Craig Thompson
by Jessica Yurasek
Fall 2004

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Craig Thompson was born in Traverse City, Michigan 1975. He was raised in a farm community in Wisconsin. In 1997, Thompson moved to Portland but now lives with his girlfriend in Rose City. In 1998, he began working as a graphic designer for Dark Horse Comics. Thompson went from working on the computer all day, designing ads, logos, and packaging, to drawing his first graphic novel, Goodbye Chunky Rice at night. Eventually he got tendonitis and quit his day job. Among other things, Tom Cruise has presented him with an art award, he has worked at McDonalds, and he does not own a car. His influences include Taro Yashima's stories from the 1950s, such as "Crow Boy" (1955), and French artist Edmond Baudoin.

Not only has Thompson drawn comics and illustrations for Nickelodeon and Owl magazine, but also for DC and Dark Horse comics.  His first graphic novel, Goodbye Chunky Rice, published in 1999, won a Harvey award for Best New Talent, and was named by The Comics Journal as one of the Top Five Comics of 1999. His second graphic novel was published in 2003.  This 600-page, semi-autobiographical coming of age story, which Thompson worked on for three years, is entitled Blankets.  He recently received two Ignatz

Awards at the Small Press Expo: one for Outstanding Graphic Novel for Blankets, and another for Outstanding Artist.

Interviews with CraigThompson:
http://www.fearofspeed.net/blankets.html
http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/urban/seasons/fallpreview2004/9808/

Images from: Goodbye Chunky Rice, by Craig Thompson: first | second
Published: Top Shelf Productions, 1999.

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