Melissa Lasko-Gross (known professionally as Miss Lasko-Gross) is an American

comics creator developed specialized terminology. Some several attempts have been made to formalize and define the terminology of comics by authors such as Will Eisner, Scott McCloud, R. C. Harvey and Dylan Horrocks. Much of the terminology in English is un ...

, known for her semi-autobiographical

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 ...

s ''Escape from "Special"'' and ''A Mess of Everything''.

Early life

Melissa Lasko was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1977. She grew up reading comics, with her favorite ones ranging from ''

Fantastic Four The Fantastic Four is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team debuted in ''The Fantastic Four'' #1 ( cover dated Nov. 1961), helping usher in a new level of realism in the medium. It was the first ...

'' to '' Love and Rockets''.

Career

In high school, Miss began to create her own self-published comic series, ''Aim'', which she promoted by doing consignments with local comic book stores. It was at this point that she became a member of the comic book community. She said she found more kinship with comic creators than with comic fans, as they could bond over the process of producing a comic. Lasko-Gross has published two graphic novels, ''Escape from "Special"'' and ''A Mess of Everything'' through

Fantagraphics Fantagraphics (previously Fantagraphics Books) is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, manga, magazines, graphic novels, and the erotic Eros Comix imprint. History Founding Fantagraphics was found ...

. The first, based loosely on the author's life growing up as a Jewish girl in the suburbs, was published in 2008 and earned her a nomination for YALSA's 2008 Great Graphic Novel award. ''A Mess of Everything'', a sequel of sorts to her first book, was also well received, as it was named one of Booklist's top 10 graphic novels of the year in 2010. Lasko-Gross is currently working on a series called ''Henni'' about "cute animals and religious fundamentalism in a horrible, twisted marriage" for an iPhone app, as well as a long term novel project that chronicles the experience of a burn victim of an explosion.

Bibliography

* ''Henni'' (Z2 Comics, 2015) * ''A Mess of Everything'' (Fantagraphics, 2009) * ''Escape from "Special"'' (Fantagraphics, 2006) * ''Aim'' (self-published, 1993–2001)

References

External links

Official website
*
''Escape from Special'' and ''A Mess of Everything''

Miss Lasko-Gross
Writers House
Washington Post Interview
1977 births American comics writers American female comics artists Living people {{US-comics-creator-stub