"Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection" is an amazing collection of more than 20 Native American tales cleverly adapted into comic form. Each story is written by a different Native American storyteller who worked closely with a selected illustrator, a combination that gives each tale a unique and powerful voice and look. Ranging from serious and dramatic to funny and sometimes fiendish, these tales bring tricksters back into popular culture in a very vivid form. This unique collection of Indian lore was conceived and edited by cartoonist Matt Dembicki, the founder of DC Conspiracy, a comic creators' collaborative in Washington, DC. Matt will be here to discuss this work, the Indian lore which inspired it, and what it takes to create a graphic novel.

In this intense six-week series, cartoonist Jerzy Drozd invites adults and older teens to explore of some of the illustration and storytelling strategies used by professional cartoonists to create graphic novel, manga, and comic books. You'll learn how to choose the right moments in your story, how comics take advantage of the rules of art as well as literature, and how the illustration style you choose contributes to the tone of your work. Whatever story you want to create, this workshop will provide you with the tools you need to make your story a reality. We'll provide the pencils, erasers, paper, rulers, etc. Sessions are on Wednesdays, July 7, 14, 21, 28, and August 4, 11. Registration is required and begins June 6 online, in person at any location, or by calling 327-8301.

In this six-week series, join cartoonist Jerzy Drozd in an exploration of some of the illustration and storytelling strategies used by professional cartoonists to create graphic novel, manga, and comic books. You'll learn how to choose the right moments in your story, how comics takes advantage of the rules of art as well as literature, and how the illustration style you choose contributes to the tone of your work. Whether you want to create an autobiography, an epic fantasy, or a shoot-em-up action adventure, this workshop will provide you with the tools you need to make your story a reality!We'll provide the basic tools (pencils, erasers, paper, rulers, etc.) to try out illustration techniques and storytelling strategies.

In this six-week series, join cartoonist Jerzy Drozd in an exploration of some of the illustration and storytelling strategies used by professional cartoonists to create graphic novel, manga, and comic books. You'll learn how to choose the right moments in your story, how comics takes advantage of the rules of art as well as literature, and how the illustration style you choose contributes to the tone of your work. Whether you want to create an autobiography, an epic fantasy, or a shoot-em-up action adventure, this workshop will provide you with the tools you need to make your story a reality!

In this six-week series, join cartoonist Jerzy Drozd in an exploration of some of the illustration and storytelling strategies used by professional cartoonists to create graphic novel, manga, and comic books. You'll learn how to choose the right moments in your story, how comics takes advantage of the rules of art as well as literature, and how the illustration style you choose contributes to the tone of your work. Whether you want to create an autobiography, an epic fantasy, or a shoot-em-up action adventure, this workshop will provide you with the tools you need to make your story a reality!

In this six-week series, join cartoonist Jerzy Drozd in an exploration of some of the illustration and storytelling strategies used by professional cartoonists to create graphic novel, manga, and comic books. You'll learn how to choose the right moments in your story, how comics takes advantage of the rules of art as well as literature, and how the illustration style you choose contributes to the tone of your work. Whether you want to create an autobiography, an epic fantasy, or a shoot-em-up action adventure, this workshop will provide you with the tools you need to make your story a reality!

In this six-week series, join cartoonist Jerzy Drozd in an exploration of some of the illustration and storytelling strategies used by professional cartoonists to create graphic novel, manga, and comic books. You'll learn how to choose the right moments in your story, how comics takes advantage of the rules of art as well as literature, and how the illustration style you choose contributes to the tone of your work. Whether you want to create an autobiography, an epic fantasy, or a shoot-em-up action adventure, this workshop will provide you with the tools you need to make your story a reality!

Author/illustrator David Small and his wife, author/gardener Sarah Stewart, will share their thoughts on the importance of art and reading for young people and the impact of the picture book in children's literature. Mr. Small will also present illustrations from his latest children's book project. A booksigning will also occur at this event and books will also be on sale.David Small has illustrated more than 40 picture books. His books have been translated into several languages, made into animated films and musicals, and have won many top awards. 'Stitches,' David's 2009 graphic memoir about his problematic youth, was nominated for a National Book Award. A published poet and lifelong diarist, Sarah is the author of five acclaimed children's books -- 'The Money Tree,' 'The Library,' 'The Gardener,' 'The Journey,' and 'The Friend.' This event is held in conjunction with the October-November exhibit at the Library: Children's Books By Famous Folks from the Children's Literature Collection in the University of Michigan Special Collections Library.

Norwegian cartoonist Kim Holm will share his thoughts on distribution and intellectual property in new media, as well as demonstrate some of the various publishing models available to creators of any kind of content. A staunch advocate of new media models and distribution methods, he has released his comics completely copyright-free to the public while still enjoying sales of his books thanks to enthusiastic fans. Kim has worked for years as a professional illustrator and storyteller and is the creator of the weekly webcomic Space Monkey, a science fiction tale where the readers vote to determine the plot.

Meet graphic novelist Stan Sakai, whose most famous creation is Usagi Yojimbo, the epic saga of Miyamoto Usagi, a samurai rabbit living in late-16th and early-17th century Japan. First published in 1984, the comic continues to this day, with Sakai as the lone author and nearly-sole artist. Set primarily in Japan's Edo period, with anthropomorphic animals replacing humans, it features a rabbit ronin, Miyamoto Usagi, who is partially based on the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Usagi wanders the land on a warrior's pilgrimage, occasionally selling his services as a bodyguard. Usagi Yojimbo is heavily influenced by Japanese cinema and has included references to the work of Akira Kurosawa and to icons of popular Japanese cinema such as Zatoichi, and Godzilla. The series was awarded a Parents' Choice Award in 1990 for its educational value through Stan's skillful weaving of facts and legends into his work. Vault Of Midnight will be on hand to sell copies of Stan's books and there will be plenty of time for audience questions.