Zine

Hello.

I tried to change my name.

I was Zviane. I’ve been doing comics for 20 years now, in montreal/Quebec/canada.

A few years a go, I thought of changing my name. I thought about it during covid. It would coincide with my “career change” – as in, from now on, I’m working more seriously and more exclusively on films rather than comics.

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“Zviane” is kinda wellknown here, in quebec’s comic scene. I mean, in my niche.

When I walk in MCAF now, I sometimes have the feeling that everyone there knows who I am. I feel the eyes on me (it’s Zviane!) – most of the time it’s in my head, but sometimes it is really present. People have high expectations, and I don’t fulfill them. Sometimes I feel trapped in this popularity.

I missed being anonymous. Life is more light when I feel less looked upon.
I try very hard not to be self-conscious. So, as I changed career, changing my name was something to try.

I started sending my work in film festivals under the name BADMINTON PLUS.

(that too appeared to be an interesting experiment. Silly pseudonyms happen a lot on the comic scene, not that much on the film scene)

“Ooooh but… if I change zviane.com for badminton.plus, TONS of links will be broken in my website!…”

“and… changing my old email “zviane@gmail.com” to something else?? No way!….”

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I sold a painting once, to a girl. I signed my work “badminton plus” (not knowing it would someone else’s possession) and I heard later that the girl was really disappointed that it was not signed “zviane”.

It also happened that I was contacted to participate in a collective book. A honestly paid gig (this is rare). The invitation email was dotted with flowers.

But when I asked if i could sign my contribution “badminton plus” instead of “zviane”… The sender didn’t actually say a direct “no”…. he said:

“En toute franchise, tu es un pilier de la BDQ, alors c’est certain que nous serions déçus de te compter parmi nous sans que ton nom ne figure au sommaire, au «générique».”

(to be frank, you’re a pillar of the Quebec comic scene [flowers], of course we would be disappointed to see you with us without your name in the credits.)

So…… I declined.

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It is normal that zviane still exists. My “zviane” work is still alive, even if I don’t publish books anymore.

But I KNOW very deep in my heart that if I just keep using Badminton Plus and presenting myself with this name, and If I stick to it for more then 20 years, people will eventually switch.

I started hanging out with film people a bit more. People who never knew me when I was zviane, so they didn’t have the habit.

Now they call me “Bad”.
The habit started its cruise.

But now when signing books, returning on my old territory, I’m confused. I sign both name….

I give them what they want, while still pushing, maybe?????

I didn’t sign even La jungle. There is no name on this work.
Shouldn’t I try to prove my point, stick to Badminton, completely abandon zviane and hope people will let go?

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But some people might never switch!!!!
The ones who knew me with the name Zviane, for them I will be zviane FOREVER
They’re like the ones who don’t want to accept the new pronouns, or the inclusive way of writing –
i’m the same! i don’t like it! i don’t like imposed language!

and I don’t want to let go what i love.

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Zviane can’t be a dead name, she’s alive.
Zviane has her Wikipedia page
Where Badminton Plus is not even mentioned.

(oooh how many times did I saw summarized version of my wikipedia page as my bio in an event. There are very irrelevant details, and some major stuff is missing. It makes me feel weird.)

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I cannot

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I cannot get rid of Zviane!
That’s impossible!!

I feel the
RESISTANCE

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The older I get, the more I try to…
you know…

…to embrace chaos.

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And… what’s the importance of a name?

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I will be signing at Pow Pow’s stand (A11) on friday (today!) from 5pm to 6:30pm.
I will have my own table in the OFF all week-end, from 11am to 6pm. This will be held in the Bistrot de Paris, on St-Denis near Mont-Royal.

I have new stuff!!!

I have a very expensive, self-published, 576 full color hardcover book: