{{Short description|American-Israeli graphic novelist}} {{Use American English|date=June 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox comics creator | image = Miriam Libicki 2012.jpg | nationality = American | nationality2 = Israeli | birth_place = Columbus, Ohio, U.S. | cartoonist = y | writer = y | artist = y | notable works = {{Plainlist| *''Toward a Hot Jew'' *''But I Live: Three Stories of Child Survivors of the Holocaust'' }} }} '''Miriam Libicki''' ({{Langx|he|מרים ליביצקי}}) is an American-Israeli<ref "about"="">{{cite web|url=https://realgonegirl.com/about/|title=About|website=Real Gone Girl|access-date=May 29, 2024|archive-date=May 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530000657/https://realgonegirl.com/about/|url-status=live}}</ref> graphic novelist based in Vancouver, Canada. Her work often centers on the intersection of being Jewish and American. Her past service in the Israel Defense Forces has provided both the basis of some of her work and the source of controversy in her career.
==Early years== Libicki was born in Columbus, Ohio<ref>{{Cite web |title=Libicki, Miriam |url=https://abcbookworld.com/writer/libicki-miriam/ |access-date=June 4, 2024 |website=ABC BookWorld |language=en}}</ref> and raised as an Orthodox Jew.<ref name="sdjew" /> She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr University of Art and Design and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miriam Libicki |url=https://www.connect.ecuad.ca/people/profile/25874 |access-date=May 30, 2024 |website=Emily Carr University |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119174718/https://www.connect.ecuad.ca/people/profile/25874 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Libicki voluntarily served as a clerk in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in 2000, during the time of the Second Intifada.<ref name="sdjew" /><ref name="beat">{{cite web|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/vancaf-resignations-and-board-change-follow-controversial-ban-of-miriam-libicki/|title=VanCAF resignations and board change follow controversial ban of Miriam Libicki|website=The Beat|first=Dean|last=Simons |date= June 4, 2004|access-date=June 4, 2004}}</ref>
==Career== Libicki began creating comics due to a school assignment. Working to transcribe an entry in her army service diary showed her that comics were a good way to document her military career.<ref name="jwa">{{cite web|title=Graphic Details: Interview With Miriam Libicki|url=https://jwa.org/blog/graphic-details-interview-miriam-libicki|website=Jewish Women's Archive|date=February 18, 2011|first=Leah|last=Berkenwald|access-date=May 29, 2024|archive-date=May 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530003003/https://jwa.org/blog/graphic-details-interview-miriam-libicki|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, she self-published her first graphic novel, ''jobnik!'',<ref name="star" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 23, 2008 |title=Jobnik! by Rebecca Kai Dotlich |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780978427702 |access-date=May 30, 2024 |website=Publishers Weekly |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204041928/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780978427702 |url-status=live }}</ref> collecting a "pretty close to autobiographical" work she had serialized in self-published issues.<ref name="wired">{{cite magazine|date=February 24, 2008|magazine=Wired|title=Jobnik! Comic Gives Insiders' View of Israeli Army|url=https://www.wired.com/2008/02/tales-from-isra/}}</ref>
In 2017, Libicki was named Writer In Residence at the Vancouver Public Library,<ref name="cjn" /> becoming the first graphic novelist named to that position.<ref name="star">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-pictures-tell-story-for/148338705/|newspaper=The Toronto Star|title=Pictures Tell Story For Resident Writer|agency=The Canadian Press|date=September 3, 2017|page=a18}}</ref>
In 2020, she drew a story to a University of Victoria effort to document the lives of Holocaust survivors in graphic novel form,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/saanich-news/148339636/|title=UVic project uses graphic novels to tell stories of Holocaust survivors|newspaper=Saanich News|date=January 24, 2020|page=a1|last=Grossman|first=Nina}}</ref> having been located for the gig via a Google search.<ref name="province">{{cite news|title=Holocaust survivor stories get new view|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-province-holocaust-survivor-stories/148366576/|first=Shawn|last=Conner|newspaper=The Province|date=November 24, 2022|page=34}}</ref> The book saw print in 2022 as ''But I Live''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/goldstream-news-gazette-uvic-prof-publis/148339909/|title=UVic Prof Publishes Graphic Novels On Holocaust|newspaper=Goldstream News Gazette|date=June 8, 2022|first=Evert|last=Lindquist}}</ref>
In addition to her career as an illustrator, Libicki teaches cartooning and illustration at Emily Carr University of Art and Design.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miriam Libicki |url=https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/miriam-libicki |access-date=May 30, 2024 |website=Jewish Book Council |language=en |archive-date=September 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930135820/https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/miriam-libicki |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2024, the Vancouver Comics Arts Festival denounced Libicki and apologized for accepting her as an exhibitor in 2024 and 2022. The organization announced that she was barred due to "public safety concerns" arising from her having served in the IDF and the impact that would have on "those who are directly affected by the ongoing genocide in Palestine and Indigenous community members alike." Libicki received support from local authors, international creators, and indigenous artists, as well as Palestinian American author Marguerite Dabaie.<ref name="beat" /><ref name="cjn">{{cite news |last=Margolis |first=Sam |date=May 29, 2024 |title=Graphic Artist Miriam Libicki Has Been Banned By Vancouver Comics Arts Festival Due to Her Past Service in the IDF |url=https://thecjn.ca/news/miriam-libicki/ |access-date=June 4, 2024 |website=Canadian Jewish News }}</ref> Libicki issued the statement, "I believe all policing of artists' personal identities and nationalities is wrong" and noted her support for Palestinian statehood, following which the festival deleted their denunciation.