In this fourth and final part of our interview with Swallow Me Whole writer, Nate Powell, we turn momentarily from all of that heady talk about childhood schizophrenia to discuss the author’s use of language—both textually and visually—in his latest book. It’s a particularly interesting topic both in light of the fact that much of the author’s past work has often been largely silent, as well as the ways in which Powell’s years spent working with developmentally disabled adults has affected his own speech in life.

We also briefly touch upon some religious themes broached over the course of work, and how the religious culture of the South influenced Powell’s work.

[Part One][Part Two][Part Three]

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A exploration on the admittedly sometimes fuzzy line that separates childhood schizophrenia from standard youthful fantasy, Swallow Me Whole presents a definite point-of-no-return between the two, for its protagonist, Ruth, during the course of the story. Where precisely in the book said moment occurs, however, is perhaps not quite so clear.

Where author Nate Powell puts the line in his own reading of the book, presents some fascinating insight into the author’s own views on mental illness, as well as its manifestations and treatment. The precise placement of the line that separates an individual who can be successfully treated from one who is “too far gone,” is particularly interesting in light of Powell’s years spent working with the both developmentally disabled and mentally ill adults.

In this third part of our interview, we discuss breaking points and the scapegoating of mental illness.

[Part One][Part Two]
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Swallow Me Whole is one of the year’s most powerful graphic meditations on both adolesence and mental disorder. Author Nate Powell walks a tightrope between imagination and hallucination for the duration of the book, effectively generating as many questions as he attempts to answer, a method that is frustrating, to be sure, but also imbues the book with a sense of fascination that commands repeat readings.

In this second part of our interview with Powell, we delve deeper into this heady topic of childhood schizophrenia, and hit on some equally troubling questions about the role that gender politics play in the diagnosis of mental disorders.

[Part One]

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Swallow Me Whole caught me off-guard. I was largely unfamiliar with Nate Powell’s work when I first picked up the Top Shelf book, and as such, didn’t have particularly high hopes, beyond his very clear talents as an artist.

More than just a standard tale of a brother and sister growing up in a southern town, the work skillfully weaves between the real and fantastic with little effort, whilst tackling the touchy subject of childhood schizophrenia in an uncharacteristically frank manner. The book also demonstrates Powell’s understated gift from graphic storytelling, effortlessly blending elements across panels and pages. It adds up to one of the most thoughtful and engrossing books that 2008 has offered up, thus far.

Powell, a Little Rock native and current resident of Bloomington, Indiana, wears a number of other hats, as a record label-owner, punk vocalist, and occasional, a hip-hop emcee. He also holds down a job working with developmentally disabled adults.

Clearly this is a man just begging to be interviewed.
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