Noah Van Sciver

Noah Van Sciver (born July 7, 1984) is an independent American cartoonist who resides in Columbia, South Carolina.

Noah Van Sciver
Born (1984-07-07) July 7, 1984
New Jersey, United States
Notable works
  • Blammo
  • 4 Questions
  • The Hypo
  • St. Cole
  • Fante Bukowski
  • My Hot Date

Early life

Van Sciver grew up in a large family in New Jersey.[1] A self-taught artist,[2] he was influenced by many comics, including Ralph Snart Adventures and comics by Joe Matt and R. Crumb.[3] He and his family were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), but he is no longer a member.[4][5] His brother Ethan[6] is a comic book artist and an internet personality.

Comics

Van Sciver began producing his one-person anthology Blammo in 2006, originally selling them for one dollar.[4] His 4 Questions strip in Denver's alternative weekly, Westword, helped publicize his work when he started publishing it in 2007.[7][4] After four issues of Blammo, Kilgore Books & Comics published subsequent issues.[4]

In 2010, he briefly campaigned to write and draw Howard the Duck as part of Marvel's Strange Tales series, but was turned down.[8]

His short story "Abby's Road," which originally appeared in Blammo #6, was selected for the Best American Comics 2012 anthology. Van Sciver's work has appeared in Mad magazine,[9] and has been featured in The Comics Journal, Mome, and Mineshaft.

In October 2012, Fantagraphics Books published The Hypo: The Melancholic Young Lincoln, a narrative biography of Abraham Lincoln that spans the years 1837–1842. The Hypo, Van Sciver's first full-length graphic novel, earned positive critical praise, and made it onto several "best-of" lists for 2012, including MTV Geek (#3),[10] Boing Boing (tied #3),[11] Publishers Weekly Critic's Poll (#4),[12] and was ranked as one of the Best Graphic Novels of 2012 by the Library Journal.[13]

In 2015, Fantagraphics released two Van Sciver graphic novels, St. Cole and Fante Bukowski. [14] Van Sciver stated in an interview that he based the character Fante Bukowski's experiences partially on his own experiences.[5] The character Fante Bukowski is an aspiring writer hungry for recognition, and his name is a combination of the surnames of John Fante and Charles Bukowski.[15] In a 2018 interview, Van Sciver said that he did not have plans to draw more Fante Bukowski books.[3]

Also in 2015, Kilgore Books released Van Sciver's autobiographical mini comic My Hot Date, which won the 'Best Story' Ignatz Award at the Small Press Expo.[14]

For the 2015–2016 school year, Van Sciver was a fellow at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, VT.[16] He stopped publishing 4 Questions in 2015.[7]

In Van Sciver's autobiographical comic, One Dirty Tree (2018), he examined his childhood. He reported that his family was not happy with the comic, and Van Sciver felt bad for making his father a villain, when his father suffers from mental illness.[3] John Wenzel at The Know described the comic's imagery as "uncanny, [and] deceptively casual."[17]

Van Sciver drew the artwork for the graphic novel Grateful Dead Origins, which was written by Chris Miskiewicz. The book tells the story of the early days of the rock band the Grateful Dead. It was published by Z2 Comics in 2020.[18]

Van Sciver uses Photoshop along with traditional media like radiograph pens, Higgins inks, colored pencils and watercolors.[2] He keeps regular hours drawing, working each day from 9am until 5pm. He has used social media like Patreon and Twitter in the past to get immediate feedback on his work.[3] He moved to Columbia, South Carolina, in 2018.[3]

Awards

Van Sciver won the 2016 Ignatz award for Outstanding Story with the one-shot stand alone comic My Hot Date. He has been nominated for an Ignatz award many times:

2010 Outstanding Comic - Blammo #6 (Kilgore)
2012 Outstanding Minicomic - The Death of Elijah Lovejoy (2D Cloud)
2014 Outstanding Comic - Blammo #8 (Kilgore), 2015 Outstanding Graphic Novel - Saint Cole (Fantagraphics)
2015 Outstanding Artist - Saint Cole (Fantagraphics)
2015 Outstanding Graphic Novel - Saint Cole (Fantagraphics)
2016 Outstanding Artist - Disquiet (Fantagraphics)
2016 Outstanding Story - My Hot Date (Kilgore)
2020 Outstanding Collection - The Complete Works of Fante Bukowski (Fantagraphics)

In 2016, his graphic novel Fante Bukowski was nominee for a Best Writer/Artist Eisner Award.[19]

Van Sciver has been shortlisted for two AML Awards from the Association for Mormon Letters: in 2015 for My Hot Date and 2018 for One Dirty Tree.[20][21] He received the AML Award for One Dirty Tree.[22]

Bibliography

The following is a mostly complete list of comics which contain solely content by Van Sciver. Collaborations, anthologies, and collections are listed in the table that follows.

