Announcement: Beacon Press Seeks an Illustator for Kindred
by Latoya Peterson
Yes, you read that right. According to friend of the blog Allison:
For many years, Beacon Press–a nonprofit book publisher since 1854–has had the privilege of publishing Octavia Butler’s “Kindred,” the story of a modern black woman transported through time to the antebellum South. Octavia Butler died tragically in 2006; those familiar with her life and work know how singular and important her legacy remains. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the novel, and Beacon is deeply honored to announce a collaboration with the Butler estate to produce a graphic adaptation of “Kindred.” The press is currently inviting proposals from cartoonists who appreciate Octavia Butler’s legacy, and reflect hercommitment to social justice in their own work.
Those interested in discussing a proposal should email the editor of the Graphic Books list, Allison Trzop, at atrzop AT beacon DOT org. The deadline is March 16.
Please spread this far and wide, anyone who knows anyone who is an illustrator, graphic artist, whatever.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
Ugly Deaf Muslim Punk Gurl! wrote:
that is hella SWEET! I freakin’ love graphic novels, and this should be a great project.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 2:37 pm ¶
A.D. Nix wrote:
Damn. I wish I didn’t hear about this until right before it came out. Not good with anticipation.
I can’t wait to “see” this story.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 2:52 pm ¶
Karyn wrote:
Wow, of all of her books, Kindred seems to be the least adaptable to a comic book format. Still, I have to support anything to get Ms. Butler’s work out to more people.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 2:52 pm ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
@Karyn,
They turned the 9/11 report into a (racist!) graphic novel. And Kindred is much better source material than that.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 3:12 pm ¶
Sarah J wrote:
Oooooh, I’m blogging this on Newsarama.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 3:23 pm ¶
cocolamala wrote:
i don’t have a lot of background on comic book illustrators, but y’all had a conversation here about black characters being drawn with poor attention to detail [so to speak].
i hope they look though the artists who illustrate black children’s books though. Bryan Collier, did Obama, Son of Promise, Child of Hope and I also like the illustrations in Nikki Giovanni’s book about Rosa Parks. Shoot! that’s also Bryan Collier!
any who… there’s lots of folks out there, right?
i was going to suggest the illustrator for incognegro, but i didn’t like the harsh lines he used on black women’s faces — that’s just me.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 4:11 pm ¶
Brigitte wrote:
No offense to people who love graphic novels but I want a freaking movie made from this book already!
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 4:14 pm ¶
Casual Observer wrote:
Brigette,
I agree wholeheartedly! This would make a WONDERFUL movie!
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 4:27 pm ¶
Laura V wrote:
posted in my lj — hope Beacon gets tons of good responses.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 4:54 pm ¶
shah8 wrote:
Count me in as someone who would have preferred the Wild Seed stuff. That is pretty adaptable as a graphic novel. Xenogenesis would have to be done carefully.
Parables, though, would make a profoundly awesome movie.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 5:19 pm ¶
Pheagan wrote:
Yay! Octavia Butler! Comics! Usually my scifi and comic fetishes remain separate. I hope this turns out well.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 5:52 pm ¶
The Cruel Secretary wrote:
@shah8 and @Brigitte–eff it, I want it all! I want all of Octavia Butler’s works made into graphic novels and movies. I’m sorta digging Kindred done by Kara Walker or Lorna Simpson. (Okay, they’re not strictly illustrators, but a woman can dream, right?) And I’m seeing Sanaa Lathan in the film adaptation of the Parableseries and M’Bushe Wright in the Wild Seed series.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 6:01 pm ¶
L. wrote:
TCS: That’s funny, I was seeing Sanna as Dana in a movie adaptation of Kindred.
And I cosign a Wild Seed graphic novel.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 6:10 pm ¶
Fiqah wrote:
Cross-posting! :::WHOOT!:::
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 6:14 pm ¶
cora wrote:
I’ve already posted about it especially a forum dedicated to Butler friends. Anyone interested in the group let me know and I’ll provide the link.
