King-Cat Classix

by John Porcellino

The definitive collection of the influential comic zine

John Porcellino has long been considered the greatest of all cartoonists coming from the self-publishing and zine movement of the early '90s. His spare approach with words and pictures focuses on the smallest of details, revealing a wealth of meaning and emotion in everyday events that most of us overlook in our daily hustle and bustle. Since 1989, he has released more than sixty-five issues of his self-published comic King-Cat Comics and Stories. This large collection focuses on the first fifty issues, with extensive endnotes and an index, along with selections of all the extra ephemera that makes an individual issue of King-Cat its own unique experience—essays, articles, stories, and letters from friends. Included are more than two hundred and fifty pages of comics, ranging from Porcellino's earliest scrawls to his later, perfectly minimalist delineations. The comics range through all of his concerns—family, family pets, the natural world, work, music, romance. This book presents an artist who always knew what he wanted to do. King-Cat Classics shows Porcellino's confidence and skill as it grows steadily through the past fifteen years.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Comix, Comics Manga, 21st Century

382 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2007

About the author

JOHN PORCELLINO was born in Chicago, in 1968, and has been writing, drawing, and publishing minicomics, comics, and graphic novels for over twenty-five years. His celebrated self-published series King-Cat Comics , begun in 1989, has inspired a generation of cartoonists. Diary of a Mosquito Abatement Man , a collection of King-Cat stories about Porcellino’s experiences as a pest control worker, won an Ignatz Award in 2005, and Perfect Example , first published in 2000, chronicles his struggles with depression as a teenager. Thoreau at Walden is a poetic expression of the great philosopher’s experience and ideals, and King-Cat Classix and Map of My Heart , published by Drawn and Quarterly, comprise the first two volumes of a comprehensive King-Cat history.

According to cartoonist Chris Ware, "John Porcellino's comics distill, in just a few lines and words, the feeling of simply being alive."

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread this because in my first reading of this book three years ago I thought was just okay, but I didn't fully appreciate at the time Porcellino's contribution to autobiographical or memoir comics. This book is, as they say, the definitive collection of the influential comic zine, a favorites selection Porcellino made of the first fifty issues of the zine he has been doing since he was a teen. More than twenty years!

So there's some pretty forgettable and painful and awkward sketchy early work, where he was just finding his way, but over time you get to see the development of the minimalist, cleaner-line style that has been so influential. In this comic Porcellino reflects on whatever was going on his life: Friendship, romantic obsessions, drinking, shitty underpaid soul-crushing jobs, punk music. And dreams, weird dreams. Some of it at best approaches Jeffry Brown territory, though these are diary comics, not developed narratives, which Porcellino also does. There's, as he explains, a kind of anti-art, punk aesthetic in his work, a working class vibe. It's not supposed to look "nice"! Some of it is pretty funny, too.

[Rory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not really reading this particuar hardcover but I just read the latest installation of King-Cat and wanted to mark it on GoodReads. Porcellino is such a sage, sweet soul, and his loose stories and natural/human interaction studies are always compelling.

[Brenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection comprised of John Porcellino's favourite segments (and issues) of his quintessential comics series King-Cat Comics & Stories.

Having been borne of creative drive coupled with semi-boredom, King-Cat Comics began in 1989 in Illinois, with John Porcellino giving copies to his friends, and eventually moving on to mail-order sales on a miniature scale. His Xeroxed comics eventually picked up considerable momentum, and found themselves being sold in stores by issue 22 (again, in tiny quantities). After more than twenty years have passed, Porcellino still releases King-Cat on a more-or-less quarterly basis.

And his comics are still just as relevent as Issue #1.

How does a minicomic/'zine stay fresh and pure after so long a stretch? The formula implemented by Porcellino is certainly not flawless... but perhaps it is within this imperfection that the secret lies?

Porcellino examines himself through memories of youth, adventures with his peers (including one extended passage wherein he and some friends climb the mountains of Colorado - to unexpected ends), as well as any number of remembered dreams, which Porcellino considers vital in the sense that they create a subconscious record as to the kind of person he himself is, beyond all the pretence and self-made covers. Aotubiographical comics have become, in a sense, a bane to the minicomics world - however, Porcellino has created a book wherein self-pity has been neutered.

