Joe Sacco was born in Malta. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism. His comic book Palestine, about his time in the Occupied Territories, won an American Book Award in 1996, and his graphic novel Safe Area: Gorazde, about his time in Bosnia won the Will Eisner Award for Best Original Graphic Novel in 2001. Sacco has also contributed graphic journalism pieces to Details, Time magazine, and Harper's.