Drawn, Out Press is pleased to celebrate the fifth issue of Steve MacIsaac's graphic novel series SHIRTLIFTER with an author reading on Friday, August 7th at 7:00 PM at Unabridged Bookstore in Chicago, IL.
A Canadian artist who currently lives in Long Beach, California after several years in Japan, MacIsaac's comics explore the intersection of culture, identity, and sexuality: how gay men strive, succeed, and fail to make sense of the paradoxes and opportunities that present themselves in contemporary gay life, particularly the construction of presentation of masculinity. MacIsaac was the incipient of Prism Comics inaugural Queer Press Grant in 2005, and received a grant from the Xeric foundation in 2007. He has contributed short pieces to a number of anthologies, including BEST AMERICAN COMICS 2010 ( Houghton Mifflin ), QU33R ( Northwest Press ), and NO STRAIGHT LINES ( Fantagraphics ). An Italian edition of his work was published in 2012.
This issue, the first in four years, concludes Steve MacIsaac's "Unpacking" graphic novel. Starting in SHIRTLIFTER #3, the "Unpacking" series follows Matt, a gay graphic designer living in Vancouver. Newly-single after the sudden dissolution of an eight-year relationship, Matt is living in a new apartment he can't seem to quite move into, and is wary of becoming involved with anyone ever again. His commitment to remaining single is challenged when he begins spending time with Connor, an Australian-ex pat who identifies as straight, is married to a woman, and seems to be the only person capable of cutting through Matt's defenses.
The issue is rounded out with short comics from Lambda Award Winner Jon Macy ( Teleny and Camille ) and Toronto cartoonist Erik Kostiuk Williams ( Hungry Bottom Comics ).
SHIRTLIFTER #5 is an 96 page, full color comic available through select book and comic stores, and directly from the author via his website: www.stevemacisaac.com . This issue was funded via Kickstarter, which met its goal within 30 hours of posting.