By the time you read this, Occupy Wall Street will be just over seven months old, and look how things done changed: All the way from a small encampment at Zuccotti Park to a worldwide movement that's produced many actions, including the demonstration on November 17, when over 30,000 people shut down Wall Street and took the Brooklyn Bridge.
Occupy Comix was born during this phase.
Occupy Comix was launched to bring you the anecdotes, glimpses, pictures and critical stories and dreams of struggle occurring all around us.
'Why comics?' you may ask. Well, sequential art has been a part of human storytelling since the Egyptian paintings. According to comic theorist Scott McCloud, “Comics offers a medium of enormous breadth and control for the author. A unique, intimate relationship with its audience.”
That’s precisely what we want in order to convey the voice of the 99%.
So far we have published two volumes chronicling the lives and issues of the 99%, compilations of pieces submitted to the Occupy Comix team. Each artist provides a unique vision of their perceptions of the current crisis that led us here and the growing movement that continues to thrive. Future issues may include longer stories, poster art, and maybe even steady characters.
Print copies of our publications and future comics will be distributed for free at Occupy Wall Street events, in our communities and in the outer boroughs of New York City, and - finances willing - at Occupy events across the nation. The Occupy Comix team supports the revolutionary movements throughout the country that have been forged by OWS. Some of our artists hint at varying political philosophies represented in the Occupy Movement that may not always align with our political views as editors, but this diversity offers a glimpse into the broad support the movement enjoys, even if by reactionary forces. We believe that artists and writers can help transform our world, to build a new Mythos of Hope. Let us know what you think.
Visit Occupy Comix here and here.
Terry Marshall is a community organizer and the co founder of Occupy Comix and Hip Hop Media Lab.
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