The Eclectic Evolution Of Will Betke-Brunswick

Will Betke-Brunswick is a cartoonist and graduate of the California College of the Arts MFA in Comics program. Their work has appeared in the new print edition of Trans Bodies, Trans Selves, How to Wait: An Anthology of Transition, and the websites INTO and Autostraddle. Betke-Brunswick's memoir, A Pros and Cons List for Strong Feelings, is available from Tin House. Before enrolling at California College of the Arts, they were a high school math teacher for five years. They live in Boulder, Colorado, and identify as transgender and nonbinary.

Will Betke-Brunswick is a cartoonist and author

Will's memoir, 'A Pros and Cons List for Strong Feelings', was published by Tin House. The book weaves together memories from Will's childhood with scenes from the last few months of their mother's life. It has been described as a "beautiful, heartwarming family portrait" and a "stunning work that everyone ought to read".

Will has also created several comics that have been published in various anthologies and on websites. Their comic 'How to Wait', published in the anthology of the same name, details their experience of proving to the government that they used to be a woman in order to justify not having registered for the Selective Service. Another comic, published on the queer website INTO, focuses on their experience as a trans person trying to access birth control. Will's work has also appeared in the second edition of 'Trans Bodies, Trans Selves' and they have illustrated the book 'IN/WITH/FOR THE PUBLIC', published by Art Practical.

Will's work often explores themes of family, love, and acceptance, with their memoir described as a "meditation on family and love". Their work also engages with issues of gender identity and the complexities of human experience. Will's art style is notable for its use of penguins to represent family members and other birds to depict friends and strangers, adding a layer of whimsy and charm to their narratives.

Their memoir, 'A Pros and Cons List for Strong Feelings', was published by Tin House

Will Betke-Brunswick is a cartoonist and graduate of the California College of the Arts MFA in Comics program. Their memoir, A Pros and Cons List for Strong Feelings, was published by Tin House. The book is a graphic memoir that revisits Betke-Brunswick's relationship with their mother, who is dying of cancer, and their own journey of coming out as non-binary.

In the book, Betke-Brunswick portrays their family as penguins and their friends as a menagerie of birds. This transformation of human characters into birds creates a sense of distance for the reader, allowing Betke-Brunswick to explore heavy themes with restraint. The memoir navigates the complexities of gender identity and illness with tenderness and humour. It is a story of unconditional devotion, humour, care, and openness within a close-knit family.

The non-linear timeline and the portrayal of characters as birds make the story of loss and grief easier to read and more affecting. The book has received praise for its ability to capture the healing and enduring power of family love, as well as its exploration of acceptance, care, and the complexities of grief.

A Pros and Cons List for Strong Feelings is a unique and powerful graphic memoir that announces the arrival of a talented storyteller in Will Betke-Brunswick.

They are a transgender and non-binary graduate of the California College of the Arts MFA in Comics program

Will Betke-Brunswick is a transgender and non-binary cartoonist and graduate of the California College of the Arts MFA in Comics program. Before enrolling at California College of the Arts, Will was a high school math teacher for five years. Will's work has appeared in print editions of Trans Bodies, Trans Selves, How to Wait: An Anthology of Transition, and on the websites INTO and Autostraddle. Will's memoir, A Pros and Cons List for Strong Feelings, is available from Tin House.

Will's work often explores their experiences as a transgender person. For example, their comic in How to Wait: An Anthology of Transition depicts the process of proving to the government that they used to be a woman to justify not having registered for the Selective Service. Will's memoir, A Pros and Cons List for Strong Feelings, intertwines their journey of coming out as trans and non-binary with their mother's cancer diagnosis. The book weaves together memories from their childhood and scenes from the last few months of their mother's life, offering a tender story of acceptance, care, and love.

Will's artwork is known for its thoughtful and spacious pacing, with a unique style that portrays the family as penguins and friends and strangers as a flock of other birds. This artistic choice adds a layer of sensitivity and charm to their narratives, allowing readers to connect with the stories on a deeper level.

Will continues to exhibit their comics at zine fests across the country, including recent appearances at the San Francisco Zine Fest and Vancouver Comic Arts Festival. Their work has received recognition from various authors and reviewers, who have described it as "a stunning work that everyone ought to read" and praised its ability to navigate grief and growing up with "so much tender hilarity."

Will's work has been published in print and exhibited at zine fests across the US and Canada

Will Betke-Brunswick is a cartoonist and author of the graphic memoir, 'A Pros and Cons List for Strong Feelings'. The book was released in November 2022 by Tin House and was a finalist for the 2023 Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ+ Comics, the 2023 Colorado Book Award for Creative Nonfiction, and the 2023 High Plains Book Award for First Book.

Betke-Brunswick's work has been published in print in the trans anthology 'How to Wait: An Anthology of Transition' and the second edition of 'Trans Bodies, Trans Selves'. They have also illustrated the book 'IN/WITH/FOR THE PUBLIC', published by Art Practical. Their comics have been exhibited at zine fests across the US and Canada, including the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, Cartoon Crossroads Columbus, San Francisco Zine Fest, and Vancouver Comic Arts Festival.

Betke-Brunswick's work has also been published online on the queer website INTO and Autostraddle.

Beforehand, they were a high school math teacher for five years

Will Betke-Brunswick is a cartoonist and graduate of the California College of the Arts MFA in Comics program. Before they became a cartoonist, Will Betke-Brunswick was a high school math teacher for five years. They taught mathematics to high schoolers, helping them understand concepts, formulas, and equations, and preparing them for exams. Their time in the classroom likely influenced their ability to create comics, as they would have honed their communication and visualisation skills, essential for conveying complex ideas in a simple and engaging manner.

Betke-Brunswick's teaching experience may have also contributed to their ability to tell stories through their comics. Storytelling in comics involves breaking down a narrative into digestible chunks, much like how a teacher breaks down complex mathematical concepts into manageable lessons. Their understanding of the importance of clear communication and effective teaching methods would have been enhanced during their time as an educator.

Additionally, their time as a teacher may have influenced their ability to connect with their audience. Teaching requires the ability to build rapport and create inclusive environments, skills that can be transferred to creating comics that resonate with readers. Betke-Brunswick's experience in the classroom may have helped them develop empathy and an understanding of the human condition, which can be seen in their comics, such as their memoir, "A Pros and Cons List for Strong Feelings."

The transition from teacher to cartoonist is an interesting one, and it showcases Betke-Brunswick's versatility and passion for storytelling. Their time in the classroom, educating and inspiring young minds, likely fuelled their creativity and desire to express themselves through a different medium. Their teaching experience provided a solid foundation for their artistic endeavours, allowing them to connect with their audience in a unique and powerful way.

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