Trickster

Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection

By Matt Dembicki (Editor)
(Fulcrum Publishing, Paperback, 9781555917241, 232pp.)

Publication Date: June 2010

Categories: Anthologies

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Description

All cultures have tales of the trickster—a crafty creature or being who uses cunning to get food, steal precious possessions, or simply cause mischief. He disrupts the order of things, often humiliating others and sometimes himself. In Native American traditions, the trickster takes many forms, from coyote or rabbit to raccoon or raven. The first graphic anthology of Native American trickster tales, Trickster brings together Native American folklore and the world of comics.

In Trickster more than twenty Native American tales are cleverly adapted into comic form. Each story is written by a different Native American storyteller who worked closely with a selected illustrator, a combination that gives each tale a unique and powerful voice and look. Ranging from serious and dramatic to funny and sometimes downright fiendish, these tales bring tricksters back into popular culture in a very vivid form. From an ego-driven social misstep in “Coyote and the Pebbles” to the hijinks of “How Wildcat Caught a Turkey” and the hilarity of “Rabbit’s Choctaw Tail Tale,” Trickster provides entertainment for readers of all ages and backgrounds.

Along with compiling and editing the book, artist Matt Dembicki illustrated one of the featured trickster tales. Dembicki is the founder of D.C. Conspiracy, a comic creators’ collaborative in Washington, DC, and has won acclaim for his nature graphic novel, Mr. Big. He currently works as an editor for a higher-education association.




About the Author

Along with compiling and editing the book, artist Matt Dembicki illustrated one of the featured trickster tales. Dembicki is the founder of D.C. Conspiracy, a comic creators' collaborative in Washington, DC, and has won acclaim for his nature graphic novel Mr. Big. He currently works as an editor for a higher education association.




NPR
Sunday, Jun 6, 2010

The trickster is a being that loves to create chaos. In Native American traditions, it takes many forms and appears in many stories. Now it's taking the form of a graphic novel. More at NPR.org

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Praise For Trickster

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… this unique collection of Native American folklore invites readers to sample and savor each colorful, wily tale.—Kirkus (starred review)

More than 40 storytellers and cartoonists have contributed to this original and provocative compendium of traditional folklore presented in authentic, colorful, and engaging sequential art... The total package is accessible, entertaining, educational, inspiring, and a must-have for all collections.—School Library Journal (starred review)

With stories that vary in emotional tone, matching the ever-shifting appearance and character of the trickster himself and the lessons he teaches and learns, this collection is an ideal choice for dipping into over and over. A dandy read for those interested in history, folklore, adventure, humor, or the arts, and a unique contribution to the form.—Booklist (starred review)

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