Meet a Fledgling Cartoonist: A Chat with Maggie Shang

by Mike Rhode

I was recently introduced to Maggie Shang as a freelance illustrator who's pitching her first graphic novel "that’s based off my parents meeting in Beijing in 1989." You may run into her at local comics events like I have.  At the beginning of her career, she's agreed to answer our usual questions.

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

Honestly I feel like I'm still so new to comics that all I've really worked on is my first YA GN [graphic novel], which I just finished the pitch packet for, but would love to explore something that's more short form.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

I find that being able to "ctrl Z" is worth the tired eyes that come with creating digitally; overall it feels like you just have more control over your creation. However, nothing really compares to the texture and feel of traditional media. I haven't created any projects traditionally in a very long time, but I have my sketchbook where I get to sketch and play.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

I was born in 97 in Spirit Lake, IA

Why are you in Washington now?  What neighborhood or area do you live in?

I actually live out in Gaithersburg, MD, but the reason I'm here is simply because my partner is from here. I met them when I was at Ringling College and once we graduated we knew we didn't want to live in Florida. I also grew up in Beijing, and most of my family still lives there, but I wanted to stay in America so I decided to move to his home state of Maryland. It's probably the most beautiful place I've lived.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

I'm actually trained in illustration, and the only education I've had for cartooning was with Kid Comics Unite (KCU)'s intensive bootcamp GN course. Which 10/10 would recommend if you can do it.

Who are your influences?

For GN's Jen Wong is definitely a huge influence; her line work is done traditionally and is always so textured and fun. I also think she has a way of creating dynamic, engaging paneling. Although a massive inspiration, just in general, is Sara Kipin. She made me understand and fall in love with color, and it's now my favorite part of any piece.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

I don't know if I've had enough of a career to have any do-overs, but I do want to try and put my work out there and maybe try and sell some of it. It's been a bit intimidating but something I very much want to try.

Why did you decide to move on from children's books?

I found children's books to be so restrictive from a creator's POV. I really struggled to keep my stories and ideas to 500 words or less and kept being told that I should expand on my plots and worlds, and asked if I'd ever tried GN's. After looking into it I fell in love [with the form]. There's so much more space to work, and draw and develop your characters and plot. I could maybe illustrate a picture book, but I only want to create GN's now.

What work are you best-known for?

I don't know if I have any work that's known at all... But I guess I'm best known for having a cozy, warm style.

What work are you most proud of?

I think the work I did for the pitch packet is probably some of the work I'm most proud of. It was an awkward transition to think in comics rather than illustrations, and seeing these finals vs my first crack at comics is like night and day.

What would you like to do or work on in the future?

I really want to be a part of an anthology :D I also hope someone likes my YA GN enough to maybe publish it, but we'll see!

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

I physically try to move around, whether that'd be exercise, dancing to music, pacing etc. In a way, it feels like I'm shaking up my creative juices.

What do you think will be the future of your field?

I think AI is changing everything and it's here to stay. So I can see someone creating an AI where artists feed their style into it, and then give it instructions instead of thumbnailing, line arting [i.e. drawing], coloring and finalizing. My wrist would be so grateful.

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Awesome Con, or others? Any comments about attending them?

I've attended SPX twice now and it's been wonderful both times! Although I really want to try and go to Awesome Con and DC Zine Fest as well.

What comic books do you read regularly or recommend? Do you have a local store?

I just finished Roaming by the Tamaki duo, I thought it had a really quiet intense story telling style. It captured the emotions perfectly and the visuals are stunning and unique. Also really love Fantom Comics in DC.

What's your favorite thing about DC?

A tie between the diverse people and yummy food.

Least favorite?

The humidity.

What monument or museum do you like to take visitors to?

I always love the National Portrait Gallery.

How about a favorite local restaurant?

I really love A&J restaurant in Rockville, MD.

Do you have a website or blog?

https://maggieshang.com, and I'm @magshang on both Tiktok and Instagram.

How did the COVID-19 outbreak affected you, personally and professionally?

