Native Americans in Comic Books

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

2019-06-22T07:46:00.000-07:00

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").

Sheyahshe Interviewed for Cowbows & Indians Mag

2011-06-10T07:21:00.000-07:00

Writer Steve Philips, Web Content Manager at Cowboys & Indians Magazine and Western & English Today interviewed me for an article about Cowbows & Aliens (summer, 2011), directed by Jon Favreau (you may remember him from such films as: Iron Man and Iron Man 2).

Cowboys & Indians is an
"international magazine...[that] speaks to everyone from the people who live it
to those who simply love or long for the Western lifestyle" and "balances past
and present, tradition and innovation, and classical and cutting edge as it pays
respectful tribute to the Old West and offers exciting previews of new
horizons."

Read the online article here: http://www.cowboysindians.com/art-entertainment/books/2011/07/native-american-superheroes.jsp

Phelps provides a lot of succinct points about Indigenous representation in pop culture media. One additional concern is the "Dances with Wolves" ("DWW") syndrome. To best explain this syndrome, the joke goes something like this: while Dances with Wolves (Kevin Costner, 1990) is arguably a fine film - and has Native characters that are well-written, well-researched, and well-played (by Native American actors) - it is basically about two white people that fall in love...oh, and there are some Native people there, too. :)

Cowboys & Aliens ("C&A") may fall victim to the DWW syndrome, as well. Sadly, a quick scan of the cast members (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409847/), supports this, as there are very few Native American actors listed. Given Favreau's many successes over the last few years, as well as his passion for film and storytelling, Cowboys & Aliens will most likely be worth viewing.

Yet, the main point is this: Indigenous people need stories, films, video games, whatever that are just as good/cool/popular as Cowboys & Aliens comic or film... only with Native characters as the centralized story elements AND created BY us (rather than Hollywood or others doing it FOR us).

SEOSU Lecture Postponed

2010-09-06T16:23:00.000-07:00

Due to scheduling conflicts, my lecture at Southeastern State University in Durant, OK (http://nativecomicbooks.blogspot.com/2010/08/lecture-at-seosu-in-durant-ok.html) has been postponed.

Keep an eye out for when we work out a new date/time for this lecture.

Lecture at SEOSU in Durant, OK

2010-08-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

**NOTE** This lecture has been postponed. Check the website for a new date. Thanks.
-M

If you are in the areas nearby or surrounding Durant, Oklahoma - where Southeastern Oklahoma State University is located - on Thursday, September 9, 2010 from 4pm to 5:30pm, consider coming by to see my lecture on Native American gender representations in pop culture.

You can see more information about my lecture at this website: http://www.se.edu/departments/art/visual_art.htm

The event will be held at SEOSU's Centre Gallery in the Visual and Performing Arts Center, part of the Division of Visual Arts, whose mission "is to serve the needs of a rural and diverse university community of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas by providing a balanced undergraduate curriculum in the visual arts."

My lecture, "I" of the Beholder: Indigenous Gender Representations in Pop Culture will be a discussion on how Native Americans are portrayed based on gender in media. In addition, you can see artwork at The Charles & Miriam Hogan Native American Art Works which will be on display at the Centre Gallery.

I look forward to a good discussion with everyone there ! ;)

For more information contact Dr. Gleny Beach, Director of Visual Art, 745-7477.

Lecture and Book Signing at IAIA

2010-02-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Native American Author, Michael Sheyahshe, to Speak at IAIA

Native Americans in Comic Books: A Critical Study is a thorough examination and critique of Indigenous cultural representation in American popular culture. Author, Michael Sheyahshe, Caddo, will give a public lecture at Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), located at 83 Avan Nu Po Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87508 on Thursday, April 1st, 2010 at 2:30pm. The presentation will be followed by a book signing at the Museum of Contemporary Native Art’s Museum Store on Friday, part of Santa Fe's ongoing First Friday's gallery hop.
Santa Fe, NM -- Friday, February 05, 2010 – Native American author, Michael Sheyahshe (Caddo), will present a public lecture about his book, Native Americans in Comic Books: A Critical Study at Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, NM. The book, Sheyahshe's first published work, focuses on the representation of Indigenous people in American comics books.

