SOUTH BELOIT JOURNAL (2017)

HEY FOLKS!

It's out! -- You can order my "new" comic SOUTH BELOIT JOURNAL now, at the Spit and a Half site:

http://www.spitandahalf.com/…/south-beloit-journal-by-john…/

If you're a Patreon supporter at $5+ per month you'll be receiving a copy via mail in several weeks, along with the Spit and a Half edition of Pascal Girard's APARTMENT NUMBER THREE. If you'd like to sign up for my Patreon, you can do so here: www.patreon.com/johnporcellino

Thanks!

John P.

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"Over the winter of 2010-2011 I found myself at the lowest point of my life: Twice divorced, heartbroken, mentally insane, and living in poverty and isolation in a cold, grey cinderblock apartment in a small, gritty town in Northern Illinois… South Beloit.

One of my projects at the time was illustrating a book about suicide, The Next Day, for the Canadian publisher Pop Sandbox. As I trimmed the pages to size, I found myself with ninety-one 2” x 6” scraps of Bristol board. They looked perfect for a comic strip, so I began drawing upon them one little diary comic per day. I tried not to censor myself (though sometimes I still did), but to just let the ink spill without preconception or prejudice. South Beloit Journal collects these strips."

40 pages, 6.5″ x 8″, two color covers, black and white interiors. (Uncivilized Books)

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(Apartment Number Three, Pascal Girard's lovely, funny comic from 2011, will be back in print soon!)

SPX and BEYOND

Hi everyone,

I won't be able to make it down to SPX this year in person, but Spit and a Half will be staking out a corner of the Kilgore Books table (I 8-9) where Jenny Zervakis will be selling copies of her acclaimed* COMPLETE STRANGE GROWTHS collection, and there'll be recent issues of King-Cat for sale, including the new one, #77. Please drop by and check it out. Jenny would be happy to sign your book for you!

Since last year's debacle I've told myself I will only do one "long distance" show per year from here on out, and this year that show is CXC in Columbus, to be held Sept. 30 - Oct. 1. I'll be tabling with good ol' Zak Sally at that show.

Then a few weeks later I'll be at the Saint Louis Small Press Expo on October 14, followed by my annual final show of the year, Milwaukee Zine Fest (Date TBA).

See you there!
John P.

*"Book of the Year!" -- Frank Santoro, Comics Workbook
"Book of the Year!" --  Ron Regé, Jr., Author of The Cartoon Utopia

KING-CAT #77 AVAILABLE NOW!

Hey everyone,

I just got the boxes from the printer, and King-Cat #77 is now available for purchase!

It's 40 digest pages loaded with dogs, cats, possums, mountain lions, moths, frogs, and toads, in stories including Night of the Living Possums, Bee/Bike Story, Big Cats in Illinois (and Wisconsin) Exist!, Caterpillar Story, Fluttering Moth, plus an adaptation of Edgar Lee Masters' poem "Willie Metcalf," and more! (40 digest pages, black and white throughout)

To order a single issue of King-Cat #77, costs (including shipping/handling) are as follows:

USA: $6.50
CANADA: $7.20 USD
REST OF WORLD: $8.75 USD

Via PayPal to kingcat_paypal AT hotmail DOT com

If you're in the US you can also send cash/check/mo payable to:

"John Porcellino"
PO Box 142
South Beloit, IL 61080

If you would like to order KC 77 along with other items, please use the convenient online shopping cart at SPIT AND A HALF. 

Thank you!
John P.

MORNING GLORY RESTAURANT PRINT (STRANGE GROWTHS FUNDRAISER #3)

Wow, after a whole lot of fits and starts, the COMPLETE STRANGE GROWTHS by Jenny Zervakis is at the printer! Barring any unforeseen difficulties, it will be debuting at CAKE in June in Chicago. Jenny will even be on hand at the Spit and a Half table to sign copies! (See below for info about the book...)

