Swedish Comics 1
Joanna Hellgren Joanna Hellgren (b. 1981) had wor
ks published and praised in France prior to making her Swedish debut with Frances, del 1 (‘Frances, Part 1’), the first volume of a graphic-novel trilogy about a plucky, compassionate girl by that name. Hellgren has garnered praise and awards in Sweden as well for her tender, timeless portrayals of growing up. Her pencil illustrations blend Swedish small-town melancholy with Parisian nightlife. Another of her graphic works is Min nattbror (‘My Night Brother’, Galago, 2014), an evocative story about Jakob, a ten-year-old boy who lives in the shadow of his dead brother. Min nattbror was first published in France in 2008, where it was chosen as a sélection officielle at the Angoulême comics festival. “Frances” and “Min nattbror” have also been translated into Spanish and Italian. More recently, Joanna Hellgren has branched out into the world of Swedish children’s literature, illustrating a number of picture books. IMAGES FROM MIN NATTBROR (MY NIGHT BROTHER)