Blue Delliquanti, Faith Erin Hicks, and Rachel Deering Answer The Beat’s Annual Year-End Survey
Blue Delliquanti, cartoonist
2012 Projects: I’m drawing a nonfiction political comic written by David Axe, The Accidental Candidate, that will be serialized on Cartoon Movement starting January 2012. I also assisted Nathan Schreiber on the art for Health Care Reform, a nonfiction comic about the recent health care bill, that is out now. I have stories in both Womanthology and the erotic comics anthology Smut Peddler as well. And I am planning on launching a webcomic, O Human Star, in early spring 2012. Phew!
What was the biggest story in comics in 2011: If I’m allowed, I would say that Womanthology and the New 52 tie for the spot, because both stories reflect different sides of how the industry and the audience have shifted and changed this year. It seems like the goals, ambitions and successes of Womanthology, read in tandem with the misadventures of the New 52 launch, sparked a discussion that we needed to have, especially in terms of who reads, who creates, and what sells.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2012: I’m interested to see what Marvel will do to tie in with the big film properties that are happening next year, like The Avengers. It would be great if they actually did something that effectively drew in new readers.
2012 Guilty Pleasure: Tumblr. Tumblr is a great place for a cartoonist to be and share their work, but it can swallow you alive if you’re not careful.
Faith Erin Hicks, cartoonist
2012 Projects: I’m drawing two graphic novels right now: Bigfoot Boy, a young readers GN for Kids Can Press with J.Torres writing and a graphic novel adaptation of an unpublished YA novel called Voted Most Likely for First Second Books. I have another graphic novel called Friends With Boys coming out from First Second in February 2012, and in the lead up to publication it’s being serialized online for free (link above). So go read it, lovely internet peoples! I also write and draw a goofy online comic called The Adventures of Superhero Girl
What was the biggest story in comics in 2011? I think it was the success of Kate Beaton’s Hark A Vagrant book. I was really excited by it, especially how the book was embraced by those who don’t necessarily read comics. I’m sure many people who’d never set foot in a comic store got that book for Christmas. I’m always looking for comics to give to people who don’t read them, to try and convince them of the vibrancy and diversity of the medium. Maybe I’m too much of a pollyanna with this outreach, but I truly believe there is a comic out there for everyone, and if I can just find that gateway book, maybe I’ll have made a brand new comic reader. I started reading comics very late in life, and only became the hardcore comic consumer I am through the diligent suggestions of a few knowledgeable people. I also think the continued success of Raina Telgemeier’s comic Smile is a big deal. Smile is another comic I like to give to non-comic readers as it’s a wonderfully accessible book.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2012? I’m going to go out on a limb and say that comics will unify like Voltron and form a single digital format which will be beloved the world over and everyone will make money on it and get their very own pony.
No idea, actually. Although I guess the continued fight over digital platforms and pricing will be the talk of the twitters.
What guilty pleasure are you looking forward to in 2012? I’m going to cry like a baby while watching Brave, that’s for sure, but I refuse to feel guilty about that.
Rachel Deering, cartoonist
2012 Projects: Anathema and The Other Side
What was the biggest story in comics in 2011? Definitely Womanthology. To see so many female creators come together and make a book to stand as a testament for what women want to see and read in comics was phenomenal. I hope the book serves as a beacon to other female creators, to let them know that it’s okay if you don’t draw muscle bound dudes like Kirby, and it’s okay if you don’t write cheesy punch-em-up stories. The world needs all kinds of comics, so please share yours with the world. Bravo Womanthology!
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2012? If I had to chance a guess, I’d say that it will be the hugely successful books coming out of Kickstarter. I think fantastic things are on the horizon for creator owned books. 2011 was just the tip of the iceberg.
What guilty pleasure are you looking forward to in 2012? I don’t really have guilty pleasures. I like what I like, without shame or fear, haha.
