View source for Jamar Nicholas

{{Infobox comics creator
| image         = jamar headshot.jpg
| imagesize     = 
| caption       = 
| birth_name    = 
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1973|3|18}}
| birth_place   = [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]
| death_date    =
| death_place   =
| nationality   = [[Americans|American]]
| cartoonist    = y
| writer         = y
| art           = y
| penciller       = 
| ink           = 
| publish       =
| letter        = 
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| signature     =
| notable works = ''[[Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun]]''<br />''Detective Boogaloo: Hip-Hop Cop''<br />''Leon: Protector of the Playground''
| awards        = [[#Awards and nominations|See list]]
| website       = {{URL|http://jamarnicholas.com}}
}}

'''Jamar Nicholas''' (born March 18, 1973) is an African American [[cartoonist]], [[graphic novel]]ist, and educator based in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]. He is known for original graphic novel, ''Leon: Protector of the Playground'', and his [[graphic novel]] adaptation of ''[[Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun]]'', a memoir written by African American social activist  [[Geoffrey Canada]] in 1995.<ref name=graphic>{{cite web|url=http://www.beaconbroadside.com/broadside/2010/09/fist-stick-knife-gun.html|date=September 15, 2010|title=Fist Stick Knife Gun: From Memoir to Graphic Book|publisher=[[Beacon Broadside]]|accessdate=July 8, 2016}}</ref> Nicholas's work discusses topics such as bullying and violence while providing alternative, positive portrayals of black individuals.

==Early life==
Nicholas grew up in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], where he often watched ''[[Spider-Man (1981 TV series)|Spider-Man]]'' on Saturday mornings and obsessively studied the frames of comic strips like ''[[Peanuts]]'', ''[[Andy Capp]]'', and ''[[Blondie (comic strip)|Blondie]]''.<ref name=Hochman>Hochman, Anndee (2002). "Jamar Nicholas". ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] Magazine''.</ref> He attended [[Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts]], graduating in 1990.<ref name=Metro>{{cite web|url=http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/meet-the-cartoonist-behind-detective-boogaloo-hip-hop-cop/zsJogm---PWrekV2KGDbY/|title=Meet the cartoonist behind 'Detective Boogaloo, Hip-Hop Cop'|date=14 July 2015 |publisher=Metro.us|accessdate=July 14, 2016}}</ref><ref name=Hochman />

==Career==
===Cartoonist===
Nicholas studied animation at [[University of the Arts (Philadelphia)]] beginning in 1991. In 1993, while working at [[La Salle University]], he created ''The Adventures of Jamar & Patrick, or Patrick & Jamar, Whatever...'' alongside his friend and co-writer, Patrick White. The weekly, half-page comic appeared in [[The Collegian (La Salle University)]] from 1993 to 1994.

Nicholas began his professional career as a comic book artist in 1997 by self-publishing ''The Jamar Chronicles'', which consists of two full-length comic books.<ref name=Hochman /> In 2002, he created ''Detective Boogaloo: Hip-Hop Cop'', a weekly webcomic that was originally published on [[Kevin Smith]]'s website MoviePoopShoot.com, which went on hiatus for over a decade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geekadelphia.com/2013/01/23/geek-of-the-week-artist-jamar-nicholas/|title=Geek of the Week: Artist Jamar Nicholas|publisher=[[Geekadelphia]]|accessdate=July 14, 2016}}</ref> Then in 2003, Nicholas served as editorial cartoonist of the ''[[Philadelphia Tribune]]'', the oldest continually publishing [[African American]] newspaper in the [[United States]].<ref name=world-building>{{cite web|url=http://gallery.arcadia.edu/jamar-nicholas-world-building/|title=Jamar Nicholas: World Building|publisher=Arcadia University Art Gallery|accessdate=July 14, 2016}}</ref> While at the ''Philadelphia Tribune'', Nicholas produced two editorial cartoons each week for three years.<ref name=Huber>Huber, Ashley (Dec. 14, 2010). "Jamar Nicholas". ''The Philadelphia Inquirer Daily News''.</ref>

