maybe I just haven't given her work a fair shot. But that doesn't mean I don't recognize her influence.

Jessica Abel http://www.jessicaabel.com/

A comic book writer. Her graphic novel 'Blood Sucks' was a surprisingly awesome vampire story.

Becky Cloonan http://www.estrigious.com/becky/

I love Becky Cloonan's art, just love it. If you haven't checked out Demo yet, get your ass to a bookstore.

So there's that. It's not a lot of names, but hopefully it's enough to show that the comics world isn't quite the sausage factory some people make it out to be.