COMICYEARPUBLISHERNOTES
The War1989Self-publishedFeatures Spider-Man, Ziggy, and Gumby.
Blammo Funnies2006-2007Self-published1 (2006) & 2 (2007). Forerunner to Blammo.
Blammo2007-2018Self-published & Kilgore Books ComicsSelf-published: 1 (2007), 2 (2008), 3 (2009), 4 (2009), 7.5 (2011). Kilgore Books & Comics: 5 (2009), 6 (2010), 7 (2011), 8 (2013),8 1/2 (2014), 9 (2016), 10 (2018).
Various Self-Published one-shot mini-comics2007-2019Self-publishedChicken Strips (2007), Hep (2007), The Work of Young, Unfed, and Unknown Cartoonist (2008), More Work from an Unknown Cartoonist (2008), The Limited and Very Rare Noah Van Sciver mini-comic (2009), Chapbook (2009), Judgments (2009), I want to be special to you (2010), Dueling (2011), The Hypo mini promo (2011), More Mundane (2013), In the Thick of It (2019)
Complaints2010Poopsheet FoundationIncluded in Treasury of Mini Comics Vol. 1. According to the Poopsheet foundation website: "Print run is 50 even though it says 100 on back cover."
Noah novella2010Grimalkin Press
The Death of Elijah Lovejoy20112dcloudB&W. Deleted chapter from The Hypo. Reprinted in color in Disquiet.
19992012Retrofit ComicsSelf-published bootleg in 2013, and Re-published in Youth is Wasted
Noah Van Sciver in Conversation With Charles Forsman2012Oily Comics
The Hypo: The Melancholic Young Lincoln2012Fantagraphics
Who Is Dead in the White House? mini2012Fantagraphics
St. Cole promo mini2013Kilgore Books & Comics
Weekend Alone2013Tinto Press LLCSketchbook
Weekend For Two2014Tinto Press LLCSketchbook
Youth Is Wasted2014Adhouse BooksContains unpublished and previous published work. Excerpts from BLAMMO #s 6, 7, & 8 as well as 1999 minicomic, and stories originally published in Illustrated Journal of Humor Vol. 1, Alternative Comics #4, and MOME #22.
I Don't Hate Your Guts20142D Cloud
The Lizard Laughed2014Oily ComicsReprinted in Disquiet, self-published and reprinted as stand-alone one shot in 2021
Cheer Up2014Hic & Hoc Publications500 copies printed, rarest fully produced Van Sciver book
Slow Graffiti2014-2017Alternative Comics (#1 only) & Self-published1 (2014), 2 (2016), 3 (2017)
St. Cole2015Fantagraphics
My Hot Date2015Kilgore Books & ComicsReprinted in 2021 as My Hot Date (and other embarrassments). Includes new intro strip "The Power of the Force" and bonus strip "Holly Hill"
Fante Bukowski2015Fantagraphics
Disquiet2016FantagraphicsContains unpublished and previous published work. Includes The Lizard Laughed, The Cow's Head, Down in a Hole, Punks V. Lizards, Death of Elijah Lovejoy (in color), previously published Christmas story from unnamed mini-comic, and previously unpublished art & stories.
Fante Bukowski Two2017Fantagraphics
His Last Comic (mini-kuš #60)2017kuš!
One Dirty Tree2018Uncivilized Books
Fante Bukowski 3: A Perfect Failure2018Fantagraphics
Constant Companion2018FantagraphicsSketchbook, part of "Fantagraphics Underground Series"
For Art's Sake2020self-publishedIncludes a broader story around some strips published in The Introvert's Club weekly strip
The Complete Works of Fante Bukowski2020FantagraphicsCollects Fante Bukowski 1–3 with bonus material
Please Don't Step on my JNCO Jeans2020FantagraphicsReprints from weekly strip "The Introvert's Club" as published in Columbus Alive.
Boring2021Self-publishedAutobiographical one-shot floppy
Blammo Issues 1-52021Kilgore Books & ComicsCollection of Blammo Issues 1-5 plus bonus strips: Process, Christmas as a 3rd Wheel, Dueling, Day in the Life of My Father, The Van Sciver Factory, Pair of Pants, My First Date, Embarrassing Story, This Comic Should Be Read in Slow Motion, My Life in Quotations, Winter is a Time to..., Fontano the Chicago Sub, Cowtown Comix Fest, and assorted sketches and notes.
Joseph Smith and the Mormons2022Abrams ComicArts
Maple Terrace 1-32023Uncivilized ComicsAutobiographical three issue floppy


The following is a list of collaborations, anthologies, and collections that feature Van Sciver's work.

