The obligatory resume.
Paul Karasik
P.O. Box 3051 West Tisbury, Ma. 02575 USA
(508) 560-7731 • paulkarasik6@gmail.com
Publications
The New York Trilogy (Pantheon, 2025)
Adaptor of the books by Paul Auster into graphic novels
The White Snake (TOON Books: 2019)
Guest Editor of book illustrated by Ben Nadler (a former RISD student)
The New Yorker Encyclopedia of Cartoons (Black Dog & Leventhal: 2018)
Contributor and essayist on categories of cartoon genres
How To Read Nancy: The Elements of Comics in Three Easy Panels (Fantagraphics: 2017)
Co-Author
Winner of 2018 Eisner Award for Best Comics Related Book
Lissa: Still Time, (University of Toronto Press: 2016)
Editorial coordinator of graphic novel collaboration between Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design
Turn Loose Our Death Rays and Kill Them All: The Complete Works of Fletcher Hanks
(Fantagraphics: 2016)
Editor, Writer/Artist
Meet Abe, 12 Panel Pitch: Feature Films presented as 12 Panel Cartoons". (Slate On-line: 2014)
Writer
I Shall Destroy All Civilized Planktons, script and layouts for comics story for “SpongeBob Comics Annual” (Boingo Comics: 2014)
You Shall Die By Your Own Evil Creation!: More Comics of Fletcher Hanks (Fantagraphics: 2009)
Editor, Writer/Artist
I Shall Destroy All The Civilized Planets: The Comics of Fletcher Hanks (Fantagraphics: 2007)
Editor, Writer/Artist
Winner of 2008 Eisner Award for Best Archival Collection
Masters of American Comics (Yale University Press: 2005)
Co-Editor of “coffee-table” catalogue for the first major U.S. comics retrospective exhibit co-organized by the Hammer and Moca Museums
City of Glass (Avon Books: 1994; Picador Press reissue: 2004, translated into 25+ editions)
Graphic novel adaptation of novel by Paul Auster, co-created with David Mazzucchelli
Winner “Best Foreign Work of the Year”, Salo Internacional del Barcelona,1999
Winner “Max und Moritz Award”, Erlangen Comics Festival, 1998
Excerpted in The Norton Anthology of Postmodern American Fiction, 1994
The Ride Together (Simon and Schuster: 2003)
Memoir co-written with Judy Karasik
Winner of Best Literary Work of the Year, Autism Society of America, 2003
Get The Clue (Grosset & Dunlap: 1998)
Picture mystery for children, illustrator
Raw Magazine (Raw Books)
Associate Editor, 1981-1983
The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Nation, The Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard Magazine, et al.,
Contributing illustrator/cartoonist
Articles/Media by Paul Karasik
“Split Decision”, The Vineyard Gazette, March 14, 2025
“How Wampum is Made”, The Vineyard Gazette, December 13, 2024
“100 Years with The Boxcar Children”, The New York Times Book Review, December 1, 2024
“A Trip to Planet Koren”, The New Yorker, November 17, 2024
“Beautiful Sense”, The New York Times Book Review, April 12, 2024
“Truffle Kerfuffle”, The New York Times, March 26, 2024
“The Eternal Now”, The Vineyard Gazette, March 22, 2024
“Recycled Kitchen Gadgets”, The New York Times, November 5, 2023
“A Ukrainian Lullaby”, video adaptation, The Nation, May 23, 2023 https://www.thenation.com/article/world/a-ukrainian-lullaby/
“Ed Koren: An Appreciation”, tribute to the late New Yorker cartoonist, The Comics Journal, April 17, 2023 https://www.tcj.com/ed-koren-an-appreciation
“Art Brut-Al”, Book review, The Comics Journal, March 15, 2023 https://www.tcj.com/comics-brut-al/
“Holodomor: A Ukrainian Tragedy Remembered”, The Washington Post, March 27, 2022
