Damian Duffy

Damian Duffy is an Adjunct Lecturer at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he teaches courses like Computers and Culture. With a PhD and MS in Library and Information Science from Illinois, Duffy combines academic rigor with creative practice, serving as a comics creator and scholar.

• Education: PhD, MS in Library and Information Science (University of Illinois)

Research Interests span graphic novels, Afrofuturism, and literary adaptation, with a focus on translating complex narratives like Octavia Butler’s works into visual formats. His work interrogates race, gender, and power dynamics through speculative storytelling.

Key Publications include his award-winning adaptations of Octavia Butler’s Kindred (2017), Parable of the Sower (2020), and the upcoming Parable of the Talents (2025). These works blend science fiction with urgent social commentary.

• Bram Stoker Award for Kindred (2017)
• Eisner Award for Best Adaptation (2018)
• Hugo Award for Parable of the Sower (2021)
• Ignyte Award for Best Comics Team (2021)
• Glyph Comics Rising Star Award for The Hole (2009)

Duffy collaborates extensively with artist John Jennings, co-creating works that have been exhibited at venues like the Krannert Art Museum and Jackson State University. His creative process, documented in blog posts and talks, emphasizes the challenges of adapting texts into sequential art while honoring original intent.