It's somewhat difficult to believe five years have already passed since our first monthly jam meeting in Minneapolis in December 2002... it still seems like we are just getting started. Five years!
The first meeting was pretty small, but awfully promising for a first meeting... my recollection is that Danno Klonowski (Dank), Ken Avidor, Mike Toft, Andy Singer and Roger Lootine were all there. Organized initially via flyers posted around Minneapolis and a much less ambitious version of this website, the Conspiracy has grown exponentially, and we now have 21 cells around North America in ALBERT LEA, MN, CALGARY/EDMONTON, CHICAGO, IL, DECORAH, IA, KANSAS CITY, MO, LANCASTER, PA, MILWAUKEE, WI, MINNEAPOLIS, MN, MONTREAL, NH, VT, and Western MA, NORTH CAROLINA, PHILADELPHIA, PA, RICE, MN, SACRAMENTO, CA, SAN FRANCISCO, CA, SANTA FE/ALBUQUERQUE, NM, SIOUX FALLS, SD, SPRINGFIELD, IL, SPRINGFIELD, MO, ST. PAUL, MN, and, as of this week, COLUMBUS, OH!
(Note: any cartoonist anywhere can start a cell)
Besides getting together to draw jam comics the first Thursday of the month in Minneapolis (and many other times and places around North America), we do a lot of other things. I thought I'd take this opportunity to go over some highlights from the last five years. Please share your personal highlights from the history of the Conspiracy in the comments, if you have any to share! My memories are obviously Minneapolis focused, since that is where I live... I'd love to hear more about things that have happened with our other cells.
Highlight #1: 24 Hour Comics Day
The Conspiracy in Minneapolis has participated in three of the 24 Hour Comics Days organized by Nat Gertler that have occurred to date (in 2006 we celebrated on a different weekend due to the date conflicting with FallCon), with many of the people participating continuing to do it each year. Doing a 24 hour comic is a unique learning experience that every cartoonist should try at least once, I think... it is pretty amazing to see what can be accomplished with the right attitude and environment in 24 hours. Doing it in a group is a whole lot more fun than doing it alone, so I'm thankful that we've had so many people enthusiastic to participate for the last 4 years in Minneapolis.
The first year was crazy... we had 12 participants at two locations. 24 Hour Comics are the equivalent of extreme sports or flagpole sitting for cartoonists, and we made it ridiculously extra-difficult on ourselves the first year. First of all we had two locations... we started today at a rented space at a downtown hotel, and halfway through, we deliriously moved from there to Grumpy's bar. Even dumber than that, though... I decided that since April 24th was 24 Hour Comics Day that year, we should draw from midnight to midnight, so most of us had little or no sleep starting after working all day Friday. I have no idea what I was thinking. On top of all of that and printing all of the completed comics the next morning as an almost 200 page book at Kinkos to sell at MicroCon the next day, it was really 48 Hour Comics Day in Minneapolis.
Astoundingly, some really good comics were still produced, including Kevin Cannon's fantastic first 24 Hour comic, The Next 24 Hours. Kevin since then has gone on to pioneer the 288 Hour Comic (a 24 hour comic once a month for a year, to make a 288 page graphic novel), and in the process has most likely done more 24 hour comics than anyone else in the world. He is currently done with over 288 pages of Far Arden, and it will easily be one of the best graphic novels of the year next year when it is published.
In subsequent years, we have continued our practice of collecting the comics after the event... now we use the much easier box set method. This is the first year we haven't collected them the day after the event... we must be getting old.
Above, a group shot of the participating Conspirators from 2004 at the end of the day... Top (L to R) Kevin Cannon (finished) , David Steinlicht (finished) Middle (L to R) Danno Klonowski (Dank) (finished), Steven Stwalley (finished), Adam Wirtzfeld (finished), Sean Tenhoff (finished), Doc Popular (finished) Bottom (L to R) Antonio Campion (not finished Eastman Variation) , Damian Sheridan (not finished Eastman Variation), Ken Avidor (finished) Not shown: Sam Hiti (finished), Fang Langford (not finished)
Year one coverage by Shad Petosky (April 24, 2004): part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4
Year two (April 24-25, 2005) (coverage again by Shad Petosky).
Year three (September 23-24, 2006). (Note that this one didn't occur on the actual date of 24 Hour Comics Day, so it was actually a >23 and <25 Hour comic event)
Year four coverage (October 20th to 21st) by David Steinlicht.
