KMBC’s Brenda Washington talks with author Nancy Goldstein about Jackie Ormes, the first African-American female cartoonist.

Hat tip to Rich Watson of Glyphs!

Marguerite Abouet: Writer Marguerite Abouet has collected accolades from around the world for her Aya series from independent publisher Drawn & Quarterly. Aya of Yop City is currently nominated for a Glyphs Comics Award under the category of Best Reprint Collection and the graphic novel took the top spot as one of PW’s Best Books of the Year. Congratulations to Marguerite! Fans of Aya can look forward to a June 2009 release of the third book of the series and the series is currently being adapted for the silver screen! French filmgoers should expect an animated film in 2010.

L.A. Banks: Author L.A. Banks, who is most famously known for her long running Vampire Huntress Legend series, has recently moved into the realm of comics! Banks is currently working with artist Brett Booth on a four-issue Vampire Huntress miniseries. The first issue will ship in Summer 2009!

Alitha Martinez: Artist Alitha Martinez has been hard at work producing sequential art shorts for NBC’s Heroes series! However, Alitha has also found time to continue work on her own original comic series Yume and Ever.

Leisl Adams: Fans of illustrator Leisl Adams can look forward to her work appearing this summer in the upcoming book The Dork Diaries. Her work can also be seen in her own published children’s book Monsters Under the Bed. Individuals who prefer computer screens to paper can enjoy Leisl’s work online by reading her webcomics On the Edge and On the Edge: Wonderland. Leisl’s work will also appear in the Beyond The Frame: African American Comic Book Artists exhibition!

C. Spike Trotman: Fans of C. Spike Trotman’s series Templar, Arizona will be pleased to know that the third book of the series is now available for pre-order! Start shopping, folks! Trotman will also be making an appearance at New England Webcomics Weekend.

Afua Richardson: Afua Richardson has received a Glyphs Comics Award Best Artist nomination for her artistic work on Top Cow’s Pilot Season comic Genius. Her work has also received nominations for Best Cover as well as for the Fan Award for Best Comic. Congratulations, Afua! You can also check out Afua’s latest interview in issue #4 of discounderworld! And don’t just check out the article, be sure to vote for Afua in the magazine’s cover contest as well! Check for voting details at the end of Afua’s interview.

Starline X. Hodge: Starline X. Hodge has received a Glyphs Comics Award Rising Star Award nomination for her work on her webcomic Candi! Congratulations, Starline! Starline also contributes regularly to the Apartment 209 podcast.

Ms,Shatia Hamilton: Ms,Shatia Hamilton’s webcomic Fungus Grotto has received a Glyphs Comics Award nomination for Best Comic Strip! Hamilton’s original character Vielle has also received a nomination for Best Female Character. Congratulations, Ms,Shatia!

Ashley Woods: Ashley Woods has received a Glyphs Comics Award Rising Star Award nomination for her work on her independent comic Millennia War! Congratulations, Ashley! Ashley’s work will also appear in the Beyond The Frame: African American Comic Book Artists exhibition!

Jennifer Cruté: Jennifer Cruté has received a Glyphs Comics Award Rising Star nomination for her work on her comic strip Jennifer’s Journals; The Life of a SubUrban Girl. Congratulations, Jennifer! Jennifer was also a finalist in the Life Without Fair Courts contest from Lambda Legal.

The artwork of Ormes Society member Leisl Adams will be featured in the upcoming book Mail Me Art! The book, which contains illustrations from renowned artists around the world, is currently available for pre-order from Amazon.com. Congratulations, Leisl!

The work of Jackie Ormes is currently being featured in the exhibition Out of Sequence: Underrepresented Voices in American Comics. The exhibition, which began on October 24, 2008, will run until January 4, 2009. Ormes’s art can be viewed alongside the work of other notable artists such as Ormes Society members C. Spike Trotman and Ashley Woods.

Out of Sequence: Underrepresented Voices in American Comics
Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion
500 East Peabody Dr
Champaign IL 61820

Afua Richardson: The work of Afua Richardson can be seen in the Top Cow Pilot Series comic book Genius! Want to see more of Genius? Then don’t forget to vote for Genius daily during Top Cow’s Pilot Season contest!

Starline Hodge: The lovely Ms. Hodge has Candi artwork available for purchase at Ebay! Stop by and take a look! And take a look at her adorable online strip Candi once you’ve finished!

Indigo Caldwell: The wonderful Indigo Caldwell recently attended Dragon*Con 2008! Her online strip Kismetropolis returns next Wednesday!

C. Spike Trotman: Speaking of online strips, C. Spike Trotman’s Templar, Arizona is still going strong. Late to the party? Be sure to pick up the first two Templar, Arizona trades from Iron Circus.

Alitha Martinez: Alitha Martinez is hard at work on the next issue of her Yumi and Ever series. Interested in starting the series? Contact Alitha via email to purchase a copy. Want to check out an online preview? Sure thing! And be sure to be on the lookout for Alitha at next month’s Baltimore Comic Convention!

