CCS Alumni Sophie Goldstein releases coming-of-age fantasy graphic novel: An Embarrassment of Witches
An Embarrassment of Witches by Sophie Goldstein ′13 and Jenn Jordan released on March 3 from Top Shelf Comix. This coming-of-age tale is set in an urban fantasy world full of animal familiars, enchanted plants, and spell-casting. The story explores the mundane horrors of breakups, job searches, and post-graduate existential angst.
“The blobby, busy artwork, drenched in candy colors, is packed with visual jokes: a traffic jam with dragons and pumpkin carriages, mall stores named Fae Jewelers and Taco Spell, a corporate office that turns into an M.C. Escher maze.”
Dark Lady Returns, through Hellcat Press, is now up on Kickstarter through September 9. An all-female horror comic anthology, Angela Boyle ′16 has a 10-page comic featuring some delightfully wicked body horror, “Unearthly Remains.”
Dan Nott ‘18 is the lead cartoonist on This Is What Democracy Looks Like, a graphic guide to governance. Now on Kickstarter, The Center for Cartoon Studies is working with The Mikva Challenge, a non-partisan non-profit organization working toward a stronger, inclusive democracy, to connect to classrooms. CCS instructors will visit schools to give away comics and work with teachers to help students gain a deeper understanding of their government.
Kickstarter: This Is What Democracy Looks Like tour
Using the power of comics to teach teens about the way our government works
This Is What Democracy Looks Like, A Graphic Guide To Governanceis a 32-page comic book created by The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS). CCS is running a Kickstarter campaign the month of July to raise funds to visit schools. The first leg of the tour will include schools in Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison, with the tour branching out into other regions of the USA added as additional funds are raised! Find out more information about the Kickstarter campaign and all the great organizations that helped support This Is What Democracy Looks Like over on the CCS website.
This Is What Democracy Looks Like, A Graphic Guide To Governanceis a 32-page comic book created by The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS). It is the result of a collaboration of educators and world-class cartoonists and is designed to help teachers who are working hard to prepare students to be empowered, informed, and civic-minded.
It is hard to imagine a more important book to get in the hands of students young and old. Civics, democracy, and cartoons all in a non-partisan approach to raise people’s awareness of the real power that they and their communities hold. Definitely a funding opportunity that will pay dividends for years.
Max Silverman, executive director, Center for Educational Leadership
Starting on the 4th of July 2019, CCS will be running a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to visit schools. CCS instructors will give away comics and work with teachers to help students gain a deeper understanding of how their government works and how they can make a difference in their community and beyond. The first leg of the tour will include schools in Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison, with future legs of the tour branching out into other regions of the USA added as additional funds are raised.
A variety of rewards are being offered to help fund the tour, including:
physical and digital copies of the comic book
a teaching resource guide
two-color risograph posters
“Democracy Rules” bumper stickers and tote bags
signed graphic novels by CCS faculty members Jason Lutes (Berlin, Drawn and Quarterly, 2018) and James Sturm (Off Season, Drawn and Quarterly, 2019
limited edition prints by New Yorker cartoonist Ed Koren
an original cartoon drawing by master cartoonist Denys Wortman (currently featured in Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms exhibition)
Cover of Hidden Systems by Dan Nott
Lead cartoonist, CCS alumni Dan Nott ‘18, is currently writing and drawing a book about infrastructure called Hidden Systems for Random House Graphic. Contributing cartoonists include:
Summer Pierre (Eisner-nominee and New Yorker contributor)
Find out more information about the Kickstarter campaign and all the great organizations that helped support This Is What Democracy Looks Like over on the CCS website.
The Center for Cartoon Studies is happy to present This is What Democracy Looks Like: A Graphic Guide to Governance. This short comic guide helps to bring democracy back to the hands of the people by explaining what democracy actually means and how the whole thing works. This free guide will be a great jumping off point to learn about our government, which one can only hope will lead to participation.
The comic was created by Dan Nott with editing by James Sturm and several contributors and collaborators. We are starting a Kickstarter on July 1 to fund the tour, with drawings and civic workshops! So mark your calendar and get ready to be informed.
Mikva Challenge Action Civics Summer Institute is coming on July 18th and 19th at Loyola University Chicago. As part of the outreach for This Is What Democracy Looks Like, a comic guide to democracy, CCS co-founder James Sturm, Dan Nott ′19, and student Courtney Fehsenfeld will be talking about the project, providing copies of the comic.This class is part of the Mikva Challenge’s immersive program.
This Is What Democracy Looks Like is currently on Kickstarter through July 31 to fund a tour with workshops and demonstrations. Fund the Kickstarter today to get a tote bag, signed copy of Berlin from Jason Lutes, or one of the other amazing rewards.
Ngozi Ukazu is the creator of Check, Please!, an online graphic novel whose printing campaign remains the most funded webcomics Kickstarter ever. She graduated from Yale University in 2013 with a degree in Computing and The Arts.
Wash Day by Jamila Rowser & Robyn Smith ′17 wins DINK award
A Denver Independent Comics and Art Expo (DiNK) Dinky Awarded to Wash Day!
by Jamila Rowser and CCS graduate Robyn Smith ′17. Edited by J. A. Micheline.
Wash Day is a slice-of-life comic that pays tribute to the beauty and endurance of Black women and their hair. The story follows Kimana, a 26-year-old woman living in the Bronx, as she cares for her long, thick hair. As Kim goes through her Sunday morning rituals, we see the highs and lows of her day—fresh coffee, rising rent, girl talk and catcalls. Click here to see more of Robyn’s work and to buy a copy of Wash Day.
DiNK’s annual DiNKy Awards commit to recognize excellence, promote independent comics from a diversified group, and create a level playing field in which work is judged for its merits, not the strength of its marketing campaign.
Are you considering applying to The Center for Cartoon Studies MFA or Certificate program? Join us for our virtual campus open house and portfolio day. Learn about the campus and the renowned collection of the Schulz Library, hear from current students and graduates, and meet faculty and staff for a portfolio review*!
THE ED KOREN SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Click here to learn more and make an online donation now.
BIPOC Cartoonist Fund Accepting Donations
CCS wants your old comics! These comics and many more were donated to support CCS's BIPOC Cartoonist Fund. If you're interested in making a comic book or cash donation drop us a line.
FREE COMICS
CARTOONING IN AN ANXIOUS AGE
Cartooning In An Anxious Age (pdf)is a free comic by Cara Bean on the act of drawing, which focuses your attention and intimately connects you with the generative act of creation. It’s an inspiring read.
Let's Talk About It: A Graphic Guide to Mental Health
Using the power of comics to teach teens about the way our government worksThis Is What Democracy Looks Like, A Graphic Guide To Governance is a 32-page comic book created by The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS). This short comic guide helps to bring democracy back to the hands of the people by explaining what democracy actually means and how the whole thing works. This guide will be a great jumping-off point to learn about our government.
THE APPLIED CARTOONING MANIFESTO
Download a free copy of The World is Made of Cheese, The Applied Cartooning Manifesto.
