Signal boost: new comics essay by Miriam Libicki, and lots of work to check out!

Just published: here’s a solid new historical comics-essay about the history of Soviet Jewish migration by my good friend and contemporary Miriam Libicki, who’s been an underrecognized torchbearer of the modern comics essay form since about 2005, and whose work has been a big influence on my own approach over the past decade!

Miriam is currently working on an opus entitled Glasnost Kids, which will be out next year from Fantagraphics— don’t miss it! In the meantime, pick up her essay collection Toward A Hot Jew, her Nib comic “Who Gets Called An Unfit Mother?”, and her new essay about the Israeli nuclear missile program in The Nib’s new “Secrets” issue.

Exclusive RUN excerpt up at the New Yorker!

We’re proud to have an exclusive excerpt from Run published today at The New Yorker, with stellar artwork by L. Fury! Run will be available everywhere August 3rd from Abrams ComicArts.

“Aydin described how a large part of Lewis’s advocacy for the March trilogy involved travelling to schools to meet with students and read the stories with them. ‘As a direct result of that touch from Congressman Lewis, reading and speaking with students about this history, we were able to replicate, in some way, what Dr. King and Jim Lawson had done with Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story. These books are about teaching the next generation to understand their power, to embrace nonviolence, and to consider public service. We call it manufacturing lightning.’”

Huge interview up at The Comics Journal!

Just published today: an absolute beast of an interview at The Comics Journal— the most in-depth I’ve ever done— with lots of deep-dive analysis and linked creative processes between Save It For Later, the March trilogy, and more. Thanks to the perceptive and thoughtful Irene Velentzas for interviewing me!

One year without John Lewis.

Today marks one year since freedom fighter, collaborator, and friend John Lewis crossed over.

I haven’t gathered my thoughts enough for a more personal post today, but this first: opponents of multiracial democracy are working overtime— and succeeding— at undoing his life’s work in pursuit of single-party autocratic rule, making major strides since the Supreme Court gutted the heart of the Voting Rights Act in July 2013.

If we lose democracy, it isn’t coming back. Take two minutes to call or email your representatives and urge them to strengthen what remains of the VRA with the For The People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. The Capitol switchboard will get you there: (202) 224-3121.

SAVE IT FOR LATER-- "Book of the Year" Harvey Award nominee!

Quite a surprise and honor to see that Save It For Later is a Harvey Awards nominee for Book Of The Year, alongside stellar work by Derf Backderf, Michael Deforge, Matt Fraction, and absolute legend Barry Windsor-Smith!

If you’re eligible to vote, please do so here. Winners will be announced in a virtual ceremony during New York Comic Con this fall.

Thank you, everyone, for your support of my work, and for finding something meaningful in it. I’ll keep it up.

Spotlight panel/interview this Saturday at SPACE virtual con!

I’ll be in conversation with Jared Gardner about all my work past, present, and in-the-works at this SPACE panel— Saturday, July 10th at 1pm Eastern. Bring your questions, and spread the word— thank you!

New WBEZ feature on SAVE IT FOR LATER & ACROSS THE TRACKS!

Here’s the new feature from WBEZ, Chicago’s NPR affiliate, with myself and fellow cartoonist Stacey Robinson about our respective books Save It For Later and Across The Tracks, their significance in the context of American history and its future, antiracism, and more.

SAVE IT FOR LATER-- discussion/Q&A tonight!

Be sure to sign up in advance here for tonight’s discussion of Save It For Later, in conversation with Alex Segura, thanks to the fine folks at Kew & Willow Books! 7pm Eastern— see you there!

June 4th-- SAVE IT FOR LATER discussion/Q&A via Kew & Willow Books!

I’ll be in conversation with author and friend Alex Segura about Save It For Later, comics, parenthood, activism, and where it all intersects, via the fine folks at Kew & Willow Books!

Friday, June 4th at 7pm Eastern— register in advance here, and please order books from Kew & Willow.

Thanks— see you there!

Poster art for Little Rock's MUTANTS OF THE MONSTER fest!

Here’s the poster I just designed for Little Rock’s own Mutants of the Monster festival this September 10-12, featuring Pallbearer, John Moreland, Weedeater, Burned Up Bled Dry, Frozen Soul, Adam Faucett, Sumokem, and tons more. You can get tickets here.

Much thanks, as always, to Erin Tobey for the technical assistance on this poster!

SAVE IT FOR LATER-- book discussion/Q&A via "Coffee With Friends" on May 16th

I’ll be discussing my book Save It For Later, and answering questions, via Monroe County Public Library’s “Coffee With Friends” group on Sunday, May 16th from 2-3pm Eastern. Anyone may register for the discussion— please do so here!

If you’re a Bloomington local, you can pick up copies of Save It For Later at MCPL’s Friends of the Library Bookstore, Vintage Phoenix Comics, or The Book Corner.

See you there— spread the word!

Discussion w/ Joel Christian Gill & Tim Fielder via Harvard Book Store tomorrow!

