Conversations with Denis Kitchen: (Conversations with Comic Artists Series)

Conversations with Denis Kitchen offers an in-depth exploration of the multifaceted career of Denis Kitchen (b. 1946), one of the most influential figures in the world of comics. This book, comprised of interviews spanning decades, provides a rare glimpse into the mind of a man who has worn many hats—publisher, cartoonist, writer, and advocate. Beginning with Kitchen’s early days selling his self-created Mom’s Homemade Comics at a parade in 1969, the interviews chronicle the rise of Kitchen Sink Press, the underground comix movement, founding the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and the challenges of navigating the rapidly changing comics industry. The interviews delve into the key phases of Kitchen’s career, from his work with underground comix icons like Robert Crumb and Trina Robbins to his efforts in revitalizing the careers of legends like Will Eisner and Harvey Kurtzman. The book also covers the tumultuous merger with Tundra Publishing in the 1990s, the eventual downfall of Kitchen Sink Press, and Kitchen’s successful reinvention as an agent, curator, and publisher in collaboration with Dark Horse. More than just a retrospective, this book captures Kitchen’s ongoing influence on the comics world, highlighting his enduring commitment to creative freedom, his battles against censorship, and his recent projects in curation and art. Conversations with Denis Kitchen is an essential read for anyone interested in the history and future of comics, offering a personal and comprehensive look at a career defined by innovation, resilience, and a deep love for the medium.

Table of Contents:
Foreword: Denis Kitchen: An Appreciation Introduction Chronology An Interview with Denis Kitchen Bill Cross / 1972 Interview with Denis Kitchen Judy Jacobi / 1975 Interview with Denis Kitchen Artie E. Romero / 1979 From the Heartland of America: An Interview with Krupp Comic’s Denis Kitchen Bill Sherman / 1981 Excerpts from "An Industry Roundtable" Internal Correspondence Special Edition / 1992 Interview with Denis Kitchen Capital’s Strategic Alliance Partner Internal Correspondence / 1995 Everything and the Kitchen Sink, Part 2 Jim Zalesky / 1998 Talking Heads: Denis Kitchen Johan de Neef / 1998 Comix Book—A Marvel Oddity: Denis Kitchen Talks About Stan Lee’s Short Strange Trip Jon B. Cooke / 2000 True Confessions: The Bitter Truth About True Confections and Its Controversial Leader George O’Brian / 2000 Spirited Allies or the Other Man behind The Spirit: Denis Kitchen on Representing Will Eisner Bill Baker / 2001 Five Minutes with Denis Kitchen Bill Baker / 2001 The Compelling Milwaukee Art of Denis Kitchen Tea Krulos / 2003 Not-So-Secret Agent: The Denis Kitchen Interview Danny Fingeroth / 2009 Denis Kitchen Q&A Peter Bebergal / 2011 Li’l Abner’s Al Capp: A Monstrous Creature, a Masterful Cartoonist Michael Dooley / 2013 Denis Kitchen on Harlan Ellison Nat Segaloff / 2017 Gay Comics—Unearthing the History of the Seminal LGBTQ Publication Gay Comix Ryan Cahill / 2020 Interview with Denis Kitchen L’Esprit de Will Eisner / 2021 Episode 190: Politics of the Funnies Part 2, with Denis Kitchen and Kerry Soper Eric Molinsky / 2021 The 3D Work of Denis Kitchen Lawrence Kaufman / 2022 Withstanding the Heat: Denis Kitchen on Comics, Curiosity, and Censorship Chloe Maveal / 2022 Index

About the Author :
Kim A. Munson has contributed to many publications, including The Cambridge Companion to Comics, The Comics of R. Crumb: Underground in the Art Museum, International Journal of Comic Art, and Places Journal. She is editor of the Eisner-nominated anthology Comic Art in Museums, published by University Press of Mississippi.