I graduated in 2019 and remember I had no idea what I wanted to do after graduation. But I put together a game plan and was going to really try and start my career in 2020. Then lockdown happened and it felt like all the momentum I had just disappeared. I also just moved to Maryland so being in a completely new state, away from family and friends was a lot.

'Outlaw librarian' Dave Burbank creates "a haven for comics readers" in Takoma Park, MD

all photos by Bruce Guthrie

by Dave Burbank

Dave and I reconnected last week at Matt Tavares' excellent explanation about how to create a children's graphic novel at Takoma Park Library. I sent him a variety of the usual questions, which he transformed so much that I've junked them in favor of his essay. I can't believe how many of their talks I've missed though! This has been lightly edited for grammar. - Mike

I'm Dave Burbank of the Takoma Park Maryland Library.   We are the last small independent city library in Maryland.  

 

We are considered an 'outlaw library' (if we were in the Montgomery County system we would be eliminated since there are libraries within 1 mile of us).  Takoma Park tends to stand up for underdogs and outlaws so the local folks have made sure we have stayed open and active, even now while our tiny battered old building is being reconstructed. 

 

Currently you can find us at our current location at 7505 New Hampshire Avenue, in a shopping area above a Caribbean food grocery, snuggled between an IHOP and a Taco Bell.   Our signage still says we are the Salvation Army Family Store, though that will soon be fixed I'm told.

We are a haven for comics readers, with over 3000 titles of graphic novels on the shelves, split in 4 collections (about 1000 on the adult side, the others divided between the All-Ages Comics, Young Adult, and Manga collections). We add more titles all the time and are open to suggestions or even donations.  

As the curator of our collection, I have a budget every year specifically to buy comics.  Being a lifelong scribbler and reader of  'comix,' I made a case for the Library to clear space for them on our shelves, and made my first comics buy way back before the turn of the millennium. Those first few comics left friction burns on the shelves from how fast they were snatched up. They commonly disappeared since kids who loved them would keep them. Librarians being wise people, the solution was for us to buy so many comics that kids never felt a scarcity mindset about them.  "Read these, bring them back, there will be more waiting."

Personally, I think comics truly sintered with my soul when I read the Dark Phoenix X-Men story arc as it came out way back in 1980.  I went as Wolverine for Halloween that year, even though nobody had any idea how deadly and ferocious I was when I showed up on their front porch. ("Nevermind who I am, just gimme the candy bub, or experience the deadly snikt! of my claws").  I loved Spider-Man before that of course, and would sit through entire episodes of The Electric Company on the off chance there would be a Spidey episode that week.  I'd read Sargent Rock or the Haunted Tank to learn the history of World War II.  Shoot, if there was nothing else I'd read the cartoons in the New Yorker while I was waiting in a doctor's office, even though they always vaguely disturbed me with their sense of existential ennui and postmodern disaffection.  Still, I never knew the power of the artform until experiencing the death of the telekinetic telepath Jean Grey, who sacrificed

herself to prevent her alter ego from destroying the universe.  Friends and I were in mourning, while clueless adults had no idea the loss we had experienced.  Dots of ink on a page of pulp paper lived powerfully vivid lives and truly animated the ideals that there is Good and Evil and one should make a choice to live up to their best nature.

Anyway.  Clearly I have been stained by exposure to those 4-color ink stories.

I've been attending various Comics conventions since way back when they also sold butterfly knives and nunchucks in the last few rows. When cosplay was a rarity. 

A favorite though has been the yearly Small Press Expo in suburban Maryland.  I've attended every year since 1999 and even represented local libraries at a panel on 'Comics in the Library' in 2015. I appreciate SPX since here you get to meet face to face with the writers and artists who spend years creating their stories, and are truly touched to meet the people who read them.  The best time to attend is actually Sunday night after the show is over when the creators all hang out on the back deck chatting about comics and meeting each other.  

Over the years we have hosted many comics authors events and book signings. At first by my invitation alone, and subsequently through our partnership with Politics and Prose booksotre.  

