Isabella Bannerman visits Drawbridge Studio

New York-based cartoonist, "Six Chix" collaborator, and NCS member, Isabella Bannerman, made the trek out to Gowanus -- the Venice of Brooklyn! -- to visit a small enclave of cartoonists working in a series of satellite studios including "Drawbridge" and neighboring "Hypothetical Island." Both studios occupy adjoining rooms in an arts & industrial design building on the shores of the Gowanus Canal.



Cartoonists first settled in the building in 2007 and the location is now home to almost 20 creators, including Simon Fraser (2000AD Magazine, First Second Books), Robin Ha (Marvel Comics), Chris Sinderson (ACT-I-VATE, Image Comics, First Second Books), Tim Hamilton (The New York Times, King Features, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Mad Magazine, Nickelodeon Magazine, Hill & Wang), Mike Cavallaro (DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, First Second Books, IDW Publishing, Warner Brothers Animation, Cartoon Network), Reilly Brown (Marvel Comics), George O'Connor (First Second Books, Simon & Schuster), Joe Infurnari (Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Oni Comics, First Second Books), Jason Little (Fantagraphics Books, Top Shelf Productions, Drawn & Quarterly, Dark Horse Comics), Ellen Linder (Blank Slate Books, Soaring Penguin Press), Kevin Colden (DC Comics, Vertigo, IDW Publishing, Top Shelf Productions, Archaia), Bobby Timony (Zuda Comics), David Klein (Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Boston Globe, McGraw-Hill, Disney Adventures Magazine), and Andres Martinez (Simon & Schuster).

Here we are at Drawbridge:

(An earlier photo of Drawbridge Studio members, L to R: Simon Fraser, Robin Ha, Tim Hamilton, Chris Sinderson, Mike Cavallaro.)

From Isy's visit:

(L to R: visiting artist Joan Reilly, Isabella Bannerman, Simon, Mike)

(Actress, writer and cartoonist Natalie Kim)

Next door at Hypothetical Island:

(Jason Little begins a new masterpiece.)

(Reilly Brown at work on an upcoming issue of "Ultimate X-Men")

We discussed some interesting differences between syndicated cartooning, monthly comics and graphic novels, including ongoing trends in memoir, autobio, and historical comics. Great time, thanks for dropping by, Isabella!