Highlight #2: Lutefisk Sushi Volume A and B
Above, Mike Toft navigates the packed house at the Lutefisk Sushi Volume A show at Creative Electric Studios.
We have done two Lutefisk Sushi shows so far, and both of them have been tremendous successes by any gauge (Lutefisk Sushi Volume C will be happening this May at Altered Esthetics). Both events centered around an enormous box set of mini-comics produced by Minnesota cartoonists.
The first one had 36 comics in it, the second had 52... both boxes were filled to bursting with beautiful handmade mini-comics. The box sets both had accompanying gallery shows at the wonderful Northeast Minneapolis gallery Creative Electric Studios. In addition to the work displayed on the walls by all the cartoonists in the box, the shows both had a featured artist who showed off artistic highlights from their career (Vincent Stall (King Mini) for Volume A and Ken Avidor for Volume B). Each show earned over $1000 for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. You can read more about the two events on the websites for them:
Lutefisk Sushi Volume A Website
Lutefisk Sushi Volume B Website
Highlight #3: The Schmapples Tribute
Our comrade Eric "Schmapples" Lappegard tragically passed away from complications after a car accident in July 2007, leaving behind considerable medical expenses. In a little over a month, we (along with some of Eric's other friends) put together a benefit show for Eric's family at Altered Esthetics. We had a gallery show featuring an overview of much of Eric's wonderful work, as well as work by cartoonists who wanted to help. In addition to the show we printed two publications... a complete collection of Eric's online strip Schmapples, and a 100 page anthology of strips by cartoonists who knew Eric or just wanted to help. The theme for the anthology was bikes, cats and ninjas... all subjects dear to Eric. The show ended up making over $4000 for Eric's family.
The Conspiracy has done a lot of work I've been proud to be a part of... I've never been prouder of our group than with our work done for this benefit.
Highlight #4: The Publications
Looking back, I can hardly believe how much the Minneapolis cell has published in the last five years...
Panelfesto V.1 #1: The Journal of The International Cartoonist Conspiracy (October 2003, collection of jam comics from the Minneapolis cell of the Cartoonist Conspiracy)
24 Hours (April 2004, collects 9 24-Hour comics from 24 Hour Comics Day 2004)
Includes (in the below order):
Mermzy by Danno Klonowski (Dank)
The Rupture by Ken Avidor
The Next 24 Hours by Kevin Cannon
Dish Dog by Adam Wirtzfeld
24 Hours With Trog by Doctor Popular
How the Square Fell in Love With the Triangle by Sean Tenhoff
24 Hours by Steven Stwalley
Cleaning My Work Area by David Steinlicht
Panelfesto V.1 #2: (2004, collection of jam comics from the Minneapolis cell of the Cartoonist Conspriacy)
Lutefisk Sushi Volume A (September 2004, Box Set of 35 Mini-Comics, box design by Vincent Stall (King Mini), limited edition of 100 numbered copies, produced for the Lutefisk Sushi Volume A event)
Includes (in alphabetical order by artist):
A Twin Cities Christmas Carol by Ken Avidor
As if Moved by a Divine Hand: The Stories and Art of Kevin Cannon and Sam Fellman by Kevin Cannon and Sam Fellman
Why it's the Foxy Chick by Zander Cannon
From Under A Rug by Jarilyn Fahrendorff
A Star Story by Andrey Feldshteyn
naked by Peter Gaustad
Untitled scroll by Geoff Hamerlinck
The Gallows Noose by Sam Hiti
Stop the Clock Productions Warns You Beware of the Veebling With Free Time and No Ride by Renata
Limon