The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) is "the nation’s only fine arts college devoted solely to the artistic and cultural traditions of all American Indians" and is "a multi-tribal learning center, [which provides] a bridge between a past rich with tradition and the dynamic ever-evolving American Indian culture of the new millennium." For more information about IAIA, please visit their website at http://www.iaia.edu/.

Date: Thursday, April 1st, 2010
Time: 2:30pm
Location: Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA)
Street: 83 AVAN NU PO ROAD
City/Town: SANTA FE, NM
Phone: 505.983.1777

Sheyahshe will be available for a special book signing event at IAIA’s Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) on Friday, April 2nd, 2010. “The Museum of Contemporary Native Arts is dedicated to advancing the discourse, knowledge and understanding of Native art.” The Museum is located at 108 Cathedral Place, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1 block from the downtown Santa Fe historic plaza. For information about the MoCNA, call Samantha Ferguson at 505.428.5900. For information about the Museum Store, call 505.983.1666. (Fax 505.983.1222)

Date: Friday, April 2nd, 2010
Time: 5:00 – 7:00pm
Location: IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts
Street: 108 Cathedral Place
City/Town: SANTA FE, NM
Phone: 505.983.1777

"As a groundbreaking work in the study of the depiction of Native Americans in the medium of comics, Native Americans in Comic Books is a welcome addition to the fields of Native American studies and popular culture studies." - Chris Teuton, World Literature Today.

Native Americans in Comic Books is available everywhere fine books are sold; online locations include: Hastings, Target, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

For more information about Native Americans in Comic Books, the lecture, or book signing event, please contact Michael Sheyahshe at email: info@nativecomicbooks.com or visit the book's website at www.nativecomicbooks.com. You can also follow author, Michael Sheyahshe, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sheyahshe. Additional information about the book itself can be obtained from the publisher, McFarland, listed below.

Contact Information:
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Box 611
Jefferson NC 28640
Tel: 336-246-4460
http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/
info@mcfarlandpub.com

###

Press Release - Book Signing, Hastings,Norman, OK

2009-08-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Native American Author, Michael Sheyahshe, at Book Signing

Native Americans in Comic Books: A Critical Study is a thorough examination and critique of Indigenous cultural representation in American popular culture. Author, Michael Sheyahshe, will be at the Hastings Book Store, 2300 W. MAIN, Norman, OK on Saturday, August 29, 2009 from 3:00pm - 5:00pm for book signing event.

Norman, OK -- Monday, August 24, 2009 – Local Native American author, Michael Sheyahshe (Caddo), will be on-hand at the Hastings Book Store in Yukon, OK for a special book-signing and promotional event for his book, Native Americans in Comic Books: A Critical Study. The book, Sheyahshe's first published work, focuses on the representation of Indigenous people in American comics books. Show your support and bring your copy and have it signed by the author. Hastings will have copies available for anyone needing to purchase copies for signing.

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2009
Time: 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Hastings Book Store
Street: 2300 W. MAIN
City/Town: Norman, OK
Phone: 405.329.5529

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 (Sheyahshe) and offers frank commentary on the medium's cultural representation. For this book, Sheyahshe interviewed a host of individuals within the comic book industry: Tim Truman (creator/writer/artist for Scout: War Shaman), Alvin Schwartz (writer for Tomahawk from the 1940s), Terry LaBan (creator/writer/artist for Muktuk Wolfsbreath: Hardboiled Shaman), Steve Englehart (creator/writer/artist 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/illustrator for the Daredevil character, Echo), Jay Odjick (artist/creator of Kagagi: The Raven), Bradford. W. Wright (author of "Comic Book Nation"), and Jacquelyn Kilpatrick, Ph.D., (author of "Celluloid Indians").

"As a groundbreaking work in the study of the depiction of Native Americans in the medium of comics, Native Americans in Comic Books is a welcome addition to the fields of Native American studies and popular culture studies." - Chris Teuton, World Literature Today.

