Flashed: Sudden Stories in Comics and Prose

by Josh Neufeld (Editor), Sari Wilson (Editor), Gina Frangello (Contributor)

FLASHed is an anthology of linked flash fiction in comics and prose by 45 star cartoonists and fiction writers. Edited by Josh Neufeld and Sari Wilson, the stories in FLASHed are arranged in “triptychs"—each grouping a kind of call-and-response among the respective contributors. So FLASHed is more than an anthology; it’s a conversation—among some of today’s most exciting prose writers and cartoonists—and between the forms of prose and comics.

Why flash fiction? It’s the perfect form for a project that’s all about pushing boundaries and cross-fertilizing creative communities. Contributors include Myla Goldberg, Aimee Bender Junot Díaz, Steve Almond, Sheila Heti, Lynda Barry, Gabrielle Bell, Dean Haspiel, John Porcellino, and many more. As contributor Goldberg says, "[FLASHed] is like a Telephone/Exquisite Corpse mash-up, which would make it an Exquisite Telephone Corpse." Exactly!

Genres: Short Stories, Comics, Flash Fiction, Anthologies, Fiction

184 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2016

About the author

Josh Neufeld is a comics journalist known for his graphic narratives of political and social upheaval, told through the voices of witnesses. He is the writer/artist of the bestselling nonfiction graphic novel A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge (Pantheon). In addition, he is the illustrator of the bestselling graphic nonfiction book The Influencing Machine: Brooke Gladstone on the Media (W.W. Norton). He was a 2013 Knight-Wallace fellow in journalism at the University of Michigan. Neufeld is a Xeric Award winner, and his work has been nominated for a number of other awards, including the Eisner and the Harvey. His books have been translated into numerous languages. Neufeld lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, the writer Sari Wilson, and their daughter. To learn more, visit www.JoshComix.com.

Reviews

[Katy Haas · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Pressgang’s Flashed: Sudden Stories in Comics and Prose, edited by Josh Neufeld and Sari Wilson, is one of the most fun reading experiences I’ve had all year. Those who read Flashed after its February 2016 release will likely be saying the same thing as they look back at their year’s reading history next December."

Full review on NewPages.com

[Hollowspine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A combination of some of my favorite formats, what could go wrong. In fact, nothing. This was a wonderful collections of stories and comics that not only combined to create something greater, but also had elements of improv that I enjoyed as well.

Every story and comic opened up different interpretations and gave me pause to think more deeply about the joined narratives I was reading, it was a rewarding experience, tripled. I especially enjoyed Gabriel Bell’s contribution about a hole in the wall and the whole triptych of Bronte, which I felt was especially clever and well done.

At the end of each triptych the contributors are able to reflect on the experience, their piece and the process, which was a nice bit of insight for readers. Highly recommended, especially for those who are thinking about getting into either flash fiction or comics (or both).

[Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating anthology of flash prose and comics. I would consider teaching it in my comics course to show varieties of short narratives and ways artists and writers can draw inspiration from one another. Much of my own writing is flash fiction and I highly recommend this book for any readers and writers of flash, micro, short short fiction, etc.

My favorite pieces are by Lynda Barry, Kellie Wells, Steve Almond, David Lasky, Pamela Painter, Jessica Abel, Aimee Bender, Matt Madden, Gabrielle Bell, Sheila Heti, Joan Reilly, Sherrie Flick, and John Porcellino.

[Nan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book in so many ways. Josh Neufeld and Sari Wilson had the enviable job of sparking collaboration between writers of comics and writers of prose. They took a handful of "seed" works and asked artists to grow a new work from the seed. The result is a stunning compilation of triptychs -- comic to prose to comic or prose to comic to prose.

[Christa Van · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept is pretty cool. Three authors collaborate to make a story. All have three sections made up of comics and writing. Some have two comic sections, some have only one. Some of these works are more related than others. I must admit that several of these left me more confused than anything else. Interesting reading but maybe it is just too smart for me.

[Elisabeth W · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like any prompt, the concept of this book inspired a few excellent pieces and a lot of so-so ones. It seems like it was a lot of fun for the writers and artists. Worth a read, but expect a mix of quality.

[Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flashed: Sudden Stories in Comics and Prose was an interesting premise for an anthology, featuring flash fiction in both comic and prose formats, each in conversation with each other. I find flash fiction to be a strangely neglected format, as it can take a lot of skill to pack so much feeling and mood into so compact a package, and I feel the contributors here do a good job of it. I always enjoy being able to flip through so many topics and voices in one anthology.

In Flashed, a variety of themes, a work was chosen from some prominent writer or cartoonist, from Linda Berry to Steve Almond, with two others responding with an original piece of flash fiction or a comic of their own. This led to some very innovative and imaginative groupings, and it was always interesting to see what elements or motifs were picked up on in each. I would definitely love to see more projects along these lines.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really cool idea that works out quite well and makes for some really interesting takes on the stories.

I would love to see more volumes in this series.