Crossing Lines : Comics About Human Migration

Across Europe and North America, far-right parties have strategically framed immigration as a threat to national identity and security, capitalizing on public anxieties around cultural change and economic pressure.

Part of the groundbreaking ethnoGRAPHIC series, Crossing Lines is a graphic anthology about human migration that challenges the rise of anti-immigrant populism. Research shows that it is difficult to counter these “us-versus-them” narratives with evidence alone. Blending visual and textual storytelling, this collection moves beyond traditional forms of communication to engage readers emotionally with the complex realities of migration.

Emerging out of a workshop held at the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Migration Studies in 2022, this graphic anthology features eight powerful narratives, collaboratively created by migration scholars and comics artists. Crossing Lines considers the personal and social impacts of migration, offering nuanced perspectives accessible to a wide audience. Each comic is paired with discussion questions and annotated further readings to encourage dialogue and understanding in the face of polarizing public discourse.

Crossing Lines is a timely and indispensable resource for scholars, educators, and readers seeking to better understand migration in today’s globalized world.

Antje Ellermann is a professor of political science and the founder and co-director of the Centre for Migration Studies at the University of British Columbia. Frederik Byrn Køhlert is an associate professor of English and film at Edinburgh Napier University.
Sarah Leavitt is an associate professor at the School of Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia, where she has developed and taught comics creation classes since 2012. Mireille Paquet is a professor of political science and holds the university research chair in immigration policies at Concordia University.