“The Death of Philip K. Dick Brought to Life”, The New Yorker, Culture Desk, March 2, 2022
“Writer’s Block”, The New York Times Book Review, February 27, 2022
“Reading to Joan”, The New York Times Book Review, January 2, 2022 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/30/books/the-books-we-loved-as-children-can-comfort-us-at-the-end.html
“No One Else”, Book Review, The Comics Journal, December 2, 2021
“Die, Frogs!, The Lost Comics of James Kugler”, The Comics Journal #307, Winter-Spring 2021
“I Felt I Knew The Guy: What John Prine Taught Us.”, The New Yorker, Culture Desk, April 10, 2020 https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/hello-in-there
“It’s Time To Start Talking To Yourself” The New Yorker, Daily Shouts, March 26, 2020 https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/its-time-to-start-talking-to-yourself
“Charles Addams’s American Family”
Host of segment for The New Yorker Radio Hour
https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/tnyradiohour/segments/charles-addams-american-family
“Al Ross Was No Slouch”
Essay for exhibition of work by New Yorker cartoonist, Al Ross, at The Flacon Gallery, Marlborough, NY. January, 2019
“Questo Uomo Questo Maestro…Scatenato!” Jack Kirby, Mostri, Uomini, Dei (a Cura di Hamelin, 2018). Jack Kirby assessed by essayists including Jonathan Lethem, Charles Hatfield, and Paul Gravett.
“The Addams Family Secret.” The New Yorker, July 6, 2018
“Jack Kirby: This Man, This Master.” KIRBY 100: 100 Top Creators Celebrate Jack Kirby's Greatest Work, (Two Morrows, 2017). Jack Kirby assessed by cartoonists including Dave Gibbons, John Romita, and Jim Woodring.
“10 Reasons Why Fletcher Hanks Kicks Ass.” Boing-Boing, January, 2017
http://boingboing.net/2017/01/17/10-reasons-why-fletcher-hanks.html
“Anatomy of a Gag.” Cartoons of the Year, 2014 (Conde Naste, 2014)
Deconstruction of Charles Addams’ gag.
“The Perfect Cartoon.” The New Yorker on-line, June 11, 2014
http://www.newyorker.com/cartoons/bob-mankoff/the-perfect-cartoon-part-two,
Deconstruction of a Peter Arno cartoon for Robert Mankoff’s weekly blog.
“Travel.” Travel by Yuichi Yokoyama (Picture Box, 2008)
Introduction to the graphic novel by the Japanese cartoonist
“Will Eisner: Grandaddy to the Superhero Generation.” London Times, July 18, 2008
“It Would Be An Honor to be Hit: Norakuro and his Howlin’ Commandos.” Kramer’s Ergot #8, (Buenaventura Press, 2006)
Preface for reprint of work by Suiho Tagawa
“Is Dis A System?” He Done Her Wrong (Fantagraphics Books, 2006)
Afterword for a reissue of the graphic novel by Milt Gross
“How To Read Nancy.” The Best of Ernie Bushmiller’s Nancy (Holt, 1984)
Essay co-written with Mark Newgarden
Articles/Media about Paul Karasik
Michigan State University Comic Art Podcast, Episode 34, January 1, 2020.
Interview with Ryan Claytor
“It Takes a Deep Reading and an Obsession: Interview with Paul Karasik. L.A. Review of Books, July 27, 2019.
Interview with Alex Dueben
“‘Nancy’ has a cult following among many top comics pros. Here’s why.” The Washington Post, April 12, 2018.
Article by Michael Cavna
“Grown Men Reading Nancy.” The New York Review of Books, March 17, 2018.
Article by Dash Shaw
“Who is the Mother of Comics and Graphic Novels? ‘Nancy’, Of Course!” The Boston Globe, January 118, 2018.
Book review by Ty Burr
“Fletcher Hanks: The Most Bonkers Comic Book Creator of All Time.” McSweeney’s, January 2017.
