{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = She Makes Comics | image = | alt = | caption = The Key Art for the Film | director = Marisa Stotter | producer = Patrick Meaney<br />Jordan Rennert<br />Marisa Stotter<br />Karen Green<br />Mike Phillips<br />Julian Darius | writer = | starring = Clare Grant<br /> Rileah Vanderbilt<br /> Milynn Sarley<br /> Chris Claremont<br /> Felicia D. Henderson<br /> Amy Dallen | music = | cinematography = Jordan Rennert | editing = Marisa Stotter<br />Patrick Meaney | studio = Respect Films<br /> Sequart Organization | distributor = XLrator Media | released = {{Film date|2014|12|09}} | runtime = 73 Minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = $60,000 | gross = }} '''''She Makes Comics''''' is a 2014 documentary film about the history of women in the comic book industry since the medium's beginnings in the early 1900s.<ref name=THR>{{cite web|last1=McMillan|first1=Graeme|title='She Makes Comics' Crowdfunds the Oral History of Women in Comics|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/she-makes-comics-crowdfunds-oral-679028|website=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=13 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/popcandy/2014/02/06/crowdfunding/5256155/|title=Kickstart some art: Cool-sounding projects in need|last=Matheson|first=Whitney|date=February 6, 2014|work=USA Today|accessdate=18 June 2014}}</ref> It features interviews with key industry professionals, including artists, writers, editors, and retailers, as well as with prominent members of the surrounding fan culture.
== Background == ''She Makes Comics'' is the fifth co-production between Respect Films and Sequart Organization.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rayworth|first1=Melissa|title=Damsels in Distress No More: Women Can Be Heroes in Comics|url=http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/02/27/boom-pow-girl-super-heroes|website=Take Part|accessdate=13 June 2014}}</ref> The film was directed by Marisa Stotter, who began working with Respect Films during the summer of 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=She Makes Comics: Interview with Director Marisa Stotter|url=http://www.rhymeswithgeek.com/she-makes-comics-interview-with-director-marisa-stotter/|website=Rhymes With Geek|accessdate=13 June 2014}}</ref> Production began in October 2013, with several interviews conducted in the Southern California region.
=== Kickstarter campaign === On February 3, 2014, Sequart Organization launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the film. Over the 31-day funding period, the campaign raised $54,001, nearly $15,000 more than the initial goal. This surplus allowed the project to announce several stretch goals, including a mini-documentary about the first female African-American cartoonist, Jackie Ormes, that would be a companion to ''She Makes Comics''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=MacDonald|first1=Heidi|title=She Makes Comics documentary funded|url=http://comicsbeat.com/she-makes-comics-documantary-funded/|website=Comics Beat|accessdate=13 June 2014}}</ref>
== Production == The filmmakers traveled to several cities, including New York and San Diego, to conduct interviews with notable figures in comics. Among the creatives interviewed are writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, X-Men writer Chris Claremont, ''Elfquest'' creators Wendy and Richard Pini, artist Becky Cloonan, and ''Tits & Clits Comix'' co-founder Joyce Farmer. The industry professionals interviewed include former executive editor of DC Comics' Vertigo imprint Karen Berger, former president of DC Comics Paul Levitz, former DC publisher Jenette Kahn, Comic-Con International organizer Jackie Estrada, and Comics Beat's Heidi MacDonald.<ref name=THR /> Additional interviews were filmed with various scholars, journalists, entertainers, and prominent members of the fan community.
== Release == The film premiered at the Comic-Con International Film Festival in 2015, where it won the best documentary award.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Phillips|first1=Mike|title=She Makes Comics Wins Best Documentary at the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival|url=http://sequart.org/magazine/59001/she-makes-comics-wins-best-documentary-comic-con-sdcc-film-festival/|website=Sequart|publisher=Sequart|accessdate=27 May 2016}}</ref> The film was subsequently acquired for distribution by XLRator Media.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McDonald|first1=Heidi|title=She Makes Comics to be distributed by XLRator|url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/she-makes-comics-to-be-distributed-by-xlrator/|website=Comics Beat|accessdate=27 May 2016}}</ref>
== Plot == The film traces the history of women in comic books as industry professionals and as fans. It begins with the early days of comics and follows the rise of women in the emerging comic book industry of the 30s and 40s. It tells the story of women's contributions to mainstream comics, featuring such figures as artists Ramona Fradon (who drew for DC Comics) and Marie Severin (who worked at Marvel Comics). The film also focuses on the underground comics movement of the 70s, the rise of women into prominent positions at mainstream publishers in the 80s, and the flourishing of female creators in independent comics and webcomics.<ref>{{cite web|title=Finally, A Documentary Will Explore The Untold History Of Women In Comics|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/27/she-makes-comics-kickstarter_n_4856101.html|website=The Huffington Post|accessdate=13 June 2014}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{official website|http://sequart.org/movies/6/she-makes-comics/}} * {{IMDb title|3589322}}
Category:2014 films Category:Documentary films about comics Category:Women comics artists Category:Women comics writers Category:Women and comics Category:2014 English-language films Category:American documentary films Category:2014 documentary films Category:2014 American films Category:English-language documentary films