Jennifer Crute, Jennifer’s Journal
“The graphic novel, Jennifer’s Journal: The Life of a Suburban Girl, chronicles the life of this quirky and petite, freckled-face African American illustrator and artist. Pages from actual journals illustrate this misfit’s troubled upbringing in the suburbs of New Jersey and her daily interactions as an adult in New York City. Jennifer’s Journal takes an honest and revealing look at her struggles with work, sex and sexuality, relationships, depression and religion while poking fun at the stereotypes she encounters along away. Simply drawn characters with round figures soften the complex and contradictory life situations she depicts. She introduces several colorful characters which include a host of grumpy family members, schoolmates that tease and gossip, New York City’s archetypes, and her close friends Josephine and Maryland’s own awkward takes on life. Jennifer’s imaginary companions also influence her actions; they range from the meditative ‘Miss Buddha Bear’ to her nemesis ‘Sister Sympathy.’ Each accompanies Jennifer as she tries to maintain a positive outlook and peace of mind while battling the insanity of popular culture in the city.” – from Crute’s blog

Damian Duffy & John Jennings, The Hole: Consumer Culture
“Artist/Illustrator John Jennings and writer/letterer Damian Duffy created a visually luscious and poignant graphic novel. The Hole: Consumer Culture is a science fiction horror story about the buying of selling of race in America, the simultaneous worship and degradation of African Americans in popular culture, and the bloody terror of boundaries being torn down. The Hole is spiked with a healthy dose of Voodoo and modern sardonic wit. Illustrative flair aside, The Hole is also an educational aid intended for academic use and comes with a teaching/lesson plan.” – from the Front 40 Press website

Charlie Goubile, Blackbird
“Taking place in fictional city of Grimsburg aka Grim City, Blackbird tells the story of young Antwon Jenkins, who after loosing the only family member he has ever known to the streets, is moved to bring justice to the city by becoming the crime fighting hero Blackbird. With the support of his new family and friends Antwon struggles to rid the streets of crime and corruption as well as deal with trials of being a young adult.” – from the description at IndyPlanet

Starline X. Hodge, Candi
“Candi lives in a scholarship house with 5 other roommates. It’s cheap rent and they feed you, but there’s a lot of rules and regulations to follow as well. She’s pretty laid back about all of this though.Candi mostly has an optimistic personality, even though she does have her down times. She likes to see everyone happy, and hates conflict. Although she tries her best to be friendly to everyone, she has a tenedancy to not let people get really close to her. The only people that really ever get to see her when she’s sad and that trusts completely are Alex and Jon. Alex because she’s madly in love with the guy, and Jon because she’s known him since middle school. Her roommate is Laura, whom she gets along with. She hangs out with Linda a lot, Jess scares her a little, and she wants to get to know Trevor better.” – from the website

Ashley Woods, Millennia War
“In the past, the Great War ripped the world apart and caused all its races and species to fall into oblivion ? all but the human race. Now, a thousand years later, a second Great War fueled by revenge is coming – only the humans of this day and age are no where near prepared for what they thought was only myth and legend.” – from the website