Sami Alwani was born in Ottawa to parents who immigrated to Canada from Syria. He is a cartoonist and illustrator. Alwani self-published at least four short graphic works between 2016 and 2018. His previously published work and some new graphic shorts are collected in his new publication, The Pleasure of the Text. In 2018 Alwani received a Doug Wright Award honoring the year’s best Canadian comics.
Fiction (Graphic shorts)
The Pleasure of the Text
Conundrum Press, 2021.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
In The Pleasure of the Text, Sami Alwani weaves together themes of art induced dissociation, queer intergenerational polyamory, racial capitalism and esoteric mystical experiences into 20 slice of life comic stories that are equal parts comedy and tragedy. These stories question society and individual identity. A talking baby philosophizes away his own emotions. A half-man, half-dog cartoonist’s spirit burns too bright when he alienates the entire alternative comics industry, drunk on his own power. A friendly ghost survives COVID quarantine with the help of CBD pot cookies and essential oil diffusers. There’s something for everyone in this cheerful volume collecting all of award-winning Alwani’s previous work to date (Vice, Now) with plenty of never-before-seen material.
Awards and Honours
2022 The Nipper: The Doug Wright Award for emerging talent (Winner)