Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Underground Comix Legends Frank Stack and Denis Kitchen at the Baltimore Comic-Con












Baltimore Comic-Con 2012 logo

Underground Comix Legends Frank Stack and Denis Kitchen at the
Baltimore Comic-Con

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - August 13, 2013 - The Baltimore Comic-Con is proud to announce that two prominent figures who originated in Underground Comix, Frank Stack and Denis Kitchen, will be coming to the 14th annual show, taking place September 7-8, 2013.

  
Frank Stack Amazon Comics Stack
Frank Stack is credited by some comics historians with creating the very first underground comic (The Adventures of Jesus) back in 1962, well before R. Crumb's first ZAP in 1967. Frank is not merely a respected cartoonist -- he is an accomplished painter and for many years was a tenured art professor at the University of Missouri. But we know him in our corner of the world as the creator of such comics as his iconoclastic Jesus series, Feelgood Funnies, Amazon, and Dorman's Doggie, and contributions to underground anthologies like Rip Off Comix and Snarf. Frank collaborated with the late Harvey Pekar on American Splendor and the graphic novel My Cancer Year.

 
Frank, who very rarely attends any comics conventions, is making his first appearance at Baltimore Comic-Con. Though now retired from teaching, Frank continues to paint, make prints in his own print-making studio, and has a new comics project underway.
  Denis Kitchen cover Denis Kitchen wears many hats in comics ("Too many," he tells us). Like Frank, he began as a self-published underground cartoonist (Mom's Homemade Comics, 1969), but quickly became primarily a publisher. His Kitchen Sink Press for three decades published such legendary and diverse artists as Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, R. Crumb, Mark Schultz, Charles Burns, Al Capp, Scott McCloud, Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, Eddie Campbell, Dave McKean, Howard Cruse, and countless others. Kitchen also founded the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and chaired it for eighteen years.

A monograph of his cartoons (The Oddly Compelling Art of Denis Kitchen) was recently published. Kitchen curates exhibitions, is an art agent, a literary agent, a comics historian and author (The Art of Harvey Kurtzman and a brand-new biography Al Capp), and just last month announced with partner John Lind that they are bringing back Kitchen Sink Books as an imprint of Dark Horse Comics. This is Denis's 4th appearance at Baltimore Comic-Con where he has a special connection: as the representative of the Kurtzman estate, he was responsible for bringing the annual Harvey Awards to us.
    
"It is very exciting to have Denis Kitchen returning to Baltimore, and a rare privilege to be hosting Frank Stack at our show this year," said Marc Nathan, show promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Their combined contributions to the Underground Comix movement can't be overstated, and we're glad they've chosen to represent at the Baltimore Comic-Con."
  
Stack and Kitchen joins our previously announced guests, including: Josh Adams (Doctor Who); Neal Adams (First X-Men); Art Baltazar (Aw Yeah Comics!, Tiny Titans); Brian Bolland (Dial H); Harold Buchholz (Archie Comics); Mark Buckingham (Fables); Sal Buscema (Amazing Spider-Man); Frank Cammuso (Knights of the Lunch Table, Otto's Orange Day); Jimmy Cheung (Avengers vs. X-Men); Frank Cho (Savage Wolverine); Steve Conley (Bloop); Amanda Conner (Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre); Jamie and Tyler Cosley (Cody the Cavalier, Ninja Squirrel); J.M. DeMatteis (Phantom Stranger); David Finch (Justice League of America); Franco (Aw Yeah Comics!, Tiny Titans); John Gallagher (Buzzboy, Roboy Red); SL Gallant (GI JOE); Zack Giallongo (Broxo); Chris Giarrusso (G-Man); Keith Giffen (Masters of the Universe); Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules!, The Dumbest Idea Ever!); Joe Hill (Locke and Key); Jason Horn (Ninjasaur); Adam Hughes (Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan); Barry Kitson (Empire); Roger Langridge (Popeye); Paul Levitz (World's Finest); Kevin Maguire (World's Finest); Mike Maihack (Cleopatra in Space); Mark Mariano (Happyloo); Dave McDonald (Hamster Sam); Mark McKenna (Star Wars, Banana Tail); Jason Mewes (Jay and Silent Bob's Super Groovy Cartoon Movie); Mike Mignola (Hellboy In Hell); Jamar Nicholas (Leon: Protector of the Playground); Chris O>Matic (The Chris O>Matic Show!); Jimmy Palmiotti (Batwing); Dan Parent (Archie, Veronica, Kevin Keller); George Perez (World's Finest); David Petersen (Mouse Guard); Joe Prado (Earth 2); Ivan Reis (Aquaman); Dave Roman - Saturday only (Astronaut Academy, Teen Boat); Chris Samnee (Daredevil); Jeff Schultz (Archie, Jughead); Louise Simonson (X-Factor); Walt Simonson (The Mighty Thor); Kevin Smith (Batman: The Widening Gyre); Allison Sohn (sketch card artist); Bobby Timony (Night Owls, Detectobot); Mark Waid (Indestructible Hulk), and Bill Willingham (Fables). 
  

In the coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.
  
Contact Information
Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:
press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution
promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications
registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations
harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet
general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries
  

About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 14th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.

About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 25 years, the last 7 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org
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Baltimore Comic-Con | P.O. Box 917 | Reisterstown | MD | 21136

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