Ira

Marcks

Award-Winning Cartoonist

Graphic Novelist

Travels from: Albany, NY

“Marcks… has accomplished an unusual feat with cinematic homage.” — The New York Times Book Review

Ira Marcks is the award-winning cartoonist behind the creepy kid mysteries Shark Summer, Spirit Week and the upcoming Snake School. His books have been recommended by The New York Times, appeared on ‘Best of the Year’ list for the American Library Association, received a Gold Selection from the Junior Library Guild, as well as Maryland’s student voted Black-Eyed Susan Award.

Ira’s creative interests in supernatural fiction and scientific research have led to an unlikely list of past collaborators including a White House Fellowship Scientist, the European Research Council, and the Hugo Award-winning magazine Weird Tales. When he isn’t making comics and visiting schools Ira is teaching on the creative learning platform Skillshare where he has earned Top Teacher status by inspiring over 100,000 students.

Ira's Featured Titles

Spirit Week

Little, Brown Ink |

October 25, 2022

Graphic Novel

Secret rooms, eerie curses, forgotten caves. Could you survive a week in the Underlook Hotel?

Aspiring engineer Suzy Hess is invited to the famous Underlook Hotel, domain of the reclusive horror writer Jack Axworth, in the mountains above her hometown of Estes Park, Colorado. Suzy thinks she’s there to tutor Jack’s son, Danny, but instead she finds herself investigating a local curse that threatens the landmark hotel.

With the help of Elijah Jones, an amateur filmmaker who thought he’d been asked to make a film about the so-called King of Horror; Rena Hallorann, the hotel’s caretaker; and Danny, who knows more than he’s letting on, Suzy sets out to solve the mystery at the heart of the Underlook, one that holds the town of Estes Park in its grasp. With only a week to save the hotel—and the town—the friends find themselves racing against time to uncover the shadows of the past.

Fiction, Friendship & Community, Illustration & Graphic Storytelling, Kid-Lit: Middle Grade, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers, Mystery & Thriller

Shark Summer

Little, Brown Ink |

May 25, 2021

Graphic Novel

“Marcks…has accomplished an unusual feat with cinematic homage” —The New York Times Book Review

“Distinct and relatable…a lovely read” —Molly Knox Ostertag, bestselling creator of the Witch Boy series

When a Hollywood film crew arrives on Martha’s Vineyard with a mechanical shark and a youth film contest boasting a huge cash prize, disgraced pitcher Gayle “Blue Streak” Briar sees a chance to turn a bad season into the best summer ever.

After recruiting aspiring cinematographer Elijah Jones and moody director Maddie Grey, Gayle and her crew set out to uncover the truth of the island’s own phantom shark and win the prize money. But these unlikely friends are about to discover what happens when you turn your camera toward the bad things lurking below the surface.

Fiction, Friendship & Community, Illustration & Graphic Storytelling, Kid-Lit: Middle Grade, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers

Drawing Characters for Comics: A Beginner's Guide

Ira shares his process for designing believable and expressive comic characters. Through a colorful and engaging slideshow students will learn Ira’s step by step process for creating a cartoon face, followed by an insightful look at the role of facial expressions in comic storytelling. This talk can also be presented as a hands-on workshop if table space and basic drawing cartooning tools (paper, pencil, Sharpie) are available to the students.

Creating Graphic Novels: Inspiration, Process, Publishing

Ira shares the day to day of making award-winning graphic novels for young readers. Through an engaging and in-depth slideshow, students will see his creative process starting with finding inspiration all the way through the varied stages of making a long form comic art for a major publishing house.

Real Island, Fake Shark: The Making of Shark Summer

A behind the scenes look at the creative process for Ira’s meta-movie creepy kids graphic novel, Shark Summer. In this talk Ira sets out to inspire young storytellers though the trials and tribulations that brought his award winning book to life. By focusing on the book’s biggest creative challenge; exploring a historical event using fictional characters, Ira aims to show students how exploring history can inspire new ways of sharing stories.

Science Comics: Exploring Research Through Storytelling

Ira shares fun and engaging examples that show off the effectiveness of comics in communicating important scientific topics to a young audience. Through his experiences creating comics in collaboration with scientific researchers from around the world, this talk aims to expand young readers understanding of the potential of comic art in other fields of study.

Comics in the Classroom: A Guide for Teachers

Ira shares actionable steps for teachers on how to use comics in their classroom. Ira’s unique advice comes not only from being a professional graphic novelist but also his 10+ years of experience creating comics based curriculum for in-person and virtual classrooms.

Creative Everyday: Tales of Art and Life Colliding

Ira shares his experience working on the educational comic series, Creative Everyday; a unique project designed to connect aspiring artists with the true to life experiences of a diverse range of creative professionals. During this talk Ira describes the challenges of collecting over 100 interviews, transforming very personal stories into comics, and making sure the book connects with tens of thousands of students (and counting). This talk focuses on the huge responsibility we have when sharing other people’s stories and using the power of creativity to educate. Along the way Ira shares stories of weird but true creative careers and the story of an unexpected afternoon with the iconic children’s book creator, Eric Carle.

“Ira is that rare breed of artist who seamlessly blends his creative side and a seemingly effortless ability to teach. He brings a welcoming and open approach to arts education.” — Carolyn Fagan, Library Program Director

“Ira was one of the most dynamic presenters we have ever had. The students were fully engaged and the teachers were too. We hope he will come back. ” — Martha Sweeney, Head of The Odyssey School

“Ira’s passion for cartooning has propelled his visits to become one of our most popular programs.” — Kim Wegner, Arts in Education Coordinator

“Ira is great at working to ensure that his curriculum can be carried over into the classroom and leaves you with the materials needed to be successful. A welcomed addition to any school enrichment program.” — Sherry Dorrer, 5th Grade Teacher

Classroom Friendly Website for Shark Summer

Supplemental Booklet for “Ira’s Guide to Drawing Cartoon Faces”

Honors, Awards & Recognition

2023 Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Winner (Maryland’s annual student choice award)
2021 New York Times recommendation as ‘notable graphic novels for young readers’
2021 Junior Library Guild ‘Gold Selection’
2021 American Library Association ‘Best Graphic Novels for Children’ List
2019 Speaking on Comics in Science at Sorbonne University, Paris
2018 Keynote speaker at Skillshare Corporate Event, NYC
2018 – present ‘Top Teacher’ status on the creative learning platform, Skillshare
2009, Hugo Award, monthly contributor the year Weird Tales Magazine won in the category of ‘Best Semiprozine’