Embodied -

Published by A Wave Blue World

ISBN: 9781949518139
Price: $16.99
Genre: Poetry, Anthology
Ages: 16+

On Sale: May 18, 2021

Mystical, rooted, painful, joyous, and ecstatic; visions of the body, our genders, and our very identities from across the spectrum of contemporary poetry come together in this monumental intersectional feminist anthology where verse and comics unite in spectacular new ways.

Beautifully illustrated and bracingly written, EMBODIED is a memorable collaboration between cis female, trans, and non-binary poets and comics artists showcasing the power of both forms in a stunningly unique keepsake volume that will be treasured for ages.

This edition includes a study guide and a process art section.

A percentage of the proceeds will benefit International Women’s Health Coalition

Key Selling Points

Poetry has always been a source of inspiration in times of political turmoil and crisis, and in the past few years, it has reasserted itself in mainstream awareness, as we can see from book sales and poems that have gone viral on social media.
EMBODIED brings contemporary American poetry to comic book readers and comics to poetry readers in a graphic poetry anthology that showcases the relevance, urgency, and power of both genres.
Featuring new work on the theme of gender, identity, and the body from twenty-one of America’s premier, award-winning female, trans, and non-binary poets who have been published in places like The New York Times and The New Yorker.

Rather than being merely illustrated, the poems have been adapted into sequential art stories drawn, lettered, and colored by top female, trans, and non-binary artists.
EMBODIED has strong BIPOC and LGBTQ+ representation including a Native American team. The emphasis of the book is on inclusivity and the amplification of marginalized identities at a time when those identities are most under siege.
Released in May, 2021 to coincide with International Women’s Health Month and a portion of the proceeds will benefit International Women’s Health Coalition.
Along with the release, AWBW is producing a fully animated music video of an original song by NYC recording artist Angela Elia directed by AWBW’s director of operations and media, Justin Zimmerman.

Review(s)

FOREWORD (STARRED) — Verse and visuals meet, with spectacular results, in the graphic anthology Embodied. Poetry is a visual medium, not just an oral one: the placements of words and blank spaces are often intended to appeal to the eye, and they affect the interpretation and enjoyment of a poem. This book makes full use of the opportunities for color and page design that are inherent to comic books—here, used to maintain or enhance the impact of poems. The poems and their graphic interpretations come from a lineup of award-winning women, trans, and nonbinary creators. After each artist’s adaptation, the original text-only version of the poem is included, allowing for interesting comparisons. Some adaptations preserve the original appearance of the text, while others take a different tack, splitting or combining lines for a particular effect. The art is attractive and imaginative. In “Bassam,” a metaphor is depicted as something more than just a figurative truth: “Each morning my heart is / a vulture beating its wings for scraps,” it says.

The words are accompanied by images of a scavenger alighting on a shoulder. Images from the poems are given form and shape, sometimes with daring, unexpected approaches, and always in ways that are complementary. The variation among the art and writing styles keeps every segment fresh and exciting. A study guide forwards two stimulating questions about each poem, regarding their subjects, techniques, and interpretations—enough discussion material to fill a university-level course. Also included are rough sketches from the various adaptations—a fascinating glimpse into artistic processes.

This book bridges the gap between comics and poetry, combining the best of both worlds. With a portion of the proceeds benefiting the International Women’s Health Coalition, Embodied is a wonderful book that’s well worth engaging.