COMIC/MAGAZINEYEARPUBLISHERNOTES
4 Questions2007-2015The Denver WestwordWeekly feature in free weekly paper. Mostly interviews with bands but also cartoonists such as Gary Panter and Joseph Remnant. Also included Denver-themed and autobiographical strips.
Mineshaft2008-2019Mineshaft Magazine#23 One page story, #32 Rich Dad, Poor Dad, #33 One page sketch: My last shift at Kilgore Books, #34 One page story: Cabin Fever, #36 1/2 page story: Moonchild, #37 Columbia, #38 One page story: The Self (adaptation of Herman Hesse text)
The Comics Journal2008–2009, 2020FantagraphicsSeries of seven three-page cartoon interviews conducted and drawn by Van Sciver. #293 Joe Matt, #295, Liz Prince, #296 Johnny Ryan, #297 Frank Stack, #298 Peter Bagge, #299 John Porcellino, #300 Gary Groth. Also, issue #305 contains a two part tribute to Clare Briggs. 15 full page Clare Briggs comics colored by Van Sciver plus one page comic "A Tribute to Clare Briggs."
Not My Small Diary 2008Self-published by Delaine Derry GreenTwo different issues: #14 Part Two Story: My First Date (Tells the story of the date later revised and expanded to become My Hot Date), #16 Story: I Don't Drive. Reprinted in The Portable Not My Small Diary (2014)
MOME2009FantagraphicsTwo different issues: Summer 2009 (#15) Story: The True Tale of the Denver Spider-Man, Fall 2011 (#22), Story: Roommates (later collected in Youth Is Wasted)
Apartment 3072009Self-published by Josh BlairAlso contains stories by Josh Blair, Pete Borrebach, and Nick Marino
side b: the music lover's comic anthology2009Poseur InkStory: My Bohemian Dream
Apartment 307: One Year Later2010Self-published by Josh BlairAlso contains stories by Josh Blair, Pete Borrebach, and Nick Marino
Khaki Shorts #262010Braw BooksScottish anthology. Cover and story: Process. Also collected in The Khollected Khaki Shorts (2015).
Hive 52010Grimalkin PressContains excerpt from The Hypo
Sunstone 2010Sunstone Education FoundationThree different issues: #360 Special Comics Issue. Story: Fame, #363 Van Sciver's Book of Mormon Origins. Black & White, #364 Van Sciver's Book of Mormon. Full color.
K.B.C. #22010Self-published mini comic anthology
Wulvereen vs Star Trekk 2010self-publishedCollaboration with John Porcellino made at a superhero convention. Parody of superhero and geek culture.
The Best American Comics 20112011Houghton Mifflin HarcourtStory: Abby's Road from Blammo #6
So Buttons2011-2019Alchemy ComixFour issues and two compilations. #4 Story: So...Loyal (art only). Also collected in So Buttons: Man of, Like, a Dozen Faces, Story: Noah Van Sciver Tells All (story and art), #5 Story: So...Escalated (art only). Also collected in So Buttons: Man of, Like, a Dozen Faces, #8 Van Sciver did the cover art (Homage to Crumb's cover of American Splendor #4) and the art for story: So...One Halloween. Story also included in So Buttons: Man of, Like, A Dozen Faces, #9 Story: So...Carl (art only), and So Buttons: Slice of Cake (2nd compilation)
š! #10 "Sea Stories"2012kuš!
Little Heart: A comic anthology for marriage equality20122dCloudStory: Loving
Devastator #62012Devastator PressStory: Scenes from a New and Used Bookstore
MAD Magazine 2012-2017DC Comics#s 516, 518, 520, 542-545
Digestate: A Food & Eating Themed Anthology 2012Birdcage Bottom BooksStory: 3 Bowls of Raisin Bran, also published in birdy #14
Suspect Device2012-2014IAMWAR#s 2-4
Deep In The Woods20132dCloud"Double header" split comic with Nicholas Breutzman on oversized newsprint. Story: The Cow's Head. Reprinted in Disquiet
Treasury of Mini Comics Volume One2013Fantagraphicsincludes Complaints mini comic
Henry & Glenn Forever & Ever #42013Microcosm/IWDY ComicsStory: Henry & Glen V. Lizards. Also collected in Henry & Glenn Forever & Ever.
Scene But Not Heard2013Top Shelf Productions/Alternative ComicsCollection of wordless comics by Sam Henderson. Van Sciver wrote & drew a 2-page introduction explaining Henderson's impact on his career.
Unknown Origins & Untimely Ends2013Hic & Hoc PublicationsStory: Meat Shower
Alternative Comics #42013Alternative ComixStory: Hallelujah!
Real Good Stuff #1 and #22013Poochie Press PublicationsStory: Eligibility (Writing by Dennis Eichhorn)
