The life of Djuna Barnes is a literary mystery.
My new graphic novel is the life story of a little known novelist from the lost generation that has given me inspiration in my own life.
She was the glamorous tortured genius of 1920s Paris.
A poet, painter, novelist, and reporter. She was one of the stars of the Lost Generation. Her terrible childhood fueled her novels with Shakespearean tragedy. Her savage love affair with the artist Thelma Wood inspired her great masterpiece, Nightwood. Lushly poetic, irascible, and with a biting wit, she terrorized and seduced the modernist art scene in her long black cloak.
“This tour de force of a graphic novel brings to life the 20th century's most famous unknown, an unforgettable American original.” —Eric Orner, author of Smahtguy: The Life and Times of Barney Frank
“Jon Macy's beguiling graphics perfectly capture the tempestuous life of Djuna Barnes, in all its decadence and tenderness, despair and ambition, suffering and transcendence. I was completely enthralled.” —Rob Kirby, author and illustrator of Marry Me a Little
“Beautifully drawn and well-researched, Djuna Barnes’ riveting life story is exuberant, sexy, exasperating, fascinating, and complicated. Laced with clever banter, dark humor, and juicy lesbian drama, this brilliant biography explores how Barnes formed her art and ideas alongside other artists who broke social barriers and created community for strength and survival.” —Jennifer Camper, author of Rude Girls and Dangerous Women
“This book is not one to be missed. It is sure to become essential reading for all fans of literary or queer history. The epic tale captures the incredible spirit and the story of Djuna Barnes in a way that's both poignant and accessible.” —Josh Trujilo, author of Washington's Gay General
“Jon Macy's Djuna is a tour de force, a wild rollercoaster ride showcasing the extraordinary life of Djuna Barnes, one of the greatest writers of her era. The story is expertly depicted by Macy, a master cartoonist who has poured his heart and soul into this book. The result is one of the most beautiful comics biographies ever made.” —Justin Hall, editor of No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics
“Quite possibly the most bisexual graphic biography you will ever find. A fascinating look into the lives of Djuna Barnes and other brave, often troubled and iconoclastic women who forced their way in the world, insisting on the right to live and love as they pleased, and on being seen and heard.” —Robyn Ochs, editor of Bi Women Quarterly
Macy resurrects Djuna in dark, expressive panels, particularly highlighting her hair in standout auburns. Washes of reds, blues, lavenders, and grays temper the nonlinear narrative, as if attempting to contain Barnes’ larger-than-life experiences onto the pages. With self-admitted obsession, Macy eagerly introduces Barnes to new generations. —Booklist
“In Macy’s capable hands, Djuna’s life and work are stubborn, admirable attempts at self-determination, threaded with desperate bids for validation. His evocative black-and-white comics are punctuated by art-deco details—notably, the only color throughout is a bright auburn used for Djuna’s hair and that of the family members she can’t fully escape. Readers will marvel at Barnes’s spirit and tenacity.” —Publishers Weekly
“This beautifully illustrated graphic biography of the unsung feminist and literary icon Djuna Barnes brings her life, time, and accomplishments back into delicious frame.” Peggy Kurkowski, Shelf Awareness
"Life Is Painful, Nasty and Short -In My Case it Has Only Been Painful and Nasty:" Djuna Barnes
A mostly-true biographer writing and drawing the stories of history’s queer icons.
My major works include Teleny & Camille, the adaptation of the groundbreaking Victorian novel of gay love attributed to Oscar Wilde, and Circle. Fearful Hunter began as a protest to Prop 8, but became a sweet gay romance dealing with issues of Borderline Personality Disorder. My latest project is the life story of the brilliant and bisexual author Djuna Barnes.
Past Work
I’ve edited and contributed to LGBT anthologies, underground comics, and even coloring books with an emphasis on LGBT icons. Our history is important to our understanding of where we are today.
Teleny and Camille
A wealthy young gentleman in Victorian London falls in love with the handsome and mesmerizing pianist Teleny. In this newfound happiness, Camille tries to forget that Teleny owes much of his success to the generosity of the women who desire him.
Fearful Hunter
Oisin, a shy young druid, lives in a ferocious world of sacred sexuality and erotic elder gods. When he falls for Byron, a simple wolf who only mates for life, their love threatens the plans of those who desire a forbidden power.
Butch Lesbians of the '20s, '30s, and '40s Coloring Book
The Butch Lesbians of the 20s, 30s, and 40s Coloring Book celebrates the great butch lesbians of yesteryear, with forty historic butches, and smoldering stoicism.