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PROFILES >
"John Porcellino's comics distill, in just a few lines and words,
the feeling of simply being alive." "...I would argue that he is certainly among the most important
young cartoonists currently working... Beyond his appealingly simple
cartooning style, what really makes Porcellino's work endure is
the sensibility that underlies all of his comics. Porcellino's
take on himself and the world around him is passionate, gentle
and accepting, while not without moments of despair, and self-hatred.
King-Cat Comics paints a picture of
one person's struggle for inner peace, as corny as that sounds
in this world of irony and apathy." "John Porcellino, esq. has produced 60 issues of his mini comic
King-Cat Comics & Stories over the
past 12 years. He is considered by many to be the
soul of the small press. That may be true, but he's also a damn fine cartoonist.
The body of work he has created over that time defies classification:
it's funny, obscure, sweet, depressive, overjoyed, sad as hell,
painfully honest and sublime.
King-Cat is so unassuming it's practically
invisible. Taken as a whole, his work does not sit comfortably
in any genre, be it zine or comic or memoir or journal; it exists
entirely in its own territory; John has created his own deeply
personal language to explore that territory. For those who are
aware of it, it's nothing short of an on-going look at a life on
paper. Every six months that life gets a little richer. In a world
filled with hype and hyperbole, King-Cat remains
a quiet but dogged reminder that bigger isn't always better. And
while King-Cat isn't big by
any stretch of the imagination, you won't find anything else like
it, anywhere." John Porcellino (1968- ) was born in Chicago and, since 1989, he has been self-publishing his comic, King-Cat Comics & Stories. He currently resides in San Francisco with his small black cat, named Maisie Kukoc. Interviews: Resources: On-Line Comics: Reviews: |
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ESSENTIAL READING: |
Latest Issue: "...the last strip [in #67] slayed me, and is exactly why i believe
John P. is an American Treasure. Titled "Feels Like A Good Day," this
is Porcellino at his best; observing the world around him, soaking
in the beauty of just being alive and in the moment. Only Kevin Huizenga
and James Kochalka are capable capturing these little moments in
a similar manner." "The tone of all the stories is consistently positive. John
seems to always be looking for the best, even out of the worst situations...
And the lack of negativity in all of these stories is one of the
main reasons this is such a refreshing series of comics. Another
of the main pleasures of King-Cat is John
P.'s wonderful, honest and unpretentious artwork. These seemingly
simply drawn pictures can convey so much, and complement the stories
perfectly. Each panel is a joy to look at... this comic is past due
for greater recognition, and represents one of the best hopes for
the future of intelligent, interesting, and just plain fun comics." |
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"During those years I worked as a mosquito man, in Chicago and Denver,
I documented some of my on-the-job exploits and travails in comic
book form and published them in my little magazine King-Cat
Comics.
The book you now hold collects all the mosquito related stories that
appeared in King-Cat, from 1989 to 1999,
as well as new material done specifically for this volume... Lastly,
I wanted to say - I'm certainly not proud of what I did as a mosquito
man; in fact I feel downright ashamed. I just wanted to share this
story of mine, in the hopes that somebody out there might be able
to get something positive out of it." |
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"That Porcellino manages to create an actual story arc out of life's
random events should be cause for awe, but to also do it with such
emotional insight and honesty seems frighteningly talented." |
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Books: Comics: Anthology Strips: |
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King Cat
Comics & Stories
Diary Of A Mosquito Abatement Man
Perfect Example