10 Questions with M.S. Harkness

M.S. Harkness is a graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and a relative newcomer to Columbus, moving here in 2020. She is best known for her black and white autobiographical comics, such as self-published Dope Dealer and Rotten, as well as her first graphic novel Tinderella, originally published by Kilgore Books in 2018 and recently reissued by Uncivilized Books. Sometimes humorous, sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes heart-wrenching, Harkness’s comics offer a fearless look into the world of online dating, sex work, selling drugs, and physical fitness. Her second memoir, Desperate Pleasures, (also published by Uncivilized Books), depicts her search for fulfillment and forces her to deal with her own past trauma. Her forthcoming book, Time Under Tension, is due out from Fantagraphic Books in 2023. Besides her comic work, Harkness also works as a personal trainer. Columbus welcomes this fresh voice in the cartooning world.

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Comic Store Profile: Capital City Comics

Previously known as the British Papermill, Capital City Comics is one of the oldest comic shops in central Ohio. Owner Tony Kazlausky and his staff have over 30 years of experience and carry a variety of new releases, large selection of back issues, as well as an array of collectibles. Tony was nice enough to take the time to talk to the Columbus Scribbler and give some insight into how he got into the comic book business.

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10 Questions with Gabby Metzler

A 2017 graduate of Columbus College of Art and Design, Gabby Metzler, is making waves in the area comics scene. In the last two years, she has won both the S.P.A.C.E. prize and the CXC Emerging Artist Award for her comic series, The Fat Girl Love Club. Years in the making, The Fat Girl Love Club tells the tale of Becky, an awkward girl from small-town Ohio who has an unhealthy attraction to Jesus. The Fat Girl Love Club is now a graphic novel available through most local book stores and online. Gabby is also the organizer and founder of Peztilence: A Comics Reading Series where she hosts Ohio comic artists who present their work in front of a live audience. Furthermore, she recently colored Whistle, a YA graphic novel published by DC Comics in the spring of 2021.

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10 Questions with Darryl Banks

Darryl Banks is an artist that has been working professionally in comics since the late 1980’s. Born in Columbus, he is best known for his work on Green Lantern, but has completed work for series such as Wild Wild West and Doc Savage. Besides his professional work, he’s helped to shape many artists in our community by teaching Illustration and Comic Book Design at our famed Columbus College of Art & Design.

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10 Questions with Grace Ellis & Shae Beagle

“Moonstruck” is a comic series that has been published by Image Comics since 2017. “Lumberjanes” creator, Grace Ellis, and talented newcomer, Shae Beagle tell a story of monsters, romance, and magical hijinks. Fantasy creatures are living typical, unremarkable lives alongside humans and barista Julie strives to be the most unremarkable of all. Normal job, normal almost-girlfriend, normal… werewolf transformations that happen when she gets upset? Yikes! But all bets are off when she and her centaur best friend Chet find themselves in the middle of a magical conspiracy. We are very lucky to have Grace and Shae both call Columbus home.

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10 Questions with Jeff Smith

As they say on the talk shows, our next guest needs no introduction. If you know just one cartoonist in Columbus, it’s probably Jeff Smith. Jeff is best known for his BONE series, initially released in 1991, the rights of which have recently been purchased by Netflix and will be produced as an animated series. He’s also noted for his books RASL, Tuki Save the Humans, and Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil. Jeff is the winner of eleven Eisner Awards, eleven Harvey Awards and two National Cartoonists Society Comic Book Awards. Jeff is also making a huge impact on Columbus by being a founding member of the Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) event held in our city for the last five years.

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