Craig Thompson
Craig Thompson | |
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Born | Traverse City, Michigan, US | September 21, 1975
Area(s) | Writer, Penciller, Inker |
Notable works |
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http://craigthompsonbooks.com |
Craig Matthew Thompson (born September 21, 1975) is an American
Early life
Craig Thompson was born in
In high school Thompson entertained dreams of becoming either a small-town artist or a film animator. He attended the
Career
Thompson worked briefly at
His debut graphic novel was the semi-autobiographical
In late 1999, Thompson began work on a 600-page autobiographical graphic novel and two Ignatz Awards, for Outstanding Graphic Novel or Collection and Outstanding Artist.
Thompson said that he believes Blankets was a success because he was "reacting against all of the over-the-top, explosive action genre [in alternative comics, and] I also didn't want to do anything cynical and nihilistic, which is the standard for a lot of alternative comics."[6] As a result of Blankets, he rose quickly to the top ranks of American cartoonists in both popularity and critical esteem. Pulitzer Prize-winning comic artist Art Spiegelman sent him a long letter of praise for Blankets,[2][4] and in mock-jealousy, Eddie Campbell expressed a temptation to break Thompson's fingers.[9] Despite the praise, the book, which was Thompson's way of coming out to his parents about no longer being a Christian, resulted in tension between him and his parents for a couple of years after they read it.[2]
Thompson followed Blankets with 2004's travelogue Carnet de Voyage, which received Ignatz Award nominations for Outstanding Graphic Novel and Outstanding Artist. He also contributed numerous short works to Nickelodeon Magazine, as "Craigory Thompson".
In 2007, Thompson created the artwork for the Menomena album Friend and Foe, which was released on January 23 from Barsuk Records. Thompson's design received a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package, to which he responded, "I wanna get it! I think it would be very funny to be a cartoonist with a Grammy ... if nothing else it helps bring attention to the band."[10]
In late 2004, Thompson began working on
From 2019–2024 Craig Thompson worked on a serialized comic, Ginseng Roots. The series is a "recherche du temps perdu" that tells the story of ginseng in parallel with Craig's childhood, among Christian fundamentalist parents, hard work to grow ginseng, and comics. The 12th and last comic book of the series was published by Uncivilized Books in February 2024.
Style and influences
Thompson has acknowledged the influence of graphic artists Taro Yashima, Daniel Clowes, Chris Ware, and Joe Sacco.[4] Thompson has said that, in his composition process, pages are initially composed "in a very illegible form, a shorthand where words and pictures blur into alien scribbles ... I'm working with words and pictures right from the beginning, but the picture might not look any different from a letter, because they're just a bunch of scribbles on a page." Then he rewrites those sketches into "a detailed thumbnail with clear handwriting, and that way I can go back and edit." Even on his long works, Thompson drafts the entire book in ballpoint pen before beginning the final brush-inked version.[12]
Personal life
Thompson has explained that he is no longer a Christian, a status that evolved gradually beginning with his high school years, during which he became disenchanted with the church and its dogma, though he still agrees with Jesus' teachings.[2]
Awards
- 2000
- 2004
- 2004 Eisner Award for Best Writer/Artist for Blankets[25]
- 2004 Harvey Award for Best Artist for Blankets[8]
- 2004 Harvey Award for Best Cartoonist for Blankets[8]
- 2004 Harvey Award for Best Graphic Album of Original Work for Blankets[8]
- 2004 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Artist for Blankets[26]
- 2004 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Graphic Novel or Collection for Blankets[26]
- 2005 Prix de la critique for the French edition of Blankets[27]
- 2012 Eisner Award for Best Writer/Artist for Habibi[28]
- 2016 Rudolph-Dirks-Award for Best SciFi / Alternate History for Space Dumplins[29]
Nominations
- 1999 Harvey Award for Best New Talent for Top Shelf, Doot Doot Garden, et al.[30]
- 2000 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Artist for Good-bye, Chunky Rice[2][31]
- 2000 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Artist for Carnet de Voyage[32]
- 2000 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Graphic Novel for Carnet de Voyage[32]
- 2007 Grammy Award for Best Recording Package for Friend and Foe[10]
- 2021 Eisner Award Nomination for Best Graphic Memoir for Ginseng Roots[33]
- 2021 Eisner Award Nomination for Best Writer/Artist for Ginseng Roots[33]
Bibliography
Graphic novels
- Good-bye, Chunky Rice (1999)
- Blankets(2003)
- Carnet de Voyage (2004)
- Habibi (2011)
- Space Dumplins (2015)
Mini-comics
- Bible Doodles (2000)
- Doot Doot Garden (2001)
Ongoing series
- Ginseng Roots (2019–2024) On February 2024, the 12th and last comic book of the series is published by Uncivilized Books. The series is a wonderful "recherche du temps perdu" that tells the story of ginseng in parallel with Craig's childhood, among Christian fundamentalist parents, hard work to grow ginseng, and comics.
