A few ARC copies of Save It For Later just arrived in the mail today!
The final version of the book will be everywhere on April 6th from Abrams ComicArts— here are tons of pre-ordering options. Thank you!
You, too, are anti-fascist.
Support your troops. (they rarely wear uniforms.)
This page is from my forthcoming book, Save It For Later, out April 6th from Abrams ComicArts.
SAVE IT FOR LATER-- printer proofs are here
Printer proofs for Save It For Later just arrived, and they look fantastic!
The book will be released by Abrams ComicArts on April 6, 2021— here are a bunch of pre-ordering options. I encourage you to order through your local bookshop or comic book store instead of Amazon— a vast majority of local shops simply won’t survive the reality of a prolonged pandemic. Thank you!
"About Face" and the plausible deniability of fascist aesthetic.
The fascist aesthetic shift of replacing the US flag with a parallel alternative is purposeful, expected, and terrifying.
1) a sequence from my 2018 essay “About Face” (now included as a key chapter in my forthcoming book Save It For Later, out 4/6/21):
2) The stage at last night’s fascist rally in Wisconsin:
New Titanic-themed comic in Scholastic Math magazine!
For the 2-3 Nate Powell completists out there, I have a brand-new 6-page Titanic-themed comic in the October 2020 issue of Scholastic Math magazine!
This was a lot of fun to make, with the bonus of getting to solve ratio problems with my third-grader!
CXC interview video is up!
Thanks to everyone who tuned in to my conversation with Caitlin McGurk for CXC yesterday, discussing Save It For Later and more! Here’s the full video interview.
Save It For Later will be released on April 6, 2021 by Abrams ComicArts— pre-order here.
CXC "Transformative Work" award for MARCH
It’s a profound honor to find that the late John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and I have been awarded CXC’s “Transformative Work” award for our March trilogy— this means a lot to me, especially in the context of my favorite comics community’s indie expo.
Andrew and I dedicate this award to the memory of, and in the spirit of, both John Lewis and Tom Spurgeon. Here’s to all the stories left untold.
On Sunday, October 4th, I’ll be in conversation with Caitlin McGurk about my work (centered around my forthcoming book Save It For Later and the March trilogy) as a part of CXC’s virtual festival— it’ll be streaming from 5-6pm EST, with a live Q&A on CXC’s Discord channel. See you there!
New CNN op-ed reflecting on John Lewis
Spotlight interview for CXC's virtual expo, 10/4!
"The Long March" mural installation + project with Ben & Jerry's!
I’m proud to announce that Chris Ross, Andrew Aydin, Val De Landro, and I have been collaborating with Ben & Jerry’s on a massive 35-foot mural installation at their corporate HQ, documenting the late, great John Lewis’ path through organized, revolutionary nonviolent resistance— using artwork from the March trilogy. This is intertwined with Ben & Jerry’s voter registration and activism efforts, and they’ve been fantastic to work with.
Tune in Tuesday, September 22nd at 7pm EST for their virtual launch of the exhibition!
Intro speech for the 2020 Ignatz Awards
Like most of my cartoonist friends, I’m really missing the creative and social pilgrimage of traveling to the Small Press Expo, ushering in the fall, and getting fired up for making more work. I miss you all.
Here’s an intro speech I made for the 2020 virtual Ignatz Awards (don’t worry, it’s only a few minutes long), which were delivered last weekend— until we see each other again!
Restocking sold-out MARCH slipcase editions
Thanks to everyone for being patient with your March slipcase edition mailorders.
When Congressman Lewis passed away in July, all copies of March sold out— everywhere— within a day.
My home mailorder stash oddly became the ONLY outlet in the country with copies, and those immediately sold out as well. IDW/Top Shelf immediately ordered new printings of the books, but this takes a bit of time. The boxed sets are shipped from Asia, and generally take 6 weeks to receive.
I sent out orders until my stock ran out, and should be receiving more books within the next week or so. I’ll continue re-ordering and shipping until all outstanding orders are taken care of.
Thank you for understanding— and for remembering that you likely ordered copies of March in the immediate wake of Rep. Lewis’ passing, along with one hundred thousand other people. We’re doing the best we can. It’s okay to cancel your order, or email me to have a refund if you’d like.
Thank you again. —Nate
Announcing SAVE IT FOR LATER
I’m eager and proud to announce my next book, Save It For Later, to be released on April 6th, 2021 by Abrams ComicArts!
Save It For Later is an essay/memoir hybrid covering the intersections between my family’s personal experiences and social/political engagement throughout the 2010s, as mass people’s movements have emerged in resistance against horrifying (but entirely predictable) shifts toward authoritarianism and fascism in the US.
