Dr. Graham, I think I need some help. Lately I've been feeling this overwhelming sense of discouragement about wanting to make comics. It seems like everything is awful. Institutionalized racism and sexism in editorial. New voices that consider writing abo

Dear Generalissimo Anonymous,

I would say that Institutionalized racism and sexism are far from unique to comics,and impossible to completely escape anywhere

.It’s good that we’re at least talking about them more, now, in relation to comics.

I see a lot of guys in comics voicing this fear of change, or worrying they’ll be attacked for some sleight— I don’t see that as a real concern. things are hopefully shifting so that people from other backgrounds are getting their voices heard, but that doesn’t take from you being able to have a voice. It’s still easier to be a dude (and straight  & white helps) in any industry. Soooo maybe don’t worry about that.

I think the main thing to keep in mind is that it is ok to make mistakes “a man becomes a man from all the shit that he goes through”

it’s about how you deal with the mistake.after, Listen to other people and be respectful of other’s experiences that you haven’t lived. This doesn’t have to be incompatible with taking personal risks and doing stories about whatever excites you. 

I’d say just do the work you wanna do and if things come up try and learn from them.

And I think going unnoticed is ok. I’m kind of glad that I got to make comics in print that went mostly unnoticed before anyone paid me any attention. It was a good chance to learn about some things before I had to deal with the stuff that isn’t about making the work.