A partial list: 

Ben Hatke's Zita the Space Girl, First Second Press founder Mark Siegel, Paul Pope's Battling Boy and Batman Year 100, Drew Weing & Eleanor Davis together and separately for Margo Maloo and the Secret Science Alliance, George O'Connor's Olympian's series retelling Greek myths, Gareth Hinds' Beowulf and other classics of ancient literature, Orpheus Collar illustrating the Percy Jackson stories, Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin's Illegal, Judd Winick's Hilo series, Alex Alice, Jeremie Royer, David Petersen's Mouseguard, Jerry Craft's New Kid, Penelope Bagieu, Jon Klassen,  Raina Telgemeier's Smile, Chris Schweitzer's Crogan stories, Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tale series, Francois Mouly the Toon Books publisher and New Yorker art director, her daughter Nadja Spiegelman & Sergio Garcia Sanchez for Lost in NYC, Jay Hosler's Last of the Sandwalkers, Nate Powell & Mark Long's The Silence of Our Friends, Congressman John Lewis's March.  Among others. 

Highlights of the above guests: 

 

Ben Hatke is a great guy.  Friendly, easy to talk with, great family, a juggler and busker. He is as personable and friendly as his characters.

Mouseguard artist David Petersen is clearly mad, since he builds scale models of his complicated scenes just so that he can better paint them from different angles. 

Similarly meticulous, also a great guy, and local to us, artistic black belt Gareth Hinds maps out his books months in advance and knows how many pages ahead or behind he is on a story on any given day.  

Jay Hosler teaches college biology classes, and also writes science-based adventures starring insects. 

Raina Telgemeier is a sweet and lovely person. Now something of an all ages superstar, we had her in before the world wanted everyone to do what she does in comics.

Drew Weing is also a gentle, shy and friendly person.  His comics are awesome and deserve a Netflix series or something.

I'm from the last of the outdoor kids generation of the 70's and 80's who grew up on BMX bikes and skateboarding and grafitti tagging in the Northeast.  From back when your parents would tell you to 'be home when the street lights come on.'  The same age as Tony Hawk, (I was reading about him and Rodney Mullens pretty much inventing the ollie and street skating in Thrasher Magazine, and naturally ended up with sprained wrists, scabs and scars that were purely inspired by him).  Later, I moved to NYC to study theater and write poetry and that sort of thing before moving to the DC area to study martial arts, where I accidentally fell into Library work.  As one does.

An inveterate scribbler and doodler, I decorated every textbook I ever had with flipbooks in the corners.  I still draw all the time though now I discourage drawing in books. I intermittently and spasmodically keep a blog about comics at https://comixtakoma.wordpress.com/whos-this-guy/ 

I commonly find myself inspired by drawing in company with folks of all skill levels.  I built into my job a weekly Sketch Club with kids and parents  (Thursdays after school 4-5:30). I have hosted sketch clubs in and around pubs in the DC area over the years before my arts buddies went on to become famous or moved to LA to work in animation, etc. (most recently in Midlands bar on Georgia Ave, before that the now-defunct Union Drinkery). I'm thinking of starting an evening Sketch Club for grown folk and area artists here at the Library.  If interested contact me at DavidB@takomaparkmd.gov and I'll put you in the mailing list when I get it started.

I post my own personal drawings on Instagram from time to time -  @shankylank on there.  It's grown-up content, sketched in ink with felt tip, sharpie, and copy paper since I grew up in the Zine era and never migrated to digital art. I attend the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop Friday evening figure drawing sessions from time to time to sketch from live models and keep my skills sharp. In the pandemic I would attend various figure model sessions across the world, via zoom.

Mark Tavares at TP library

I teach Dungeons and Dragons, and have done so through the Takoma Park Recreation Department for the past 30 years.  As one of various side hustles I train folks to run games, hire out as a professional game master for parties and game nights, and in past years have run summer camps for kids.  I have run D&D game nights at those same local pubs, as well as team-building exercises for local businesses.  Contact me at Alternativegamesdc@gmail.com if you need a pro DM or want training on how to run games, or peek at my mostly-defunct site alternativegamesdc.com though I have neglected that website for a bit.

