At the Toronto Comic Arts Festival this year, I posed a question to a number of comics creators: Why has Comics Journalism taken hold so well in comics, but so poorly as a quote-unquote “legitimate” form of journalism?
The response of many was that, to the contrary, no one has said that comics journalism isn’t legit.
My response in turn, was that we still can’t open up 99% of our printed media in North America to find an example of this incredible genre. 99% is probably generous. 99.9%.
Symbolia Magazine had a rebuttal for me.
We were at the New York Comics Symposium the other day, talking nonfiction comics, Stowaway, and Creatavist.
Our friends at the Atavist are doing great work. Give them a follow!
In the story I’m reprinting here, we get to hear from Laura Sandow, a veteran of the U.S. Navy who served at GITMO, which morphed from a sleepy naval base to an infamous detention center during her time there. It’s fascinating not just to read Laura’s words about her attempts to process her role in the War on Terror, and how military culture has affected her emotional and mental health, but to see her experiences. (via An Exclusive Excerpt From The Next Issue of Symbolia: “Laura” And Women’s Experiences At Guantanamo | ThinkProgress)
Check out an exclusive excerpt from our latests issue at ThinkProgress! And if you haven’t gotten this issue yet, don’t wait: iPad // PDF.
Going to CAKE this weekend? Symbolia will be there with our friends from the Cartoon Picayune. Swing by for buttons, prints, and EEEK a subscription SALE!
See you there.
(Source: paperrocketcomics)
Matt Bors just posted an interesting bit about Crossfire! over at War Is Boring. Published by David Axe and drawn by Blue Delliquanti, it details the true story of one Afghan civilian caught in the crossfire between militants and U.S. forces - via feedly
SYMBOLIA PRESENTS: HEROINES!
Prepare yourself for a powerful experience. Get it: iPad // PDF // Kindle.
Heroines is packed with incredible stories told by courageous women from around the world. Meet veterans of the U.S. military, bellydancers, women who have escaped Nepal’s human trafficking trade, and more! Heroines is included with a Symbolia subscription, and can be purchased as a single issue for $2.99.
This issue features:
- Nichole Marinaccio de Freitas and Jeff Ruliffson on hard choices, tattoos, and military life.
- Luna and Leela Corman share a day in the life of a bellydancer in contemporary Cairo.
- Dan Archer interviews Meera, a survivor of human trafficking in Nepal.
- Sara Mirk and Lucy Bellwood interview two veterans who served at Guantánamo Bay.
To read this issue, subscribe to Symbolia: on iPad // via PDF // Kindle Editions.
I’m heading to Australia in August! I’ll be a special guest and presenter at Storyology, a summit of media and creativity put on by the Walkley Foundation.
I’ll be talking about comics, journalism, entrepreneurship with Australia’s leading media makers. It’s a tremendous honor.
If you know folks in Sydney—media makers, comic book artists, generally amazing individuals—please connect me! Until then, I’ll just be over here, reading Miles Franklin and rewatching some of my favorite Australian New Wave Cinema.
More details about my trip here: Buzzfeed & Symbolia editors announced as first headliners at Storyology
