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Nate Powell

ネイト・パウエル

Neito Paoueru

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1978-07-31 （Little Rock, Arkansas）
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Residence History
Little Rock, Arkansas → Montana (resided intermittently) → Alabama (resided intermittently) → New York City (attended School of Visual Arts) → East Lansing, Michigan → South Hadley Falls, Massachusetts → Providence, Rhode Island → Bloomington, Indiana (current)

Career

Occupations
Cartoonist, Writer, Penciller, Inker, Publisher, Letterer, Colourist, Musician
Active Years
1992-

Education

North Little Rock High School
Period: 〜1996
Year of Graduation: 1996
Country: United States
Graduated high school; began self-publishing comics while a student.
George Washington University
Period: 短期間在籍（1996頃）
Country: United States
Attended briefly before transferring to the School of Visual Arts.
School of Visual Arts (SVA)
Cartooning
Degree: BFA
Period: 1998–2000（在籍、概算）
Year of Graduation: 2000
Country: United States
Received Outstanding Cartooning Student award and a self-publishing grant used to fund early self-published work.

Awards

Ignatz Award (Outstanding Debut / Outstanding Artist)
2008
Work: Swallow Me Whole
Category: Outstanding Debut / Outstanding Artist
Organization: Ignatz Awards (Small Press Expo)
Result: 受賞
Ignatz Award (Outstanding Graphic Novel)
2009
Work: Swallow Me Whole
Category: Outstanding Graphic Novel
Organization: Ignatz Awards
Result: 受賞
Eisner Award (Best Original Graphic Novel)
2009
Work: Swallow Me Whole
Category: Best Original Graphic Novel
Organization: Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards
Result: 受賞
Coretta Scott King Award (Author Honor)
2014
Work: March: Book One
Category: Author Honor
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: 受賞（Honor）
Robert F. Kennedy Book Award (Special Recognition)
2014
Work: March: Book One
Category: Special Recognition
Organization: Robert F. Kennedy Center
Result: 受賞（特別表彰）
National Book Award (Young People's Literature)
2016
Work: March: Book Three
Category: Young People's Literature
Organization: National Book Foundation
Result: 受賞
Carter G. Woodson Book Award
2017
Work: March (trilogy)
Organization: National Council for the Social Studies
Result: 受賞（共同受賞、John Lewis, Andrew Aydinと共に）
Inkpot Award
2017
Organization: Comic-Con International (San Diego)
Result: 受賞
American Library Association Awards (Printz / Coretta Scott King / YALSA / Sibert)
2017
Work: March: Book Three
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: 受賞（複数賞受賞）

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Swallow Me Whole

2008 Graphic novel (young adult / psychological drama)

An introspective graphic novel exploring adolescent anxiety and the blurring of reality — an early major work that won several awards.

Coming of ageMental distressBoundary between reality and fantasy

March: Book One

2013 Autobiographical graphic novel (Civil Rights movement)

First volume of an autobiographical trilogy about John Lewis, covering his youth and early involvement in the Civil Rights movement.

Civil RightsStruggle and courageHistorical testimony

March: Book Two

2015 Autobiographical graphic novel (Civil Rights movement)

Middle volume of the trilogy, depicting events as the Civil Rights movement intensifies.

DemocracyNonviolent resistanceCollective action

March: Book Three

2016 Autobiographical graphic novel (Civil Rights movement)

Final volume of the trilogy, summarizing John Lewis's activism and its historical impact, written to reach young readers.

Historical legacyCivic courageEducation and memory

Any Empire

2011 Graphic novel / collection

A collection of short works and essays that cross social and personal themes.

IdentitySocial critique

The Silence Of Our Friends

2012 Historical fiction / graphic novel

A story set against a 1960s incident dealing with friendship and race; Powell served as illustrator in collaboration.

Race relationsFriendshipHistory

About Face

2019 Comics / visual essay

A visual essay on the normalization of force in language and clothing and the rise of fascism in America.

PowerRepresentationPolitical warning

Come Again

2018 Graphic novel

Published in 2018; descriptions vary in sources and are summarized concisely here.

Save It for Later: Promises, Protest, and the Urgency of Protest

2021 Political essay / graphic work

A recent work focusing on protest, promises, and the urgency of action; centers on social and political themes.

ProtestPolitical engagementSocial movements

Bibliography

  • D.O.A. #1-4 (co-writer, co-artist; Food Chain Productions, 1992-1993)
  • Food Chain Holiday Special (1992)
  • The Schwa Sound #1-14 (1994-1999)
  • Tiny Giants (2003)
  • It Disappears (2004)
  • Swallow Me Whole (2008)
  • Any Empire (2011)
  • The Silence Of Our Friends (2012, illustrator)
  • March: Book One (2013)
  • March: Book Two (2015)
  • March: Book Three (2016)
  • Come Again (2018)
  • Save It for Later (2021)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Strong monochrome visual expressionLinework that emphasizes overlap of memory and realityBlend of nonfictional elements with personal experience
Recurring Motifs
History and memoryYouth, growth and anxietySocial movements and protest

Legacy

Nate Powell is highly regarded in the graphic novel field; his collaboration on the March trilogy helped bring mainstream literary recognition to comics and established the medium's importance in educational and historical contexts, particularly for young readers.

Quotes

  • Lewis said he found Powell's renditions of scenes from his early life "very moving."
    Source: Visual Arts Journal — Q&A: Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin & Nate Powell (Fall 2014) (2014)

Trivia

  • March: Book Three won the National Book Award (Young People's Literature), making Powell one of the first cartoonists to receive that honor.
  • Began self-publishing comics in high school and formed the punk band Soophie Nun Squad in 1992.
  • Worked as a caregiver for adults with developmental disabilities from 1999 to 2009.