Short Arms, Long Pockets2014Oily ComicsAn Oily Comics sampler made for free comic book day 2014. Contains 3 page excerpt from The Lizard Laughed.
Pratfall2014Self-published zine by Robert KirbyAnthology featuring "The lighter side of accidents, pain, blood and humiliation."
Cringe: An Anthology of Embarrassment2014Birdcage Bottom BooksIllustration: Punk Chasing Wig
The Graphic Canon of Children's Literature: The World's Greatest Kids' Lit as Comics and Visuals2014Seven Stories PressTwo stories: Star Dollars and The Water Sprite, both by Brothers Grimm
Subcultures2014Ninth Art PressStory: What is a Juggalo?
Kilgore Quarterly2014-2017Kilgore Books#5, #6, #7 Interior title page sketch
birdy.2014-2021Birdy magazineContributions to nine different issues: #9 Cover art, #13 Four page interview with various reprinted artwork, #14 Story: 3 Bowls of Rain Bran, also published in Digestate: A Food & Eating Themed Anthology, #21 Cover art, #22 Story: The Floating Head with Bad Breath, #37 Back cover art: Cats, #48 Back cover art: Holiday, #67 Front cover art: Color, #85 1/2 page color art: El Gato (series)
A City of Whiskey & Fire2015Red Earth TraceStory by Daniel Landes, art by Van Sciver. Reprinted in Disquiet.
The Fantastic Four No.9 Project2015Self-published by Jason YoungGiven away at S.P.A.C.E. 2015. Jason commissioned a different artist to re-draw one page of FF #9. Van Sciver did page 2.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Amazing Adventures #22015IDWBackup story, also collected in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Amazing Adventures Vol. 1 TPB
The Hic & Hoc Illustrated Journal of Humor2015Alternative Comics
Schmuck2015Alternative ComicsStory: Night at the Museum (art only)
Cinema Sewer Volume Five2015Fab PressIllustrations for story "Rosario 1930: The vintage porno journalism of Curt Moreck"
Taddle Creek #362015Vitalis PublishingStory: Home
Extra Good Stuff2015Last GaspStory: Gold Dust Twins (art only)
Hip Hop Family Tree, Volume 4 Treasury Edition 2015FantagraphicsPinup of rap group Gravediggaz
Smoke Signal #232016Desert Island
Study Group Magazine #42016Study GroupStandard and Deluxe editions. Story: Star Fights (Star Wars parody)
Guido Crepax Valentina Tribute Art2016FantagraphicsOne-page pinup, limited to 150 numbered copies
The Introvert's Club2017-2019Columbus AliveWeekly feature in Columbus alt-weekly newspaper and website. Some of the strips were eventually republished as Please Don't Step on my JNCO Jeans and For Art's Sake
NOW: The New Comics Anthology 2017-2020FantagraphicsFive issues: #1 Story: Wall of Shame, #3 Story: Wolf Nerd, #7 Story: I'm Punk Now, #8 Story: Saint Cole, #9 Story: Spacehawk
Galago #1262017OrdfrontStory: White River Junction, Vermont (Story is in Swedish)
Johnny Appleseed2017FantagraphicsWritten by Paul Buhle
Bottoms Up! True Tales of Hitting Rock Bottom2017Birdcage Bottom BooksStory: Marigold
Taddle Creek #402017Vitalis PublishingStory: Cool Comics Club (Of Ohio)
World's Greatest Cartoonists2017FantagraphicsFree Comic Book Day. Cover by Van Sciver. Also includes deleted scene from Fante Bukowski book 2.
Suspect Press2017-2019Suspect PressFour issues: #14 Story: Letter from 1998, #17 Story: Mark Twain Lecture on Artemus Ward (Also printed in Blammo #10), #21 Story:Introvert, #22 cover only
Blind Justice #22018FantagraphicsVan Sciver did pencils. Three different covers. Also collected in All Time Comics Season 1 TPB
Kramers Ergot 102019FantagraphicsStory: Lakewoood, Colorado
Eugene V. Debs: A Graphic Biography2019FantagraphicsWritten by Paul Buhle & Steve Max
Full Bleed: The Comics & Culture Quarterly, Vol. 32019IDW Publishing
Stripburger #742019StripburgerContains reprint of Artemus Ward (His travels) Among the Mormons from Blammo #10.
Broken Frontier2020A Wave Blue World IncStory: "Down in a Hole". Reprinted in Disquiet.
Grateful Dead Origins2020Z2 ComicsWritten by Chris Miskiewicz. Deluxe edition includes LP record.
Peace for Pepe2020Dale Zine ShopOne page illustration of Matt Furie's Pepe The Frog
Oh Man! By Clare Briggs2021self-publishedCollection of prohibition-era comics by Clare Briggs, compiled, published, and with an introduction from Van Sciver.
Freaky #82022FreakyReprint of The Floating Head story from birdie. #22

