In the vast world of comics, death, grief, and healing might not be typical subject matter. In the evolving world of graphic novels, however, anything goes. Artist JULIACKS has used the form to confront these challenging topics in Swell. The storyline follows a young woman, Emmeline, as she grieves the loss of her sister, Lucy. JULIACKS (Julia Stein) began making comics at the age of 18 with a series called The Tome of Hallow County. Swell, the final work in this series, was adapted for theater performance at the Women Center Stage Festival in New York City last spring. After the festival wrapped, we asked JULIACKS about what inspired Swell and what’s next in her world of ideas.

In the vast world of comics, death, grief, and healing might not be typical subject matter. In the evolving world of graphic novels, however, anything goes. Artist JULIACKS has used the form to confront these challenging topics in Swell. The storyline follows a young woman, Emmeline, as she grieves the loss of her sister, Lucy. JULIACKS (Julia Stein) began making comics at the age of 18 with a series called The Tome of Hallow County. Swell, the final work in this series, was adapted for theater performance at the Women Center Stage Festival in New York City last spring. After the festival wrapped, we asked JULIACKS about what inspired Swell and what’s next in her world of ideas.