His linework has been called everything from "masterpiece" to "scrawl" (lovingly, of course). And it somehow calls to new readers with each issue. King-Cat is growing, not losing readership.

And this is where it all began.

(Included in this collection are the origins of Porcellino's better-known character, Racky Raccoon," as well as the entire "Sam" issue of King-Cat, which is not to be missed by anyone who has ever held a place in his/her heart for a domestic animal. Porcellino distills the human essence into a few rudimentary lines and well-placed words. This book provides a wonderful reading experience all on its own.)

[Emilia P · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I lost my flippy-do journal I've been keeping in my new and quite small home. It should not be lost. I am sad. Because diary comics are totally freaking essential to living the good life. As evidenced by the great, honest, humorous, but not too too anything work of John Porcellino.

This compiles the best and awesomest stories of early King-Cat, dreams, ridiculous serials, sexual meanderings, wage-slavery, cats and dogs.
But somehow it's not whiny or overdramatic, it's just very much the straight-forward self-presentation of a young man being a young man.
In line drawings. That are sometimes messy. Reflecting a sort of manic joy and bitterness about the world.

I like that he did this, and I like that he's moved into something else.
It's really my style, both of them. Oh hooray for your important work sir.

[Derek Royal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the best of John Porcelain's King-Cat Comics, the early years. I you only know Porcellino's work through his current King-Cat, then you'll be surprised with the comics in this collection. The art is more rough, and you can see over the course of this volume that his style was evolving.

[Peter Landau · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a while to acclimate myself to the rough drawings but then I had an epiphany. To be honest, I was down and feeling sorry for myself when I picked up this book and it’s simple approach opened the door for me. I felt better. That didn’t last, but even a little respite will keep Porcellino’s work dear to my heart.

[Soumitro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing and everything happening all at once in John's own spare, inimitable style - classix indeed!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't something I'd recommend to a lot of people. There are lots of slow moments, and a lot of points when I found myself trying to figure out why exactly John decided to write a comic about the particular thing he was writing a comic about. However, I will say this: As I was reading this I found myself downloading albums by the bands he's mentioned (he is responsible for my current Poster Children kick), and as I was reading this I made the decision that I definitely want to start making a comix zine and passing it out at shows and to my friends. King-Cat is the kind of thing that isn't necessarily my favorite, but makes me want to create in a way that even my very favorite things comics seem to be able to.

So, thank you, John Porcellino. I'm bummed I missed your reading at Chicago Zine fest, but hopefully if I ever meet you I'll be able to hand you a copy of my comix zine and say, "I decided to write this after reading King-Cat Classix."

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this collection. It is so simply drawn and is mostly based on Porcellino's own dreams and experiences in college and beyond, but it is really charming and sophisticated in its way (and is sometimes disturbing). It also helps that Porcellino clearly likes cats (and other animals); he has some really funny stories about the animals he has met, observed, and dreamed about. Highly recommended.

[Pablo · Rating 3 out of 5]

i've never fully gotten into King-Cat. I've perused a number of issues here and there but i always think that i will like them more than i actually like them. I thought this might be a good opportunity to try to fully get into the comic, but kind of felt myself in the same place. There's certainly something i liked about looking at the whole body of work chronologically, but in the end all of the comics are just really up and down for me.

[Aras · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read about 50 pages of this. I wanted to like it, but it seemed really pointless. Sorry.

You know how they say your dreams are totally uninteresting to anyone other than yourself? Well, there`s a bunch of dreams here - literally.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nearly 400 pages collecting the best stories from Porcellino's indie 'zine King-Cat Comics and Stories. The earliest stories were published when he was about 20, up through about the age of 27.

The art is very low-fi, though Porcellino does show the chops to be a much better illustrator with time and inclination.

Being a 'zine and that he was only 20 when he started out, the earliest stories are sometimes clunky or painfully self-indulgent with their cliched philosophizing about art vs. commerce. However, the stories get much better as the book goes along, with a tale about his 17-year relationship with the family dog, a trip into the Rocky Mountains with friends, variously amusing dream comics and even some oddball, but somewhat endearing fictional shorts.

Nothing I'd go out of my way for, but it's not a bad book. It would be much better if they'd been a little more judicious about choosing some of the earlier stories, because 400 pages is A LOT of short stories when the early ones are hard going. However, having been 20 years old at one time, I can definitely relate to some of the stories, even the self-indulgent ones. King-Cat Classix definitely wins points for being a priceless document of youth that I think most of us can relate to.

