{{Short description|American cartoonist (born 1977)}} {{Infobox comics creator
| image = 9.13.09DaveRomanByLuigiNovi.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Roman at the 2009 Brooklyn Book Festival | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|05|26}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | nationality = | Age_date = | area = Writer, artist | alias = | spouse = {{marriage|Raina Telgemeier|2006|2015|end=divorce}} | signature = | notable works = ''Jax Epoch and the Quicken Forbidden'', ''Teen Boat'' | awards = | website = {{url|http://www.yaytime.com/}} }} '''Dave Roman''' (born May 26, 1977) is an American writer and artist of webcomics and comics.
==Career== Roman attended the School of Visual Arts in New York.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Mallozzi|first=Vincent M.|date=2011-10-14|title=Drawn Together by a Love of Cartooning|url=https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/drawn-together-by-a-love-of-cartooning/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015145833/http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/drawn-together-by-a-love-of-cartooning/ |archive-date=2011-10-15 |access-date=2020-11-22|website=New York Times|language=en-US}}</ref> He started working in comics as an intern at DC Comics, then got a full-time job at Nickelodeon Magazine as a comic editor for 11 years, until the magazine ceased publishing in 2009.<ref name=":0" />
=== Works === {{Incomplete list|date=November 2020}} Roman is the co-creator and writer of ''Jax Epoch and the Quicken Forbidden'', a webcomic co-created and drawn by John Patrick Green. The webcomic was first published in 1997;{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} two books of the webcomic were published, subtitled ''Borrowed Magic'' and ''Separation Anxiety'' respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jax Epoch and the Quicken Forbidden Series by Dave Roman|url=https://www.goodreads.com/series/58907-jax-epoch-and-the-quicken-forbidden|access-date=2020-11-23|website=www.goodreads.com}}</ref> Roman also co-created ''Teen Boat'' with Green.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=2004 Ignatz Award Recipients {{!}} SPX: The Small Press Expo|url=https://www.smallpressexpo.com/2004-ignatz-award-recipients|access-date=2020-11-23|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Two stories were published in print, while three are available online as a webcomic.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Asselin|first=Janelle|date=April 24, 2015|title='Teen Boat' Graphic Novel Sequel To Be Serialized Webcomic|url=https://comicsalliance.com/teen-boat-sequel-webcomic-interview/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428044557/http://comicsalliance.com:80/teen-boat-sequel-webcomic-interview/ |archive-date=2015-04-28 |access-date=2020-11-23|website=ComicsAlliance|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=27 March 2015|title=Teen Boat Comics|url=http://teenboatcomics.com/comic/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607074953/http://teenboatcomics.com/comic/|archive-date=2015-06-07|access-date=|website=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Teen Boat! Series by Dave Roman|url=https://www.goodreads.com/series/243574-teen-boat|access-date=2020-11-23|website=www.goodreads.com}}</ref>
Roman has published three books in his "Astronaut Academy" series,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Astronaut Academy Series by Dave Roman|url=https://www.goodreads.com/series/108174-astronaut-academy|access-date=2020-11-23|website=www.goodreads.com}}</ref> which started as a webcomic.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Outstanding Character Design|url=http://www.ccawards.com/2005ceremony/char_design.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627041931/http://www.ccawards.com/2005ceremony/char_design.htm|archive-date=2006-06-27|access-date=|website=CCAwards}}</ref> The first, ''Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity'' (First Second, 2011) is about a young boy who leaves behind life as an intergalactic superhero to go to middle school.<ref name=":0" />
Roman created the graphic novel ''Agnes Quill: An Anthology of Mystery'', and in 2008 Paramount Pictures optioned the film rights. In the novel, the title character turns sixteen and inherits an estate and an ability to see and communicate with the dead.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117994892.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2562|title=Paramount books 'Agnes Quill'|website=Variety|date=October 29, 2008}}</ref> In 2009, Del Rey Manga released ''X-Men: Misfits'', which Roman co-authored with his then-wife, Raina Telgemeier. It spent at least five weeks on the ''New York Times'' Bestseller list for Paperback Graphic Books.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|title=Paperback Graphic Books - Best Sellers - Sept. 27, 2009 - The New York Times|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2009/09/27/paperback-graphic-books/|access-date=2020-11-22|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
''Unicorn Boy'', a children's graphic novel by Roman, was published in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Unicorn Boy |url=https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250830265/unicornboy/ |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=Macmillan Publishers}}</ref> The American Library Association placed it on their 2024 Best Graphic Novels for Children reading list.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Best Graphic Novels for Children Reading List |url=https://www.ala.org/gncrt/2024-best-graphic-novels-children-reading-list |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=American Library Association}}</ref>
