Ground Zero Comics: Move Beyond Nuclear Weapons!
Available in comic book shops August 7, 2024
For link to a digital review copy, write to gzcomics@gzcenter.org.
Publicity contact:
Leonard Rifas gzcomics@gzcenter.org (EduComics)
Glen Milner info@gzcenter.org (Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action)
The 79th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, are approaching at a moment of extreme danger in the history of our “Atomic Age”. A new comic book features a 79-year-old character who explains to his grandchild that, nevertheless, the unfinished work of resisting nuclear weapons has sometimes been more effective than even the protesters knew.
A colorful new, nonfiction comic book, Ground Zero Comics, states that: “Forty years ago, a huge popular movement against nuclear weapons helped end the first nuclear arms race… Now a new nuclear arms race has begun. Most of us do not have a realistic idea of what nuclear weapons can do…. and most of us do not have arealistic idea of how much power ordinary people have when working together.”
The 32-page comic book features the collaborative work of five top Northwest cartoonists, Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action, EduComics, and Fantagraphics. It addresses nuclear weapons issues as they affect those living in Washington state, and draws attention to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, 20 miles from Seattle, which is home of the world’s largest concentration of deployed nuclear weapons.
Ground Zero Comics smoothly incorporates graphs, maps, portraits, illustrations and photographs in a clear and engaging, deeply researched, highly informative, hand-drawn story for mature readers. It shows “Earl Crow” and “Mo Squirrel” trying to get their human friend to agree to speak out about the danger of nuclear war, including the possibility of a catastrophic “nuclear winter”.
Over a hundred pages of accompanying notes and sources and ideas for activities that can be done alone or in a group will be posted at no additional cost at: https://www.gzcenter.org/comic_book_sources.
Ground Zero Comics will be available August 7, 2024 for $8.00 a copy. Advance copies may be preordered from Fantagraphics, https://www.fantagraphics.com/products/ground-zero-comics-move-beyond-nuclear-weapons, or by contacting gzcomics@gzcenter.org.
An informal reception and book signing with the Ground Zero Comics contributors, Leonard Rifas, Pat Moriarity, David Lasky, Max Clotfelter and Kelly Froh, will be held at Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery from 5:00 to 7:00 on Saturday, August 10. (Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery, 1201 S. Vale Street, Seattle, WA 98108, 206-557-4910, www.fantagraphics.com.)
Leonard Rifas wrote and partly illustrated Ground Zero Comics. His previous comics include (among others) All-Atomic Comics (about nuclear power), Food First Comics, AIDS News, and Tobacco Comics. Through his company EduComics, he was the first to publish comic books translated from Japanese with Keiji Nakazawa’s manga about surviving the Hiroshima bomb, Gen of Hiroshima and I SAW IT.
Pat Moriarity drew the cover of Ground Zero Comics. Pat is an award winning animator, illustrator, comics artist and teacher. His work has appeared in MAD magazine, Nickelodeon magazine, MINESHAFT and in his own books. He also drew the five billboards alerting people to the presence of the Trident Submarine Base at Bangor which Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action will put up in August.
David Lasky drew the first part of the story (which provides an overview of nuclear weapons issues in the state of Washington) and colored Ground Zero Comics. He previously co-authored the Eisner-Award-winning graphic novel, Carter Family: Don’t Forget This Song and colored Cece Bell’s graphic novel, El Deafo, a Newbery Honor Book. He teaches comics at numerous venues in the Seattle area, including a Cornish College of the Arts and Push Pull. He also draws educational comics for Public Health – Seattle and King County.
Max Clotfelter drew the second part of the story which visualizes what would happen if a nuclear weapon exploded over Seattle. Max is the creator of over 90 zines and minicomics. His comics have appeared in anthologies such asNOW and Slow Death. He received an MFA from The Savanah College of Art and Design in 2002.
Kelly Froh drew the final section, a discussion between a young person and their grandfather. Kelly is a teaching artist with Seniors Creating Art, and she facilitates comic & zine making workshops for youth and adults through Short Run Seattle. She co-founded and serves as Executive Director of the Short Run Comix Festival.
Glen Milner: Glen is an anti-nuclear weapons activist and a researcher with the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action since 1984. He co-edited Ground Zero Comics.
Fantagraphics, publishers of the world’s greatest comics, provided editorial support and production assistance for Ground Zero Comics.
GROUND ZERO COMICS: Move Beyond Nuclear Weapons
ISBN-13 615200816070 – On sale August 7, 2024.