The [[graphic novel]] adaptation of [[Geoffrey Canada]]'s 1995 memoir ''[[Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun]]'', which Jamar Nicholas illustrated and adapted, was published in 2010 by [[Beacon Press]]. Chosen by Canada himself, Nicholas reportedly "called on his experience growing up in Philadelphia when he illustrated [the graphic novel]," which portrays Canada's formative years in the [[South Bronx]]. Nicholas stated to Ashley Huber of ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' that he hoped the [[graphic novel]] would "open people's minds to the plight of young men," coming of age in underserved neighborhoods.<ref name=Huber /> The [[graphic novel]] received several awards, including [[Glyph Comics Awards]] for Story of the Year and Best Male Character in 2011. Nicholas also received the Rising Star Award from the Glyph Comics Awards that same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ecbacc.com/wordpress3/2011/2011-glyph-comics-awards-winners/|title=2011 Glyph Comics Awards Winners|publisher=[[ECBACC]]|accessdate=July 21, 2016|archive-date=February 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216103846/http://ecbacc.com/wordpress3/2011/2011-glyph-comics-awards-winners/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Young Adult Library Services Association later added the graphic adaptation to their booklist for the 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.<ref>{{cite web |title=2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens |url=http://booklists.yalsa.net/directory/results?booklist=23&year=2011 |website=Young Adult Library Services Association |access-date=2018-10-17 |archive-date=2022-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516224830/http://www.booklists.yalsa.net/directory/results?booklist=23&year=2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2015, ''Detective Boogaloo'' returned in the [[Philadelphia]], [[New York City]], and [[Boston]] newspapers published by [[Metro International]] as a daily comic strip.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theartblog.org/2016/07/talking-with-comic-book-artist-jamar-nicholas-on-artblog-radio/|title=Talking with comic book artist, Jamar Nicholas, on Artblog Radio!|date=14 July 2016 |publisher=theartblog.org|accessdate=July 21, 2016}}</ref> Nicholas describes the comic as his "love letter to [[hip hop]]," citing his childhood, which took place during the birth of the genre.<ref name=Metro /> ''Detective Boogaloo'' was nominated for Best Comic Strip/Webcomic at the 2016 Glyph Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ecbacc.com/wordpress3/2016/2016-glyph-comics-awards-nominees/|title=2016 Glyph Awards Nominees|publisher=[[ECBACC]]|accessdate=July 14, 2016|archive-date=July 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701030058/http://ecbacc.com/wordpress3/2016/2016-glyph-comics-awards-nominees/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Nicholas's work is featured in ''Black Comix: African American Comics, Art and Culture,'' a 2010 publication authored by [[cartoonist]]s Damian Duffy and John Jennings that compiles the work of over fifty African American comic book artists. His work is featured again in the 2018 publication sequel, ''Black Comix Returns''.

In September 2017, [[Baltimore Comic-Con]] announced Nicholas's launch of his original graphic novel, ''Leon: Protector of the Playground'', which made its debut at the 2017 Baltimore Comic Con in October.<ref>{{cite web |title=Leon, Protector of the Playground Debuts in Baltimore |url=http://baltimorecomiccon.com/2017/09/leon-protector-of-the-playground-debuts-in-baltimore/ |website=Baltimore Comic Con |date=September 2, 2017 |access-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-date=May 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516204500/https://baltimorecomiccon.com/2017/09/leon-protector-of-the-playground-debuts-in-baltimore/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the end of the year 2017, Nicholas received Artblog's 2017 Liberta Award for ''"Author! Author! BEST Books by Philadelphians."''<ref>{{cite web |title=The 2017 Liberta Awards! |url=https://www.theartblog.org/2017/12/the-2017-liberta-awards/ |website=The Artblog |date=December 29, 2017}}</ref> His graphic novel then went on to win the 2018 [[Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics |url=http://longbeachcomicexpo.com:80/dwayne-mcduffie-award-for-diversity/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418214944/http://longbeachcomicexpo.com/dwayne-mcduffie-award-for-diversity/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 18, 2018 |website=Long Beach Comic Expo |date=February 16, 2018 |access-date=October 17, 2018 }}</ref> and Nicholas received the 2018 Glyph Comics Award for Best Writer.<ref>{{cite web |title=2018 Glyph Comics Awards Winners |url=https://ecbacc.com/2018-glyph-comics-awards-winners/ |website=East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention |date=May 18, 2018 |access-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-date=May 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509040953/https://ecbacc.com/2018-glyph-comics-awards-winners/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In October 2022, Scholastic published "Leon the Extraordinary," an original graphic novel (and semi-reboot of his earlier self-published work). The book was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews, including a starred review in [https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781338744156 Publishers Weekly], and glowing reviews in [https://www.slj.com/review/leon-the-extraordinary School Library Journal] and [https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jamar-nicholas/leon-the-extraordinary/ Kirkus Reviews].