Other works include writing a comic adaptation of ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'', co-writing a prequel comic for ''Avatar'' called ''Zuko's Story'', and creating a collection of comic strips for ''Rugrats''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dave Roman|url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/266715.Dave_Roman|access-date=2020-11-23|website=www.goodreads.com}}</ref> He has also designed a CD cover for the wizard rock band Harry and the Potters.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} Roman has contributed to a number of anthology comic books, including ''Flight 3'',<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flight, Vol. 3 (Flight, #3)|url=https://www.goodreads.com/work/best_book/2068133-flight-volume-three|access-date=2020-11-23|website=www.goodreads.com}}</ref> ''Nursery Rhyme Comics'' (First Second, 2011),<ref name=":0" /> ''Not My Small Diary'',{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} and ''Bizarro World.''{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}
According to a 2011 article, Roman mainly earned a living "by touring the country and speaking to children in schools, libraries and bookstores about the joys of making comics."<ref name=":0" /> He has said that he loved to draw and tell stories as a kid and is now "trying to inspire that passion in other kids".<ref name=":0" />
== Awards and reviews == Roman was given the Friends of Lulu Volunteer of the Year Award in 2003 for his work editing the Friends of Lulu anthology ''Broad Appeal''.<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/lulu.php | title = Lulu Award | publisher = Comic Book Awards Almanac | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130126234514/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/lulu.php | archivedate = January 26, 2013 | url-status = live}}</ref>
The webcomic ''Quicken Forbidden'' #12 was nominated for a Harvey Award in the Best Single Issue or Story category in 2004,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-04-21|title=2004 Harvey Award Nominees Announced|url=https://www.cbr.com/2004-harvey-award-nominees-announced/|access-date=2020-11-23|website=CBR|language=en-US}}</ref> while ''Astronaut Academy'' won a Web Cartoonists' Choice Award for Outstanding New Character Design in 2005.<ref name=":2" />
The webcomic ''Teen Boat #6: Vote Boat'' won the Ignatz Award for Outstanding Debut in 2004.<ref name=":1" /> A reviewer for Geek Dad said that they "thoroughly enjoyed" book one of Teen Boat.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Teen Boat: Angst, Thrills, Barnacles|language=en-us|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/04/teen-boat/|access-date=2020-11-23|issn=1059-1028}}</ref> However, a reviewer for Kirkus Reviews criticized book one, saying, "[Its h]umor is often sophomoric, and most of the girls—with the exception of Teen Boat’s best friend—are busty caricatures. While some of the jokes will indeed induce a chuckle or two, many are stretched to the point of exhaustion".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/dave-roman/teen-boat/|title=TEEN BOAT! {{!}} Kirkus Reviews|language=en}}</ref> Of the second book, Kirkus said, "Bright spots aside, this parody of self-obsessed teen protagonists is so successful it gives readers no cause to root for the hero."<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/dave-roman/race-boatlantis/|title=THE RACE FOR BOATLANTIS {{!}} Kirkus Reviews|language=en}}</ref>
The children's graphic novel ''Unicorn Boy'' won the graphic novel category of the 2025 The Week Junior Book Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=THE WINNERS 2025: The Week Junior Book Awards 2025 |url=https://www.theweekjuniorbookawards.co.uk/2025/winners25 |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=The Week Junior Book Awards}}</ref>
Keith Mayerson, formerly a professor of comics and illustration at the School of Visual Arts, said that Roman was one of the school's "most successful and beloved alumni” and that "many of our students were familiar with their work long before they ever met them."<ref name=":0" />
== Personal life == Roman grew up in North Babylon on Long Island, and has lived in Astoria, New York.<ref name=":0" />
Roman was married to fellow cartoonist Raina Telgemeier;<ref name=":0" /> they were married in 2006<ref>{{cite web|title=HIS AND HER WEBCOMICS: DAVE ROMAN AND RAINA TELGEMEIER|date=March 5, 2007|first=Terrence|last=Marks|website=Comix Talk|url=http://comixtalk.com/his_and_her_webcomics_dave_roman_and_raina_telgemeier/|quote= Raina: We got married in December of 2006, just a few months ago!}}</ref> but they filed for divorce in 2015.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|last=Alter|first=Alexandra|date=2019-10-21|title=How Raina Telgemeier Faces Her Fear|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/21/books/raina-telgemeier-guts-anxiety.html|access-date=2020-11-22|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Dave Roman}} *[http://www.yaytime.com/index.shtml Dave Roman's Live Journal] *{{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=6219|title=Dave Roman}} *[http://www.astronautelementary.com Astronaut Elementary Web Comic] *[http://www.webcomicsnation.com/daveroman/agnes/series.php Agnes Quill]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roman, Dave}} Category:Living people Category:American comics writers Category:American comics artists Category:American webcomic creators Category:1977 births