Press
>>HEARTLESS, Conundrum Press, September 2012; special preview at TCAF, May 2012;
I am happy to announce that my book “Heartless” will be launched in the Fall of 2012 with Conundrum Press, with an amazing introduction by Jay Lynch; there will be an advance preview in May 2012 at TCAF (the Toronto Comic Arts Festival) – if you desire to get a signed copy please come by. In the meantime, check out what people are saying about “Heartless”:
“Heartless” is just amazing! I laughed out loud a lot. It is chock full of great stuff and I’m hard to please! Nina Bunjevac’s art is a pleasure to look at. The writing is seriously demented, but in a totally brilliant, highly entertaining way. It is its own thing, imitating no one. - Kim Deitch
This book is a wild thrill ride through hell on a Tilt-A-Whirl! It’s a triple-dip banana split with a live cockroach at the bottom! I dig it the most, and so will you! - Jay Lynch
The most vitally reinvigorating change in modern comics is the unstoppable rise of women, as creators, as readers, and as characters. In her impressive debut collection, Nina Bunjevac stuns as a distinctive, innovative voice, adept at hyperdetailed cartooning and deliciously disturbing as she probes the darkest depths of desire and despair. - Paul Gravett
Powered by an expressive black&white drawing style, reminiscent of Robert Crumb and the meticulous pointillist technique of Drew Friedman, the dark undertone of Bunjevac’s humour brings into light the range of socio-political issues her comics deal with, such as gender, nationalism or urban alienation, always from an ironic feminist perspective. Her chain-smoking, slightly alcoholic and manically depressed character Zorka may just be today’s ultimate antiheroine. A Balkan immigrant in the Brave New World, working in that same meat factory for the last twenty years, tormented by family constraints and her own secret desires… we simply can’t get enough of her. - Bturn magazine
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>>HLADNA KAO LED /Cold as Ice/ Omnibus, 2011;
My first collection of comics translated to Serbo-Croatian has come out in December of 2011 with Omnibus, a publisher of comics from Belgrade, Serbia. Introduction by Zoran Djukanovic, and a blurb by Paul Gravett that reads:
The most vitally reinvigorating change in modern comics is the unstoppable rise of women, as creators, as readers, and as characters. In her impressive debut collection, Nina Bunjevac stuns as a distinctive, innovative voice, adept at hyperdetailed cartooning and deliciously disturbing as she probes the darkest depths of desire and despair.
So far much has been written about the book, including numerous discussions on various forums and chat rooms; as expected, many negative comments were aimed at my political views, especially in regards to my story “August 1976″. I would like to take this opportunity and thank everyone who participated in these discussion, for I am a firm believer that any form of publicity is good. Forums aside, the book has received some excellent reviews by those whose opinion matters; my absolute favorite review comes from the esteemed author from Croatia, Miljenko Jergovic; to read his review click here. Hladna kao Led also made it to Paul Gravett’s best of 2011, an International Perspective.
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>>Mineshaft #27, Fall 2011, edited by Everett Rand and Gioia Palmiery
Support independent publishing and order a copy today. This issue features more new drawings and dream entries by Robert Crumb, an impressive collection of portraits by Jim Blanchard, a comic on the capture of Osama by Pat Moriarity, review of Joyce Farmer’s Special Exits byMary Fleener, new comics by Aleksandar Zograf and much more. Cover art and a five page comic by yours truly.
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>>ELQ/Exile Literary Quarterly, Volume 35, Special Issue No. 1 of 4, Canada, Summer 2011; edited by Michael Callaghan and Garry Callaghan;
Founded in 1972 by the poet Gary Callaghan, Exile Literary Quarterly has since grown into a family venture, with his son Michael becoming the publisher and his wife Nina in charge of submissions. Barry himself is the son of the celebrated Canadian novelist, journalist and radio personality Morley Callaghan. To make things clear here, Callaghans are like the royal family of the Canadian literary world – but cooler – because they work hard.
ELQ has published over 3000 submissions since its first issue, the list of contributors can be accessed through the ELQ website; do yourself a favor, go check it out, you will find some amazing talent, starting from the Canadian literary greats such as Judith Thompson, George Elliot Clarke, and international stars like Jerzy Kosinski, to lesser known but just as brilliant a talent from all four corners of the world.