Native Americans in Comic Books is available everywhere fine books are sold, such as Hastings and online locations, including: Target, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

For more information about Native Americans in Comic Books or the Hastings book signing event, please contact Michael Sheyahshe at email: info@nativecomicbooks.com or visit the book's website at www.nativecomicbooks.com. You can also follow author, Michael Sheyahshe on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sheyahshe. Additional information about the book itself can be obtained from the publisher, McFarland, listed below.

About Author
Michael Sheyahshe and is a member of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and currently sits on the Board of Trustees for the Caddo Heritage Museum. In May 2003, he received two degrees, both cum laude, from the University of Oklahoma: one in Native American Studies (BA) and another in Film and Video Studies (BA). Michael is a Gates Millennium Scholar, a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, and is a member of both the Alpha Lambda Delta and Gamma Beta Phi honor fraternities. Michael has presented academic papers at various universities, museums, and summits around the country. Michael has been published in Illusions magazine, "New Zealand moving image and performing arts criticism," Trauma Magazine a "European movie magazine entirely dedicated to the fantastic world of horror, science fiction and fantasy," Native Peoples Magazine and Games for Windows: The Official Magazine, both about Native American characters in video games. Michael has held internships with the University of Oklahoma’s Center for Student Life and with the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History's in Washington, DC, and has previously been appointed as a Tax Commissioner for the Caddo Nation. Through his studio, alterNative Media (“aNm” http://www.alternativemedia.biz) - an all-inclusive traditional & digital art & media studio in the Oklahoma City metro area - Michael's recent artistic achievements include serving as Director of Animation for a feature film, work on a shipped video game title (Helix) for Nintendo Wii, and has artwork featured at various art shows around the country. Currently, Michael is finishing a Master's program (MFA) in 3D Modeling at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA, for School of Animation & Visual Effects.

Contact Information:
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Box 611
Jefferson NC 28640
Tel: 336-246-4460
http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/
info@mcfarlandpub.com

###

Press Release - Book Signing, Hastings, Yukon, OK

2009-08-04T08:46:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Native American Author, Michael Sheyahshe, at Book Signing

Native Americans in Comic Books: A Critical Study is a thorough examination and critique of Indigenous cultural representation in American popular culture. Author, Michael Sheyahshe, will be at the Hastings Book Store, 1105 GARTH BROOKS BLVD. Yukon, OK on Saturday, August 8, 2009 from 4:00pm - 6:00pm for book signing event.

Yukon, OK -- Tuesday, August 04, 2009 – Local Native American author, Michael Sheyahshe (Caddo), will be on-hand at the Hastings Book Store in Yukon, OK for a special book-signing and promotional event for his book, Native Americans in Comic Books: A Critical Study. The book, Sheyahshe's first published work, focuses on the representation of Indigenous people in American comics books. Show your support and bring your copy and have it signed by the author. Hastings will have copies available for anyone needing to purchase copies for signing.

Date: Saturday, August 8, 2009
Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: Hastings Book Store
Street: 1105 GARTH BROOKS BLVD.
City/Town: Yukon, OK
Phone: 405.350.1803

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 (Sheyahshe) and offers frank commentary on the medium's cultural representation. For this book, Sheyahshe interviewed a host of individuals within the comic book industry: Tim Truman (creator/writer/artist for Scout: War Shaman), Alvin Schwartz (writer for Tomahawk from the 1940s), Terry LaBan (creator/writer/artist for Muktuk Wolfsbreath: Hardboiled Shaman), Steve Englehart (creator/writer/artist 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/illustrator for the Daredevil character, Echo), Jay Odjick (artist/creator of Kagagi: The Raven), Bradford. W. Wright (author of "Comic Book Nation"), and Jacquelyn Kilpatrick, Ph.D., (author of "Celluloid Indians").

"As a groundbreaking work in the study of the depiction of Native Americans in the medium of comics, Native Americans in Comic Books is a welcome addition to the fields of Native American studies and popular culture studies." - Chris Teuton, World Literature Today.

Native Americans in Comic Books is available everywhere fine books are sold, such as Hastings and online locations, including: Target, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

For more information about Native Americans in Comic Books or the Hastings book signing event, please contact Michael Sheyahshe at email: info@nativecomicbooks.com or visit the book's website at www.nativecomicbooks.com. You can also follow author, Michael Sheyahshe on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sheyahshe. Additional information about the book itself can be obtained from the publisher, McFarland, listed below.