Pam Noles: The always amazing Ms. Noles has been blogging up a storm! Visit And We Shall March for her latest thoughts on the American political scene and her opinions on the latest literary achievements from various authors.

Moni Harrion: Will Moni Harrison decide to grace the Ormes Society with her creative presence? One can only hope! Ms. Harrison is an animator located in California. To view some of her work, be sure to visit her online portfolio.

Ashley Woods: Ashley Woods is still hard at work on her absolutely stunning series Millennia War. Issue #4 is now available for purchase via IndyPlanet. And expect issue #5 this October!

Rashida Lewis: Ms. Lewis is one of the hardest working women in comics! And animation! And video games! Her characters can be seen in both the Sand Storm comic series and the Sand Storm: Revelations mobile game.

Carol Burrell: Pull out your togas and gladiator sandals, Carol has resumed her work on SPQR Blues! Yes, her online strip is back and better than ever. Be sure to take a look!

Leisl Adams: Leisl just can’t decide whether she wants to be the darling of the webcomics world or the princess of print media! Her online strip On the Edge is still wowing readers and her newspaper strip Thomas the Enlightened Cat appeared in the Chronicle Herald last month.

Monroe & Leak: Love the artwork of the duo Arie Monroe and Sherry Leak? Well, you are in luck! Arie and Sherry are currently in the middle of a month long fundraiser taking place at Arie’s and Sherry’s deviantArt websites. Mosey on over to bid on various pieces. My personal favorite? The Harley & Ivy pinup! And be sure to stop by their tables at the Mid-Ohio Comic Convention this October!

Barbara Jenkins: Ms. Jenkins has had her hands full with the relaunch of the Kiss Me Comix website! Be on the lookout for the official release of the #0 issue of her comic Serenade.

Michelle Billingsley: Michelle is still hard at work bringing fans the JOE! comic strips they adore!

Ms,Shatia Hamilton: Ms,Shatia has added new art to her online webcomic Fungus Grotto! Her work is gorgeous, so you should definitely take a look. She is currently working on a new sketchbook.

Nara Walker: Nara will be appearing at Anime Weekend Atlanta on September 19. If you are in the Atlanta area, drop by and purchase one of Nara’s fabulous wood bead doll charms! If you can’t make it to AWA, you can still enjoy Nara’s work on the web via her online comic Legacy of Light.

Cheryl Lynn Eaton: Unfortunately, Cheryl Lynn Eaton will be abdicating her positions in both the Ormes Society and Torchbearers to pursue goals unrelated to the field of comics. She has had an absolute blast meeting all sorts of wonderful creative people during her time in both communities as well as the larger comics community and will cherish the friendships she has fostered. Interested in taking the reins at Ormes or Torchbearers? Please contact Cheryl Lynn via e-mail!

Alitha Martinez and C. Spike Trotman will be appearing at the MOCCA Art Festival this Saturday and Sunday! Be sure to stop by and purchase Templar, Arizona and Yume and Ever merchandise! Spike will have her own booth at the convention and Alitha will be appearing at the Friends of Lulu booth. Hope to see some of you there!

Sunday Specials: A Conversation about Jackie Ormes

Open Books is an hour-long, Chicago-based radio program on which host Donna Seaman speaks with writers whose work is enlightening and affecting, perhaps beautiful, funny, urgent, profound, or all of the above. Tune in to Open Books: A Conversation about Jackie Ormes and the History of African American Newspaper Cartoonists. Jackie Ormes was the first African American woman cartoonist. An artist of conscience far ahead of her time, she was also an activist and a prominent figure in the Chicago Renaissance. Open Books host Donna Seaman speaks with Nancy Goldstein, author of the first book devoted to Ormes and her work, and with Chicago cartoonist Tim Jackson, whose work appears in the Chicago Defender and other newspapers across the country.

[Listen Here]

Writing For Rookies #5: New York Comic Con Part 2

This episode of WFR is part 2 of the NYCC interview series. Brandon interviews Cheryl-Lynn Eaton of the Jackie Ormes Society—dedicated to increasing awareness of the work of Jackie Ormes as well was current comic book projects by women of color. Eaton discusses her influences in comics, why there is a need for a Jackie Ormes Society, and her thoughts on what women need to do to increase their profile in the male-dominated comic book industry.

[Listen Here]

C. Spike Trotman has begun a book drive for the second trade paperback of her series Templar, Arizona!

Templar, Arizona – Book Two: The Mob Goes Wild

Book Two of Templar, Arizona! Like the first volume, The Mob Goes Wild features remastered art, sketches, and author’s notes. 148 pages of the stuff!

Pre-order it now, or order it at your local comics shop through Previews! The order code: MAY08 3931.

There are many other great deals available if you check out the Iron Circus website! And those of you lucky enough to live in the NYC area can purchase your books from Spike in person at the upcoming MOCCA Art Festival.