Roll-up, Roll-up! Yes folks, I have (yet) another Arab heroine. A brilliant young female Arab artist whom I recently discovered through some friends in the UK.
Asia Alfasi is a British comic writer, who draws on her Libyan roots and the Arab and Muslims cultures, meshing them with Japanese influence in her magnificent manga-esque creations.
A World Traveller with a Roving Eye
Born in Libya to Arab parents, Asia relocated to the UK at the age of 8, and has lived there ever since. She first hit the headlines when her Arabian cartoon character Monir accompanied her in becoming the first female ever to participate in and win the Hi8us Midlands Stripsearch Comic competition.
In 2003, Asia released first major work, “JinNarration”, was published in the Mammoth Book of Best New Manga, an anthology of up-and-coming young British comic artists.
Hot of the heels of her first major success, Asia’s short semi-autobiographical story, “The non-savvy non-commuter”, was displayed on the walls of Piccadilly Circus tube station as part of Thin Cities, the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the station’s opening from 15 December 2006 to 31 April 2007.
The Future’s Bright, the Future’s Graphic…
This talented young artist is presently working on her first graphic novel about a young Muslim girl and her life and adventures in Libya and Scotland. She is also converting the play Looking for Yoghurt (presently being performed by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company, Joyful Theatre and Kijimuna Festa in association with Hanyong) into a graphic novel.
And if that doesn’t like enough of a packed agenda, in her spare time, Asia is also working on another book entitled The Adventures of Joseph and Jasmine, also slated for publication later this year.
UK readers can catch a glimpse of Asia at BICS, the British International Comics Show on October 3 and 4, and the second London MCM Expo on October 24 and 25.
