Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection (Vol 1)

 

Description: MOONSHOT: The Indigenous Comics Collection brings together dozens of creators from North America to contribute comic book stories showcasing the rich heritage and identity of indigenous storytelling. From traditional stories to exciting new visions of the future, this collection presents some of the finest comic book and graphic novel work on the continent.
Authors: 

• Arigon Starr (Kickapoo-Creek Cherokee, Seneca)
• David Robertson (Swampy Cree)
• Dayton Edmonds (Caddo)
• Elisabeth LaPensee (Anishinaabe, Metis, Irish)
• Ian Ross (Metis)
• Jay Odjick (Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg)
• Michael Sheyahshe (Caddo)
• Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley(Inuk-Scottish-Cree)
• Richard Van Camp (Tlicho)
• Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley (Scottish-Mohawk)
• Todd Houseman (Cree)

Artists: 

• Adam Gorham
• Claude St. Aubin
• Andy Stanleigh
• Ben Shannon
• David Cutler (Qalipu Mi'kmaq)
• David Mack
• Fred Pashe (Long Plain / Dakota Tipi)
• George Freeman
• Gregory Chomichuk
• Jeffrey Veregge (S'Klallam, Suquamich, Duwamish)
• Haiwei Hou
• Jeremy D. Mohler
• menton3
• Lovern Kindzierski
• Micah Farritor
• Nicholas Burns
• Peter Dawes
• Stephen Gladue (Metis)

Published By: Inhabit Education Books Inc
Published When: March 23 2021
Parental Rating: PG

Review:

Moonshot is a fascinating gem of a collection.

This book brings together thirteen stories from Indigenous Canadian creators, told (mostly) in the graphic-narrative form of comic books. Every page is saturated with imagery, themes, elements of traditions and a way of looking at creation and our relationships within it, that are consistent across every Indigenous person in my circle of acquaintances.

Seeing such a collection as Moonshot is exciting, in part because it is an Indigenous-led collaborative effort that gathers and incorporates contributions from others. In this, there are reflections of both the inherent welcoming of Indigenous peoples, and of the emphasis on story-telling.

Some of the stories in this collection adapt the ancient tradition of verbal story-telling to the graphic comic medium, updating legends or seating a modern story in the symbols and sensibilities of the traditional tales.

'Coyote and the Pebbles' by Edmonds and Farritor is one example. It uses the range of meanings and character traits of Coyote in traditional stories, to imagine the creation of stars emerging from the community and relationship tensions between the animals. I loved how the art shows the transition of the characters from animal to human form and back. It communicates these characters in a perfectly recognizable way, while resisting the urge to either over-personify the animal, or over-animate (animalize?) the human figure.

'Ochek' by Robertson and Hou is similar, narrating the creation of a constellation of stars through the myth-centred actions of key animals. This is perhaps the most stunning of the collected stories, worth the cover price almost by itself. The tenderness of the relationships between fisher and lynx, and between father and son, the drama of the conflict between Sky People and the animals of earth, are all powerfully told. And the narrative is surrounded by truly breath-taking art, bursting with emotion and colours and hints for the astute reader to go deeper into the tableau.

Not all stories in this collection are set in a mythological past, or even on Earth. 'UE-Pucase: Water Master' and 'Strike and Bolt' take Indigenous storytelling to the stars, re-imagining these themes, traditions and imagery in inter-planetary settings. I found it striking that in both of those stories, this Indigenous Science Fiction comic book narrative was still firmly rooted in the land and water and life of the alien planets they've visited.

The art plays a different role in 'The Qallupiluk: Forgiven'. This prose short story is a moody, dark tale of a shape-shifting Arctic watery monster who preys on young people who get too close to the water visible in cracks in the ice. Seven beautiful full-page paintings accompany the story, depicting aspects of the creature and reinforcing the growing terror. The muted colors and stark, jagged lines complement the inverted white-on-black text of this nightmarish tale. I’ve judged this collection to be “PG” rated overall, but this story may need thought before handing to a young child, for it is the stuff of nightmares.

'First Hunt' by Odjick and Odjick is a moving story of a boy coming of age and joining the men of his community in their deer hunt. Its art is clean and simple, giving plenty of room for enriching its narrative with facial expressions and subtle posture.

'Siku' by Romito and Mohler is an original story, drawing on characters and themes from Inuit culture. It is a fascinating contrast, a blending of dark themes set in brilliant arctic light and splashes of vivid colour.

And there are many other stories in this collection worth your attention.

The book itself may be hard to find. I got hold of it through the public library system, but I live in Canada, and my local library has a large section of Indigenous books. The publisher has offices both in Toronto, Canada's largest and most cosmopolitan urban centre, and in Iqaluit, capital city of the northern territory of Nunavut, population under 10,000, with 60% of the citizens being Indigenous. I say that to acknowledge it had a limited print run and distribution. I heartily recommend searching, consider it your own 'First Hunt'. Moonshot is well worth your time and effort.

ISBN-10: 1774503697
ISBN-13: 978-1774503690
Language: English
Pages: 176 pages