<ref name="jta">{{cite news|url=https://www.jta.org/2024/05/30/culture/vancouver-comics-festival-bans-jewish-artist-miriam-libicki-over-past-idf-service|title=Vancouver comics festival bans Jewish artist Miriam Libicki over past IDF service|first=Andrew|last=Lapin|date=May 30, 2024|agency=Jewish Telegraph Agency}}</ref> The festival issued a formal apology to Libicki declaring those involved in her banning resigned from the festival or were in the process of leaving with the transition to a new management team.<ref name="cjn" /><ref>{{Cite Instagram |user=vancouvercomics |postid=C7u9PiTPn-r |title=VanCAF Formal Apology |date=June 2, 2023}}</ref> Libicki used the attention generated by this controversy to sell prints raising money for The Mothers' Call, a collaborative effort between Palestinian peace group Women of the Sun and Israeli peace group Women Wage Peace.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cartoonist Miriam Libicki receives formal apology from Vancouver Comic Arts Festival after protests led to ban|url=https://www.createastir.ca/articles/miriam-libicki-vancouver-comic-arts-festival|website=Stir|first=Jessica|last=Werb|access-date=June 5, 2024}}</ref>
==Awards and honors== In 2016, ''Forbes'' named ''Toward a Hot Jew'' one of the top ten graphic novels of the year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miriam Libicki |url=https://www.vpl.ca/person/miriam-libicki |access-date=May 30, 2024 |website=Vancouver Public Library |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019082951/https://www.vpl.ca/person/miriam-libicki |url-status=live }}</ref>
She has also received the following accolades: * 2017 Vine Award for Canadian Jewish Literature: Non-Fiction for ''Toward a Hot Jew''<ref name="cbc">{{cite web|title=Peter Behrens and Matti Friedman among winners of the 2017 Vine Awards|first=Olivia|last=Pasquarelli|website=CBC|date=October 3, 2017|access-date=May 29, 2024|url=https://www.cbc.ca/books/peter-behrens-and-matti-friedman-among-winners-of-the-2017-vine-awards-1.4320278#:~:text=cbc%20books%20loaded-,peter%20behrens%20and%20matti%20friedman%20among%20winners%20of%20the%202017,who%20deal%20with%20jewish%20subjects.|archive-date=May 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530000659/https://www.cbc.ca/books/peter-behrens-and-matti-friedman-among-winners-of-the-2017-vine-awards-1.4320278#:~:text=cbc%20books%20loaded-,peter%20behrens%20and%20matti%20friedman%20among%20winners%20of%20the%202017,who%20deal%20with%20jewish%20subjects.|url-status=live}}</ref> * 2020 Eisner Award nominee for best short story for "Who Gets Called An 'Unfit' Mother"<ref name="cjn" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=McMillan |first=Graeme |date=June 4, 2020 |title=2020 Eisner Nominees: The Complete List |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/2020-eisner-nominees-complete-list-1297196/ |access-date=July 5, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=January 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103024421/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/2020-eisner-nominees-complete-list-1297196/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * 2022 Inkpot Award<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot/|title=Inkpot Awards|website=Comic-Con International|access-date=May 29, 2024|archive-date=December 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207202908/https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot/|url-status=live}}</ref> * 2023 Kahn Family Foundation Prize for Holocaust Writing for ''But I Live''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Cherie |date=June 9, 2023 |title=This year's book award winners |url=https://www.jewishindependent.ca/this-years-book-award-winners/ |access-date=May 30, 2024 |website=Jewish Independent |language=en-CA |archive-date=September 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923111735/https://www.jewishindependent.ca/this-years-book-award-winners/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Personal life== Libicki is married to Mike Yoshioka,<ref name="sdjew">{{cite web|url=https://www.sdjewishworld.com/2017/07/23/former-idf-clerk-finds-identity-in-cartooning/|title=Former IDF clerk finds identity in cartooning|website=San Diego Jewish World|first=Donald H. |last=Harrison|date=July 23, 2017}}</ref> a Japanese-Buddhist-Canadian.<ref name="jwa" /> She had two children as of 2017.<ref name="sdjew" />
==Publications==
* {{Cite book |last=Libicki |first=Miriam |title=Jobnik!: An American Girl's Adventures in the Israeli Army |date=2008 |publisher=Real Gone Girl Studios |isbn=978-0-97-842770-2}} * {{Cite book |last=Libicki |first=Miriam |title=Toward A Hot Jew: Graphic Essays |date=2016 |publisher=Fantagraphics |isbn=978-1-60-699981-3}} * {{Cite book |last=Libicki |first=Miriam |url=https://thenib.com/who-gets-called-an-unfit-mother/ |title=Who Gets Called an "Unfit" Mother? |date=2019 |publisher=The Nib}} * {{Cite book |last=Libicki |first=Miriam |url=https://conversationalist.org/2021/07/29/how-the-soviet-jews-changed-the-world-a-graphic-tale-of-tragedy-and-triumph/ |title=How the Soviet Jews Changed the World: A Graphic Tale of Tragedy and Triumph |publisher=The Conversationalist |year=2021}} * {{Cite book |title=But I Live: Three Stories of Child Survivors of the Holocaust |date=2022 |publisher=New Jewish Press |others=Illustrated by Barbara Yelin, Gilad Seliktar, and Miriam Libicki |isbn=978-1-48-752684-9 |editor-last=Schallié |editor-first=Charlotte}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|https://realgonegirl.com/}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Libicki, Miriam}} Category:Living people Category:Emily Carr University of Art and Design alumni Category:University of British Columbia alumni Category:American graphic novelists Category:Israeli graphic novelists Category:21st-century American illustrators Category:American women illustrators Category:21st-century Israeli illustrators Category:Israeli women illustrators Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century American art educators Category:Israeli art educators Category:American women art educators Category:Israeli women art educators