Here’s the book’s cover reveal and announcement from The Hollywood Reporter.
The more personal narratives highlight my parental experiences, as so many millions of us have worked to equip our children, at their respective levels, to handle such a chaotic, foreboding future. Interspersed essays trace the American consumer’s complicity in normalizing a clearly-telegraphed paramilitary fascist presence, with much of white America blinded by intergenerational myths of exceptionalism, security, and by our own privilege. These essays include both “About Face” (my viral comic from early 2019 about paramilitary aesthetic evolution and fragile masculinity) and “Pecking Order” (my new comic in The Nib’s “Power” issue about fascist cosplay and geek subcultures).
This is a book for everyone. It’s neither a parenting guide nor an activist handbook. Save It For Later lays bare feelings and reflections we’ve been gaslit into denying or suppressing in the past five years, reckons with our own delusions of the inevitability of progress, and contains an urgent call to speak truth and stick together if we’re to have any hope of salvaging an eclipsed promise of a shared society.
I look forward to making this book a part of our vital, ongoing conversations and work. Thanks for being there with me— for the People Power.
160-page color hardcover // ISBN: 978-1-4197-4912-4
(I’ll be doing signed pre-orders in partnership with my local shop early in 2021, but for now, you may pre-order it from Abrams, at your local indie bookstore or comics shop, at Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.)
Interview today on Indiana Public Radio's "ALL IN"
Today from 1-2pm Eastern time, I’ll be on Indiana Public Radio’s ALL IN program to discuss my graphic novel Come Again (as well as a bit about March, the late, great John Lewis, authoritarianism, fiction, craft, and personal vs. political), which is a finalist for the Indiana Authors Award in the “genre” category.
The winners of the Indiana Authors Awards will be announced September 1st!
TWO DEAD is on Booklist's Top 10 Graphic Novels of 2020!
It’s an honor to see that Two Dead (written by Van Jensen, art by yours truly, color by Erin Tobey) is on ALA Booklist’s Top 10 Graphic Novels of 2020! Thanks for believing in this story.
You may get copies of Two Dead from your local comics shop or bookstore, directly from me, or from Barnes & Noble or Amazon.
Steve Bannon's snake oil in "About Face"
In light of fascist grifter Steve Bannon’s arrest for (alleged) intentional duping of the pro-fascist base, I’ve been thinking a lot about my last paragraph in the above excerpt from my essay “About Face”, written in late 2018 as the Wall Scam was launched, but also applicable to the regime broadly.
“About Face” will be released in print— stay tuned for a big announcement next Tuesday involving my next book!
New comic in The Nib-- "Pecking Order"
The new issue of The Nib anthology is out now! This one centers around the theme of power, and includes a 7-page comic by me called “Pecking Order”, reflecting on early 2010’s warning signs about misanthropic nerds, pop culture & identity, and how fascist cosplayers were likely just actual fascists in the making.
This issue has an amazing creative lineup, with contributions by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Ezra Claytan Daniels, Richie Pope, Thi Bui, Sarah Mirk, Sophie Yanow, Ben Passmore, and tons more! Order (and better yet, subscribe) here.
BONUS: “Pecking Order” was originally roughed out waaaay back in 2013, and was always intended as the second half of the comics essay “Havens Have Not” from my You Don’t Say collection. I encourage everyone to read both comics back-to-back for the full effect!
COME AGAIN is an Indiana Authors Award finalist!
It’s an honor to announce that my graphic novel Come Again has been selected as a finalist for the Indiana Authors Award in the “genre” category!
The winner will be announced on September 1st. In the meantime, you can get a copy of Come Again from your local bookstore, your local comic shop, directly from me, your public library, or from Amazon.
New book announcement soon!
Next week I’ll finally be announcing my next book (snippets of which you’ve seen throughout my social media posts since 2018)— stay tuned!
In memory of John Lewis (1940-2020).
It’s been two weeks and I still can’t find the words to properly pay respects to this wonderful man— rest in peace, John Lewis.
Friend, collaborator, hero.
Thank you endlessly for trusting me to help bring your experiences and work to life through your eyes, and in your voice. The last 9 years have unquestionably been the honor of my lifetime, and I plan to continue the work, both on the page and in the streets. Here’s to the Beloved Community. Here’s to making a future worth living in for all people. Thank you from all of us.
So much more to say.
The day we met face-to-face for the first time— September 2012, just before SPX weekend.
Lunch break at Small Press Expo 2013.
Rep. Lewis and my brother Peyton. North Little Rock AR, April 2014.
Meeting my daughter in 2015.
The moment Rep. Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and I won the National Book Award for March: Book Three. November 2016.