Christina and Charles

Austin English's Christina and Charles is a book about two unrelated people. Christina is in high school. She walks back to class after lunch period and hears people gossiping about her. She hugs her mom in the supermarket. She thinks about being an astronaut. Her mom plays weird tapes on the spirituality in their tiny car.

In the second half of the book, Charles has a little brother who always follows him around. Charles tells stories about flying through space. He smokes cigarettes. He arranges his room in really precise ways. Christina and Charles are both strange romantics who could have benefited from knowing each other. But they never did. The best shot they get is being side by side together in this book. The reader gets to see how similar they are. Look, Christina and Charles are both up against the same tough odds. Read more Continue reading Read less REVIEW
"Austin English is a genius. [His drawings] have soul." - Giant Robot Magazine

"Beautiful minimalist portraits." - Daniel Holloway, The Comics Journal

"No particular title dominated this year's Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art's annual festival, expanded to two days at Manhattan's Puck building, but a lot of books by young creators were hot items ... Austin English's art-brut Christina and Charles (Sparkplug) was a favorite among the cartoonists in attendance" - Publishers Weekly.


"Austin English is a genius. [His drawings] have soul." - Giant Robot Magazine

"Beautiful minimalist portraits." - Daniel Holloway, The Comics Journal

“No particular title dominated this year's Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art's annual festival, expanded to two days at Manhattan's Puck building, but a lot of books by young creators were hot items … Austin English's art-brut Christina and Charles (Sparkplug) was a favorite among the cartoonists in attendance" - Publishers Weekly.
FROM THE BACK COVER
Christina and Charles is a book about two unrelated people. Christina is in high school. She walks back to class after lunch period and hears people gossiping about her. She hugs her mom in the supermarket. She thinks about being an astronaut. Her mom plays weird tapes on the spirituality in their tiny car.

In the second half of the book, Charles has a little brother who always follows him around. Charles tells stories about flying through space. He smokes cigarettes. He arranges his room in really precise ways.

Christina and Charles are both strange romantics who could have benefited from knowing each other. But they never did. The best shot they get is being side by side together in this book. The reader gets to see how similar they are. Look, Christina and Charles are both up against the same tough odds.

"Austin English is a genius. [His drawings] have soul." - Giant Robot Magazine

"Beautifully minimalist portraits." - Daniel Holloway, The Comics Journal
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Austin English works with drawing, painting and comics. His published books include Christina and Charles, The Disgusting Room and the series Windy Corner Magazine (which he also edited) from Sparkplug Books. He recently completed the book The Life Problem, which was published by Drippybone Books. His illustration work can be seen in many publications, including The New York Times. He also runs the publishing house Domino Books. English lives and works in Brooklyn and Stockholm. Read more Continue reading Read less