- Morgan R.
- Wednesday, February 14
Multiple award-winning creator, Chuck Brown visits Richland Library's virtual #BroaderBookshelf Book Group.
One of the prompts of the 2024 #BroaderBookshelf reading challenge is “Read a graphic novel by a marginalized author or illustrator (BIPOC or LGBTQIA+)”. The #BroaderBookshelf virtual Book Group chose the graphic novel, Bitter Root Vol. 1: The Family Business as the February selection. The series tells the story of the infamous monster hunting Sangerye family living in Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance. As a plague of Jinoo, monsters who used to be human, but are poisoned by hatred and racism, sets in creating chaos and violence in the city, things quickly spiral out of control, and it seems the Sangerye family is society’s only hope. Armed with homemade serums to turn the monsters back into humans, the Sangerye’s can’t do it alone. An exciting beginning to a series full of action, layered with social justice and history, Bitter Root is fantastic work with an international reach.
An invitation to attend the #BroaderBookshelf Book Group in February was extended to the Eisner and Ringo award-winning comic book writer and creator of the series, Chuck Brown, who is also Richland Library’s newest artist-in-residence. We were thrilled when he accepted to join. The group had so many questions for him about his creative process, his background, and what’s on the docket.
Chuck is a Benedict College alumnus who has always had a passion for comics. He told the group about begging his mother for comic books while in line at the grocery store looking longingly at the carousel racks full of the latest Superman, Spiderman, and The Incredible Hulk. He shared how his older brother brought home a huge stack of comics and threw them on Chuck’s bed where he sat for hours reading and getting lost in the world of superheroes.
The Bitter Root series was created by a team, which led the audience to question what that process looked like. Chuck said he knew he wanted to develop a story about monster hunters, and when a friend described his experience in Harlem New York, he knew the Harlem Renaissance was the perfect time period and place for the series. He teamed up with illustrator Sandford Greene to make his vision a reality. (The two previously worked together on the Ringo Award-winning webcomic, 1000 in 2017 and 2018). Later, David Walker was brought on board to round out this talented trio. A few of the book group attendees were not avid comic or graphic novel readers, so there were many questions as to how the concept, storyboarding, illustrations, collaboration and language choices were made. Chuck explained that he wrote the story and sent a description of his vision to Sanford who then created illustrations and sent them back. After bouncing ideas off one another and getting excited for how the work was playing out, they knew they had a solid gem on their hands.
Bitter Root was opted for film in 2019 by Legendary Pictures with Ryan Coogler to direct, but the pandemic put a halt to any production. The project was later picked back up with Regina King to be director, however it hit another snag with the writer’s strikes that occurred. The book group attendees were (and still are) eagerly hopeful for a film version!
When asked about attending comic-cons as a panelist, Chuck nonchalantly stated he may be on a panel at WonderCon in California this March if he gets asked to, but at this point he will be a happy attendee.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chuck Brown is the Eisner and Ringo award winning writer and co-creator of such books as The Punisher and Black Panther for Marvel, Rotten Apple for Dark Horse Comics, and BITTER ROOT for Image Comics. He has been self-publishing for more than 18 years and has also written comics for Zenescope Entertainment, 12-Gauge Comics, and Line Webtoon. (Author’s Webpage)
ABOUT THE EISNER AWARD
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are considered the “Oscars” of the comics world. Named for the pioneering comics creator and graphic novelist Will Eisner, the awards are given out in more than two dozen categories during a ceremony each year at Comic-Con International: San Diego. (Comic Con)
ABOUT THE #BROADERBOOKSHELF BOOK GROUP
This all-virtual book group meets via Zoom the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. After registering, a link will be sent to the email associated with your library card within 24 hours of the event. Each month the group focuses on one of the #BroaderBookshelf Reading Challenge prompts.
ABOUT RICHLAND LIBRARY'S ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM
Richland Library’s Artist-in-Residence Program aims to connect the community with local working artists and to provide creative and educational opportunities to the community in a way that supports cultural and artistic exchange.
Created in 2015, the residency program gives artists, performers and makers of all types and disciplines the ability to work freely in their own studio space, share their works and artistic process with the community and provide learning opportunities and programs for library customers. Richland Library is honored to host Chuck Brown January-June 2024.
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