Funny Girl gets funny book

Barbra Joan Streisand is a renowned singer, actress, director, songwriter, producer, political activist and philanthropist. She has a mantle full of Grammys, Tonys, Emmys, Oscars and Peabody Awards. She is an officer of France’s Legion of Honor, and she even made it onto President Richard Nixon’s 1971 Enemies List.

Barbra was lacking one tribute, however, one already bestowed upon Madonna, Cher, Adele, Oprah and even Sarah Palin. Alas, there was no Female Force comic book sporting Barbra’s famous profile on its cover.

That humiliating slight was rectified by Bluewater Production’s February 2014 release of a comic celebrating La Streisand. And not a moment too soon, according to Melissa Seymour, who researched and wrote the 32-page comic book with artist Manuel Diaz.

“Before doing my research on Barbra, I thought I knew a lot about her, but I actually had no idea she’s so accomplished and generous. I was really impressed by her dedication to human rights,” Seymour commented by email.

The comic covers a surprising amount of ground, starting with Barbra’s birth on April 24, 1942, and ending with her starring role in the 2012 movie, “Guilt Trip.” The list of “first woman who…” is long and overwhelming. Anecdotes about her childhood are few but most interesting (such as the fact that she bartered babysitting for acting lessons).

Bluewater Productions, an independent production studio of comic books and graphics, is based in Beaverton, Ore. Its publisher, Darren G. Davis, was raised in New York by the strong, empowered Jewish women he credits as his inspiration and role models. He spoke by phone of the connection he feels between his business and his religion.

“I make sure we do comics on Jewish subjects, but I try to stay unbiased in what we do. It makes for better storytelling. My faith also guides me in my business dealings; it makes me a better person,” Davis said.

Female Force is Bluewater Production’s biographical series that focuses on the lives of legendary women who have inspired generations and shaped today’s culture.

“I don’t sensationalize and I don’t want to humiliate or embarrass,” Davis continued. “I want to show how the events in these women’s lives made them stronger. I want the subjects to be proud of our books.”

Referring to the books as “edu-tainment,” Davis confessed that he was a reluctant reader as a child, and that comic books helped strengthen his skills.

“One of the coolest things is that we found schools and libraries picking them up,” Davis enthused. Since its 2009 inception, the series has profiled almost 50 women.

Very few of these 50 are actually interviewed, however, although the company invites most subjects to participate. Barbra was not among those who opted in.

“Streisand did not authorize the comic, but I know she has been sent a copy by my editor. I’m looking forward to hearing what she has to say,” Seymour said.

When asked whether actual interviews might have made her work harder or easier, she replied, “I think it would be much easier if I could interview her directly. It’s so hard to fit all the events of someone’s life into 32 short pages. Doing an interview would help me to see what’s most important to her.”

Manuel Diaz’s brilliantly colored panels are vibrant and lifelike, artistic oeuvres in their own right. Seymour detailed the Bluewater collaborative process.

“My editor pairs up a writer and artist for every comic. I write the book and explain how I’d like each page/panel to look. Then, Manuel runs with my comments and creates something incredible,” Seymour said.

While Seymour enjoyed Marvel Comics as a kid, what really captured her attention was the series’ message. At just 21 years old, she is a champion of female empowerment, hosting a Q&A website (fempowering.org) where she has interviewed such luminaries as Lois Lowry, Ingrid Michaelson, Katherine Switzer and Jane Goodall.

Her two younger sisters are her greatest motivators. “My baby sister is now 11, and I grew up wanting her to believe she could do anything,” Seymour shared. “I am very passionate about strong, complex girl protagonists with agency – both in fiction and nonfiction children’s books. I’m really lucky to write for a company that values women – such a radical notion, isn’t it?”

Although a few fanatical fans have posted their outrage over a few picky content errors, the comic is a fun read and hugely informative. At least it was for this reader, whose superficial knowledge about Barbra is superficial no more.

SHELLEY A. SACKETT (shelleya.sackett@gmail.com) This article originally appeared in the Jewish Journal, Mass., and is reprinted with permission.