I periodically give a talk on the History and Importance of Comics (with a digression on the Semiotics of Superheroes) to folks from elementary school up to graduate students at the University of Maryland's College of Information Sciences.

I am part of a writer's group that meets via the Petworth Library, and am 14 chapters in on my current book (a Viking Santa Claus romance adventure tale).  It started as a graphic novel, but writing is quicker.  I have probably a dozen other screenplays and fiction works cooking at any moment, though something is nagging me to sketch out some memoir works.

 

I often present comics read-aloud sessions with kids, and I know for a fact I will eventually present various works of my own fiction and art as read-aloud works, for kids or for grown-ups.  As a graffiti tagging delinquent, I was inspired by the very idea of the Vaughn Bode Cartoon Concerts that I heard about from underground comics I read, but was never able to attend being too young and on the wrong coast.  The idea of animating words and art with one's voice satisfies my soul.

Karen MacPherson retiring from Takoma Park Maryland Library

Photo credits: Bruce Guthrie

 by Bruce Guthrie 

http://www.bguthriephotos.com

 

Folks who've used the Takoma Park Maryland Library at the Takoma Park Community Center or attended children's author events there were accustomed to being greeted by the library's coordinator of children's and teen services, Karen MacPherson.  Karen recently announced that she'll be retiring from the library on June 30.

Like many who loved their jobs especially because of the interaction it provided with customers, the pandemic took a heavy toll.  While most places are looking forward to reopening in full bloom in a near-post-pandemic vaccinated world, the library building will be demolished in November, being replaced 18-ish-months later by a new one.  Operations will move to temporary quarters in the interim.  

Kwame Alexander and Karen

Karen didn't start as a librarian.  As a kid, she loved reading and children's books.  She decided that she'd either be a reporter or a children's librarian.  For 30 years, she was the former, working as a reporter.  Originally with the UPI in Richmond, she moved to Washington, DC and worked for Thomson Newspapers, Scripps Howard News Service (DC correspondent for the Albuquerque Tribune), and finally the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.  She was working for the latter when the 9/11 attacks happened.  The next day, she was on her way to report from the Pentagon when she was told to turn around because there were rumors of another pending attack.  She wondered why she was risking her life when she now had a family (two children and a husband who was also a reporter) and decided to switch to Plan B.

The next year, she enrolled at the University of Maryland in College Park to get a Master's in Library Science.  In 2006, she started at the Takoma Park library.

At the library, she created a new teen section and a number of programs like the Banned Books Club for teens.  In 2009, the latter was recognized with the American Library Association's (ALA) John Phillip Immroth Award, which "seeks out and recognizes personal courage and contributions to intellectual freedom."   For 23 years, she wrote a weekly column on kids books for Scripps Howard News Service.  Later, she wrote occasional kids book columns for the Washington Post.

In 2016, she served on the prestigious Caldecott committee.  The Randolph Caldecott Medal is an annual award to the illustrator of the "most distinguished American picture book for children."  The committee which selects the award winner as well as the runners up is made up of 15 members chosen by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the ALA.  Publishers send in books to be considered (there were said to be 700 works submitted in 2009) and the committee considers each.  It's a time-consuming job and committee members typically serve just one year.

Kate DiCamillo and Karen

 In the year Karen was involved, the winning book selected was Sophie Blackall's "Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear".  

In 2013, DC's iconic independent bookstore, Politics and Prose, approached the library about hosting out-of-store children's author events.  Over the years, 75-ish have graced the venue including Kate DiCamillo ("Because of Winn-Dixie", "The Tale of Despereaux", "Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures"), Jason Reynolds ("As Brave as You", "Ghost (Track series)", "Miles Morales: Spider-Man"), Katherine Applegate ("The One and Only Ivan", "Animorphs"), Jon Klassen ("Sam and Dave Dig a Hole", "I Want My Hat Back", "This Is Not My Hat"), Tom Angleberger ("The Strange Case of Origami Yoda") and Cece Bell ("El Deafo"), and Sophie Blackall ("Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear", "Hello Lighthouse").

