Na'-a-wih! ("Welcome!")

Native Americans in Comic Books, published by McFarland Publishing, is a unique study and critique of the way in which we Indigenous people are represented in the popular medium of comic books. This work takes an in-depth look at the world of comic books through the eyes of a Native American reader and offers frank commentary on the medium's cultural representation.

For this book, Michael Sheyahshe (Caddo) has interviewed a host of individuals in the comic book industry: Tim Truman (creator/writer/artist for Scout), Alvin Schwartz (writer for Tomahawk from the 1940s), Terry LaBan (creator/writer for Muktuk Wolfsbreath), Steve Englehart (creator/writer for Coyote), John Ostrander (writer for Blaze of Glory), Rachel Pollack (creator/writer for Vertigo's Tomahawk), Jon Proudstar (creator/writer for Tribal Force), Mike Grell (creator/writer/artist for Shaman’s Tears), Jeff Mariotte (writer for Gen13 series), David Mack (creator/artist of the Daredevil character, "Echo"), Bradford W. Wright (author of "Comic Book Nation"), and Jacquelyn Kilpatrick, Ph.D., (author of "Celluloid Indians").

"Assassin's Creed 3" Talk at NSU

Exciting news..!

On Tuesday, April 9, 2013, I and several other panelists will be on-hand at Northeastern State University, University Center in Tahlequah, OK to discuss the portrayal of Native American characters in both pop culture and Assassin's Creed III - which includes Indigenous characters in its story / gameplay.

Cherokee Artist (...and fellow INC Universe comic book creator...), Roy Boney, will server as moderator for this event.

Here is some additional info on AS3's Native American characters from Elizabeth Aileen LaPensée's instructional video.

The 41st Annual Symposium on the American Indian is entitled, "Technology Future, Technology Past: A Woven Link" April 10-13, 2013. Here is some info from the official Symposium website:

The theme for the 41st Annual Symposium on the American Indian, "Technology Future, Technology Past: A Woven Link." Indigenous societies have endured as technological innovations have effected massive cultural change. The spiritual paths taken are interwoven as living links between the past and the future. Like the ancestral oak, the branches that reach out into new space are nurtured by the seasonal life within its circuitry and secured by the deeply woven roots that give it strength.

Here is our panel discussion info:

Native American Film Series
Title: Killing Stereotypes: Assassin’s Creed and Natives in Popular Culture
Moderator: Roy Boney
Panelists: Michael Sheyahshe, Callie Chunestudy, Candessa Teehee, and Thomas Deer
Time: 7-9 pm
Location: Webb Auditorium

Also, due to increased interest and requests, I will have a few copies of my book, Native Americans in Comic Books, on-hand, for anyone interested in purchasing a copy...hey, I'll even sign it! LOL ☺

See you in Tahlequah!

Native American Comic Book Creators Speak in Tulsa

flier compliments of Arigon Starr © 2013

Come out to Tulsa for the "American Indian Festival of Words Writers Award" honoring award-winning screenwriter Sterlin Harjo, March 2, 10:30 a.m. at Tulsa City County Library. (TCCL) Central Library, Fourth Street and Denver Avenue, Tulsa, OK.

Following Harjo's presentation, see Natives in Comics: How to Create Comic-Book Art, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and How to Create Comic-Book Stories, 12:30-1:30 p.m.  Join Native American comic-book creators Arigon Starr, Roy Boney, Michael Sheyahshe and Lee Francis IV, of Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers.

See http://www.tulsalibrary.org/news/library-honor-oklahoma-screenwriter-and-filmmaker-sterlin-harjo-0 for more info on this event.

Fresh INC

I'm please to announce my participation with the Indigenous  Narratives  Collective ("INC") on a comic book collaboration.

Here's a blub from Arigon Starr's website, http://superindiancomics.com/:

This is the cover of the brand new "INC's Universe" comic book just published by the Indigenous Narratives Collective. Concept and artwork by Arigon Starr. "INC's Universe" also features work from Roy Boney, Beth Aileen Dillon, Spider Moccasin, Jonathan Nelson, Michael Sheyahshe, Ryan Huna Smith, Theo Tso, Marty Two Bulls and Arigon Starr.

The INC comic is to be distributed at the Wordcraft Circle, “Returning The Gift” Conference in Milwaukee (Sept. 5-9) and the Southeastern Indian Writers Conference in Cherokee, North Carolina (Sept. 12-14).

I was mega-cool working with this group...big thanks to Arigon Starr for spearheading (can I say that online??) the whole thing.  Look for more from INC soon!