[Printable Tire]

I can understand why this might not be for everybody: the art is simple and the content is mostly the plots of weird dreams and the minutia of stunningly average days, told by someone who has a tendency to mimic 60's underground comix/beat writer impressions. But people this isn't for will put it down immediately, and the rest of us can enjoy and relate to this best form of bathroom reading.

Quotidian, thy name is John Porcellino. There's something truly uplifting and human thinking about him plugging away and putting this little comic out over the years. I became so enamored I started a little journal of comic-like diaries myself last month, and I've learned it actually isn't as easy and he makes it look, but it is fun to try and put the nothing of my days down on paper as future memories.

I don't remember how or why I learned of him: recently I was on an old computer of mine and found that I had bookmarked his site long ago, probably when I was in college.

[kate j · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a crazy dream!!

i think john porcellino is brilliant. i think this is still true. his quiet moment comics (sam, muskrat love, any and everything he does with the night sky) are perfect and simple and beautiful and hit you in the stomach to read, in a midwest lonely way. they’re true, which is what i like about them so much; i feel the same way about his top 10 and top 40 lists. the adjective that keeps surfacing is “honest”.

where the honesty starts to feel icky is in the way women and girls are drawn and spoken about. i suppose it’s super honest to write about horny teenagedom. i can’t even judge this, when the honesty and vulnerability is what i appreciate so much in the rest of his work. i guess when i read those comics, i get the acute and alienating sense (after feeling so seen) that ive been kicked out of the audience, that all this boner humor and boob grabbing SUPER isn’t for me. maybe i need a guy to weigh in.

[silas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tired: Porcellino’s earlier comics in this collection where the vibe is very, uh, self-absorbed white boy anarchist. Enough of this in comics please!

Wired: Porcellino growing out of this and sharing tender observations about nature, animals, and the people in his life.

Porcellino is very sincere and I’m really grateful for that—his work becomes so much better when he embraces sensitivity. His drawings are alive and full of possibility, and it was a real joy to see his style evolve. Not all of these comics are great but when they are, the work is beautiful and moving.

[Chris Barsanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The comix equivalent of a Beat Happening album. Scratchy, sometimes junky, and mundane stories of cats, late night TV, beer, bands, and knocking around empty Midwestern towns with punk on the brain and sadness in the soul.

Then, every so often, Porcellino inserts a knockout bit of poetry. "My Star", ostensibly just a 4-panel toss-off about going to sleep and seeing a star, is one of the best and most heartfelt one-pagers you might ever read.

[Kyle Vernier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had this book for years and finally just sat down and read through it. Before I’d just kind of pick it up from time to time and read a bit. Kind of makes sense to read it that way but it never felt like I got it.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping this would be in the “piss and shit” school of crudely drawn indie comics, but this is more “here are my diary entries uwu” instead. I like Porcellino’s philosophy on drawing comics more than I like his comics themselves, but they’re charming enough.

[Kristen]

This was cool

[Dustincecil · Rating 3 out of 5]

just ok..
probably lost a bit of magic having them all compiled in a big book instead of holdable folded comics/zines..

an impressive collection of work though.

[Joshua Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly drawn biocomics that are mostly dream logs, not really my speed

[Nick Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book as it reprints the independently produced comics in chronological order, you notice the way Porcellino matures both as a writer and as an artist. The early strips are crudely drawn and sometimes have crude subject matter, though not unforgivably so. There is occasionally a Van Gogh quality to his earlier stories and the frank details of masturbation are naturalistic and unglorified. The dream stories were less enjoyable for me, much as anyone's dream stories are of little interest to anyone but the dreamer himself due to their personal rather than universal significance.

As the book progresses it metamorphoses into a kind of hipster's American Splendor, though this is not a negative criticism. The autobiographical vignettes are the most satisfying and the life story of his dog is a delightful 'everydog's tale' - a simple story that most dog owner's can relate to which could not have been told better than in this way and in the comics medium.

