Acknowledgements

Emanata wishes to acknowledge and thank the following:

Sammy Newman for illustrating our otherworldly cover.

Our talented book designer Madison Tran for helping us compile this behemoth of a book.

Velocity Comics for their continued support and their role in uplifting the Richmond comics scene.

VCU Libraries and Special Collections for their support of student comics creation.

Our alumni for their collaboration and continued support.

Our editors for their dedication and helping us accommodate a large amount of stories.

Our contributors for their enthusiasm and hard work, of which this anthology would not be possible without.

And VCU’s Student Media Center, for not only sponsoring our cover art, but also their guidance and support every step of the way.

Mark Jeffries

Creative Media Manager 804.828.7660 mjeffries@vcu.edu

Street Address

VCU Student Media Center 817 W. Broad St. Richmond, VA

Dominique Lee Sales & Business Development Manager 804.827.1642 leeds2@vcu.edu

Owen Martin Office Manager martinso@vcu.edu

Mailing Address

VCU Student Media Center Box 842010 Richmond, VA 23284-2010

Check out emanatacomics.com for even more comics!

Contact us online: emanatacomics@gmail.com vcucomics @vcucomics @VCUComics

Dear Readers,

The cover spread of this anthology, inspired by the work of Heironymous Bosch, is a visual interpretation of escaping the hell that’s been the past two years. As we suffered from burnout during the thick of the pandemic, we here at Emanata dreamed of igniting the passion for comics amongst the masses at VCU. We opened our doors not only to experienced comic artists, but also to students who otherwise would not have an opportunity to express themselves through the visual arts. For many of our contributors, this was their first experience with creating comics.

Just as one day-dreams while bored sitting at a desk, some of our contributors dreamt of a whimsical escape from the doldrums of life and held optimism for what the future brings. Others chose to reflect and amplify the nightmarish horrors of life, with the reassurance that all storms pass. While past editions of Emanata, such as Hindsight and The End, focused on the past and present respectfully, this year’s edition, Dream, focuses on hope for a brighter future.

At over 400 pages, this edition of the anthology is our Renaissance, as it is not only a revival, but also a great achievement.

— Sarah Brady & Claire Deely