Haditha/Katrina in Color

Here's the full version of the comic in Issue 78 (New South Journalism) issue of The Oxford American. Go swipe (and pay for) a copy at your local bookstore. New Yorkers: McNally Jackson has them in, and everyone that works there is nice (and handsome).

Haditha/Katrina on Newsstands Now in OA New South Journalism Issue

The first eight pages of Haditha/Katrina (in full, glorious color) are featured in the current New South Journalism Issue of The Oxford American. Get yourself a copy at your local bookstore!

I will post a shameless photo update when I get my copy. Thanks to Wes Enzinna and the rest at OA for being gracious enough to spell check and add commas where applicable. You guys are great.

If you scroll to the bottom of their BLOGS page, this blog is currently listed in their contributors section. Yay comics journalism!

In other news, the background of page one of the Haditha comic is my mother's front yard. She lives in Pass Christian, MS and got some serious flooding yesterday, here's a photo for reference:

Haditha Katrina Sketchbook

I've recently been in touch with my friend Nathan, a Marine veteran who is now working in Wyoming with the National Parks Service fighting fires and being an awesome dude in general. I contacted him about a year ago, asking him for help with my comic, and now we've got the beginning of the story. It's going to be beautiful and I am so excited. Nathan has been a great coach in giving me helpful advice on meeting veterans and conquering my nervousness.

 

Blessing of the Fleet, Part One

 Via Wikipedia:

The Blessing of the Fleet is a tradition that began centuries ago in Mediterranean fishing communities. The practice is predominantly Catholic and a blessing from the local priest was meant to ensure a safe and bountiful season.

Biloxi's Blessing of the Fleet was this past weekend, where they encountered some rain. You can read more here. The Reverend that gives the blessing is from St. Michael's, "The Fisherman's Church", in Point Cadet, a neighborhood in Biloxi just before the bridge that crosses the bay into Ocean Springs.. It happens to look like a giant shell, which is awesome. Here is a picture St. Michael's after Katrina. The flags covering the shrimp boats are really sweet. I'm taking an etching/bookmaking class this summer, so I should have a larger series (hopefully, a book) on this by the end.

Sketch + Oil Spill Comic

I am really sad about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It's washing ashore in my hometown and killing off the wonderful local shrimping and oyster industry. After the hurricane there wasn't much to come home to, now what do we have left? Two handfuls of nothing, and the hope and promise that tomorrow will be better.