Craig Thompson

Graphic novels of deeply personal coming-of-age narrative and intricate illustration have earned wide international readership, most prominently through the autobiographical graphic memoir Blankets. American cartoonist Craig Thompson gained widespread recognition following the publication of this expansive work, which explores his evangelical Christian upbringing, sibling bond, and first love in rural Wisconsin. The book received three Harvey Awards for Best Artist, Best Graphic Album of Original Work, and Best Cartoonist, alongside two Eisner Awards for Best Graphic Album and Best Writer/Artist, and has been published in nearly twenty languages.

Career & Background

Craig Thompson was born in Traverse City, Michigan, on September 21, 1975, and grew up in a rural farming community in central Wisconsin. During his childhood, he and his siblings spent summers weeding and harvesting rows of American ginseng on local farms for one dollar per hour, an early work experience that later shaped his autobiographical writing. Thompson published his debut graphic novel, Goodbye, Chunky Rice, in 1999, which won an Ignatz Award. He gained major literary prominence with the release of Blankets in 2003, followed by the graphic travel memoir Carnet de Voyage in 2004. Over his career, Thompson expanded his bibliography with the graphic novel Habibi in 2011, the all-ages adventure Space Dumplins in 2015, and the non-fiction series Ginseng Roots. Outside of comic books, his artistic work earned a Grammy nomination in 2007 for Best Recording Package for his cover design for the Menomena album Friend and Foe. He resides in Portland, Oregon.

Writing Style & Themes

Thompson's work is distinguished by expressive brushwork, fluid cartooning, and exploratory narrative structures that combine personal reflection with historical research. His graphic novels regularly examine themes of religious faith, family bonds, solitude, and human connection through detailed black-and-white line art. Whether constructing intimate personal memoirs or large-scale fictional narratives, his approach balances emotional vulnerability with meticulous visual detail.

Major Works

• Blankets — This 2003 autobiographical graphic novel chronicles Thompson's childhood, religious upbringing, and first relationship in rural Wisconsin. The book received three Harvey Awards (Best Artist, Best Graphic Album of Original Work, and Best Cartoonist) and two Eisner Awards (Best Graphic Album and Best Writer/Artist).
• Goodbye, Chunky Rice — Published in 1999, Thompson's debut graphic novel—often referenced through Goodbye and Chunky Rice—tells the story of a gentle turtle who leaves his rural home and friends behind to go to sea.
• Carnet de Voyage — Released in 2004, Carnet de Voyage is a illustrated travelogue and sketchbook documenting Thompson's promotional tour across Europe and Morocco following the success of Blankets.
• Habibi — A 2011 graphic novel set in a fictional Islamic landscape that incorporates traditional Arabic calligraphy and Islamic folklore to tell the story of two escaped child slaves.
• Ginseng Roots — A graphic non-fiction project weaving Thompson's childhood memories of working on Wisconsin ginseng farms with the broader three-hundred-year history of global ginseng trade.