About Author
Michael Sheyahshe and is a member of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and currently sits on the Board of Trustees for the Caddo Heritage Museum. In May 2003, he received two degrees, both cum laude, from the University of Oklahoma: one in Native American Studies (BA) and another in Film and Video Studies (BA). Michael is a Gates Millennium Scholar, a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, and is a member of both the Alpha Lambda Delta and Gamma Beta Phi honor fraternities. Michael has presented academic papers at various universities, museums, and summits around the country. Michael has been published in Illusions magazine, "New Zealand moving image and performing arts criticism," Trauma Magazine a "European movie magazine entirely dedicated to the fantastic world of horror, science fiction and fantasy," Native Peoples Magazine and Games for Windows: The Official Magazine, both about Native American characters in video games. Michael has held internships with the University of Oklahoma’s Center for Student Life and with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History’s in Washington, DC, and has previously been appointed as a Tax Commissioner for the Caddo Nation. Through his studio, alterNative Media (“aNm” http://www.alternativemedia.biz) - an all-inclusive traditional & digital art & media studio in the Oklahoma City metro area - Michael’s recent artistic achievements include serving as Director of Animation for a feature film, work on a shipped video game title (Helix) for Nintendo Wii, and has artwork featured at various art shows around the country. Currently, Michael is finishing a Master's program (MFA) in 3D Modeling at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA, for School of Animation & Visual Effects.

Contact Information:
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Box 611
Jefferson NC 28640
Tel: 336-246-4460
http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/
info@mcfarlandpub.com

###

Book Review - World Literature Today

2009-06-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

A new review in World Literature Today (May/June 2009) talks about my book, "Native Americans in Comic Books." Read the article here:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5270/is_3_83/ai_n31844212/

For those unfamiliar with the magazine, World Literature Today is
"An international literary journal that publishes interviews, original poetry, and fiction from around the world. Articles include essays on writers and regional trends, authors writing on books that changed their lives, and travel writing."

In the article, Chris Teuton calls the work "groundbreaking," "a welcome addition to the fields of Native American studies and popular culture studies," and "an important sourcebook".
However, Teuton clarifies his standpoint on the book, saying that it is not a "scholarly work, but a collection of the candid insights of one comic book enthusiast and his understanding and reaction to the representation of Native Americans in comics."

Fair enough. However, I have to say it certainly felt like scholarly research when I was both researching and writing it.

Heh. :)

Thanks for the review, Chris Teuton...and thanks to WLT for publishing it.
Cheers.

-Michael Sheyahshe

Contact Us

2009-06-22T08:44:00.001-07:00

To contact Native Americans in Comic Books, please email us at info@nativecomicbooks.com.
You may also use the form below.

Also, feel free to participate our online forum at:
http://nativecomics.proboards75.com/

For more information about publication or press release dates, please contact McFarland Publications at:
http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/contact.html

You can order the book at the McFarland website, located here:
http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-3565-4

Native Americans in Comic Books can also be found at Amazon.com, here:
http://www.amazon.com/Native-Americans-Comic-Books-Critical/dp/0786435658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199292984&sr=8-1

About the Author

2009-06-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

Michael Sheyahshe (Caddo) is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for alterNative Media, a studio specializing in illustration, sculpture, 2D art & media, and 3D modeling, animation, & simulation. He has presented academic papers at various universities, museums, and summits around the country. Michael has been published in Illusions magazine, "New Zealand moving image and performing arts criticism," Trauma Magazine a "European movie magazine entirely dedicated to the fantastic world of horror, science fiction and fantasy," Native Peoples Magazine and Games for Windows: The Official Magazine - both about Native Americans in video games - and most recently in New Plains Review from the University of Central Oklahoma. His book, Native Americans in Comic Books: A Critical Study, is available from McFarland and everywhere fine books are sold.

Michael Sheyahshe received two seperate bacalurate degrees, both cum laude, from the University of Oklahoma in May 2003: one in Native American Studies (BA) and another in Film and Video Studies (BA). Michael is a Gates Millennium Scholar, a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, and is a member of both the Alpha Lambda Delta and Gamma Beta Phi honor fraternities.

