Swain, Carol 1962–

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Swain, Carol 1962–

Personal

Born July 25, 1962, in London, England; daughter of Robin (an architect) and Patricia (Clark) Swain; married Bruce Paley (a writer). Education: North Staffordshire Polytechnic, B.A. (painting; with honors). Politics: "Green." Hobbies and other interests: Conservation, environmental issues.

Addresses

Home—109 Southend Close, Hampstead, London NW3 2RE, England. E-mail—[email protected].

Career

Comic writer and artist, beginning 1989.

Writings

Way Out Strips (collected comic strips), Tragedy Strikes Press, 1992, Fantagraphics Books (Seattle, WA), 1994.

Invasion of the Mind Sappers (graphic novel), Fantagraphics Books (Seattle, WA), 1996.

Foodboy (graphic novel), Fantagraphics Books (Seattle, WA), 2004.

Author/illustrator of comic strip "Way Out Strips," beginning 1989. Contributor to comic anthology The Bush Junta: A Field Guide to Corruption in Government, edited by Gary Groth and Mack White, Fantagraphics Books; contributor to Comics Journal.

Sidelights

London-based comic writer and illustrator Carol Swain is noted for her unique pencil and charcoal art, understated composition, and sophisticated, thoughtful storylines. Setting many of her stories in her childhood home in Wales, she weaves themes of alienation, absurdity, and hope in atmospheric graphic novels such as Invasion of the Mind Sappers and Foodboy, as well as in her long-running "Way Out Strips," which she began self-publishing in 1989. Noting that Swain "has one of the most unique and compelling styles in comix," Time.com contributor Andrew D. Arnold wrote that the British artist "uses slam cuts to jump from one time and place to another, in mid-page, with no visual cues," creating "the kind of pleasant discombobulation you get from a midway hall of mirrors." "The action comes al-most completely out of the visual language of the panels," Arnold added. "Adding to the complexity, Swain uniquely draws her comics in charcoal," creating "a gorgeous grey palate for a grey world."

Dubbed "a work of gritty realism" by Booklist contributor Ray Olson, Foodboy focuses on friends Ross and Gareth, who grow up in the impoverished Welsh mining village of Llanparc. As he reaches adulthood, Ross gradually loses his hope and withdraws from society, eventually becoming homeless and increasingly feral. Gareth, who now works at a local hotel kitchen, serves as Ross's only link to the world, regularly walking up into the mountains and calling his friend out to bring him food. Praising Swain's artistic technique in Foodboy, Olson noted that the author/illustrator's "blocky" style "communicat[es] … the desperation of this parable of poverty and disintegration."

Swain told SATA: "I became interested in comics in the late 1980s, having trained as a painter. The work of artists around at the time influenced me greatly; Raw artists, especially Jerry Moriarty, for example. With seeing this work came the realization that comics could be personal, one could write about any subject, not just super heroes.

"So I began to write stories set in the place I grew up in; a small rural town in Wales. Both of my graphic novels are set there: Invasion of the Mind Sappers and Foodboy. It continues to be a source of stories as the next graphic novel will be set there also."