I'm still raising money to cover the printing expenses, and am offering the following prints for those who may be interested. This is a design I've had in the back of my mind since last year. I finally put it together for a benefit art show organized by Matt Davis of Chicago's Perfectly Acceptable Press.

Based on the complete drawing I made for the cover of King-Cat #76, this is a memorial print of the Morning Glory Family Restaurant of Machesney Park, Illinois, which recently closed after a great many years of service to the community.

The image s available in two editions, one is the limited (25 copies) risograph run printed by Mr. Davis himself. The print is in black and metallic gold on a nice soft off-white paper, with an OFFICIAL™ Stamp of Authenticity on the reverse, and signed and numbered (again, on the reverse) by yours truly. The print measures 11" x 16" and is Suitable for Framing®.

 Morning Glory Restaurant, Machesney Park, Illinois

Black and Gold Risograph, 11" x 16"

Edition of 25

Prices include Shipping:

USA: $38.00

CANADA: $40.00
REST OF WORLD: $45.00

Payment via PayPal to kingcat_paypal AT hotmail DOT com

Thank you!!!

The second version is a hi-res inkjet print in black ink, made at home by your humble narrator, 8.5" x 11", printed on this delightful gold-foil embossed paper I got at Walmart. Signed and dated on the reverse, this is an unlimited edition. I'll make as many as I need for those who want one. And it's Suitable for Framing®, natch.

Morning Glory Restaurant, Machesney Park, Illinois

Black ink on gold embossed paper, 8.5" x 11"

Unlimited edition

Prices include Shipping:

USA: $23.00

CANADA: $30.00
REST OF WORLD: $35.00

Payment via PayPal to kingcat_paypal AT hotmail DOT com
Thank you!!!

Questions: johnp_kingcat AT hotmail DOT com

Still some cool old King-Cats available from our previous fundraiser! Click here.
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ABOUT THE COMPLETE STRANGE GROWTHS

Jenny Zervakis is one of the great unsung creators of 1990's DIY comics. Her zine Strange Growths was gentle and sincere at a time when most alt-comics were loud and sarcastic. They were poetic and allusive, delving into the heart of the human experience, and they were one of my biggest influences as a cartoonist.

In 1997, as the Spit and a Half distro grew, I had plans to begin publishing a series of nice but simple book collections of my favorite underground cartoonists, and Jenny was at the top of that short list. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, I fell seriously ill and had to spend the next 10 or 12 years focusing on my health issues. So this publishing venture was delayed... for twenty years!

The Complete Strange Growths, 1991-1997 will be approximately 240 pages, and collect the entirety of Strange Growths numbers1-13, plus an assortment of rare comics from anthologies, and a new interview with Jenny conducted by Robert Clough. It should debut this June at CAKE in Chicago.

OLD AND RARE KING-CATS (STRANGE GROWTHS FUNDRAISER #2)

Hi Everyone, I'm still in the process of collecting funds to cover the publication of Spit and a Half's first book form publication: The Complete Strange Growths, 1991-1997, by Jenny Zervakis. The AFFIRM print sale raised around $600, and I'll be conducting a few more fundraisers in the weeks to come.

Below, I'm offering for sale a number of Highly Collectable™ and Potentially Lucrative®* OLD KING-CATS from my office stash.

These are in very limited numbers, so if you are interested, please write to me first at johnp_kingcat AT hotmail DOT com to confirm availability.

Thank you for your support!
John P.

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ABOUT THE COMPLETE STRANGE GROWTHS

Jenny Zervakis is one of the great unsung creators of 1990's DIY comics. Her zine Strange Growths was gentle and sincere at a time when most alt-comics were loud and sarcastic. They were poetic and allusive, delving into the heart of the human experience, and they were one of my biggest influences as a cartoonist.

In 1997, as the Spit and a Half distro grew, I had plans to begin publishing a series of nice but simple book collections of my favorite underground cartoonists, and Jenny was at the top of that short list. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, I fell seriously ill and had to spend the next 10 or 12 years focusing on my health issues. So this publishing venture was delayed... for twenty years!