Recently at The Bottom of Heaven, Claudia wrote about a manga style graphic novel based on the life a blues singer. No offense to AA illustrators but I wonder if this style of illustration would work for Kindred.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 7:10 pm ¶
cora wrote:
Let me add my knowledge of illustrators is severely limited. Please do educate me about women of color illustrators.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 7:11 pm ¶
Amory wrote:
O.M.G. and stuff. I’m super excited for this project to come out! Please give updates, when they pick someone, for example…
thanks lady for the heads up on this one!
<3
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 8:12 pm ¶
Amory wrote:
p.s. agreed that Wild Seed might be better for graphic novel form… this should still be pretty rad.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 8:14 pm ¶
RainaWeather wrote:
Now I gotta add this to the Must Read list
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 8:27 pm ¶
gatamala wrote:
yay!!
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 9:23 pm ¶
Kesha wrote:
This makes me full of glee.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 9:55 pm ¶
Minnie E Miller wrote:
I can’t say I’m excited to hear this. The very serious Ms. Butler’s work in a comic book! Naw. A movie, several movies, yes. Can the folks handling the Butler estate handle that? I sure hope so.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 10:34 pm ¶
Dee Galloway wrote:
I was NOT a sci-fi fan, but in the late 80’s a friend demanded that I read Kindred and Wild Seed, if only because Butler was one of the few women writers in sci-fi, and the ONLY African American. I was hooked from the first word. I have read every word of every novel she wrote. I even wrote her a fan letter, to which she responded! I have her response in my stacks somewhere.
Although I’m not really into graphic novels, I have nothing against them – simply not my aesthetic. My niece’s partner is an illustrator and he’s helped me come to a admiration of the creativity and artistry involved. I’ve already told him that he ‘d better get a proposal together NOW!
I can easily see how Kindred can be made into a graphic novel, and I look forward to it’s publication.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 10:50 pm ¶
Dee Galloway wrote:
OOOOPS! I meant to say the only African American woman writing sci-fi at the time.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 10:51 pm ¶
anna wrote:
The illustrator for Bayou (Jeremy Love). I just came across it a few days ago, and I love the drawings.
Posted 03 Mar 2009 at 11:50 pm ¶
DMoon wrote:
I absolutely loved Ocativa Butler(RIP) and thought she was a genius, but even though I loved Kindred and thought it was powerful and beautiful, it is a Romance, thus I don’t really think it would be suited for a graphic Novel. Patternmaster maybe.
Tanaravinue Due’s The Between with its faced controlled style would work better in that format. It would spotlight a Black female speculative fiction writer while providing a dynamic energtic story line. I know it isn’t strictly his media but I love the dramatic emotive quality of Tom Feelings and the impressionistic dynamism of Overton Llod.
Posted 04 Mar 2009 at 12:08 am ¶
Elanor Brachwasser wrote:
I’m so excited about this! I read Kindred years ago and have only recently been reading Butler’s other books, and I’ve loved every word I’ve read so far. I agree that Kindred should definitely have a movie, but then maybe the graphic novel will bring it into the spotlight and create demand for a movie.
Posted 04 Mar 2009 at 12:52 am ¶
sejw wrote:
As much as I would love to see Wild Seed as a movie, the structure of the story lends itself much more to an animated structure (graphic novel or animated film). How many actors would it take to fill the role of Doro over the entire story?
(suddenly thinking of the “How many licks does it take?” Tootsie Pop commercial)
Posted 04 Mar 2009 at 10:59 am ¶
Karyn wrote:
@ Latoya Peterson
They turned the 9/11 report into a (racist!) graphic novel. And Kindred is much better source material than that.
For real?! Okay, I definitely missed that. Still, my favorite Butler books would be the Parable series or Wild Seed, those I would love to see as a comic. Kindred always struck me as more real world than the others despite its sci fi aspects, so I’d love to see a movie of it done.
Posted 04 Mar 2009 at 2:40 pm ¶
Chris Chambers wrote:
The guys who illustrated our book the Darker Mask (specifically the ones we hired to do tananarive due and steve barnes plus LA Banks’ stories) would be great. They’ve done stuff for marvel/vertigo, dark hourse, etc. I’ll put them in touch, and try to get tananarive to call. She and Steve are almost like the “trustees” of Octavia’s legacy.
