As part of the 20th anniversary commemoration of Words and Pictures, we revisit our October 2018 conversation with Ezra Claytan Daniels and Ben Passmore. Ezra and Ben grew up loving comics and science fiction, and have expanded both genres to address pressing issues of race relations, gentrification, and aging.
Ben creates comic stories for The Nib as well as such graphic novels as Your Black Friend and Dayglo Ayhole, both of which got their start as self-published zines. Ezra's work includes the critically acclaimed book The Changers, as well as the sci-fi graphic novel Upgrade Soul, which began life as a serialized immersive project on the iOS platform.
In 2018, Ezra and Ben collaborated on BTTM FDRS, a graphic novel that combines social satire with body horror and dark comedy. S.W. Conser talks with them about crossover animation and music projects, speculative fiction, neglected histories, and the racial undercurrents in American politics.
- KBOO