===Writer, educator, and host===
Nicholas has taught courses at [[Arcadia University]], [[Drexel University]], and [[Moore College of Art and Design]] as an adjunct professor.<ref name="Metro"/> The subjects of such courses include [[storytelling]], [[animation]], [[illustration]], [[creative writing]], and [[popular culture|pop culture]]. Nicholas has hosted the [[Glyph Comic Awards]] for nearly ten consecutive years. He is also a columnist for ''Draw! Magazine'', a "how-to" publication edited by comic book artist [[Mike Manley (artist)|Mike Manley]] that discusses comics, cartooning, and animation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/arts-and-culture-everything/item/57445-heat-wave-and-no-air-conditioning-not-a-problem-for-cartoonist|title=Heat wave and no air conditioning not a problem for cartoonist|publisher=Newsworks.org|accessdate=July 14, 2016|archive-date=August 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815025038/http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/arts-and-culture-everything/item/57445-heat-wave-and-no-air-conditioning-not-a-problem-for-cartoonist|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Beyond interviewing other notable comic book creators, he is the magazine's "Crusty Critic," maintaining a column on product and tool reviews. Alongside Rich Faber and John Gallagher, creators of ''Roboy Red'' and ''Buzzboy'', Nicholas hosted the Comic Book Diner, a virtual studio and podcast focused on the business of comics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/speak-easy/76224-jamar-nicholas-on-leon-protector-of-the-playground-benson-and-a-fat-wonder-womant|title=Jamar Nicholas on 'Leon: Protector of the Playground,' 'Benson' and a fat Wonder Woman|accessdate=July 15, 2016}}</ref>

==Bibliography (abridged)==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Graphic novels and comic books===
* ''Leon The Extraordinary'' (2022)
* ''Leon: Protector of the Playground'' (2017)
* ''Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence'' (2010)
* ''The Grosse Adventures: Trouble at Twilight Cave'', (vol. 3) (2007)
* ''The Grosse Adventures: Stinky & Stan Blast Off!'', (vol. 2) (2007)
* ''Asteroid Girl & The Space Cadets'', (vol. 1) (2000)
* ''GUMBO #2'' (2000)
* ''The Jamar Chronicles'', (vol. 2) (1998)
* ''The Jamar Chronicles'', (vol. 1) (1997)

===Comic strips and webcomics===
* ''Stan: The Street Fighting Bowler'' (2010–present)
* ''Detective Boogaloo: Hip-Hop Cop'' (2002-2015)
* ''The Jamar Chronicles Weekly'' (2000)
* ''Low Rent'' (1994-1996)
* ''The Adventure of Jamar & Patrick, or Patrick & Jamar, Whatever...'' (1993-1994)
{{col-2}}

===Exhibitions===
* ''Jamar Nicholas: World Building'', [[Arcadia University]] Art Gallery, Glenside, PA (2014)<ref name=world-building />
* ''ON THE WALL'' Group Show, [[Painted Bride Art Center]], Philadelphia, PA (2011)
* ''PARTY CRASHERS'' Group Show, Arlington Arts Center, Arlington, VA (2010)

===Societies and organizations===
* Member, [[Phi Beta Delta (honor society)|Phi Beta Delta]] International Honors Society
* Member, Philadelphia Sketch Club
* Member, Philadelphia Cartoonist Society
* Member, ''Kids Love Comics!'' Creators’ Collective	
* Member, COMIC BOOK DINER Virtual Studio
{{col-end}}

==Awards and nominations==
{{awards table}}
|-
| 2018 || ''Leon: Protector of the Playground'' || [[Glyph Comics Award]] for Best Writer || {{won}}
|-
| 2018 || ''Leon: Protector of the Playground'' || Glyph Comics Award for Best Artist || {{nom}}
|-
| 2018 || ''Leon: Protector of the Playground'' || Glyph Comics Award for Best Male Character || {{nom}}
|-
| 2018 || ''Leon: Protector of the Playground'' || Glyph Comics Fan Award for Best Work || {{nom}}
|-
| 2018 || ''Leon: Protector of the Playground'' || [[Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics]] || {{won}}
|-
| 2017 || ''Leon: Protector of the Playground'' || Artblog Liberta Awards Author! Author! BEST Books by Philadelphians || {{won}}
|-
| 2016 || Jamar Nicholas || Philly Geek Awards Comic Creator of the Year || {{nom}}
|-
| 2016 || ''Detective Boogaloo: Hip Hop Cop'' || Glyph Comics Award for Best Comic Strip or Webcomic || {{nom}}
|-
| 2011 || ''Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun'' || Glyph Comics Rising Star Award for Best Self-Publisher || {{won}}
|-
| 2011 || ''Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun'' || Glyph Comics Award for Best Male Character || {{won}}
|-
| 2011 || ''Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun'' || Glyph Comics Award for Story of the Year || {{won}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website|http://jamarnicholas.com}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicholas, Jamar}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:African-American comics creators]]
[[Category:American graphic novelists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts alumni]]
[[Category:African-American novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]