A Staplegenius Comic Starring Monster Pig-Face Boy and His Half Brother Roger Pig-Face Van Buren by Danno Klonowski (Dank)
Blues by Maxeem Konrardy
Why is it Always So Sunny? by Tonya Kuxhausen
Uptown Girl #16 by Bob Lipski
Residue Comics #8 by Roger Lootine
Bigfoot Comix #3 by Doug McNamara
Mox Nix Minicomix #1 by Doug McNamara
Gimpy Cat Falls in Love by Anna Petosky
The Blue Box by Shad Petosky
Low Blow #4 by Aaron Poliwoda
Sedentary Life by Anna Pratt
Avec Tout Mon Amour #1 1/3 by Quillan Roe
Sauce by Zak Sally and Mr. Mike Haeg
Placebo Addiction by Jason Sandberg
The Judas Cradle Act I Scene I by Damian Sheridan
No Exit by Andy Singer
All Small #7 by David Steinlicht
Nicknames by Steven Stwalley (includes "distortoscope")
Raking Leaves by David Tea
Absurd #1 by Sean Tenhoff
Lucy & Cornelius Part 1 by Sean Tenhoff
Brain Food #10 by Mike Toft
Captain Fantasy by Lonny Unitus
Do You Have the Runs by Brett VonSchlosser
CoffeeShop Metaphysics by Dwayne Williams
Sister Elizabeth Kenny by Adam Wirtzfeld
Panelfesto V.1 #2 by The Minneapolis Cell of the International Cartoonist Conspiracy
Lutefisk Sushi Volume A Show postcard
Panelfesto #3: Jam Packed (2005, 4 16-page mini-comics, wrapped in red band, limited edition of 200)
24 Hour Comic Day: 24 Hours 24 Pages: A Comics Marathon 2005 (April 2005, Box Set of 24-Hour Mini-Comics from from 24 Hour Comics Day 2005, Box cover by Zander Cannon, limited edition of 100)
Includes (in alphabetical order by artist):
The Rupture by Ken Avidor
Armitage Shanks: Arctic Pirate "Exit Strategy" by Kevin Cannon
The Curse of the Silver Cobra by Zander Cannon
Adequate Comix by Troy Cummings
BOOM by Andy DeVore
The 24 Hours & More Before the 24 Hour Comic Event by Craig Ede
Staplegenius 24 Hour Comic Day 2005 by Danno Klonowski (Dank)
Free as a Bird by Eric Lappegard
The Secret of Hamble House by Nathan Lauster
Tartpop by Phil Redmon
R. Escobar by Tone Redmon
24 Hour Comic Day: Walk by Quillan Roe
FUCK by Sean Tenhoff
Define Random by Scott Williams
24 Hour Comic by David Steinlicht
Good Friends by Shane Stevenson
Skull Lover by Steven Stwalley
Start Living by Adam Wirtzfeld
Mission Accomplished: The Minneapolis and Rice, MN Losing Entries to the Comics Jam War (April 2006, comics produced for the Comics Jam War event)
Includes (in published order):
TEAM: BIG TIME ATTIC- STRIKE FORCE BRAVO TANGO ALPHA (Zander Cannon, Maxeem Konrardy, Tim Sievert, Brett VonSchlosser)
TEAM: CROWBEASTS (Nik Arnoldi, Stef Davis, Vanesa Littlecrow Wojtanowicz)
TEAM: TEUZEL KATZEN (Sarah Brace, Triton Stelflug, Kevin Wind)
TEAM: STANK! and the ROE FAMILY CARTOONISTS (Danno Klonowski (Dank), Bob Lipski, Quillan Roe, Sean Tenhoff)
TEAM: BIG TIME ATTIC- FIGHTING HELLCATS (Kevin Cannon, Shad Petosky, Brittney Sabo, Jon White)
TEAM: PIECEMEAL (Eric Lappegard, Andy Sturdivant)
TEAM: GERIATRIC (Ken Avidor, David Steinlicht, Steven Stwalley, Mike Toft)
Lutefisk Sushi Volume B (September 2006, Box Set of 50 Mini-Comics, box design by Ken Avidor, limited edition of 150 numbered copies, produced for the Lutefisk Sushi Volume B event)
Includes:
Yuck! It's Sticky: Coffee Stain Comicks by Nik Arnoldi
Avidor Roast/Weiner Roast by Ken Avidor and various (see below)
Strange Isle by Curtis Square Briggs
The Allegory by James Campbell
Victoria by Kevin Cannon
He Becomes Who Kills Him by Zander Cannon
The Inevitable Everett by Steven Carlyle
Tatorvengers #141 by Gail Catheryn (Galideous)
Sun Fish by Christopher Coffey
40 Year Baby by Andy DeVore
Habitual Entertainment by Will Dinski
Hello Goodbye by Andrey Feldshteyn
True Skylab Stories by Dan Frye
Hard Brew by Michael Furious
I'm Crazy About Him by Jesse Haller