Tomorrow evening (Tuesday, May 4th) at 7pm Eastern, I’ll be in conversation with Joel Christian Gill and Tim Fielder about our work in comics, and more importantly to discuss Joel’s new book Robert Smalls: Tales of the Talented Tenth via Harvard Bookstore. Here’s the link— see you there!

New reviews from New York Times and The Beat!

I’m thrilled to see this love for Save It For Later— first, at the New York Times Review of Books:

“An absorbing reflection on intergenerational inheritance. And it is most fascinating when Powell turns his gimlet eye to how and why certain images circulate and recirculate as cultural and political symbols.”

And here’s a glowing review from John Seven at The Beat:

“Powell’s intellectual/philosophical approach takes a look at cause and effect in a way that’s not limited by single incidents or standard tropes. What he presents in massive and unwieldly and challenging to confront— and with that, he also brings an understanding of why so many people are incapable of doing anything about it, without the judgment that can sometimes accompany the activist-oriented works.”

SAVE IT FOR LATER-- The Nib's "Book of the Month" + new interview!

I’m proud to announce that Save It For Later is featured as “Book of the Month” by The Nib!

Here’s a new interview about Save It For Later with Sarah Mirk, editor and cartoonist extraordianaire!

Part 2 of Dr. Matthew Teutsch's analysis of SAVE IT FOR LATER

Here’s part 2 in an ongoing series by Dr. Matthew Teutsch from the Lillian E. Smith Center, analyzing and reflecting on Save It For Later— this section is an excellent, concrete breakdown of the middle chunk from my book’s “Good Trouble, Bad Flags” chapter, coupled with Lillian Smith’s own observations regarding absolution and racist white America’s convenient opposition to white supremacists on foreign shores.

Here’s part 1, if you missed it!

Also, coming up: I’ll be discussing Save It For Later and answering questions this Thursday, April 29th at 8pm Eastern via the Bronx’s own Boogie Down Books and Mott Haven Families— sign up and tune in here!

Thanks.

SAVE IT FOR LATER media roundup & next week's discussion!

Thanks so much, everyone, for your enthusiasm and support for Save It For Later these past two weeks!

In great news, it’s got a solid 4.8 star rating on Amazon— if you’ve read the book, please leave a review here at Amazon or GoodReads, as these ratings impact the ridiculous whims of the algorithm which affects the book’s visibility to other potential readers. I really appreciate it!

Next Thursday, April 29th, I’ll be discussing Save It For Later via the fine folks at the Bronx’s own Boogie Down Books, in coordination with Mott Haven Families— 8pm Eastern. More info and signups here!

Here’s the first post in a series of in-depth reflections and analysis on Save It For Later by Matthew Teutsch at the Lillian E Smith Center.

Here’s a new excerpt of Save It For Later up at Publishers Weekly’s “Panel Mania”.

And here’s an updated piece on Save It For Later at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Thanks again everyone— please spread the word!

Book discussion via Elliott Bay Books tonight!

This evening I’ll be in discussion with Sara Brickman about my new book Save It For Later, via Seattle’s own Elliott Bay Book Company at 6pm Pacific/ 9pm Eastern. Tune in here— thanks!

And here’s a new review of Save It For Later up at CBR.

Upcoming events, new excerpt, and video of Eleanor Davis discussion

Thanks, everyone, for your support of Save It For Later during its release week! All mailorders have been shipped out, so keep an eye on your mailbox.

Here’s video of Eleanor Davis and I discussing Save It For Later, via Politics & Prose.

Here’s a new excerpt from the book available through Literary Hub.

And a few upcoming events— be sure to sign up in advance at the links:

• Monday, April 12th via Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice @ 7pm Eastern

• Tuesday, April 13th via Rain Taxi @ 5:30pm Central

• Thursday, April 15th via Elliott Bay Books @ 6pm Pacific

Please spread the word— thanks again!

SAVE IT FOR LATER-- discussion via Left Bank Books tonight!

Thanks to everyone who tuned in to my discussion at Politics & Prose last night!

Tonight at 7pm Central/ 8pm Eastern, I’ll be discussing Save It For Later via the fine folks at Left Bank Books in St. Louis— please tune in here, and spread the word. Thanks!

SAVE IT FOR LATER is out today!

Today is the day: Save It For Later is on shelves everywhere!

(Order here via your local comics shop, indie bookstore, directly through me, Abrams, or Amazon if you must.)

So much gratitude for all the folks at Abrams ComicArts, The Nib, Popula, and my agent Charlie Olsen for their faith and support getting this work out into the world.

I’m gonna be signing & packing the next wave of mailorders today— thank you, friends near and far, for sticking with me & each other. <3

Here are three new interviews today:

• Virtual Memories podcast

• Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

• Columbus Alive

And two book launch discussions:

• Tomorrow (Wednesday, April 7th) via Politics & Prose, in conversation with the great Eleanor Davis!

• Thursday, April 8th via Left Bank Books!