By two Vietnamese adoptees, Bert Ballard & Jessica Emmett.
Welcome to Adopted the Comic. This short project ran from 2009-2013 and has now come to an end as Bert & Jess turn towards other projects. By popular demand, the website and Facebook page will be left up as a resource and platform for comments, but it will have very minimal activity from us. Comics can still be linked or used (more info HERE). Bert & Jess would like to thank everyone for the amazing support they had throughout the project. See our final post HERE. Jess continues to do adoption comics now and then on her new comic Stray Thoughts Comics HERE.
It’s got to that time of year and here is our festive holiday comic =). While not inspired by, it reminds me of one of my favorite xmas films Nightmare Before Christmas =).
As a little extra we have we have made available a ecard (for personal use) friendly image great for email. It’s not everyday you’ll find an adoption themed card, i know i’ve looked =P. Click [HERE] to go to the image link.
As another little present I made live drawing video where you can see from start to finish how I drew this comic – original at Youtube: youtu.be/kBlVSYaYnGk
We are proud to post this comic. This is one of three comics that was commissioned by Somewhere Between a documentary film. We were asked to create comic around the theme of “Language” and this is what we came up with =).
“SOMEWHERE BETWEEN examines what it is like to come-of-age as a trans-racial adoptee in today’s America, as seen through the eyes of four of the 79,562 adopted girls from China. Through the voices of these young women, we will see not just their lives, but our own, reflected back to us – whether we are adoptive families or not. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN will start a dialogue about what we see, who we are, and the changing face of the American family.”
Linda wrote for the Adopted the Comic September 2010 Newsletter #2:
“The reason we wanted to commission the comics for the documentary is because they use HUMOR…and so brilliantly. As Jessica said to me when we first met – she hoped that my film wouldn’t be all unicorns and rainbows in regards to examining the topic of adoption…but also not all dark and tormented…”
We would love to congratulate Somewhere Between for their success so far in the many film festivals they’ve been a part of this year and can’t wait for them to have a wider international screening/distribution *hint hint wink wink from the uk* =P.
Found out more about the film, see the trailer and sign up for email updates go to their official website: www.somewherebetweenmovie.com
It has been great to work with Linda, and to support fellow adoptive creative projects. Watch this space for the other two comics that they commissioned.
I guess I can’t be embarrassed about it any more… this is autobiographical =P.
Last year I did get my adoption documents and indeed there was my birthmother’s weight. I joined the gym this march 2011 mainly to help two concurring sporting injurys (ankle then knee, knee being the lasting injury) from 7 years ago. Most of the weight I’d gained was after these injuries. I actually think that part of the reason I hurt my knee was me and my husbond had decided to try and learn the first dance of our wedding with a teacher and we were moving in ways we’d never had before, and being so pumped from that we went straight into the sunshine to play basketball which is the most active I’d been since I’d injured my ankle the year before =O Thankfully I managed to stand through my wedding ceremony and DID manage our first dance routine =).
I’ve always been a “curvy” person even before the injuries, which I use to put down to genetics so I thought it was time to try and do something about it. And not to sound too corny, I’m healthier, happier & eating better… and in 4.5 months I have lost 35lb (2.5stone/16kg) and continuing to work hard on it =)
We’re staying with some of the humor on research with this one, although it’s a bit more personal for me. Here we’re looking at adjustments to climate instead of culture. I’ve often wondered if we Asian adoptees really fare that well in cold weather, but no one’s done a study on it. :-) Having lived in Colorado and Canada for most of my life, I can say, I personally don’t like the snow and cold.
So, I’m interested to see what it’s going to be like when I move to Malibu, California! Yes, you heard it, I’m moving to Malibu! I’ve accepted a position with Pepperdine University and me and the fam are moving over the next few weeks! We’re very excited for the next adventure.
I think I’ll adjust well – it should be warmer, much better on my Asian body! I’ll keep you all posted on how it goes!
It’s not unheard of for adoptees to found out that their age or birthday is incorrect once they find info while roots tracing etc… possibly a orphanage staff or social worker has guessed when assigning a birth date. It can lead to adoptees celebrating more then one birthday.
Bert actually wrote this early in the life of Adopted the Comic and it has seen a couple of different forms, and now it can finally be shared with the world =). We thought that today would be the perfect time to post this one. Happy Valentines to all.
The first 4 panels art was inspired by an epic tail that my husbond once told me about trying to get a present for me back in the day when were dating.