Like American Splendor, one of its minor failings is the author's lack of empathy for others in some circumstances. Both Harvey Pekar and John Porcellino can write great stories about people they have met and sympathised with, but also tend to lack sufficient self-analysis to be able to understand their own prejudices - such as when Porcellino's ear infection leads to a radical change in his musical tastes and a curt dismissal of rock music. Similarly, it's not easy for an Englishman (and therefore a European) to sympathise with the amazement of an American on a cross-country road trip and unintentionally comical when he writes of his amazement at being in Canada because it's a foreign country! (Also, on a linguistic note, I was temporarily shocked by a fan letter about a couple with 25-year-old stuffed animals, until I realised that in American English 'stuffed animal' means 'cuddly toy' and not a product of taxidermy).

Still, this is good autobiographical stuff and another example of a comics genre I'm growing to appreciate more and more. Others may find it self-indulgent, but I believe that indie comics are entitled to do this even more than literature, as they have more power to convey direct experience and portray the small but meaningful insights and episodes in the life of an everyman.

[Megan Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Porcellino writes poetry, pure and simple. This collection of his early 90's King-Cat zine (still being released today!) is a completely necessary read for anyone interested in alternative comics history. His style is clean and simple while effectively conveying emotion and ideas. His weird-out comics are fun and surreal, but I'm crazy about the memoir stuff. I read a piece about his family dog dying over and over, lingering over panels, thinking of my family's own dog (also named Sam) with a sort of sweet, sad nostalgia. Because that's exactly what Porcellino represents, for me--that slow sort of ache I get in my chest when I think about growing up in the suburbs, and all those places I'll never visit again. He captures these feelings more intensely and completely than any other book I've ever read, comic or otherwise.

[Owen Curtsinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit that it first felt blasphemous to read John P's works in this big fancily-published collection instead of hunting down the staple-bound originals like the small gems that they are in the zine library. But reading them in this format, over time, I came to understand and grow with John P and King-Cat in a way that was so intimate and interesting that by the end I was incredibly thankful for this omnibus publication. Some of the stories in here are hands-down some of the simplest and most beautiful works in the entire world of sequential art, and some of John P's rants (one in particular about the simplicity of his drawing style) is something that every artist should pay attention to.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit I expected to be reading T.S. Elliot's 'Cats' with an Italian slant (the last name of the author suggested that possibility). Silly me. Probably it's a age thing but I have to confess that I didn't actually love Porcellino's self absorbed cartoons though toward the end of the book I did begin to find him charming in a kind of pathetic way. I mean, the guy FEELS things so strongly. And he certainly has the all- redeeming quality of liking dogs and cats. And he does try. And he's earnest. And he brought the word 'masturbation' out of the closet. Anyway, I wish him the best but probably won't line up at the book store at five in the morning when his next book comes out.

[William Kilner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my brother's book. I just picked it up off the bookshelf and started reading and was touched by the charm of John Porcellino's storytelling and his drawing. Some might call it 'crude' but the simplicity is part of the drawing's charm.
He weaves stories out of the everyday, happenstance, daydreams and anecdotes that all seem to possess a blend of self-assuredness, vulnerability and a commitment to the personal thats leave you wanting more. I was impressed at how he manages to make his dreams into compelling visual narratives, defying the notion that other peoples' dreams are boring to listen to.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first happened upon John's stuff at S.P.A.C.E. and it was a revelation. He marvels in the mundane and those little minutes. It's almost akin to going to church. Grabbing you by the coattails and shaking you screaming 'you're alive, damn it!'.

This book goes through a more progressive look at John's mini's in chronilogical order. If you don't live in a metropolitan area, this is a must as his stuff is hard to find. Especially if you don't hit the zine shows or comicons.

[Pippypippy Madden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to get lost in on a rainy day, or late at night, or on a Sunday morning. John P.'s work is down to earth, minimally and expressively drawn (sometimes an empty panel in just the right place can be a very powerful thing- he's the master of this!) and gorgeously honest. Spent weekend mornings reading these comics with my boyfriend, it is perfect for that, too.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that seeing all his work together would make it even more impressive, but it was a little disappointing for some reason. Maybe I feel too old for a lot of the sentiment. All in all I liked it.

[Chadwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great slice of life comics, in a beautifully simple style. Occasionally kind of preachy in that annoying Punk Planet sense, but I'm just an asshole who gets twitchy when people take up my time telling me that I shouldn't eat meat.