The following is a list of webcomics and illustrations published online.

COMICYEARWEBSITENOTES
Who are you, Jesus2010Top Shelf 2.0Reprint story from Blammo #7
Abraham Lincoln2010Top Shelf 2.0Reprints 7 pages from The Hypo with slightly different coloring
The End of an Artist's Career2010Top Shelf 2.0
Six different classic comic covers redrawn by Van Sciver2009-2011Covered Blog
St. Cole webcomic2012-2014Archived version of The Expositor ComicsCollaborative website with Joseph Remnant
Noah Van Sciver's Diary Comics2012 and 2015The Comics JournalTwo different five-day diary comics for tcj.com. First in 2012, then in 2015

References

  1. Enrico, Robin (3 September 2018). "One Dirty Tree - Noah Van Sciver's Family Saga Cements His Status as One of the Foremost Cartoonists Working Today". Broken Frontier.
  2. McDonnell, Chris (6 September 2017). "Artist of the Day: Noah Van Sciver". Cartoon Brew.
  3. Botzakis, Stergios; Royal, Derek (11 December 2018). "Comics Alternative Interviews: Back with Noah Van Sciver".
  4. Casciato, Cory. "Noah Van Sciver". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  5. McGurk, Caitlin (24 May 2017). "An Interview with Noah Van Sciver | The Comics Journal". The Comics Journal.
  6. Van Sciver entry, Lambiek's Comiclopedia.
  7. "Noah Van Sciver". DINK. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017.
  8. "Noah van Sciver wants to draw Howard the Duck for Marvel". 21 September 2010.
  9. Mad issue #512 (Dec. 2012).
  10. MTV Geek – MTV Geek's Best Graphic Novels Of 2012
  11. The Return of the Best Damn Comics of the Year - Boing Boing Edition - Boing Boing
  12. Ware's 'Building Stories' Tops PW Comics World's 2012 Graphic Novel Critics' Poll
  13. "Best Books 2012: Graphic Novels". Archived from the original on 2017-07-07. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
  14. "2016 IGNATZ AWARD Winners (Full List)". Newsarama. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  15. Kane, Tyler R. (23 July 2015). "Noah Van Sciver Gets Laughs at Expense of Drunk Writers in Fante Bukowski". pastemagazine.com. Paste Magazine.
  16. "Noah Van Sciver Named CCS Ten Year Anniversary Fellow". The Center for Cartoon Studies. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  17. Wenzel, John (23 October 2018). "Review: Noah Van Sciver's "One Dirty Tree" a masterful, bittersweet comics memoir". The Know. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  18. Klaehn, Jeffery (May 22, 2020). "Talking Comics with Ignatz Award-Winning Cartoonist Noah Van Sciver". Boing Boing. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  19. "2016 Eisner Award Nominees". Comic-Con International: San Diego. 2016-04-18. Archived from the original on 2016-04-19. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  20. Hall, Andrew (5 Feb 2016). "2015 AML Awards Finalists #5: Drama, Comics, and Criticism". Dawning of a Brighter Day. Association for Mormon Letters. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  21. "2018 AML Award Finalists #4: Comics and Film." Dawning of a Brighter Day. Association for Mormon Letters. 14 February 2019. Accessed 19 February 2019.
  22. "2018 AML Award Winners". Dawning of a Brighter Day. 31 March 2019.

Sources consulted

Interviews

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