HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Hi everyone,

Twenty-five years ago, on May 17, 1989, I drove over to the tiny little Kinko's copy shop at Golf and Roselle in Schaumburg, and printed 18 copies of my new zine, King-Cat Comics #1.  So happy birthday, King-Cat!

I just want to take a moment and thank everyone who's helped me through these 25 years-- all the friends, family, and readers that have made this possible.  I couldn't, and I wouldn't, have done it without you.

Today I'm in Fort Wayne, Indiana, standing behind my table at the Appleseed Con, an appropriate place to be all these years later, I think.  There are few things I love more than comics, and it's been a privilege to be a part of this world.  Thanks!

John P.

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(click images to enlarge)

CZF 2014

Well, it's that time of year again -- time for cartoonists and zine-publishers to start hustling around the country to attend the myriad specialty festivals and fairs that have sprung up over the last decade.  From March through November it seems like there's a zine or comix fest somewhere every weekend!

My first of 2014 was last Saturday's Chicago Zine Fest, now in it's fifth year.  After a long period with no zine-based festival in Chicago (hard to believe, considering the presence of the legendary Quimby's and the huge amount of self-publishing going on in the city) it's been great to have the CZF every spring, getting bigger and better with each passing year and showing no signs of slowing down.

Jake's pal Ratso interviews the writers from the Grooves 'N Jams blog

This year my table, which I shared with Chicago zine impresario Jake Austen, was located on the first floor, and after a slow start there was a steady stream of people coming through all day.  I'm pretty sure this was the first year in which there were so many exhibitors everyone was limited to one half-table spot.  This made for a slightly claustrophobic feel behind the tables, but I got used to it pretty quick.  Sales were the best I've ever had at this show, and it was fun to see everybody.  You do enough of these shows and it all becomes family-- not only your fellow exhibitors, but the people in the crowd stopping by.

Afternoon crowds

OG Chicago zine legend Karen Wehrle dropped by to hang out with Jake and go over their plans for the Chicago Music Zine Symposium being held next month.

Ye Olde Spit and a Half Half-Table

One minor problem was that this year's CZF was held the same day, in the same general locale, as the St. Patrick's Day Parade.  It took me 2.5 hours to travel the 90 miles from Beloit to the Loop, and ten minutes to fit into the only tiny parking spot I could find once I got there.  Afterwards was almost worse, having to traverse the city with lurching drunks stepping out in front of your vehicle every fifteen feet.  But all in all an enjoyable day.

Post-show I went up to Thai Spoon for dinner with my old pal Ray.  We stopped at Quimby's to drop off their latest Spit and a Half order in person, and then I headed back out into the darkness to make my way home.

Drove under the O'Hare Oasis on its last day in existence (sigh) and made it to Beloit in time to hear "Ace of Spades" come on the radio at midnight.

Next up, SPACE, in Columbus April 12-13.

SHIT FROM AN OLD NOTEBOOK PT. TWO

Here's more stuff from that old notebook, 1997-1998:

(Click here for Part One)

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Portrait of Claes Oldenberg's Batcolumn, Chicago.

Bad Frank Sinatra drawing.

Sketch for cover of King-Cat #54.

Portrait of David Lasky.

Notes for unused Ticks comic.

Sketches for "Joel Jumps," King-Cat #55.

Joel taught me to say "flops" instead of "fuck."

Sketch from Denver, 1997.

Sketch/layout for "Scared," King-Cat #53.

Roadrunner sketch from original notes to Hospital Suite.

In the spring of 1998 I hurt my back at work.

Our Motto™.

Draft of "Marigolds," King-Cat #54.

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Okay, kids -- back to work!

FEBRUARY UPDATE / SHIT FROM AN OLD NOTEBOOK

Hey Dudes,

Haven't been updating here as much because I've been busy hustling to get The Hospital Suite done so it can come out at SPX this September.  I'm getting a lot of work done, but there's a lot of work to do!

Meanwhile, I am posting updates etc regularly at my Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr accounts (see links at top right).

In working on the Hospital Suite I pulled out an old notebook from 1997-1998 for reference.  Thought I'd share some snapshots of sketches and stuff from there.

Talk soon!
John P.

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Original timeline I wrote out in '97 to keep track of events when I was in the Hospital.

Sketches for Perfect Example.

Portrait of Joe Chiappetta.

Unused sketch for Silly-Cat #1.

Sketch for Silly-Cat #1 centerfold.

Portrait of Zak Sally.

Portrait of Walter Payton.

Original title page for first draft of The Hospital Suite, 1997.

Health and nutrition notes.

Rough Draft of "Elderberries," from King-Cat #54

I was very skinny at the time.

Portrait of Frank Sinatra's nose.

Portrait of my parents' dachshund Penny.

Draft for "Ticks Pt. Two," King-Cat #55.

Notes/script for Perfect Example, 1997.

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Part Two Here