Yesterday a new anthology launched spotlighting work done by creators in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The 56-page PANDEMIX: Quarantine Comics in the Age of ‘Rona is available digitally right now via the anthology’s Patreon site for a one-time payment of just $5, with all proceeds going to The Hero Initiative. The collection of stories is curated by Dean Haspiel and edited by Haspiel & Whitney Matheson, and features stories by creators like Josh Neufeld, Kristen Radtke, Jeffrey Burandt & Christa Cassano, and many others. The collection sports a back-cover image by Mike Cavallaro, which is also available in a high-resolution printable format for a $20 contribution to The Hero Initiative (again via the anthology’s Patreon).
Now, to celebrate the book’s release, The Beat is proud to present an exclusive look at cartoonist Marguerite Dabaie‘s three-page story from PANDEMIX. The story relates Dabaie’s own experience with quarantine in Brooklyn, including a potential bout of COVID-19 and the ways her neighborhood has changed as a result of the virus.
In a statement accompanying the announcement of the book, Haspiel discussed what inspired him to put the anthology together:
“When Covid-19 sparked a global pandemic and national quarantines, I worried about my creative colleagues,” Haspiel says. “Many of us lost freelance work, and the comic book industry shuttered for a while. But I felt compelled to rally cartoonists to confront the pandemic and make art out of it. Art that can help comic creators in need.”
Dabaie’s story captures the spirit of that rallying cry perfectly, examining the highs and lows of what life has been like for her during these supremely strange times. Check out her story, as well as a list of more creators with stories in the anthology, below, and pick up PANDEMIX: Quarantine Comics in the Age of ‘Rona today.
Comics include “Supply Chain Superhero,” an insightful portrait by Josh Neufeld (A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge); “Skin Hunger,” an exploration of the loss of touch by Kristen Radtke (Imagine Wanting Only This); the pop culture-infused “Iterations of the Apocalypse” by writer Jeffrey Burandt and artist Christa Cassano (Ghetto Klown); “We Are All Doomed,” an unsettling elevator tale illustrated by George O’Connor (the Olympians series); and “The Currency of Community,” a poignant story featuring Dean Haspiel’s award-winning Brooklyn superhero, The Red Hook.
Other contributors include Owen Brozman, J.J. Colagrande, Marguerite Dabaie, Jen Ferguson, N. Steven Harris, Ellen Lindner, Whitney Matheson, Morgan Pielli, Dave Proch, Joan Reilly, Frank Reynoso, and Peter Rostovsky.
