Rutu Modan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rutu Modan רוּתוּ מודן
Modan in 2008
Born	Rutu Modan 1966 (age 58–59) Tel Aviv, Israel
Nationality	Israeli
Area(s)	Illustrator and comic book artist.
Notable works	Exit Wounds

Rutu Modan is a talented Israeli artist. She draws and writes comic books, also known as graphic novels. She helped start a group called Actus Tragicus. Rutu is famous for her graphic novels like Exit Wounds (published in 2007) and The Property (published in 2013).

About Rutu Modan

Rutu Modan was born in Israel in 1966. Her parents were both professors. She grew up in Tel Aviv, a big city in Israel.

After studying art at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem, Rutu worked on the Hebrew version of MAD magazine. She also helped create the Actus Tragicus comics group in 1995. This group brought together many Israeli comic artists.

Rutu has won several awards for her amazing art. She received the Young Artist of the Year award in 1997. In 1998, she won an award for the Best Illustrated Children's Book. She was also recognized as an outstanding artist in 2005.

Today, Rutu lives in Tel-Aviv with her husband and their two children.

Rutu Modan's Books

Rutu Modan has created many interesting graphic novels and stories.

Graphic Novels

Exit Wounds

Exit Wounds was Rutu Modan's first full-length graphic novel. It tells the story of Koby Franco, a young taxi driver in Tel Aviv. His normal life changes when a soldier tells him his father might have been killed in an attack. Koby and the soldier search for clues to find out what really happened.

This book was highly praised by other artists and critics. It won the 2008 Eisner Award for Best New Graphic Novel. Time magazine also named it one of the top graphic novels of 2007.

Mixed Emotions

Between 2007 and 2008, Rutu Modan shared some of her graphic stories online with The New York Times. These stories were like a "visual blog." They were all about her own life and her family. Many of them featured her grandmother, who grew up in Warsaw and moved to Israel during World War II.

Some of these stories include:

• "My First Time in New York City" – About Rutu's trip to New York when she was 21.
• "How I learned to Relax" – About her first pregnancy.
• "The Most Popular Girl in Warsaw" – About her grandmother's advice on life and love.
• "A Family Bargain" – About her family trying to help her buy a new car.
• "Queen of the Scottish Fairies" – About her son who loved to wear dresses.
• "Chez Maurice" – About Rutu going to the hairdresser with her grandmother.

The Murder of the Terminal Patient

This was a graphic story told in 17 parts. It was published weekly in The New York Times Magazine in 2008. The story is about a famous singer who dies in a hospital under mysterious circumstances. Two men try to figure out what happened.

War Rabbit

In 2009, Rutu Modan created a 13-page comic called War Rabbit. She worked with Israeli journalist Igal Sarna on this project. It was published in a French collection and online in English.

Maya Makes a Mess

Maya Makes a Mess is a children's book that Rutu Modan both wrote and drew. It came out in 2012. It's a graphic novel for young readers. The story is about a girl named Maya who has very messy table manners. She gets invited to eat at the Royal palace, where her manners are put to the test! Rutu was inspired by her own daughter when writing this book.

The Property

The Property is a full-length graphic novel from 2013. It is based on Rutu Modan's own family experiences. The story follows an elderly Israeli lady, Regina Segal, and her granddaughter Mica. They travel to Warsaw after Regina's son passes away. They hope to get back a family property that was lost during World War II. As they explore modern Warsaw, Regina remembers difficult things from her past. Mica starts to wonder if their trip has a different purpose than what her grandmother told her. In 2024, a movie based on this graphic novel was released in Israel. Rutu's sister, Dana Modan, directed the film.

Minharot (Tunnels)

Minharot, which means Tunnels, was published in September 2020. It is an adventure story. It follows the daughter and grandson of a famous archaeologist. They go on a hunt for the Ark of the Covenant in the West Bank.

Short Stories

Rutu Modan has also created many short graphic stories. Many of these were collected in her book Jamilti and Other Stories (2008). Some of them include:

• "King of the Lillies" (1998)
• "The Romanian Circus" (1999) – Based on a story by Etgar Keret.
• "The Panty Killer" (2001)
• "Homecoming" (2002) – Based on a true story about a pilot who went missing.
• "Fan" (2007) – About a musician hoping for a big break.
• "Bygone"
• "Energy Blockage" (2004)
• "Jamilti" (2003)

Children's Books

Besides Maya Makes a Mess, Rutu Modan has illustrated other children's books:

• Where Is? (2002), written by Tamar Bergman.
• Dad Runs Away With The Circus (2004), written by Etgar Keret.

See also

In Spanish: Rutu Modan para niños

• Women in Israel
• Israeli literature