Brick City Comix Academy

Huge congratulations to Professor Cole Closser, whose graphic essay “The Landlords Won’t Let Me Paint the Walls” has been published in the latest issue of Black Warrior Review! 🎉

Check out Professor Cole Closser’s work as part of tonight’s First Friday Art Walk! ✨

Cole Closser is a self-described small-town kid from Springfield who knew they wanted to be an illustrator at a young age. Cole's first graphic novel, Little Tommy Lost (Koyama Press), was named one of the ten best graphic novels of 2013 by A.V. Club, nominated for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award in the category of Best Publication Design in 2014, and featured in Best American Comics 2015. Their second graphic novel Black Rat (also Koyama Press) was listed as a Notable in Best American Comics 2017.
Cole, an assistant professor of Art and Design, worked alongside Jen Murvin, to create a new degree option: BFA in Design, Sequential Art at Missouri State University. Together they co-teach Graphic Narrative—a one-of-a-kind course that combines both writing and art to create comics. This course promotes growth for all students, with the ever-present challenge of learning something new, all the while sharing their own stories.
Be sure to come by The Creamery Art Exhibition during First Friday Art Walk , April 2nd to see pieces from Cole in person!

We built a BFA Comics program in the Ozarks. Now we want to build a larger community online for anyone with a passion for the medium of comics! Follow us on Instagram for new work from Brick City students, grads, faculty and friends—alongside reviews and recommendations, tools and techniques for cartooning, and other features from a growing number of moderators and contributors! (Logo design by the incredible Keeli McCarthy of Fantagraphics Books| background artwork by the incorrigible Ariel Messerer , Jennifer Murvin , and Alina Viknyanskiy )

Comix alum Maddy Cushman's beautiful essay "September 16, 2010" was featured in the September 2020 issue of PAST TEN literary journal. Click to read! We

September 16th, 2010 - Maddy Cushman I was able to express myself in a powerful language that was all my own, under the sparkling light of a disco ball.

Welcome to Brick City Comix Academy, the FB home for Missouri State University's BFA-Design, Sequential Art Track. For more information about this exciting new program, you can check out this article, published by Art+Design | Missouri State University! Visit more detailed requirements for the program track by clicking on the link in comments. Stay tuned for updates about student success, curricular offerings, and other opportunities. {Logo reveal coming soon ~ yay!} Feel free to contact us with any questions!

Graphic Narrative classes develop into a new degree option: BFA Design in Sequential Arts Everyone has a story to tell. Cole Closser and Jen Murvin, professors of Graphic Narrative, are enhancing and expanding the ways students are able to understand and share their stories—with comics.…