Hark! A Vagrant is a webcomic published by Canadian artist Kate Beaton between 2007 and 2018. It discussed historical and literary topics in a comedic tone and was drawn in black and white.
| Hark! A Vagrant | |
|---|---|
 Cover for the 2011 print collection | |
| Author(s) | Kate Beaton |
| Website | Hark, a Vagrant |
| Current status/schedule | Completed[1] |
| Launch date | 2007 |
| End date | 2018 |
| Genre(s) | Comedy |
Recurring themes
editHark! A Vagrant is best known for its humorous treatment of historical figures and events. Beaton began drawing history-themed comics for her student newspaper while studying History and Anthropology at Mount Allison University.[2] Historical personages that have made appearances in the comic include Napoléon Bonaparte,[3] Ada Lovelace,[4] Marie Antoinette,[5] and the Founding Fathers of the United States.[6] Literary figures feature prominently, such as the Brontë sisters,[7] and several strips parody classic literary works such as Robinson Crusoe and Sherlock Holmes. The humour in Beaton's historical and literary strips often derives from anachronisms, such as historical characters expressing modern colloquialisms and sensibilities.[8]
Other recurring subjects in the comic include superheroes, Nancy Drew stories, and autobiographical topics.
Hark! A Vagrant has been noted for its feminist themes,[9] and Beaton has described herself as "naturally drawn to women’s history".[2] She is particularly well-known for her series of "Strong Female Characters" strips, which satirise sexist depictions of female characters in comics and movies.[10]
Style
editHark! A Vagrant is drawn in black and white with pens, watercolours, brush pens, and a Wacom tablet in later comics.[11] Beaton's distinctive drawing style is loose and light, and has been compared to the illustrations of Quentin Blake.[9] Reviews have remarked on her mastery of facial expressions in particular.[8]
Most strips are short, about three to eight panels long. Beaton often eschews punctuation in her dialogue,[10] and the tone of the comic has been described as "conversational".[8]
Reception
editThe 2011 print collection of Hark! A Vagrant was named one of the top ten fiction books of the year by Time magazine,[12] and Rolling Stone magazine placed the same collection on its list of 'The 50 Best Non-Superhero Graphic Novels'.[13] Maria Popova, in The Atlantic, called the book "a witty and wonderful collection of comics about historical and literary figures and events", and praised Beaton's "truly special gift for simple, subtle, incredibly expressive caricature".[14] Alex Manley, writing for Maisonneuve, wrote that "the collection reveals Beaton's flair for marrying dry historical facts of varying arcanity with cheap, childish gags in a way that never seems to get old."[15]
Awards
edit| Year | Award | Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Doug Wright Award | Hark! A Vagrant | Best Emerging Talent | Won[16] |
| 2010 | Harvey Award | Hark! A Vagrant | Best online comics work | Nominated[17] |
| 2011 | Harvey Award | Hark! A Vagrant | Best online comics work | Won[18] |
| 2011 | Eagle Award | Hark! A Vagrant | Favourite Web-Based Comic | Nominated[19] |
| 2011 | Ignatz Award | Hark! A Vagrant | Outstanding Online Comic | Won[20] |
| 2012 | Harvey Award | Hark! A Vagrant | Best online comics work | Won[21] |
| 2012 | Doug Wright Award | Hark! A Vagrant | Best Book | Won[22] |
Collections
edit- Never Learn Anything From History (2009)
- Hark! A Vagrant (Drawn & Quarterly, 2011)
- Step Aside, Pops (Drawn & Quarterly, 2015)
References
edit- ^ Beaton, Kate. "Hark, a Vagrant".
Hark! A Vagrant, such as it is, is an archive website now.
- ^ a b Drevitch, Gary. "Eccentric's Corner: Drawn to History". Psychology Today.
- ^ Beaton, Kate. "Hark, a Vagrant: 320".
- ^ "Hark, a Vagrant: 298".
- ^ "Hark, a Vagrant: 2".
- ^ "Hark, a Vagrant: 375".
- ^ "Hark, a Vagrant: 202".
- ^ a b c Randle, Chris. "Book Review: Hark! A Vagrant, by Kate Beaton". National Post.
- ^ a b Sneddon, Laura (2 November 2015). "Kate Beaton on refusing to let women be forgotten and increasing audience diversity of a comic convention". Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-09.
- ^ a b Robinson, Tasha (14 October 2011). "Interview: Kate Beaton". AV Club.
- ^ "Hark, a Vagrant: About".
- ^ Grossman, Lev. "7. Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton". TIME. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012.
- ^ "Drawn Out: The 50 Best Non-Superhero Graphic Novels". Rolling Stone. 16 November 2019.
- ^ Popova, Maria (7 October 2011). "'Hark! A Vagrant': Witty Comics on Historical and Literary Figures". The Atlantic.
- ^ Manley, Alex (3 October 2011). "Kate Beaton's Revisionist History". maisonneuve.org.
- ^ "Past Winners". Dought Wright Awards.
- ^ Polo, Susana (29 August 2010). "The 2010 Harvey Award Winners". The Mary Sue.
- ^ Melrose, Kevin (21 August 2011). "Winners announced for 2011 Harvey Awards". CBR.com.
- ^ Johnston, Rich (14 March 2011). "Eagle Awards Nominations Announced". bleedingcool.com.
- ^ Parkin, John (11 September 2011). "Winners announced for 2011 Ignatz Awards". CBR.com.
- ^ McMillan, Graeme (10 September 2012). "'Daredevil,' 'Hark! A Vagrant' And More Win Big At The 2012 Harvey Awards". comicsalliance.com.
- ^ Gowrie, Katie (7 May 2012). "Kate Beaton wins Doug Wright Award".