In this issue, we were fortunate to work with Judge John Vasquez Mejias, the creator of The Puerto Rican War, which tells the story of Puerto Rican revolutionaries fighting U.S. colonialism in 1950. His new book, Lolita Lebrón -Puerto Rican Revolutionary, was just released by Fantagraphics Press. I encourage everyone to check it out, as well as his unique puppet show performances based on his woodcut art.
We had a variety of graphic narratives and experimental comic stories to choose from, and John selected the winner, “Sans Peur” by Andi Spark, for its art style and compelling narrative about growing up with a “hardscrabble” life on a farm in the wheatbelt of Western Australia. Spark’s family has Scottish roots, and the clan motto is a highland wildcat symbol, which was an exotic and thrilling aspect for Spark growing up far from Scotland. The symbolism takes on new importance as the story unfolds, revealing the harsh truths of farm life (including a graphic depiction of animal slaughter and death) through the narrator’s eyes and showing how those truths shape the author’s view of their father.
As a runner-up, John Vasquez Mejias chose “La Bidonville” by Haruko Yamauchi. This is an excerpt from a longer graphic narrative Yamauchi is working on about a well-meaning but fumbling anti-poverty non-profit in Bangkok. What stands out in this work is how Yamauchi elegantly leverages the comic medium to reflect the vibrant language, culture, setting and the character’s understanding of the language and situations. It’s beautifully drawn, entertaining, and educational, and it shows how comics can uniquely combine text and imagery to convey the true spirit of a place.
Our finalists are “OCD Comic” by Ellie Erhart, which follows the author as they navigate their brain’s wiring against the “norm,” and “Featherville” by Sean Ironman, which reminisces about a complex and difficult relationship.
And finally, we present as editor’s pick, “Elliott’s Story” by Sophia Kornienko, an excerpt from a comic journalism project that collects first-person accounts from trans teens about the internet as a lifeline. This chapter tells the story of Elliott, a closeted nonbinary teen who lives in a red state. “Free to Browse: The Internet as a Space of Survival for Trans Teens and What Happens When That Space Disappears” reflects on how the internet has served as the main space for self-discovery, human connection, and access to information for many trans teens. Contrary to the widespread belief that social media, online games, and extensive “screen time” are detrimental, this work presents first-person accounts about how these same platforms have been indispensable for self-education and finding comfort.
I hope you enjoy and share this issue.
Drai Whitted
Graphic Lit Editor
Andrai Whitted is the Digital Media Editor at Solstice Literary Magazine where he painstakingly formats each issue among other contributions. He is also a designer and artist and in our Spring 2019 issue he has kickstarted a new genre for the mag with Graphic Lit featuring comic storytelling and other forms of sequential art including comic poetry and experimental works.
