Illustrated PEN
The Illustrated PEN aspires to be at the intersection of literature, journalism, and visual storytelling, where images and words come together in an ever-emerging and essential creative form. We feature fiction and nonfiction graphic narratives, comics journalism and illustrated reportage, stories of social justice, and personal stories that can’t be told through words alone.
Dykes in Print
Graphic artist Jennifer Camper, in a biting new comic, surveys critical reception of lesbians throughout literature. More
The Amazing Adventures of the Censor-Ship!
Make way for the Censor-ship, from which no comic artist is safe! More
But That’s Not Censorship!!
How do we commonly define censorship? It depends who you ask. Here, artist and writer Anne Elizabeth Moore gives voice to the concerns of artists who claim to experience… More
Illustrated PEN
The Illustrated PEN aspires to be at the intersection of literature, journalism, and visual storytelling, where images and words come together in an ever-emerging and essential creative form. We… More
A ‘Graphic’ Graphic Novel: Meg Lemke on ‘This One Summer’
More from Mutha Magazine Editor-in-Chief Meg Lemke, on "This One Summer", an award-winning graphic novel by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki that immerses readers in two adolescent girls' conflicting desires… More
An Excerpt from ‘This One Summer’
Jillian and Mariko Tamaki’s "This One Summer" is a Caldecott Honor (and multiple award-winning) graphic novel that follows two young friends over a vacation’s “tween wakening.” The book captures… More
Things That Go Bump in the Night
In this installment of The Illustrated PEN, artist and writer MariNaomi recalls a traumatic encounter she suffered as a teen, and describes how, years later, she still grapples with… More
A Wretch Like Me: Sad/Black/Ugly/Queer
Artist Ebin Lee takes a visual deep-dive into depression, body dysmorphia, and cultural invisibility in this piece presented by guest editor MariNaomi. More