By Holly L.

Back in 2020, during the lockdown days of the pandemic, I logged on to a Zoom featuring cartoonist Raina Telgemeier with my then-second grader. As huge fans of Raina’s work, and having read, re-read, and read again, Smile, Sisters, Drama, Ghosts, Guts, and the first four Baby-Sitter’s Club books, the two of us were super excited to hop online with our favorite graphic novelist. Raina was just as friendly and charming as we imagined, with a level of nervousness that seemed exactly appropriate for an introverted artist.

There was some book talk, a Q&A, and, to our delight, a live sketching session. Black marker in hand, she drew several images, but the one that stands out in my mind is of a cover mock-up, rendered in the style of Smile, Sisters, and Guts. It was a big, round sourdough loaf captioned with the title Bread. Raina said that she, like many others during the pandemic, had gotten elbow-deep into making sourdough, so it seemed an appropriate theme for a new book. Because this explanation came across as a bit tongue-in-cheek, we didn’t necessarily expect to see news of an upcoming book in the months that followed. But still, my daughter and I both hoped that we had actually been let in on a secret that afternoon and that Bread would someday make it into print. Months turned into years with no publication news, about Bread or any other Raina book. That is, until June 2024, when Scholastic’s Graphix announced the 2025 publication of The Cartoonists Club by Raina and Scott McCloud. 

Comic fans will recognize Scott as the author of Understanding Comics, widely considered an essential guide to comics as an art form and one of Raina’s all-time favorite books. From Raina’s website: 

When I was 16, I read Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud, a ‘comic book about comic books.’ It immediately cemented my desire to be a cartoonist–as well as gave me a shape and vocabulary for the scope, philosophy, iconography, and downright magic of comics storytelling. That was a pivotal moment for me, and I speak with a LOT of young readers who have been looking for a similarly pivotal book for them. The Cartoonists Club is the result of almost 5 years of working together with Scott himself, to create what we hope is that book!

The Cartoonists Club follows four young, diverse characters who form friendships through their love of comics. Makayla, Howard, Lynda, and Art are middle school students encouraged by Ms. Fatima, their school media specialist, to form a club centered on their passion for reading and making comics. Makayla has so many ideas but has a hard time turning them into a story. Howard’s passion is drawing, but he is often short on ideas. Lynda fills page after page in her sketchbook but is her own harshest critic.  Art is a maker who just loves to be creative and has enough enthusiasm for the whole group. By featuring characters with different approaches to creativity, the authors establish an inclusive space in the pages of the book where there is no one “right way” to be an artist. In the “Behind the Scenes” section that follows the story, Raina remarks that each of the characters represents different traits possessed by the two authors. 

As the characters learn various techniques of the comic craft, the reader becomes acquainted with what Ms. Fatima calls “The Magic of Comics.” The club members hone their own trademark styles, making individual comics while working as a team in preparation for what will–hopefully–be their big debut at the local mini-con, where they’ve applied to set up a table. The Cartoonists Club is an inspiring and illuminating story of friendship and self-expression that graphic novel and comics fans will enjoy. In addition to the story, the book also features a fun “Behind the Scenes” section, including “A Chat with Raina and Scott,” a Q&A addressing questions (such as “how do you get better?” and “what advice do you have for aspiring comics?”), a comics glossary, a list of Comics Jobs, How We Made This Book, and Resources and Suggested Reading. Although I’m still holding out hope that Bread will someday make it into print, I thoroughly enjoyed this collaborative and entertaining read about the art of comics.

The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier is available in print and e-book.

Holly is an Instructor & Research Specialist at HCLS Miller Branch. She enjoys reading widely, knitting sporadically, and baking as often as she gets the chance.