In an effort to keep our communities safe and following university coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols, the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum galleries are closed until further notice. Please visit cartoons.osu.edu for updates.

The Green Hand and Other Stories (2017) by Nicole Claveloux. Image reproduced with permission of New York Review Comics

This symposium celebrates the richness of women’s comics production and the representations of gender in French-language comics from around the world. Montreal-based artist Julie Delporte, along with scholars from the France, Belgium, the US, and the UK will present their work on gender throughout the history of comic strip.

This program is co-presented by The Ohio State University Department of French and Italian Department and the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum.

Funding for this symposium was provided by a grant from Ohio State University Energy Partners (OSEP).

Julia Billet is an acclaimed French novelist and author of short stories, children’s books, and poetry. Billet will be discussing her award-winning graphic novel “La Guerre de Catherine” (Rue de Sèvres, 2012), debuting in the U.S. in translation as “Catherine’s War” (HarperCollins) on January 21st.

Billet will be joined in conversation by Dr. Margaret Flinn, Associate Professor of French at The Ohio State University. A book sale and signing will follow the presentation.

This event is free and open to the public.

5:00-6:00 Conversation and Q+A
6:00-6:30 Book sale and signing

Join us for a celebration of our new exhibit, “Ladies First: A Century of Women’s Innovations in Comics and Cartoon Art,” a look at how women have defined the field of comics and cartoon art for generations.

5:30-6:00pm Tour the exhibit with curators Rachel Miller and Caitlin McGurk

6:00-7:00pm Live comics readings from local women cartoonists Emi Gennis, Khaila Carr, Lauren McCallister and Gabby Metzler,  followed by a special focus on Image Comics MOONSTRUCK team Grace Ellis, Shae Beagle, Caitlin Quirk, and Laurenn McCubbin in the Will Eisner Seminar Room

7:00-7:30pm Book sale and signing

Light snacks and refreshments provided!

Let us know you’re coming on Facebook

Please join us on Saturday, December 14th to celebrate the life of Thomas Spurgeon. BICLM and Tom’s family invite all who knew, loved, and admired him to join us and share stories about the great life of a great man.

4:00 – 6:00 pm: Open House in the Reading Room
5:00 – 5:30 pm: Refreshments
5:30 – 6:30 pm: Formal remarks
6:30 – 7:00 pm: Open forum for brief remembrances
1:00 – 7:00 pm: Extended hours for the museum galleries

The memorial will be held in the Jean and Charles Schulz Lecture Hall, located on the 2nd floor of Sullivant Hall. For more information on parking and location visit: cartoons.osu.edu/visit-us/

Guests are invited to stop by our Lucy Shelton Caswell Reading Room on the 1st floor to view an open house display of materials from the Thomas Spurgeon Collection held at our library, containing publications, original art, and manuscript material donated by Tom over the years.

Following the memorial, we’ll keep the conversation going at Wunderbar in German Village, 739 S. 3rd St., Columbus OH 43206.

For more information, or if you are interested in speaking at the memorial, contact mcgurk.17@osu.edu

In memory of Tom Spurgeon, donations may be made to the Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) Support Fund, in support of BICLM’s participation in CXC.