Book review by Mark Peters
“Framing Creatures.” Book Forum, autumn, 2007
Book review by Matt Madden
“Divine Justice of the Weirdo Gods.” The Believer, August, 2007
Book review by Robert Ito
“Fletcher Who? An Early Comics Master.” Publisher’s Weekly, January 9, 2007
Interview about Fletcher Hanks with Sasha Watson
“Coffee with Paul Karasik.” Indy Magazine, Summer 2004
Interview about comics with Bill Kartalopoulos
Talk of the Nation, National Public Radio, January 21, 2003
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=928744
Interview about The Ride Together with Neal Conan
“Nine Panels with Paul Karasik.” The Ganzfeld #1 (Picture Box, 2000)
Interview about comics with Dan Nadel
Awards
Yaddo Residency, Summer 2023 and 2025
New England Newspaper and Publishers Association's New England Better Newspapers Competition, 2023
First Place in “Illustration” category for “The Town Clock: A Graphic Report”
New England Newspaper and Publishers Association's New England Better Newspapers Competition, 2019
First Place in “Illustration” category for “Alley’s General Store: A Graphic Report”
Eisner Award, 2018
Best Comics-Related Book of the Year (“How To Read Nancy”)
Honorary Degree, 2017
Master in Comics, Center for Cartoon Studies, White River Junction, Vermont
Eisner Award, 2008
Best Archival Comics Project of the Year (“I Shall Destroy All The Civilized Planets”)
Autism Society of America, 2003
Best Literary Work of the Year (“The Ride Together”)
The Comics Journal
Best Books of 2003 (“The Ride Together”)
Erlangen Comics Festival, 1998
Max und Moritz Award (“City of Glass”)
Salo Internacional del Barcelona, 1999
Best Foreign Work of the Year (“City of Glass”)
The Comics Journal
The Best Comics of the 20th Century (“City of Glass”)
Exhibits and Presentations
“Comics is a Medium” (Stone Gallery, Boston) Contributor to a survey exhibition of original comic art, Spring, 2023
“Keynote Address: Artists for a Cause” (Bahrain) Opening talk to Bahraini youth about visual narrative co-sponsored by the US Embassy in Bahrain, June 20, 2021
“Funny Papers: The Cartoons of Paul Karasik” (Martha’s Vineyard) Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, Fall, 2020
“Under the Influence of Comics: A Look Back with Paul Karasik” (Boston) Presentation at WBUR CitySpace, November 8, 2019
“How To Read Nancy” (with Mark Newgarden) (Various venues), 2017-2018
“How is THAT Funny?” (Penn State University, Pennsylvania), 2017
Deconstruction of New Yorker cartoons
“Comics and Medicine” (Nebraska State University), 2015
Speaker at symposium on the uses of comics in mental and physical health treatment.
“Don’t Be Shallow: Using Comics to Combat Internet Fatigue” (Penn State University, Pennsylvania), 2015
General audience lecture on the benefits of deep reading.
“Encuentro de la Palabra” (Buenos Aires, Argentina), 2015
Panelist at multimedia arts festival.
“Paul Karasik: Cartoonist” (Brooklyn), 2014
Retrospective at the Shen Gallery, Brooklyn, NY.
Comic Arts Brooklyn (Brooklyn), 2013/2014
Program Director: Interviews with Paul Auster, Charles Burns, Roz Chast, Jeff Smith, Art Spiegelman, et al.
SPX Festival (Bethesda, Maryland), 2012
Interview with Francoise Mouly, Art Director of The New Yorker
“Backstage at the Comics” (Northern Illinois University), 2012
Curator and designer of exhibition featuring work by Jaime Hernandez, Joyce Farmer, Paul Karasik, Jason Lutes, Mark Newgarden, Seth, James Sturm.
