''Bayou Arcana: Songs of Loss and Redemption'' is a
graphic novel
A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...
anthology
In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs or excerpts by different authors.
In genre fiction, the term ''anthology'' typically categ ...
of 11 stories created by a team of male writers and female artists, first published in 2012. It draws heavily on the United States' '
Southern Gothic' tradition of mysticism in both the storytelling themes and visual art. Much of the stories' content is also related to cultural issues of oppression and retribution in the context of the history of the
Southern United States
The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, or simply the South) is a geographic and cultural region of the United States of America. It is between the Atlantic Ocean ...
Stories
*''The Tale of Ol’ Mercy'' - story: Jimmy Pearson, art: Valia Kapadai (10 pages)
*''Comfort and Joy'' - story: Darren Ellis, art: Davina Unwin (11 pages)
*''Irons in the Fire'' - story: Corey Brotherson, art: Jennie Gyllblad (11 pages)
*''True Reflections'' - story: Steve Tanner, art: Alex Thompson (10 pages)
*''Tohopoka'' - story: Alexi Conman, art: Vicky Stonebridge (12 pages)
*''Promises'' - story: Matt Gibbs, art: Sara Dunkerton (6 pages)
*''Small World'' - story: Matthew Craig, art: Dani Abram (14 pages)
*''Grinder Blues'' - story: Jimmy Pearson, art: Lynsey Hutchinson (11 pages)
*''Swamp Pussy and the Hanged Man'' – story: Cy Dethan, art: Nic Wilkinson (12 pages)
*''Six Bullets'' - story: Jimmy Pearson, art: Patricia Echavarri-Riego (12 pages)
*''The ‘Skeeter'' - story: Jimmy Pearson, art: Jenny Clements (12 pages)
Themes
Bayou Arcana is an attempt to increase gender equality in the comic industry. According to ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'', "The anthology is the product an experiment that brings together an all-female team of artists with an all-male team of writers and it is an illustration of how a new generation of female artists and readers is radically changing the face of comics."
5 of the artists, and 3 of the writers will be attending the Kapow 2012 comic convention as members of an interview panel which has been commented on by the press as another positive step for women in the comic industry.
References
External links
Markosia (Publisher) WebsiteBayou Arcana on Amazon
Horror comics
Comics anthologies
Southern Gothic novels
2012 comics debuts
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