What many may not know already is that Barry Callaghan’s had several books of poetry translated and published in Serbo-Croatian; he also had a strong working relationship with a number of esteemed authors from former Yugoslavia – Miodrag Pavlovic and Vasko Popa would be worth mentioning here. It’s like this, looking at the list of contributors from former Yugoslav republics was like reading the contents of my grade eight language textbook. Hats off!
This issue features my story August 1976.
>>Black #10, Balcani di Carta, Coconino Press, Italy, 2011;
Based in Bologna, the centre of Italian publishing industry, Coconino Press is mostly known for their translated editions of comics by Daniel Clowes, Jason Lutes, Adrian Tomine, Seth and Chester Brown; Black is their magazine style anthology, beautifully designed, mixing comics with articles on art, music and cinema, meant to bring into light some of the more obscure components of popular culture. Issue #10, Balcani di Carta is dedicated primarily to the area of Balkans, featuring some of the great new names in contemporary comics: Igor Hofbauer (Croatia), who also produced the cover image, Aleksandar Zograf (Serbia), Dunja Jankovic (Croatia), Jakob Klemencic(Slovenia), Matej Stupica (Slovenia) and Goran Pipovic (Bosnia) among others. It was an honor to be included in this issue.
>>CRACK 3D/4th Ponti Comix Anthology; Fortepressa, Italy; edited by Pakito Bolino of Le Dernier Cri, France, 2011;
Crack 2011 paper edition had a small run of about 400; it featured a selection of drawings by about 40 or so of the festival participants. All pages were produced and meant to be viewed in 3D.
>>Novo Doba, 2011 paper edition, Turbo Comix, Serbia/France; edited by Radovan Popovic, Johanna Marcade, Bruno Tolic and Mileta Mijatovic;
This anthology has been beautifully designed and printed to perfection, featuring a stunning cover design by Bruno Tolic, and comics by over 40 participants of the Novo Doba festival. Names include Danijel Savovic, Aleksandar Opacic, Toma Pan, Wostok, Boris Stanic, Mr. Stocca, Igor Hofbauer, Goran Dacev, Aleksandar Zograf, Maja Veselinovic, Kaie Woznicki, Anna Ehrlemark, Craoman, Dav Guedin and many, many more…
>>Zenski Strip na Balkanu/Balkan Women in Comics by Fibra,Croatia, 2010; edited by Irena Jukic Pranjic and Marko Sunjic.
I was honored to produce the cover image for this impressive anthology of Balkan women in comics, and be included among 24 authors spread across its 420 pages. Upon its release the book became an immediate success, it received critical acclaim and was sold out within six months; the Croatian Ministry of Education purchased 100 copies to be distributed in public libraries. Zika Tamburic, the East Europe correspondent for Paul Gravett listed Zenski Strip na Balkanu among top ten books to have come out of this region in 2010.
>>GIUDA/Geographical Institute of Unconventional Drawing Arts, VOL II by Giuda Edizioni, Italy, 2010; edited by Gianluca Costantini.
Lucca Comics and Games is probably one of the biggest festivals of this kind in Italy, perhaps in Europe; and so, you can imagine my surprise when I received the news that my comic August 1976, published here in Italian, was nominated in the category of best short story at the 2011 Lucca Comics and Games. It was exciting enough just seeing this story printed so nicely, and apparently translated well. Thanks, Gianluca!
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>>Mineshaft #26, winter 2010; edited by Gioia Palmieri and Everett Rand;
Fantastic front cover by Pat Moriarity! Back cover by R. Crumb! Featuring new work by Robert Crumb, Pat Moriarity, William Crook Jr., Diane di Prima, J.R. Helton, Christoph Mueller, Aleksandar Zograf, David Collier, Dennis Eichhorn, Andrei Codrescu, Jim Blanchard, Aaron Lange, Hurricane Ivan, Robert Armstrong, Letters from Peter Bagge, R. Crumb, Carol Tyler, Gary Arlington, Ace Backwords & more.
And again, I am honored to be included in this issue with my comic August 1976. Check out this amazing review by Robert Clough!
