I found this interview with Kyle Baker. In it the interviewer brings up how funny all of his work had been before Nat Turner, his daughter following in his footsteps, critics’ reactions to his work, and making money as an artist.
He pointed out that when the first part of the book came out critics loved it (black babies dying? History, it’s okay), but when the second half came out (black men chopping of white children’s’ heads!? Outrage) critics used terms like “brutal.” I forget that when it was originally released it was not together in one book. I wonder what the reaction would have been if it had all come out together like how we have read it this week. I also really enjoyed his last comment about wanting Nat Turner to be used educationally in college classrooms. I’m glad he got his wish!