My guide had a copy of Palestine on my last trip to Gaza. He’d bring it out and show people what I was trying to do. That usually went over pretty well.
About Joe Sacco
Joe Saccois a Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist. He is best known for his comics journalism, in particular in the books Palestineand Footnotes in Gazaand The Fixeron the Bosnian War.
More quotes from Joe Sacco
Oh, it’s essential. I mean, you have to – if I’m writing about the Middle East, I have to go there, and if possible, stay long enough to get a real feeling for what’s going on.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
When I was there, something clicked in my head; I found myself interviewing people, searching out facts and figures. Later on I became much more self-conscious of what I was doing.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
I don’t often go to a place just to check out all the cultural sites of a city.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
I’d much rather hang out in a cafe. That’s where things are really happening.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
And, in some ways I like traveling, in other ways I’m sort of fed up by the whole notion.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
It’s a visual world and people respond to visuals.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
With comics you can put interesting and solid information in a format that’s pretty palatable.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
And I think I find, I know a lot of people around, in different cities, and so it’s not – it might sound strange – but it’s not that hard to say good-bye, because I know there’s other people where I’m going. I can sort of fit in in a lot of places.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
There’s probably one more story about Bosnia that I’d like to do, because I spent a fair amount of time on the Serb side of the lines, which isn’t apparent in the other books.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
When I went to Bosnia, I was there to tell someone else’s story and I was more methodical.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
Of course, I’m drawn to a place like Iraq because It’s the biggest story of our generation.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
Robert Crumb is an influence on how I draw, but not on the subject matter I take or my approach. One thing I do like about Crumb is that he’s chronicled his age, his times, and I think that is what artists should do.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
I’m not a good tourist, I don’t like tourism.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
It became clear to me that I had to push it toward a more representational way of drawing.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
I don’t like just traveling in for a short time. I’ve done that before, because sometimes you work for magazines and they have a budget, and if you’re working for them, they want something by a certain time.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
I try to ask visual questions. I’ll ask what someone was wearing, if that seems relevant. If possible, I’ll walk over the same ground that they’re depicting. Of course, I can never get it precisely as it was.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
I’d rather go to a place and spend a couple of months, get to know it, get to know the people.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
My guide had a copy of Palestine on my last trip to Gaza. He’d bring it out and show people what I was trying to do. That usually went over pretty well.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
I will interview bigwigs if I get the chance, but you are seldom surprised by people in power – you’ve got to get awfully damn close to get anything new.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
I think I’m generally a good listener anyway.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
I tried to draw people more realistically, but the figure I neglected to update was myself.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)
I think any journalist who spends time in a place realizes that there are lots of stories around beyond their primary story. You meet so many interesting people and have all kinds of experiences.
Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist; pioneer of the Non-Fiction Graphic Novel (b. 1960)