Interplay is our foundation.

The first time I wrote about librarians as characters in comic books, to coincide with an exhibit, I learned that I had overlooked one whole aspect of the subject. I had left out references to Librarians who write comics. So with the help of cartoonist, illustrator and storyboard artist Steve Lieber-Whiteout, Melt, Batman, Swamp Thing and more, and the internet, I present my findings.

Jim Ottaviani, nuclear engineer turned technical librarian at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, is writer, editor and publisher of three graphic novel anthologies about scientists-Two-Fisted Science, Dignifying Science, and Fallout. He worked with some great artists including Paul Chadwick, Guy Davis, Vince Locke, Marie Severin, Gene Colan, Colleen Doran, Steve Lieber, Linda Medley, Carla Speed McNeil, Janine Johnston, Bernie Mierault and Jeff Parker. Jim even lectured on science comics to the Nobel Museum in Stockholm. All three of his books received Eisner nominations in the 'Best Anthology" category. His fourth, Suspended in Language, a graphic novel about Niels Bohr is coming soon. More info at http://www.gt-labs.com/. Read a full interview with Jim at
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/resource/feb02/care2.html.

Sara Ryan, a librarian in Portland, Oregon, is a novelist and comic book writer. Her first novel Empress of the World, won the Oregon Book Award in 2002, and her graphic novel Me and Edith Head (illustrated by Steve Lieber) was Eisner nominated in 2002 for "best short story." Sara has a Hellboy story coming soon as well as other comics in the works. Sara's on the web at http://www.sararyan.com.

And finally, Mike Rhodes, a librarian at the National Museum of Health and Medicine, writes about comics. Mike is on the editorial board for the International Journal of Comic Art and is a contributing writer for Hogan's Alley as well as for The Comics Journal. With John Bullough, he maintains an online Comics Research Bibliography - http://www.rpi.edu/~bulloj/comxbib.html. Mike has written three articles for Hogan's Alley on cartoons and medical education. He recently added the page "Cartoons and Comics in the National Museum of Health and Medicine" to the website - http://nmhm.washingtondc.museum/collections/archives/asearch/afinding_aids/comics/comics.html. I figure if you can sneak that much comic book writing into your work, then you belong in this column.

If you or someone you know, is a librarian and works in comics, email me. It is always an interesting discovery for me to learn more. Thanks Steve!

Until next time...

This is a weekly column from our friend David Jay Gabriel, Executive Director and Founder of the New York City Comic Book Museum. You can find out more about the museum at www.nyccbm.org.

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