Barbara Slate: The ABCs of Graphic Novels
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By Lauren Barack -- School Library Journal, 03/17/2010
Want to turn your teens onto your library? Barbara Slate’s You Can Do a Graphic Novel (Alpha, 2010) may be just the ticket. Having written hundreds of story lines for perennial favorites like Betty, Veronica, and Barbie, along with her own creations like DC Comics’ Angel Love, Slate knows comic books. So much so that legendary comic book creator Stan Lee wrote a funny review on her book’s cover asking readers to protect his job and not buy it. We caught up with the Hudson, NY-based Slate to ask how she met Lee, why comic books continue to attract teen readers, and how this genre finally got the attention—and respect—it deserves from mainstream publishers.
How did you decide to write a how-to for future graphic novelists?
I got a call from the Claverack library saying they needed to get teenagers into the library, and would I care to teach? When you do a graphic novel, you spend so much time alone, and I thought that would be great. I told her I want to cap it off at 15 kids, and she laughed and said if we got five that would be good.
How many kids signed up?
Lo and behold we got 15. We had half girls and half boys, had a show at a gallery with 70–80 people at the opening, and the local newspaper picked up the story. Because of that I started breaking down what I did, because I had to teach it. And then a kid would come in and say, ‘I’m blocked, I can’t draw.’ I would say things like, ‘Switch hands,’ and they would switch hands. So because of the kids, I had all these notes, and then I had a book.
Stan Lee. How did he get a copy of the book?
I remember him from my Marvel days. I used to dance with him at parties. He’s such an icon and I didn’t want to bother him. But my agent, who is not intimidated by anyone, sent him the book and he seemed to like it, and endorsed it.
Why do you think publishers are more interested in the graphic novel market?
When I started in the '80s, there were only two women writing and drawing comics, because about 95 percent of readers were boys and about 5 percent girls. But Jenette Kahn, president of DC Comics, was looking to get girls. It was a huge untapped market.
Has that popularity of manga changed that?
Now it’s more like 50 percent boys and 50 percent girls because of the Japanese influence of manga—it’s the biggest thing that’s happened. It’s turned the comic book industry into girls and boys. It’s funny. In the 1950s comic books had such a bad reputation—they would say they were ruining kids. And so now that’s changing and mainstream publishers are embracing them. But instead of calling them comic books, they’re calling them graphic novels.
Why do comic books and graphic novels work well as literary tools?
My daughter, Samantha, learned to read by reading Archie stories. Not everybody reads with words. There’s a whole population of kids who see pictures, and they can read by just looking at the pictures. If you really know what you’re doing with layout, you can draw an entire story without one word and you should be able to know what the story is about. A two- to three-year-old can look at a comic book and then start getting the words. It’s a big aha! because it’s a different way of teaching. Plus it’s fun. Kids love comics.
How did you get started in this field?
I started with Ms. Liz greeting cards, which were aimed at the liberated woman. This was in the '80s. They said things like, “I know I’m not easy to live with, but you’re no bargain either.” I sold a few million. It was a time for women to come out and speak their mind. The animated Ms. Liz was on the Today Show about 20 times.
Do you have a favorite character you’ve worked with?
I love doing Archie stories, the Betty and Veronica stories, I love those two girls. I’m not wild about them fighting about the boys. But in the end I love that they’re friends. My daughter is 12 years old and she’s a co-writer now. Anytime I write a story for Archie, she makes sure my language is part of this generation. You can say things I understand, and my friends understand, but the kids roll their eyes. But my favorite graphic novel is the Bible. R. Crumb did the Genesis, it’s so wonderful.
And what’s next for you?
Right now I’m working on a graphic novel called I Got Married And Other Mistakes. It’s about 130 pages, and I’m almost finished. It’s kind of autobiographical, although it’s really about finding your own voice. My main character is a photographer who shoots weddings, who gets obsessed with shooting sad brides. It’s a very emotional thing, and I am having a hard time parting with it. But I’m also excited about it and want it to get out. Plus my agent keeps calling me and saying ‘When! When! When!’