The Complete Strange Growths, 1991-1997 will be approximately 240 pages, and collect the entirety of Strange Growths numbers1-13, plus an assortment of rare comics from anthologies, and a new interview with Jenny conducted by Robert Clough. It should debut this June at CAKE in Chicago.

---

I'm selling the following old issues of King-Cat to raise funds for publication.

(Add $5 shipping per order in the US) 

 International Customers: I'll figure the cheapest way to get the books to your location and let you know the cost. Please include your mailing address when writing.

These books are in good shape, but may have a few dings, dents and corner folds. Best copies go to the earliest purchasers! Many issues contain oddities that have never been collected, like letters pages, Snornose pages, ads, photos, and other ephemera. ("Uncensored" pages are those which I edited for the book collections, usually to remove potentially litigable content.)

KING-CAT #27

The Second Racky Raccoon Issue

June 1991

The funniest King-Cat ever features Racky Raccoon eating a radioactive sour grape gumball and growing to enormous size. My tribute to the Jack Kirby monster comics of the early 1960's. Contains six uncollected pages. 16 page digest. SOLD OUT!

KING-CAT #48

Nuts and Bolts

May 1995

Contains "Nuts and Bolts," "Barr Lake Story," "Hello Death/Goodbye New Wave," and many more. Includes four uncensored pages. 20 digest pages. SOLD OUT!

KING-CAT #53

Perfect Example Volume II

February 1998

The second half of the story later collected as Perfect Example, features "The Fourth of July" and "Celebrated Summer," and includes two uncollected/uncensored pages. 44 digest pages. ELEVEN SIX COPIES AVAILABLE! $15.00

KING-CAT #55

The Owl

June 1999

Contains "Prick Test," "Spring Signs" One and Two, "Eyeball Lesson," "Ryokan's Moon," "The Owl" (collected in Diary of a Mosquito Abatement Man TPB), and much more. One uncensored page. 28 page digest. SOLD OUT!

KING-CAT #56

Punt No Tell

December 1999

Contains the book length "Punt No Tell," plus "Busy Bee," and Letters to the Editor. 28 page digest, includes extended uncensored sequence. SOLD OUT!

KING-CAT #57

Psalm

August 2000

Includes "Psalm," "Spiritual Light," "Spotlight on Pill Bugs," and much more. 32 digest pages, two uncensored/uncollected pages. FOUR SOLD OUT!

KING-CAT #61

Shoppin' with Ma

September 2002

Includes "Shoppin' with Ma" parts One and Two, "Bird Story," "First Hot Night," and more, including the rare, easily lost The Kukoc Cat Named Maisie mini-zine. 24 digest pages, pus 24 page mini. FIVE TWO COPIES AVAILABLE. $35

KING-CAT #62

The Sound of the Birds

August 2003

Includes "The Sound of the Birds," "Long Day," "Fabyan Street Bridge," and more. 32 digest pages. SOLD OUT!

KING-CAT # 68

Cloud Mountain

October 1997

Includes "Cloud Mountain" parts One and Two, "7 Weeks of Snow," "Anthill," Breathe," multiple Diogenes Stories, Warm Light," and more. 36 digest pages. To be collected in From Lone Mountain, Fall 2017. ONLY THREE TWO AVAILABLE. SOLD OUT!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! John P.

*Not all King-Cats go up in value. Some go down. WAY down.

AFFIRM (STRANGE GROWTHS FUNDRAISER #1)

Dear Everyone,

Back in 2005 I did a nice letterpress print with Alvin Buenaventura. A few of these went out into the world, but for the most part the project was lost to time. With Alvin's passing last year I got in contact with his family to see about the fate of some of his Pigeon Press publications and pick them up for the Spit and a Half distro (Sir Alfred #3 by Tim Hensley, Worst Behaviour by Simon Hanselmann, Facility Integrity by Nick Maandag, etc). At the time it was also confirmed that the family had located a stash of my 2005 prints.

