The Great Women Cartoonists

by Trina Robbins

Robbins, Trina

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, History, Feminism, Art, Graphic Novels Comics

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Trina Robbins is an American comics artist and writer. She was an early and influential participant in the underground comix movement, and one of the few female artists in underground comix when she started. Her first comics were printed in the East Village Other. She later joined the staff of a feminist underground newspaper It Ain't Me, Babe, with whom she produced the first all-woman comic book titled It Ain't Me Babe. She became increasingly involved in creating outlets for and promoting female comics artists, through projects such as the comics anthology Wimmen's Comix. She was also the penciller on Wonder Woman for a time in the '80s.

Trina has worked on an adaptation of Sax Rohmer's Dope for Eclipse Comics and GoGirl with artist Anne Timmons for Image Comics.

Trina designed Vampirella's costume for Forrest Ackerman and Jim Warren.

In addition to her comics work, Robbins is an author of non-fiction books, including several with an emphasis on the history of women in cartooning.

She is the first of the three "Ladies of the Canyon" in Joni Mitchell's classic song from the album of the same name.

Trina Robbins won a Special Achievement Award from the San Diego Comic Con in 1989 for her work on Strip AIDS U.S.A., a benefit book that she co-edited with Bill Sienkiewicz and Robert Triptow.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite of all Trina Robbins's works, though I'm very much looking forward to her upcoming book on Nell Brinkley. It's a good mix of introductory material and art to some of the comic book industry's forgotten (and not forgotten) women cartoonists, and what's amazing is that it's a much richer history than I would have originally believed.

Growing up, I could count the number of female cartoonists in the American comic book industry on one hand. In fact, I could do it on two fingers: Marie Severin and Ramona Fradon. Done.

But Trina, when I originally read this book, opened me up to a whole new world of artists in both the comic strip and comic book industry, and many of them are now among my favorite creators. I have more than a passing interest in female comic cartoonists, being married to one (Colleen Coover) myself, so books of this type are all the more treasured. And, as I've said before, Trina Robbins is about the only person doing books of this type, so if she gets something wrong here and there, I can still give her the nod.

This book is just as valuable a reference book (which isn't to say it doesn't serve well as an entertaining read) as it did when I first read it, years ago. It's interesting to see how Trina's picks for the women cartoonists of the future turned out (not so well) but the main body of the work has passed the test of time, as have so many of the female cartoonists discussed within.

[GwenPeds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty interesting light read. Now I want to get more deeply into some of the artists presented, so that makes it a successful overview. Annoying layout, and not much multiculture so I have more questions than answers! All in all, a good estate sale find for the day.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My introduction to artist Nell Brinkley :)
I picked this book up at a book sale at University and ended up using it for my thesis. Trina Robbins has done a few books on female cartoonists/illustrators and they are all amazing.

[captain america · Rating 3 out of 5]

good overview of mostly unknowns. nice rare illustrations but robbins doesn't identify the year and issue of most. yeah i'm a geek. i really wanna know.

[Laura Molina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in it! Are you?