Unreserved

Comics, graphic novels, art and their power to tell stories

This week, Unreserved is an all-nerd special as we salute art, comic books, graphic novels and those who create it.
An image from David Robertson's book Betty: The Helen Betty Osborne Story. (Illustration by Scott B. Henderson)

This week, Unreserved is an all-nerd special as we salute art, comic books, graphic novels and those who create it all. 

Hope Nicholson is a self-admitted girl geek of comics who is passionate about diversity inclusion in comics and the fandom world. Nicholson edited the comic book anthology MOONSHOT which brought together dozens of creators from across North America to contribute comic book stories showcasing the rich heritage and identity of indigenous storytelling.

David Alexander Robertson has illustrated Helen Betty Osborne's story not once, but twice. Find out why he thinks graphic novels are the perfect teaching tool and a powerful way to stop the rising numbers of missing and murdered indigenous women.

Richard Van Camp's latest graphic novel, Night Moves, reunites some of his most beloved characters.
Justice Ryan is a grade 12 student who chose the comic book genre to school her classmates about the history of residential schools.

Richard Van Camp's latest graphic novel, Night Moves, reunites some of his most beloved characters. Find out why he keeps returning to these voices.

Good art should provoke and make people think about society and their place in it. But what about when it provokes vandalism? An exhibit aiming to raise awareness of missing and murdered indigenous women in Wolfville, Nova Scotia is grappling with that issue. 

The N'We Jinan project is a music education initiative that brings a mobile recording studio into schools and community centres in remote indigenous communities. The goal is to give young people the opportunity to express themselves through music while learning a bit about production. Caught in the Storm is a brand new track, written and performed by First Nation youth from Patuanak, Saskatchewan.

JB the First Lady
This week's playlist
Don Amero - Summer Fades to Fall
JB the First Lady - We Were Children
Caught in the Storm - N'We Jinan Project
Wolf Saga - Stolen