Mari Naomi

MariNaomi is an American cartoonist, illustrator and writer known for creating graphic memoirs and managing the Cartoonists of Color and Queer Cartoonists databases. Her work frequently explores themes of identity, relationships, and coming-of-age experiences through an autobiographical lens. Beginning her career in the 1990s making minicomics and zines, MariNaomi went on to publish several acclaimed graphic memoirs including Kiss & Tell: A Romantic Resume (2011), Dragon's Breath and Other True Stories (2014), and Turning Japanese (2016). Her work has appeared in publications like The New Yorker, Nylon, The Rumpus and BuzzFeed. She launched the Cartoonists of Color Database in 2014 to increase visibility for underrepresented comic creators, followed by the Queer Cartoonists Database and the Disabled Cartoonists Database. These resources have become valuable tools for publishers, educators, and readers seeking to diversify their comics collections. In addition to her graphic memoirs and database work, MariNaomi creates young adult graphic novels including Losing the Girl (2018) and Gravity's Pull (2019), which form part of her Life on Earth trilogy. Her illustration style is characterized by clean black and white linework and minimalist designs that emphasize emotional storytelling.

Readers appreciate MariNaomi's honest exploration of identity, sexuality, and relationships through her autobiographical comics. The raw, minimalist art style connects with fans who describe her work as intimate and relatable. Her book "Turning Japanese" receives praise for capturing cultural disconnection, with readers noting how she portrays complex family dynamics. Common criticisms focus on pacing issues, with some readers finding the narratives meandering. A portion of reviews mention the simple art style can feel unpolished or incomplete. Several readers comment that the slice-of-life format makes some stories feel lacking in resolution. Average Ratings: Turning Japanese: 3.7/5 (Goodreads, 1.2K ratings) Dragon's Breath: 3.8/5 (Goodreads, 800 ratings) Kiss & Tell: 3.6/5 (Goodreads, 600 ratings) I Thought YOU Hated ME: 3.5/5 (Amazon, 12 ratings) One reader on Goodreads noted: "Her ability to capture small moments that shape us is remarkable." Another wrote: "The sketchy style sometimes detracts from powerful stories."

Kiss & Tell: A Romantic Resume (2011) A graphic memoir chronicling the author's romantic and sexual experiences from age 1 to 22.

Dragon's Breath and Other True Stories (2014) A collection of autobiographical comics exploring relationships, family dynamics, and personal identity.

Turning Japanese (2016) A graphic memoir documenting the author's experience working as a hostess in Japanese bars while searching for her cultural identity.

I Thought YOU Hated ME (2016) A graphic novel examining the evolution of a friendship between two women over several decades.

Life on Earth... and Beyond (2017) A young adult graphic novel series following a teenage girl who discovers she has supernatural abilities.

Losing the Girl (2018) The first book in the Life on Earth trilogy, focusing on four teenagers dealing with mysterious disappearances.

Gravity's Pull (2019) The second installment in the Life on Earth series, continuing the supernatural mystery through multiple character perspectives.

The Power of Perception (2020) The final book in the Life on Earth trilogy, concluding the supernatural teen narrative.