Good Omens – Nome Próprio

“There’s a field behind my house, where I like to walk sometimes, especially when the grass is taller because then it attracts a myriad of little bugs and insects – such as the ladybird”

Once upon a time a ladybird – joaninha in Portuguese, which is also the short name for Joana – landed on my hand. It is told that they bring good luck. This one brought poop instead. The little prick.

Nome Próprio is a collective fanzine developed by 10 Portuguese homonymous illustrators – we all love to draw and we’re all called Joana (which, in our defense, is in fact a super popular name in Portugal).

We were challenged by Joana Estrela and Joana Mosi to do a spread using our name as inspiration. The result was a little risograph, two-coloured zine printed at MAGO studio (also referred to as the “honorary Joanas”).

“We were born in the same era, and were all condemned to a first name which is so common, it was often switched by surnames, nicknames or silly short versions. What started as a joke about the abundance of Joanas in our community, quickly became an anthology.

With stories about the names that change, and those who stick around. The names we were given and those we chose for ourselves. After all, Joanas love company.”