Behind the Ink: Jamila Rowser, Robyn Smith and Wash Day

While there tends to be a premium placed on the concept of spontaneity, there can be such beauty in routine. For instance, varying hair care rituals for Black women can serve as moments of self care, self love, peace, even as a chance to re-center our identity. Yes, they come with blips of frustration (detangling, UGH), but it’s also an art form and the base of so many deeply embedded traditions. To see it immortalized in comics is something that you’d likely not expect from the mainstream avenues, as that would involve a complete overhaul of a system that largely excludes the elements that would bring such moments to the page.

Thank goodness for independent creators like writer Jamila Rowser and artist Robyn Smith, who have not only long spotted the lack of representation in nerd culture, but have been active against exclusion in comics for years. With such glorious creations like Straight Outta Gotham and Geek Girl Brunch, Jamila’s work bridges so many gaps between comics and fans of color. Robyn’s work has been featured in the New England Center of Investigative Reporting, the Seven Days newspaper, and College Humor. Her mini comic, The Saddest Angriest Black Girl in Town, explored the intersectionality of Blackness and mental health, and was heralded in The Comics Journal and Pen America as one of the best short form comics of 2016.  Their latest combined effort comes in the form of Jamila’s first completed comic book Wash Day, a gorgeous look into moments that are so intimately Black and accessible.  

The Kickstarter for Wash Day is live! Take a moment to show your support, if you can. In the meantime, learn a little more about the creators behind the art.

Shannon Miller: Can you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind creating Wash Day?

Jamila Rowser: After being a fan of comics for years, I had a strong desire to create comics that were by and for women of color. I wanted stories like these to exist, so I decided to create them myself. Wash Day specifically was inspired by my own wash day routine, and how much time and patience it takes to care for my hair. I know other Black women have similar experiences and I wanted to write something for us.

SM: Wash Day stars best friends and roommates Kim and Cookie. What would you say makes their friendship so special?

JR: Kim and Cookie have been best friends since middle school and now live together in an apartment in The Bronx. So they’ve really grown up with each other and are as close as sisters. I would say their comfort and deep love they have for each other is what makes their friendship so special.

Robyn Smith: What I really enjoy about their relationship is how obvious it is that they’ve been friends for a long time.  Their living together feels effortless and you can feel the comfort of the space they share.

SM: I find that the most beautiful aspect of this project – from the very first frame – is its familiarity. Seeing something as simple as hair sectioning claws and a wide-toothed detangling comb in comic form really draws attention to how independent creators are doing the work when it comes to representation. Is there any aspect of your identity that you’d still like to see (or create!) within comics?

JR: Yes! There’s so many simple, familiar experiences that we share. That is the basis for the next few comics that I plan to write. I want to highlight those little, and big, slice-of-life moments very familiar to Black women. My next comic is another slice-of-life moment very familiar to some Black women, except this one will have a sci-fi twist. I hope to release it by the end of the summer.

RS: I think a lot of Wash Day embodies aspects of my identity I’d like to see more of in comics! I also plan to work on very Jamaica-centric comics in the future! I want to draw the places I grew up and aspects of Jamaican life I miss dearly. There isn’t a big Jamaican comics community which means Jamiacan-ness isn’t very present in comics right now but I hope to help push it along!

SM:  As a reader, which comic(s) has made the biggest impact on you?

JR: Most of my comic inspiration has came from manga. The mangakas that have made the biggest impact on me are Inio Asano, Ai Yazawa, Kiriko Nananan, Kyoko Okazaki, George Asakura and Mika Yamamori.

RS: Jamila’s actually made a lot of really good suggestions when I started on Wash Day, one of which was Ai Yazawa’s Paradise Kiss. Artistically, this was a huge one.
Others since I started doing comics: Sophie Yanow’s War of Streets and Houses and any Archie comics by Harry Lucey and Dan DeCarlo.

SM: Is there anything new that you learned about your own creative process while making Wash Day?

JR: Wash Day is the first comic script that I completed, so I’ve learned a lot throughout this experience, and still have so much more to learn. J. A. Micheline has been an incredible editor and has really helped me learn how to focus in terms of the story and plot. How to think critically about the script and recognize when something isn’t serving the story.

RS: I learned a lot about my limits! Taking time to sleep and eat is obviously important but can be hard to remember when too wrapped up in a project. That and how communication and mutual support during collaboration goes a long way.

SM: What is a must-have snack for you while creating?

JR: I usually don’t snack while writing but I typically have water or coffee near me and a Pontie Wax candle lit. That is my favorite candle brand and they help me relax and focus.

RS: Chocolate covered espresso beans! Gotta stay awake!

SM: If you had the opportunity to sit and have tea with one other artist, who would it be and what would be the first question that you’d ask?

JR: I’d ask Kyoko Okazaki what she’s reading.

RS: Ryan Heshka! Who are some of your favourite mean girls in tv, movies, other media?

SM: The Wash Day Kickstarter is live and so far, the support has been incredible! What do you think creators looking to crowdfund their projects should know before launching a campaign?

JR: There’s so much! Read up on the resources Kickstarter has like their Kickstarter creator FAQ and Campus. Give yourself plenty of time (I’m talking months) to prepare for the Kickstarter and plan for different outcomes.

Feeling nostalgic? You can listen to our episode with Jamila Rowser from 2016 here!