MacPherson saw many comics creators come through the library. Over the years, I personally attended events there for Alex Alice ("Castle in the Stars"), Alexis Frederick-Frost ("Hocus Focus"), Ben Hatke ("Nobody Likes a Goblin"), Eleanor Davis & Drew Weing ("Flop to the Top"), Emily Jenkins ("A Greyhound, a Groundhog"), Eoin Colfer and Oliver Jeffers ("Imaginary Fred"), Fabien Cousteau ("Great White Shark Adventure"), Gail Carson Levine ("Stolen Magic"), Gareth Hinds ("Macbeth"), Jay Hosler ("Last of the Sandwalkers"), Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm ("The Evil Princess vs. The Brave Knight"), Jérémie Royer ("Audubon: On the Wings of the World"), Jonathan Roth ("Beep and Bob"), Jorge Aguirre ("Dragons Beware!"), Juana Medina ("Juana and Lucas"), Julie Fogliano ("Just in Case You Want to Fly"), Kate Dicamillo ("Leroy Ninker Saddles Up"), Kevin McCloskey ("Real Poop on Pigeons"), Mac Barnett and Matt Myers ("Rules of the House"), Christian Robinson ("Josephine" and "Last Stop on Market Street"), Ruth Chan ("Where's the Party?"), Ryan T. Higgins ("Mother Bruce"), Sophie Blackall and John Bemelmans Marciano ("Witches of Benevento"), William Joyce ("Bently & Egg..."), and Yuyi Morales ("Dreamers/ Soñadores").

In retirement, Karen plans to keep busy -- studying French, playing piano, traveling -- and is also open to volunteering at the library as needed.  It will be nice to be able to see her there again because she's been missed!

OT: American Library Association lists of graphic novels

See "2009 Great Graphic Novels for Teens" which is "The list of 53 titles, drawn from 154 official nominations, ... presented annually at the ALA Midwinter Meeting." Of their "2009 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens," I have 3 and have read none of them. Sigh.

Borders comic book displays and George Pelecanos

I was at Borders in Bailey's Cross Roads, VA for George Pelecanos's talk about his new book The Turnaround and I also took some pictures of clever parts of their comic book displays. Also note that they have the Masters of Comic Art catalogue for $10 and Jeff Danziger's last book for $3. I paid full price for both. They've also got a DC Superheroes How to Draw Kit for $4.


A 4-sided stand, cleverly arranged.


"Indescribable? Insatiable? No, Incredible" Hulk books.


"Holy comic books, Batman!"


"Ozzy would be proud" an Iron Man movie reference.


"Best underoos ever." Poor Spider-Man.


Naruto manga stand from Viz.


"Eat your fruits and vegetables" Fruitbasket. I haven't read that yet - any good?


"Sink your teeth in" to Vampire Hunter D.

Baltimore sessions on Jewish comic book creators

See "Jewish authors bring novels to life: McDaniel College hosts five-part discussion series on graphic novels" By Laura McCandlish, Baltimore Sun Reporter.

Oct 11: Douglas Wolk at Olsson's

Richard Spooralmanack passed this along - I think it's probably up here already, just not singled out. I've got the book, but haven't started it yet.

Douglas Wolk - Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean
Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 07:00 PM at Olsson's Books & Records-Dupont
Circle, 1307 19th St. NW, (202) 785-1133

Suddenly, comics are everywhere: a newly matured art form, filling bookshelves with brilliant, innovative work and shaping the ideas and images of the rest of contemporary culture. Douglas Wolk illuminates the most dazzling creators of modern comics-from Alan Moore to Alison Bechdel to Dave Sim to Chris Ware-and introduces a critical theory that explains where each fits into the pantheon of art. Reading Comics is the first book for people who want to know not just what comics are worth reading, but also the ways to think and talk and argue about them. Douglas Wolk writes about comics and music for publications including the New York Times, Rolling Stone, the Washington Post, Salon, and The Believer.