In SevenDaysVT, Signs of the Times: My Neighbor Debra on Protesting Again

Read the comic in the Cartoon Issue of SevenDays VT, published July 9, 2025 HERE!

After having a great time with my neighbor Debra at as many protests as I could this winter/spring I pitched this comic for the yearly Cartoon Issue to editor Dan Bolles at SevenDaysVT. I interviewed my neighbor Debra while on a walk, drafted this comic, showed it to her for her input, edited again for clarity and correctness, turned it in, and left for Italy (with my dad and kids) and Greece (for the archaeology at Kenchreai and Mud House Residency) for two months. I returned to VT just in time to see it in print. Attending these protests, especially with Debra’s humorous, practical, and hopeful-depsite-all attitude, and standing/marching together with so many people willing to brave the cold then rain, gave me energy and the feeling that resistance is worth it, and necessary for change. The fight against the current regime needs documentation in print, not only on the internet, and am glad for the chance.

I’m proud to be in the issue with CCS alumni (students in my Thesis Seminar class) Clover Ajamie and Kristin Shull, as well as national cartooning heroes Harry Bliss and Alison Bechdel. Both have new books, You Can Never Die and Spent, which I’m reading side by-side with the joy and delight of inhabiting their worlds for the moment. The endpapers of Spent show the same red chacos and blue hokas I wear—another way of walking in Alison’s (cartoon) shoes.

Charlotte Bronte Before Jane Eyre Review in the New York Times

This review in the New York Times one is the best yet! It appears in the print edition on Sunday Dec. 1st.

“This emotionally nuanced and visually stunning biography, illustrated in deft pencil strokes colored with moody shades of blue and featuring an insightful introduction written by Alison Bechdel, is the latest venture from the Center for Cartoon Stories…”

RoeHead-BronteBook.jpg

Stuck in Vermont and a Book Launch

Join me and Jason Lutes at Phoenix Books on Sept 26th for a launch of Charlotte Bronte Before Jane Eyre and Houdini: the Handcuff King. We’ll have a discussion about historical biography and creating graphic novels.

If you can’t wait for that, here’s Episode 591 of Eva Solberger’s Stuck In Vermont, where I talk about making the book about Charlotte Bronte, the great cartooning weather in the state of Vermont, and a theme park idea. (hint: there will be gruel.)

Pulp Culture Comics Art Festival and Symposium

This unique festival occurred at UVM (and here's an article about it) with support from the Vermont FolkLife Center and many other sponsors.  It was a thrill to contribute a small amount to the organization of this event and to be around such luminaries in the world of comics for 3 days.  

Thursday began with a visit from James Sturm, Summer Pierre, and Allie Fitzgerald.  We had coffee on Church St with Art Spiegleman before his talk later that evening.  On Friday, Isaac Cates had a conversation with Joe Sacco in front of a full lecture hall, with a reception afterwards where I had a chance to talk with Joe, Hilary Chute, Chris Couch, Dan and Rachel Fogel, as well as meet the Quebecois cartoonists who came to the event: Francois Vigneault, Frances Desharnais, Alexandre Simard and Zviane of Pow Pow press, as well as Julie Delporte and Jimmy Beaulieu.  I met Dana Walrath and Marek Bennet for the first time, after admiring their work for a long time.  I came away from the exhibition hall on Saturday with an amazing collection of new books.

On Saturday there were five panel discussions, including mine on Autobiography--I was on the stage with James Kochalka, Julie Delporte, and Rachel Lindsay, moderated by Isaac Cates.  

Alison Bechdel's talk on Saturday night was funny and inspiring, and I was made aware again how long she has been working (especially on Dykes to Watch Out For), and how much humor and truth she has given the world.  

I feel very grateful to have been part of this unique event.  Thanks to organizers Jonah Steinberg, Andy Kolovos, Margaret Tamulonis.   I am sure I must be forgetting someone!  It was FUN.