Angouleme Comics Festival (Angouleme, France), 2011
Speaker: “The Language of Comics”
The Center Gallery at Fordham University, Lincoln Center (New York City) 2010
Exhibiting artist: “The Art of Captivity”
SPX Festival (Bethesda, Maryland), 2009
Speaker: “The Fletcher Hanks Experience”
Mocca Festival (New York City), 2009
Speaker: “The Fletcher Hanks Experience”
Dedica Festival (Pordenone, Italy), 2009
Exhibition of artwork and guest lecturer during a two-week festival celebrating author, Paul Auster
SPX Festival (Bethesda, Maryland), 2008
Interview with Joost Swarte, Cartoonist and cover artist for The New Yorker
ComicCon International (San Diego, Ca.), 2007
Speaker: “Whatever Happened to Fletcher Hanks?”
Kosmopolis (Barcelona, Spain), 2006
Workshop leader, Speaker: “How To Read A Comic Book”
Fumetto International, Trienalle (Milan, Italy), 2006
Speaker: “Comics as Literature”
Napoli Comicon (Naples, Italy), 2006
Speaker, Judge for annual awards
Lucca Comics (Lucca, Italy), 2005
Speaker: “Gained in Translation: Comics Adaptations”
Mocca Festival (New York City), 2005
Speaker: “Gained in Translation: Comics Adaptations”
Bennington College Writer’s Seminar (Bennington, Vt.), 2004
Speaker with Judy Karasik; “Creating The Ride Together”
Graphic Novel Realism (Barrett Gallery, Santa Monica College), 2003
Curator of an exhibition of work and reference materials by six cartoonists:
Debbie Drechsler, Jaime Hernandez, Paul Karasik, Jason Lutes, Seth, and James Sturm.
Judging
Lynd Ward Prize, Jury member and co-chair, 2018
SLATE Magazine, Guest Judge, Best Comics of the Year, 2015
Education
Lesley College, Cambridge, MA.: 1990-1992
Masters in Middle School Education
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY.: 1977-1981
Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, Minor in Art Education
Teaching Experience
Appointments:
Associate Professor of Practice, Texas A&M, 2020
Stuckeman Professor of Interdisciplinary Design, Penn State University, 2017-18
Guest Lecturer:
American University (Washington, D.C.)
College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA)
Center for Cartoon Studies (White River Junction, VT)
Loyola University (Baltimore, MD)
Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL)
Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
Penn State University (State College, PA)
Rice University (Houston, TX)
Solstice Writing Program (Chestnut Hill, MA)
Sreda Obuchenia (Moscow, Russia)
Texas A&M (City College, TX)
University of British Columbia (Vancouver, CN)
University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh, Scotland)
University of Nebraska (Kearny, NB) Symposium: "Comics and Medicine"
University of Virginia (Richmond, VA)
Wheaton College (Norton, MA)
Instructor:
Boston University, Boston, MA: 2019 - present
Graduate Instructor, Visual Narrative, Weekly 6-hour studio class
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI.: 2003, 2004, 2007 - present
Undergraduate Instructor, Comics as Adaptation, Weekly 5-hour studio class
The Animation Workshop, Viborg, Denmark: 2014, 2017
Professor, Comics Narrative
Center for Cartoon Studies, White River Junction, VT.: 2012 - present
Instructor, Master Class in Comics Narrative, Graphic Novel Workshops
European School for the Arts, Angouleme/Portiers, France: 2011- present
Professor, Comics Narrative
Scuola di Comics Internazionale and The Sign, Florence, Jesi, Pescara, Rome, Italy: 1998, 1999, 2001, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022
Guest lecturer and instructor
School of Visual Arts, New York, NY.: 1986-1987
Instructor, Experimental Comics
Packer Collegiate Institute: 1981-1989,
Art Teacher grades 5-12, Head of Visual Arts Department
Administrative Experience
Permanent Endowment Fund for Martha’s Vineyard 2012-2020
Board member
Comic Arts Brooklyn, 2013-2014
Program Director
Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School, 2002-2016
Development Director
Options In Education, 2001-2002
Executive Director
Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School, 1999-2001
Board President
Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School, 1994
Co-Founder