As a freshman at the University of Oklahoma, Michael was awarded the Office of Fellowships' Native American Award where he was appointed as an intern at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. He is a member of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, has previously been appointed as a Tax Commissioner for the Caddo Nation, and formerly held a seat on the Board of Trustees for the Caddo Heritage Museum. He has served as Project Coordinator for Oklahoma Red Earth Film Festival (2000), as well as promoted the "Indigenous Film Series" (IFS) and the "Festival of Indigenous Visual Entertainment" (FIVE) - both at the University of Oklahoma..

Michael’s artistic achievements include serving as Director of Animation for a feature film, credits on a shipped video game title (Helix) for Nintendo Wii, art purchased for the Red Cloud Museum’s permanent collection, and artwork featured at various art shows around the country. Currently, Michael is finalizing a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program in 3D Modeling at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA, for School of Animation & Visual Effects.

2009-06-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

DECEMBER 2006:

Michael Sheyahshe signs contract with McFarland Publishing for Native Americans in Comic Books, 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.

JANUARY 2007

A new article on Comic Book Resources (CBR) website on Native Americans in Comic Books featuring interviews from several individuals in the industry, including Sheyahshe.

FEBRUARY 2007

Permissions for Marvel Comics images have been approved!

MARCH 2007

Sheyahshe is invited as a panelist to the Eiteljorg Museum's special program, "Native American Portrayal In Comics." This event will last from 10am-4pm on March 10, 2007 and includes topics on Indigenous characters, stereotypes, Native vs. non-Native comics, and what the future holds for Native American comic books.

Permissions for Mike Grell's Shaman's Tears images have been approved!

Permissions for Steve Englehart's Coyote images have been approved!

APRIL 2007

Permissions for Layne Morgan Media's Chickasaw Adventures images have been approved!

MAY 2007

Permissions for Blue Corn Comics' Peace Party images have been approved!

JUNE 2007

Look for alterNative Media's booth at SoonerCon '07 ! There will be information about the book, as well as information about the business and art displayed / for sale.

JULY 2007

All images have been approved for book.

AUGUST 2007

Final revisions continue...

SEPTEMBER 2007

Final revisions continue...

OCTOBER 2007

Revisions completed and re-sent to McFarland.

NOVEMBER 2007

Look for us at the Anime SuperCon in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, NOV.30 - DEC. 2, 2007 !

Mike Grells Shaman's Tears is now available to read online at http://www.comicmix.com/comics/. I have also left comments for Mike on issue #8, which can be viewed at the following link: http://www.comicmix.com/comic/image-comics/shamans-tears/8/?cid=2791#c2791

DECEMBER 2007

Dialogue at Montclair Art Museum ("MAM")
Rob Schmidt (creator, Peace Party) and I have been invited you to speak as part of the programming in relation to MAM's exhibition Reflecting Culture: The Evolution of the American Super Hero. The exhibition features a section on Native Americans in comic book both portraying stereotypical depictions, introduction of Native superheroes in main stream comics and the more positive educational models like Blue Corn and others. This event will take place December 6, 2007. See website for more info.

JANUARY 2008

Native Americans in Comic Books: A Critical Study, has been officially listed on the Mcfarland & Company (publisher) website:
http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-3565-4

The hardcover, available this coming Spring 2008, will retail for around $49.95 and can be pre-ordered from the McFarland website:
http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/consumer/orderitem.php?id=978-0-7864-3565-4

It can also be pre-ordered on Amazon.com as well:
http://www.amazon.com/Native-Americans-Comic-Books-Critical/dp/0786435658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199292984&sr=8-1

FEBRUARY 2008

Final proofs for Native Americans in Comic Books: A Critical Study are complete.

MARCH 2008

McFarland sends out advertisements for Native Americans in Comic Books: A Critical Study and other books in various libary journals and trade magazines for its Spring 2008 release. Click HERE to see one of the ads.

CONTINUED NEWS...

Check out the Native Americans in Comic Books Blog for more info and updates about the book. http://www.nativecomicbooks.blogspot.com