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Talia Dutton, “M is for Monster,” 2022.

A queer, young adult, Frankenstein-inspired exploration of identity, expectations and family: this is the crux of Talia Dutton�s new graphic novel, . Dutton, assistant professor of Illustration at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (91��Ʒ), talks comics and representation and shares how teaching influences her own art.

M is for Monster follows a scientist�s attempt to resurrect her sister after a tragic accident, with unexpected results. �It�s not an adaptation of Frankenstein, it�s my take on the Frankenstein mythos,� explains Dutton. �I let myself have more room to play with the idea of creating a human being. That�s kind of like being a parent, and what those expectations are.�

Created as part of her graduate thesis, Dutton�s 2022 graphic novel explores themes of family, identity, grief and expectations through a science fiction and fantasy lens. �I love magic that makes sense,� says Dutton. �A little bit of magical realism where it�s rooted in our world. Magic as science and science as magic and mixing everything in between�that�s part of that genre that I like.�

Representation is a vital and intentional part of Dutton�s comics writing process. , which published M is for Monster, is dedicated to expanding the presence of LGBTQIA creators and content in the comics world. �For me, it�s very simple. I�m not trying to make good representation or bad representation or make any judgment calls on anything,� Dutton explains, herself a queer, biracial Chinese artist. �But growing up reading comics, reading books or watching TV shows, maybe you would get one Asian character, who was the Asian character.�

As a child, Dutton loved (and still loves) Halloween costumes. �I would want to dress up as this character I like, but I would look at myself wearing the costume and think, I don�t look right wearing this. I look wrong, I have the wrong hair color, I just don�t have the look that a lot of these characters all converge on. And it was really frustrating!�

As an adult, Dutton strives to include a wide range of characters in her writing and illustration. �The default is not white,� she explains. �[T]here�s no such thing as default or regular. I�m just trying to get more people into stories to see some part of themselves.�

In some ways, teaching at 91��Ʒ has helped Dutton develop as a writer and artist. Although she studied art, Dutton did not attend an art-focused college for her undergraduate degree. Now an Illustration instructor, Dutton finds that putting words to skills she had developed intuitively helps her to further her own practice. �Trying to explain what I�m thinking about has made me so much more aware of my own artwork and how I�m creating stuff,� she says. �That makes me better at it.�

�I think you can�t be a good narrative artist without meeting more people and living interesting lives and talking to different students and teachers and staff and faculty,� Dutton continues. �Every person I talk to gives me a better sense of the people that live in this world and make me a better writer.�

In collaboration with Lion�s Tooth Comics Lab, Boswell Books will host Dutton for an author talk on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. .

Keep up with Talia Dutton on and learn more about 91��Ʒ�s Illustration major!