"Drawing Power," edited by Diane Noomin

I recently (2/10/20) wrote about the graphic book (text and drawings), “Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations,” a meditation on race by Mira Jacob. I just finished another highly effective graphic book that focuses on social issues – in this case, violence against women. This substantial (in all senses of the word) book is labeled “A Comics Anthology,” and titled “Drawing Power: Women’s Stories of Sexual Violence, Harassment, and Survival” (Abrams, 2019), edited by Diane Noomin. (Note the dual meaning of the main title, “Drawing Power.”) The editor invited over five dozen women comics writers/artists to contribute their own stories about sexual violence and harassment in comics form. Individually and collectively, these personal stories are stunning, deeply sad, and very disturbing. They provide still more evidence to anyone who doubts that sexual abuse and gender-based mistreatment of women is found everywhere. The variety of situations is great, and yet the stories are essentially very similar. Despite the terribly difficult experiences and the longlasting consequences the contributors tell of, and that are so discouraging, there is also a note of hope: a sense that many of these women have learned to turn their experiences into at least partial healing, and into support of other women, through their art and their activism. Once again, we see the immense power of art. The words and drawings interact in a uniquely powerful way. The book is aptly dedicated to Anita Hill, and introduced by Roxane Gay.