>>Asiatroma, Le Dernier Cri, France, 2010;
Edited by Pakito Bolino, this book features drawings by Gary Panther, Marcus Nyblom, Tommi Musturi, Mathieu Desjardins, Craoman, Dav Guedin, Matthias Lehmann, Celine Guichard, Marc Brunier Mestas, Gnot Gaudin and yours truly, among many, many others. Looking at any Le Dernier Cri publication is like venturing into a sari shop, or even better, Ivana Trump’s closet. There are millions of colors in it, ranging from bright turquoises to mellow pinks and lime greens, numerous patterns, detailed renderings, etc; however, once you get a closer look at individual pieces, you can’t help but feel like you’ve entered the gates of hell. If the grotesque is your cup of tea, so is this book.
>>Komikaze #9, Zagreb, Croatia; edited by Ivana Armanini;
The thing about the paper edition of Komikaze is that it gets progressively better when it comes to aesthetics, and easier to read with each new edition. Beautifully designed and put together by Ivana Armanini, this anthology features a beautiful cover by Zsolt Vidak (Hungary), and comics by Dunja Jankovic (Croatia), Anna Ehlemark (Sweden), Bruno Tolic (Croatia, Serbia), Daniel Savovic (Serbia), Radovan Popovic (Serbia), Aleksandar Opacic (Serbia), Kapreles (Netherlands), Dav Guedin (France) and yours truly among others.
>>HateLove/ 3rd Ponti Comix Anthology, Fortepressa, Italy; edited by Komikaze for the Crack festival, 2010;
The 2010 Crack festival catalogue was a joined project between Ivana Armanini of the Komikaze collective, Vladimir Palibrk of Balkan Twilight (Serbia) and Valerio Bindi of Crack, Italy. The theme of the festival was Hate and Love – the anthology’s been divided into two parts, one titled Love, another titled Hate. My comic, Alone in the Crowd has been classified as a Hate item.
>>Stripolis #2, an international comics magazine, Serbia, 2010; edited by Branko Djukic;
The comics business was a booming business back in Yugoslavia, with a large market that soon diminished into a number of small and isolated markets following the breakup of the former Yugoslav republics. There is a strong drive to bring back the glory of this once flourishing art form to Serbian readership; unfortunately, publications like this rely heavily on an individual’s passion and drive, because there is simply not enough funding available for such endeavors, private or otherwise. Branko Djukic seems to rise above these obstacles, and manages to stretch the little cashola he can squeeze out of the Ministry of Culture to produce this stunning magazine. Stripolis #2 features comics by an impressive list of international authors, as well as interviews and articles, including an awesome essay on Windsor McKay’s Dream of the Rarebit Fiend strips, by Huib van Opstal (Holland); the essay is illustrated with a small selection of McKay’s strips. Therefore, technically, I can safely say that I have been published alongside Windsor McKay.
>> CHECK OUT MY RECENT INTERVIEW for books.torontoist.com
>> Mineshaft #25
Mineshaft is an independent literary and comics zine, featuring work of some of the world’s greatest artists, like Kim Deitch, Robert Crumb, Pat Moriarity, Jay Lynch and Art Spiegelman. I am more than honored to be in such company.
To order a copy go to www.mineshaftmagazine.com.
Beautiful cover art and logo by Sophie Crumb, lettering by Robert Crumb (left). Back cover illustration by yours truly (right).
>> InguneMAH! 2009
Creative director/editor Gianluca Constantini and the Bologna based publishing house Comma22 have produced an impressive edition of short political comic strips, done by various artists world wide. Both outside and inside cover designed by Inguine Press, featuring an amazing illustration by Blu. My story, 1953 is included in the Balkan Twilight section. Italian.
>> KOMIKAZE#8
Paper edition as well as the Komikaze website is the bible of European underground comics. The current paper issue ( #8 ) is a nicely printed edition of short comics by about 33 authors spread over 145 pages; some of the jam pages from my trip to Serbia were included as well. Beautiful cover art by Norihiro Sekitani. Multilingual, english translation insert included.
>> VREME MAGAZINE, INTERVIEW IN SERBIAN
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