In 2016, J.D. Lunt and Kelly Swann edited the National-Endowment-for-the-Arts-funded comics anthology titled, When I Returned. They also collaborated on one of the stories called, “Kevin’s Story”. The project was a pioneering cooperation between The Center For Cartoon Studies and the White River Junction. V.A. Medical Center, where CCS Students interviewed local veterans, and told their stories in comics.

The first collaboration was so successful, the Veterans Administration Innovation Network funded A Whole Lifetime of Firsts, a second volume in 2018. This anthology focused on communicating the experiences of women veterans. J.D. edited this second volume with CCS Director, James Sturm, and scripted, “Mitzi’s Story”. Printed copies of A Whole Lifetime of Firsts made their way to the women’s division of every V.A. in the United States.

The image you clicked to get to this page is an early sketch of Kevin by Kelly Swann. The cover for When I Returned (below left) was drawn by Noah Van Sciver. The cover for A Whole Lifetime of Firsts (below right) is by Tillie Walden. Both veterans' anthologies are available by donation on gumroad.com.

The Center For Cartoon Studies & White River Junction V.A. Medical Center Anthologies