Posted 04 Mar 2009 at 5:20 pm ¶
Vic da G wrote:
I never read her book, but I am very interested in working in this genre of work. IM INTERESTED IN SUBITTING SOME WORK!! But WHATS THE EMAIL???
Posted 04 Mar 2009 at 6:05 pm ¶
Vic da G wrote:
someone send me the email please, or post it?
Mod Note – Slow down and read carefully. The email is included at the end of the call. Your contact is Allison Trzop.
Posted 04 Mar 2009 at 6:07 pm ¶
Dee Galloway wrote:
Actually, with the current film technology (think Benjamin Button), I think only one actor would be needed to play Doro in the a film adaptation. Technology has advanced to the point where a single actor’s image can easily be “morphed” into as many different appearances as needed.
Has anyone heard/read anything about Octavia Butler’s perspective on adaptation of her work to other media? As to which of Butler’s works should be produced in which format, I say why not adapt any and all of her works to any and all formats possible? I have no doubt that the executors of her estate will be very selective with the rights.
Posted 04 Mar 2009 at 7:49 pm ¶
PatrickInBeijing wrote:
Wow!! Great news. And I want to agree with everyone who says “Kindred” should be made into a movie. The very idea leaves me stunned. A graphic novel would be good, very good. 30 years, so long. Ms. Butler is missed very much.
Excitedly anticipating!!!
Posted 05 Mar 2009 at 12:56 am ¶
Vic da G wrote:
Thanks Mod. I had no idea u cant just put it out there :\ got it
Posted 05 Mar 2009 at 1:47 am ¶
pixilated wrote:
@anna wrote:
The illustrator for Bayou (Jeremy Love). I just came across it a few days ago, and I love the drawings.
that’s the first idea that came to mind as well. granted, i’m not really well-versed in illustrators working in graphic novels or even illustrators in general, but i think he could really do her work justice.
Posted 05 Mar 2009 at 7:16 am ¶
Lizzie (greeneyedfem wrote:
Ooo, I JUST got Fledgling from the library to read — it’s in my bag now. LOVE Octavia Butler.
I actually think the Wild Seed books would be harder to make into a movie than Kindred because of all the Pattern stuff that happens in the minds of the characters.
DMoon, I’m surprised to hear you describe Kindred as a romance. The relationship between Dana and her husband is not the first thing I think of when I think about the book.
Hopefully, a graphic novel adaptation will be a stepping stone to a movie — a solid visual representation of the story might spur folks to realize it would make a kick-ass film.
Posted 05 Mar 2009 at 2:49 pm ¶
DMoon wrote:
DMoon, I’m surprised to hear you describe Kindred as a romance. The relationship between Dana and her husband is not the first thing I think of when I think about the book.
To me Kindred was Butler’s brilliant and idiosyncratic interpretation of Southern Gothic and although she did not romanticize slavery, how Dana loses her arm and her complicated relationship with her ancestor illustrated how deeply entangled Black Slaves and Whites were. Something was forged in this kind of proximity thus to me it was a savage romance.
Posted 06 Mar 2009 at 2:20 am ¶
stella wrote:
This should have been a film.
Posted 06 Mar 2009 at 2:33 am ¶
Joseph wrote:
I love Octavia Butler and I am surprised to hear this news. I have wondered for some time why some enterprising Hollywood type hasn’t optioned her stuff for films. Or–and in a way I think this would be better–an HBO-style ongoing series. The Xenogenesis series would be perfect for this. Or the Patternist series.
As far as a graphic novel goes I suppose it is good if it brings more readers to the books. I started reading her in junior high ( I had no idea Octavia Butler was a Black woman, or that this was in any way notable, I just loved the books) So I think anything that introduces her work to young people is good. I just hope its done well.
Posted 06 Mar 2009 at 11:58 am ¶
Courtny wrote:
Thanks so much for the heads up about this project. I’m really into comics and graphic novels; my art-partner Eli Ivory and I just submitted our inquiry!
Posted 16 Mar 2009 at 7:16 pm ¶