Jacob Covey, from Fantagraphics issued a call for submissions to round out the second volume of "Beasts!"
Being a fan of the first volume, and of beasts in general, I decided to give it a go. I only had a couple of weeks to do the research and the illustration around my other work commitments. After some research, and false starts, I discovered something I never new existed-- the Gougou.
Gougou, or Gugwe - According to the traditions and beliefs of the Micmac Native American people of the northeastern United States, the Gougou is a monstrously large female humanoid-shaped cannibal with a hairy face, giant hands, and scale covered body. She was so large that she could wade into the river to pick up an entire boat, and put it in a pouch slung about her body. She was said to live on an island off the Bay des Chaleurs, in the Saint Lawrence River. The French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, wrote about the Gougou in his journals during his voyages in what was then known as New France.
I found out about the request for submissions at Drawn.ca. I guess I should visit Drawn more often to keep on top of these things. However, I know I'll be tempted to spend too much time there.
