Pencil

Jack Kirby has been called the King of Comics, and rightfully so. For more than 40 years he was the most vital and groundbreaking artist in the medium. There have been dozens of books on Kirby over the years, including several oversized Artist’s Editions showcasing his original art. This book will present Kirby’s art in a new and unprecedented way, as side-by-side examples of his work, both in PENCIL and INK! Three Key first issues are showcased: The Demon #1, Kamandi #1 and Omac #1, along with a number of additional pieces presented. This is a perfect way to see Kirby art in its rawest form, from photocopies made from the original pencils as each page was completed, then next to it, the finished inks. We would almost call this a textbook of comic art except it’s too much fun!

This final issue finds Poodwaddle spiraling into comic-industry chaos as he faces his most daunting challenge yet… being a guest at a comic convention.

What begins as a pleasant evening out for Poodwaddle soon turns decidedly ugly when a super-star of the comic book industry goes off the rails.

Just another typical day for a comic book freelancer. That is, if you’d call being stalked by a creepy werewolf while switching publishers “typical.”

Anyone who’s ever tried to make a living drawing comics knows it can be a tenuous existence fraught with countless personal and situational oddities. Ted McKeever capitalizes on this experience and his own background in the surreal and semi-autobiographical “Pencil Head” #1, where disillusioned artist Poodwaddle finds no solace in his encounters with an editor who shamelessly fiddles with his work or the friend who drags him into situations best left avoided. McKeever draws himself in a modest, unflattering manner, using his unique abstract style to make sure McKeever — that is, Poodwaddle — is a non-descript and everyday kind of guy trying to make it in a world full of crazy occurrences. McKeever takes the odd characters from his world and turns them into strange and often hilarious caricatures, and these friends and foils drive his story, easily making readers laugh and inviting them to have as much fun with his plight as he clearly is. For example, Poodwaddle’s editor, the almost