James Kochalka

Various. All written and drawn by James Kochalka.
Magic Boy
Tiny Bubbles (Highwater Books; OGN). [From Highwater: Magic Boy's hypochondria gets the best of him in Kochalka's most ambitious graphic novel yet. A chance meeting with an action-painting robot forces Magic Boy to contemplate the meaning of art and his own technophobia. Heady stuff leavened with Kochalka's usual bratty humor and thick brushstrokes. Tiny Bubbles is a wacky masterpiece by one of the strongest new talents in comics!]
Kissers (Highwater Books; OGN). [From Highwater: Magic Boy has finally lost the love of his wife Amy (or so he thinks) and sets out to win back her affections in a series of harebrained schemes. His cat Spandy also falls in love -- but with a flighty starling who, unfortunately and perhaps for obvious reasons, doesn't return the feelings. Meanwhile, all of Magic Boy's friends fall in and out of love. A lot of bad advice is dispensed, but it's all made better with a kiss.]
Magic Boy and Girlfriend (Top Shelf Productions; mini-comics). [From Top Shelf: The comics that made the man a legend. That's right.. collected for the first ever are the greatest hits from the seminal mini-comic James Kochalka Superstar. Also included, which has never before been made available, "The Secret Origin of Deadbear Circus Detective." All of which is rare and now out-of-print. James' comics have appeared in virtually every alt.comix anthology stateside, as well as magazines from as far away as Belgium (in the comics/culture 'zine 5300). This collection showcases a remarkable progression in comics craft by one of today's most unique American cartoonists.]
Magic Boy and the Robot Elf (Top Shelf Productions; mini-comics). [From Top Shelf: Magic Boy is an old, decrepit man. Lonely and confused, he decides to build a robotic replica of himself. However, the robot goes insane and attacks his creator, then goes back in time, and kills the creator's childhood self. Space and time warp around Magic Boy and his Robot Elf, as fact and fantasy fracture and get shuffled together. This book reprints Kochalka's first (and highly ambitious) fever dream of a graphic novel, and features an all-new ending that brings the story to a stunning psychedelic climax.]
Monkey vs. Robot
Monkey vs. Robot (Top Shelf Productions; OGN). [From Top Shelf: Deep in the jungle, the created and the natural clash in a titanic battle - Monkey vs. Robot! Brought to us by James Kochalka (who else??), this fast and fun tale highlights his clean and clear art and bizarre storytelling.]
Monkey vs. Robot and the Crystal of Power (Top Shelf Productions; OGN). [From Top Shelf: Deep in the forest, robots are gathering plant and animal samples, and bringing them back to Mother Computer's Knowledge Extractor for analysis. When one spunky monkey breaks free of the device, a short circuit burns out the power Crystal in one of Mother's Cognitive Reactors. Now, the robots must a replacement Crystal... but the one they dig up is a sacred relic from a monkey burial ground. Technology vs. Nature, Science vs. Religion... all wrapped up in non-stop action, this is blistering follow-up to the original smash hit, Monkey vs. Robot.]
Misc.
Cute Manifesto (Alternative Comics; misc. shorts & essays). [From Alternative Comics: ust think of this as Kochalka's Dianetics. It's a powerful mixture of philosophy and comics, and it can literally change your life forever. In a dangerously uncertain world, Kochalka plots a theoretical path to happiness. Collecting some of his most intensely thoughtful work, this book struggles with all the big issues: comics and art, birth and death, technology and joy, and everything in between. It collects "The Horrible Truth about Comics," "Reinventing Everything" parts 1 and 2, "Sunburn," "The Cute Manifesto," and even Kochalka's famous "Craft is the Enemy" essays.]
Fancy Froglin's Sexy Forest (Alternative Comics; OGN). [From Alternative Comics: Tom Devlin (Highwater Books) provides the graphic design for one of the finest new graphic novels this year. Fancy Froglin is an ineffably cute happy little frog that loves getting boners. He's highly sexual yet purely innocent. And he loves bunnies. Most important, he's really f-ing funny.]
Fantastic Butterflies (Alternative Comics; OGN).[From Alternative Comics: Tom Devlin (Highwater Books) provides the graphic design for one of the finest new graphic novels this year. James Kochalka has been called "one of the brightest lights of independent comics" and Fantastic Butterflies is a shining example of his genius. Magic Boy wanders drunkenly through a hallucinogenic nightmare world of Cancer Robots, softball showdowns, dance parties, barbecues, time machines, testicular injury, and cake-baking kung-fu cuties! The graphic novel has twists and turns so bizarre you'll be shouting out "OH MY GOD!" and scaring your roommates. It also happens to be hilariously funny and infectious in its bubbly charm, combining autobiography with a kind of magic science-fiction.]
Mermaid (Alternative Comics; one-shot). [From Alternative Comics: Mermaid, the first of James Kochalka's projects with Alternative Comics, is a panoramic 42 page story of love and beauty. This magnificent one-shot starring elves, robots, kitties, and of course a mermaid, is some of James' finest work to date.]
Paradise Sucks (Black Eye Productions; OGN).
Peanutbutter & Jeremy's Best Book Ever (Highwater Books; OGN). [From Highwater: Peanutbutter is a cute little kitty who thinks she works in an office. She wears her little hat and tie and often falls asleep on the reams papers overflowing her inbox. Jeremy is the crafty crow who lives in the tree outside of Peanutbutter’s window. Jeremy tries to trick Peanutbutter again and again and steal her hat. Somehow Peanutbutter and Jeremy build a friendship together. The premise could hardly be simpler, but in James Kochalka’s hands it is pure magic! This book will delight everyone from wide-eyed children to jaded hipsters! On the surface the story is silly and fun for kids, but for adults it is a clever critique of modern society! It's not called their "Best Book Ever" for nothing!]
The Perfect Planet & Other Stories (Top Shelf Productions; misc. stories). [From Top Shelf: This graphic novel showcases the Ignatz Award winning story, "The Perfect Planet," as well two brand new stories, "Nonironic Futuropolis," and "Frog & Fly." "The Perfect Planet" is a whimsical tale that explores the mysteries of life with all the love and wonder the human soul can muster. "Nonironic Futuropolis" will make you feel as magical as the first snowfall of winter. And "Frog & Fly" is the quest for the Evil Toad Messiah. Together, this trilogy makes textbook reading for the serious Kochalka reader. Miss this at your own peril, as we think you'll agree that James is a superstar on the rise.]
Pinky & Stinky (Top Shelf Productions; OGN). [From Top Shelf: Pinky & Stinky are fat little piglets, but just because they're cuties that doesn't mean they're not brave astronauts! Determinedly, they embark on a daring mission to be the first pigs on Pluto, but things go horribly wrong when they crash land on the moon shortly after their journey begins. Soon they find themselves playing a pivotal role in the Moon-Men's battle to free themselves from the oppression of the American space program. Pinky & Stinky is an unabashedly fun mixture of Star Wars and Pokemon, if you can believe that! Packed with action, adventure, and cute little cuties.]
Quit Your Job (Alternative Comics; OGN). [From Alternative Comics: Jeff Smith (Bone) provides the introduction to one of the finest new graphic novels this year. Ignatz Award winner James Kochalka has been called "one of the brightest lights of independent comics" and Quit Your Job is a shining example of his genius. On his way to work at the Chinese restaurant, Magic Boy discovers an enchanted ring and determines to make an expedition to the North Pole. He only gets as far as the coffee shop on the next block, but his world is forever changed in the short journey. Special cover design by Michel Vrana.]