The Norwegian comic novel ” The Left Bank Gang” is presented the prize for best foreign comic at the American Eisner Award in San Diego in July.
03/08/2007 :: Jason or John Arne Sæterøy, which is the creator’s real name, is wowed by comic lovers in Norway and abroad. His comics are published in 15 countries and have been translated into nine different languages. All together, the Norwegian artist has published 11 books.
In the San Diego-winner, the Left Bank Gang, Ernest Hemingway is the lead character. “I have read several biographies on Hemingway, his memoirs and letters. I wanted to use this knowledge to tell a story”, Jason says to Dagbladet.
In the comic novel the reader meets Hemingway as an illustrator living in Paris in the 1920s. The city is a vibrant cultural centre, however the town is experiencing difficult times with an economy in decline. Hemingway and his colleagues are plotting to earn some extra cash, but the plan is not quite working.
Jason started his career and had his debut in KonK magazine in 1981. Since then he has received both national and international awards for his comics. The worldly man from Molde in Norway, now living in Southern France, has won the American Harvey prize, the Norwegian Sproing award, as well as the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs’ comic award for children and young people.
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs