Trickster collects tales of mischief and wisdom
RSSBrigid Alverson -- School Library Journal, 05/19/2010
Trickster is a one-of-a-kind anthology of short comics based on Native American folktales. Editor Matt Dembicki has gone to great lengths to make sure these stories are authentic. That’s why all of the comics, which range from slapstick to mystical, were written by Native American storytellers. SLJTeen talked to Dembicki about how he put the book together and why he thinks it’s important.What function did these stories serve in their native cultures?
When I discussed the stories with the storytellers who educated me on the topic, I found the tales served a wide array of functions—from explaining natural occurrences (such as why the stars are scattered across the sky or why raccoons are plump looking) to moral lessons about things such as greed and pride. Like other stories, these also had some elements to frighten kids a little, to make sure they behaved. Many of the stories are told only during certain seasons, according to tribal customs. For example, some of the storytellers relate stories of coyote only during the fall.
What makes these stories interesting to readers from other cultures?
A few years ago, I developed an interest in folk and fairy tales. As I began to read Native American trickster stories, I was especially drawn by the variety of trickster beings. Probably like many people, I was locked into thinking of rabbits and coyotes as the tricksters mainly because of their character portrayals in popular cartoons. But reading stories about raccoons, ravens, and spider-men was really enlightening. As I thought about the stories, I began to consider how they originated here, on North American soil, and how the stories were told for thousands of years and still carry lessons that apply today and transcend cultures.
What challenges did these stories present?
Some of the stories were told in a sort of nonlinear way that’s different from the way most people are used to reading things, so it’s kind of a challenge to read them. Just a second ago, this guy was a human being, now he is a coyote. But that’s how these stories are told.
How did you record them?
Most of the storytellers emailed me the text of their stories. A few felt they could best convey the stories in the oral tradition. So they would tell me the story over the phone and I would record it and transcribe it. Then I would send the written story to them for their review. They would make some adjustments and send it back.
Why was it important to you to have Native American storytellers and to give them creative control over the stories?
The stories had to be authentic. Aside from its entertainment value, I wanted the book to be a somewhat factual record of these stories, and how they were told and viewed by Native American cultures was critical to that. That authenticity comes through in the stories, and I think readers can feel that, which makes it special.
Nearly all of the storytellers had no experience with the comics medium—meaning, mainly writing a story with the idea of it being illustrated in a sequential format. It’s different from doing a kid’s book. To make sure that the storytellers were comfortable with the medium and that the stories were done appropriately, the storytellers chose which artist they wanted to work with from a shortlist of artists that I provided to them. After reading each story, I provided art samples from artists whom I thought would do a good job of rendering the story. I typically provided a realistic artist, a cartoony artist, and someone with a style in the middle. The artist would then send some character designs and “thumbnails”—a rough draft of the pages—to make sure the writer was okay with it. I think being transparent and open like that was critical to making participants comfortable with the project.
Many storytellers liked the project but wanted to check with the elders in their tribes to make sure they approved. One woman said they might not like it because there is this perception about comics being a dumbed-down format. She emailed me back a couple of days later and said they were on board 100 percent because from their perspective, kids’ attention is being competed for by so many different things—television, video games, Internet—and this is a way to preserve their cultural stories. I found that touching and kind of sad because oral storytelling is such a unique medium, but I felt proud that these stories would be preserved.
Dembicki, Matt, ed. Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection. 231p. CIP. Fulcrum. June 2010. pap. $22.95. ISBN 978-1-55591-724-1. LC 2009049668. Grade 5 and up. (June 2010 SLJ review)
