Pretty In Ink: Women Cartoonists 1896-2013 Paperback – 19 Dec. 2013

I was a little worried as I have Trina's 1985 book 'Women And The Comics', and knowing this to be an update of it I wondered how much might be repeated, but am happy that in fact many new examples are offered of the women's work. While some others were in the previous book they are often given more space and even in color here! So much more has been added about many of the earlier favorite artists such as Gladys Parker, Fran Hopper and Ruth Atkinson, and some new to me old names have been added. I was also quick to flip to the last chapter and catch up with more recent work in the format and enjoyed that section quite a lot. Certainly worth the price of admission, and it's a very attractive quality 180 page package all around. Some of the non-North American artists who had been included in that 1985 book were dropped however, so I suppose something is lost for those who missed that book.

J'avais déjà lu "from Girls to Grrrls" de Trina Robbins, ce livre là est plus ce que je cherchais, et il donne envie de s'intéresser à des tonnes de dessinatrices géniales.

Good for a basic pop-culture history, but lacking in intersectional feminist analysis. Multiple strips are featured which involve racist caricatures and one instance of transmisogyny, but this is never pointed out or analyzed. One or two black cartoonists are discussed, however, and there is a section on riotgrrl zines; nonetheless the book does not handle such subjects with the depth to compensate for its failures.

Who knew that there were women cartoonists back in 1896! This is a great history of those artists. The book was purchased for my 12-year old daughter who has an interest in cartoon drawing. The reading may be a bit advanced right now, but she sure to appreciate it in the future.

It is not written in a very engaging way, but it is informative.