UAE comics artist invites you to exciting Arab world

Comics set in the Gulf region are very hard to come by, and those created by a woman are almost impossible to find. But there is one exception.

A 50-year-old comics artist Anna Thackray is the author of The Shamal Chronicles, a gripping nine-volume comic book saga inspired by the lore, heritage, history and landscapes of the Middle East.

Originally from South Africa, Ms Thackray moved to Bahrain in 2008 before settling in Abu Dhabi in 2017. ‘When I moved to Bahrain, I became friends with a local elderly man. We would go for coffee and he would tell me about all the stories from Qatar, Bahrain and other countries in the region,’ the author said.

‘These stories were so great that the whole idea for my comics started right then. For example, my anti-hero is based on the legend of the ‘mother of donkeys’, a popular tale told throughout the Middle East,’ Ms Thackray added.

Although the action of her series is mostly set in Bahrain, the ninth book, titled Operation Shield, is set in Abu Dhabi. ‘At the end of the book, I talk about the Abu Dhabi Louvre. Before publishing the book, I sent it to the director general of the museum to make sure he wouldn’t take offence. He really liked it and didn’t mind that I made it a woman,’ says Ms Thackray.

In addition to graphic novels, Anna Thackray also paints, sculpts and, most recently, has started writing books for children.

Source: Khaleej Times