Milwaukee Journal Sentinel review

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Pairing 21 American Indian storytellers with graphic artists, editor Matt Dembicki has produced a spectacular color anthology of trickster tales." Read more.

Interviews with 'Trickster' contributors

Mike Rhode, who writes the ComicsDC blog and the comics column at the Washington City Paper, is running interviews with local Trickster contributors over the next few weeks. He begins with Paul Zdepski.

'Trickster' signing at Big Planet Comics

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Trickster signing! (An extra special thanks to Kevin, Greg, Jared and the rest of the Big Planet Comics staff for hosting us and for their hospitality.) Below are some pics of the event.

Cartoonists and Trickster artists Jerry Carr (left) and 

Mike Short look at some of the original art from the book.

(From left) Trickster artists Evan Keeling and Jacob Warrenfeltz

and Mike Rhode, who writes the comicsDC blog and the comics column

at the Washington City Paper.

(Sitting) Chris Piers and Jacob Warrenfeltz, (standing) Evan

Keeling, Andrew Cohen and Mike Short.

The traffic was steady for most of the two hours, but there were

 a few minutes where there seemed to be a concentrated rush. 

Trickster contributors (from left, sitting) Chris Piers, Jacob 

Warrenfeltz, Evan Keeling, Andrew Cohen (standing, signing),

Rand Arrington and Paul Zdepski. ((Standing in the back in

the green shirt is D.C. Conspiracy member Art Haupt.)

'Trickster' available!

A bunch of contributing artists to Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection will be at Big Planet Comics in Vienna, Va., this Sat., May 15, for a signing from 2-4 p.m. In attendance: Matt Dembicki, Andrew Cohen, Evan Keeling, Paul Zdepski, Chris Piers, Jacob Warrenfeltz, Mike Short, Jerry Carr, Rand Arrington and Scott White. We'll also be doing sketches and giving away artist trading cards featuring Trickster critters (see below)! I'll also give a very brief talk about the project. Come by and join the fun!

Starred review from Kirkus

Here's a starred review from Kirkus:
Vigorously rendered in striking graphic format, this robust anthology of 21 Native American folktales features a bevy of wily rascals in a veritable smorgasbord of trickster tales. Told in the words of Native American storytellers from many nations, these tales use the trickster to teach moral lessons and explain such natural events as how the rabbit got its puffy tail, why the buzzard has no feathers on its head, why the owl guards burial sites or why geese fly in a V formation. Relying on cunning and craft to survive, outwit and amuse, the tricksters include coyote, raven, rabbit, raccoon, wolf, beaver and dog as well as human tricksters like Moshup, Ishjinki and Waynaboozhoo. Each tale is illustrated by a different artist in strikingly different styles, some comic and some realistic but all surprisingly suited to their stories, while the graphic sequencing provides action and emotional detail only suggested by the storyteller. Packaged in a chunky, square-shaped volume, this unique collection of Native American folklore invites readers to sample and savor each colorful, wily tale. (editor’s notes, contributors’ bios) (Graphic folklore. 10 & up)

'Trickster' nominated for YALSA award

Trickster was recently nominated for the Young Adult Library Services Association's 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens. (Yes, it's very early, but it's nice to get a nod.)