They generously donated these to me, and now I'd like to offer them to King-Cat fans as part of a fundraising drive to help with the publication of the Jenny Zervakis Strange Growths collection this summer.

Jenny Zervakis is one of the great unsung creators of 1990's DIY comics. Her zine Strange Growths was gentle and sincere at a time when most alt-comics were loud and sarcastic. They were poetic and allusive, delving into the heart of the human experience and they were one of my biggest influences as a cartoonist.

In 1997 as the original distro grew, I had plans to begin publishing a series of nice but simple book collections of some of my favorite underground cartoonists, and Jenny was at the top of that short list. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter I fell seriously ill and spent the next 10 or 12 years focusing on my health issues, and this publishing venture had to be delayed. For twenty years!

The Complete Strange Growths 1990-1997 will be approximately 224 pages, and collect the entirety of Strange Growths 1-13, plus bonus comics and a new interview with Jenny conducted by Robert Clough. The book will debut at CAKE in Chicago this June.

In the meantime we're beginning to raise funds for publication. If you buy one of these Buenaventura prints, proceeds will go directly to the Strange Growths fund. A bit further down the line I'll be offering a preorder book sale, which will include some premiums from Jenny (color prints, drawings etc).

Supplies of the print are very limited, so please email me at johnp_kingcat AT hotmail DOT com before sending money. Thank you!

John P.

AFFIRM letterpress print by John Porcellino and Buenaventura Press, 2005

Edition of 100 plus artist's proofs
Approx. 9 inches x 8 inches

SOLD OUT! THANKS EVERYONE!

Please write to confirm availability before sending payment!

COST, INCLUDING SHIPPING:
USA: $35.00
CANADA: $42.00 USD
REST OF WORLD: $46.00 USD

Payable via PayPal to kingcat_paypal AT hotmail DOT com

DAHLOV IPCAR: 1917-2017

Word has come that the great children's book artist and writer Dahlov Ipcar has passed away, seven months short of her 100th birthday.

She was one of my favorite artists as a child. The cover of the forthcoming King-Cat #77 was drawn in tribute to her, and in working on it I pulled out some of the old Scholastic Books editions of her work that I’ve owned since I was a kid… I was surprised and delighted to see how big of an almost unconscious influence she’d had on my own work. I had no idea she was still alive while I was drawing it.

Tucker Stone of No Brow Books has shared the following remembrance (via Facebook and The Comics Journal), and posted a short video made a few years back in her studio. A treasure.

"A few years ago, pretty soon after I started at Nobrow, my friend Jason and I drove to Georgetown Maine and interviewed Dahlov Ipcar, who was 96 at the time, about her children’s books that we were getting ready to re-issue via Flying Eye. She was electric: 96 years old, living alone (it was her elderly son’s job to supply her with groceries), very direct, funny and acerbic as hell. I loved her. I wrote her letters afterwards (that was her preferred method of contact with me) whenever I had something of note to tell her about my work on her books, and I spoke to her a few times on the phone to set up some interviews and assist her with supplying books for events she would do at a local children’s hospital. She was always on top of it, and funny in a crusty, tough way that belied decades of commitment to craft and hardcore farmhouse living.

She just passed away, which was expected. I am sorry to her family for that, but I know how incredibly proud her sons were to work with her, and how much she loved and missed her husband, who passed away himself decades ago. Her life was lived as fully as one could dream of –a family she loved, and an art she devoted herself too. One of the first things that she told Jason and I when we arrived to make the attached video was that she had no interest in living to be 100 years old–as she put it, she was tired of spending so much of her morning going to the bathroom–and that was only the first of many things that made us laugh.

I just checked. Her 100th birthday would have been this November. Nice work, Dahlov."

 --Tucker Stone

Dahlov Ipcar from Nobrow Ltd on Vimeo.

Thank you Mrs. Ipcar.