Mirko Ilić Discusses Pandemic-Era Wordless Comics in PRINT Book Club Talk

After a hiatus of over forty years, Mirko Ilić has returned to the world of comic art with his new wordless anthology, "Nightmares and Daydreams: AC 2020," created during the pandemic. In a recent PRINT Book Club discussion led by Debbie Millman and Steven Heller, he elaborated on the book. The eerie visuals were inspired by the desolate streets of New York, an empty Lincoln Center, and the routines of lockdown. Ilić utilized an iPad, adhering to specific guidelines: one comic per page, varying visual styles, a limited palette of grays and blues, and no text, allowing readers to engage with the narrative. The outcomes are a blend of humor and unease. He also shared insights about his early comic characters, influences from Little Nemo and Lou Reed, and his artistic responses to war and modern anxieties. Reflecting on their long-standing partnership, Ilić and Heller discussed visual communication as a form of activism. Ilić recounted seeing a logo he designed pro bono at Auschwitz, stating, "I did comics to save my soul." A recording of this session is accessible online.