Jen Sorensen
Encyclopedia
Jen Sorensen is an American
cartoonist
who authors Slowpoke, a weekly comic strip
that often focuses on current events from a liberal
perspective. The comic generally makes use of three recurring characters: Mr. Perkins, Little Gus, and Drooly Julie.
, Sorensen enrolled in the University of Virginia
, where she drew a daily comic strip, Li'l Gus, for its student newspaper
, University Journal, from 1994 to 1995, as well as contributing to the satirical magazine The Yellow Journal
.
Sorensen soon became published in various comic anthologies, including Action Girl and the Big Book of the 70's. She later published her own book, Slowpoke Comix #1, in 1998. In 1999, one year after the book was published, Slowpoke became a weekly comic strip, currently published in over 20 alternative newsweeklies throughout America.
", "The Dallas Observer", Women's Review of Books, C-Ville Weekly and "National Geographic Kids".
She has been interviewed by the "Washington Post" http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/artsandliving/style/studio/050309.html as well as The University of Virginia Magazine http://uvamagazine.org/features/article/portrait_of_a_confessed_slowpoke/, the latter web article has a video of Sorensen working.
She also writes a political weblog on her site.
, which are generally compilations of the weekly comic strip, although the first book contained entirely new material.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
who authors Slowpoke, a weekly comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
that often focuses on current events from a liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
perspective. The comic generally makes use of three recurring characters: Mr. Perkins, Little Gus, and Drooly Julie.
Early life
Raised in Lancaster, PennsylvaniaLancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, Sorensen enrolled in the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, where she drew a daily comic strip, Li'l Gus, for its student newspaper
Student newspaper
A student newspaper is a newspaper run by students of a university, high school, middle school, or other school. These papers traditionally cover local and, primarily, school or university news....
, University Journal, from 1994 to 1995, as well as contributing to the satirical magazine The Yellow Journal
The Yellow Journal
The Yellow Journal is a student-run humor publication at The University of Virginia. Similar to Harvard's Harvard Lampoon, The Yellow Journal is the longest-running, though not continuously published, humor and satire publication at Jefferson's university...
.
Sorensen soon became published in various comic anthologies, including Action Girl and the Big Book of the 70's. She later published her own book, Slowpoke Comix #1, in 1998. In 1999, one year after the book was published, Slowpoke became a weekly comic strip, currently published in over 20 alternative newsweeklies throughout America.
Current career
Sorensen has published three volumes of Slowpoke cartoons, "Slowpoke Cafe Pompous" from 2001, "Slowpoke America Gone Bonkers" from 2004 and her latest book, "Slowpoke One Nation Oh My God!" published in 2008. Besides her weekly political cartoon, she has produced a number of magazine illustrations for such periodicals as "Nickelodeon Magazine", "The American ProspectThe American Prospect
The American Prospect is a monthly American political magazine dedicated to American liberalism. Based in Washington, DC, The American Prospect is a journal "of liberal ideas, committed to a just society, an enriched democracy, and effective liberal politics" which focuses on United States politics...
", "The Dallas Observer", Women's Review of Books, C-Ville Weekly and "National Geographic Kids".
She has been interviewed by the "Washington Post" http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/artsandliving/style/studio/050309.html as well as The University of Virginia Magazine http://uvamagazine.org/features/article/portrait_of_a_confessed_slowpoke/, the latter web article has a video of Sorensen working.
She also writes a political weblog on her site.
Awards
- 2000: Xeric Award
- 2003: Alternative Newsweekly AwardAssociation of Alternative NewsweekliesThe Association of Alternative Newsmedia is a diverse group of covering every major metropolitan area and other less-populated regions of North America. AAN members have a combined weekly circulation of over 6.5 million as well as a print readership of nearly 17 million active, educated and...
, Cartoon (Five or fewer papers), 3rd Place - 2004: Alternative Newsweekly Award, Cartoon (Five or fewer papers), 2nd Place
- 2005: Alternative Newsweekly Award, Cartoon (Five or fewer papers), 1st Place
- 2008: Alternative Newsweekly Award, Cartoon, 3rd Place
- 2009: Alternative Newsweekly Award, Cartoon, 2nd Place
Books
Sorenson has written the following books, published by Alternative ComicsAlternative Comics (publisher)
Alternative Comics is a U.S. independent graphic novel and comic book publisher which operated from 1993–2007. Located in Gainesville, Florida, it is owned and operated by its founder, attorney Jeff Mason...
, which are generally compilations of the weekly comic strip, although the first book contained entirely new material.
- Slowpoke Comix #1 - 1998 (Alternative ComicsAlternative Comics (publisher)Alternative Comics is a U.S. independent graphic novel and comic book publisher which operated from 1993–2007. Located in Gainesville, Florida, it is owned and operated by its founder, attorney Jeff Mason...
) - Slowpoke: Café Pompous - 2001 (Alternative Comics) (ISBN 1-891867-02-4)
- Slowpoke: America Gone Bonkers - 2004 (Alternative Comics) (ISBN 1-891867-78-4)
- Slowpoke: One Nation, Oh My God! - 2008 (Ig Publishing) (ISBN 0-978843-16-9)