References
- ^ Thompson, Craig. Habibi. Pantheon Books. 2011. Page 672.
- ^ a b c d e f Mechanic, Michael. "Craig Thompson—The Devil Made Me Draw It". Mother Jones. September/October 2011.
- ^ a b c Kross, Karen L. "An Interview with Craig Thompson" Archived 2019-10-20 at the Wayback Machine. Bookslut. February 2004. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ a b c d Gallivan, Joseph. "Blankets' statement: Craig Thompson's new graphic novel is the epic story of his younger self losing his religion" Archived 2012-04-15 at the Wayback Machine. Portland Tribune. August 15, 2003. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ Heater, Brian. "Interview: Craig Thompson Pt. 1 (of 2)" Archived 2017-10-15 at the Wayback Machine. The Daily Cross Hatch. May 7, 2007.
- ^ a b c Heater, Brian. "Interview: Craig Thompson Pt. 1 (of 2)" Archived 2017-10-15 at the Wayback Machine. The Daily Cross Hatch. 2007-05-07. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ "It's DC's Night at the 2004 Eisner Awards" Archived September 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ Harvey Awards. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
- ^ Eddie Campbell. The Comics Journal. Issue 266.
- ^ a b Lopez, Luciana. "Craig Thompson talks about Grammy nomination". The Oregonian. December 12, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-10.
- ^ Habibi by Craig Thompson Pantheon Graphic Novels. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
- ^ a b Hatfield, Charles. "The Craig Thompson interview". The Comics Journal #268 (June/July 2005). Seattle: Fantagraphics. 78-119. Unprinted excerpts of the interview appear on The Comics Journal website.
- ^ Wolk, Douglas. "The Line of Beauty: Habibi a graphic novel worthy of Scheherazade". Time. October 3, 2011.
- ^ Shea, Lisa. "A Magic Carpet Ride" Archived 2011-09-24 at the Wayback Machine. Elle. September 19, 2011.
- ^ Mukherjee, Neel. "Habibi". Financial Times. September 23, 2011.
- ^ Miller, Laura. "The Best New Graphic Novels". Salon. September 26, 2011.
- ^ Iserles, Inbali. "Habibi, By Craig Thompson: An enchanting epic of love and survival emerges from the desert sands". The Independent. September 25, 2011.
- ^ Weldon, Glen. "Mysterious 'Habibi' Cuts To The Core Of Humanity". NPR. September 18, 2011.
- ^ Lambert, Jacob. "The Greatest Story Ever Drawn". The Millions. September 22, 2011.
- ^ Hogan, John. "Game Changers" Archived 2011-10-08 at the Wayback Machine. Graphic Novel Reporter. August 25, 2011.
- ^ du P.C. Panno, Natalie. "'Habibi' Gracefully Subverts Orientalist Tropes". The Harvard Crimson. September 20, 2011.
- ^ Faber, Michel. "Habibi by Craig Thompson – review". The Guardian. September 16, 2011.
- ^ Hatfield, Charles. "A Habibi Roundtable". The Comics Journal. October 27, 2011.
- ^ "2000 Harvey Award Winners" Archived 2010-11-09 at the Wayback Machine. The Harvey Awards. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
- ^ a b "2004 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards". Hahn Library. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
- ^ a b "2004 Ignatz Award Recipients". Small Press Expo. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
- ^ Brown, Tyler. "Blankets". Kansas State Collegian. December 7, 2010.
- ^ "Archaia’s ‘Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand’ Takes Home Three Eisner Awards". Publishers Weekly. July 14, 2012.
- ^ "Die Gewinner des Rudolph-Dirks-Award 2016". December 3, 2016.
- ^ "1999 Harvey Award Nominees" Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine. The Harvey Awards. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
- ^ "2000 Ignatz Award Recipients". Small Press Expo. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
- ^ a b "2005 Ignatz Award Recipients". Small Press Expo. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
- ^ a b "2021 Eisner Award Nominations" Archived 2021-06-09 at the Wayback Machine. ComicCon Eisner Awards. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
External links
- Official website (blog)
- Meakin Armstrong interviews Craig Thompson' in Guernica / A Magazine of Art and Politics (September 15, 2011)
- Excerpt from Habibi at Guernica
- Craig Thompson at Top Shelf Catalog
- Craig Thompson at Uncivilized Books
- Craig Thompson at Library of Congress, with 6 library catalog records