Vampire Theory by Tim Jennen
Scoring by Cathy Johnson (Kafu)
South Paw Swede "Rogue's Gallery" by Danno Klonowski (Dank)
Angry by Nichole Klonowski (Chloe)
In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb by Nichole Klonowski (Chloe)
The Brown Blood by Maxeem Konrardy
DFL by Eric Lappegard
ID*OT 2* DUELS by Seamus Leonard
Uptown Girl: The Lutefisk Sushi Special by Bob Lipski
Bigfoot Comix #10: I am a Winner by Doug McNamara
Spud Stories of My Pappy by Suzanne Murphy
Browns by Rita Panton
Lutefisk Sushi: Crisis of the Infantile Arts by Shad Petosky
Coffeehouse Redemption by Rana Raeuchle
Cartoon Man in Why Do Today What Can Wait til Tomorrow by Charles Raymond
Everything is Great, Really by Aaron Ridgeway
Untitled by Quillan Roe
Deerdog by Brittney Sabo
Sven Svenson, Anthropologist in Troll Love by David Sandberg
The Christmas Visitor by Jason Sandberg
The Last Supper or Poslední Vecere by Jenny Schmid
Unrest: Judas Cradle Volume 2 by Damian Sheridan
Painted Thoughts by Sierra-Fern
Kanary Kid by Tim Sievert
No Exit by Andy Singer
Untitled by Vincent Stall (King Mini)
All Small #8 by David Steinlicht
Everything I Knew About Minneapolis Before I Moved Here by Andy Sturdevant
Soapy the Chicken #1 by Steven Stwalley
Fuckin' Nasty by Sean Tenhoff
Brain Food #11 by Mike Toft
The Crazy Adventures of Randy & Chirpy #1 by Lonny Unitus
Bless These Golden Idiotic Years by Brett VonSchlosser
Guy Dublin by Jon White
Slang, Comics by Dwayne Williams
Ollie and the Daysleepers by Peter Groynom and Adam Wirtzfeld
Dude Kitt!! All teh Krapp Guyz Knead a Cheep Produkct by K. Skull Induxtrees by Vanesa Littlecrow Wojtanowicz
Weiner Roast/Avidor Roast (September 2006, produced in conjunction with the Lutefisk Sushi Volume B event, collecting comics by and about Ken Avidor aka Ken Weiner, Flip Covers by Ken Avidor)
Includes:
(In order on Weiner Roast Side)
Photos by Rayna Collins
Sour Grapes by Peter Bagge (reprinted from Weirdo #12)
Weiner's Getting Married... Let's Have a Bachelor Party to Remember by Bruce Carleton
True Tales of Ken Weiner by John Holmstrom
Sabine and Suzanne Meet Old Man Weiner by Kurt Beaulieu
Weiner by Ken Avidor
(In order on Avidor Roast Side)
Portrait of My Friend, Ken Avidor by David Steinlicht
Burritoville by Kevin Cannon
Untitled by David Paleo
Pumpito by Mark Martin
Roadkill Bill "Goes on a Bender" by Steven Stwalley
Bicycle Enthusiast on the Moon by Andrey Feldshteyn
Road Rage Roscoe by Damian Sheridan
Just What Are People Saying About Ken Avidor? by Sean Tenhoff
Drunk Mayor by Danno Klonowski (Dank)
Ken Avidor by Quillan Roe
Who is Ken Avidor by Andy Singer
Homo Wienerificus by Danny Hellman
The 3rd Annual Conspiracy Less Than 25 but More Than 23 Hour Sequential Art Event (September 2006, Box Set of 24-Hour Mini-Comics from the 3rd Annual Conspiracy Less Than 25 but More Than 23 Hour Sequential Art Event, Box cover by Bob Lipski, limited edition of 100)
Includes (in alphabetical order by artist):
Gnrkx & Sznkz in "Everybody's Skull-Fuckin'" by Ken Avidor
Bone Storm by David Bernardy
You Don't Mess With a Man's Hat by Curtis Square Briggs
Hit & Run by James Campbell
A General Theory of Love by Kevin Cannon
The Lost Penguin of Elephant Island by Zander Cannon
The Vengance Machine by Dan Frye
"Sword" by Michael Furious
Phobia: A Totally Unfinished 24-but-Actually-12-Hour Comic by Cathy Johnson (Kafu)
Manly Tales of Cowardice by Danno Klonowski (Dank)
Untitled by Eric Lappegard
Uptown Girl: The Man Who Sold the World by Bob Lipski
Mort by Earl L. Luckes, Jr.
Self-Inflicted Isolation by Mike Owens
Fat Chance Comics Asks Art Thou Ready for the Sausage Fest by Leslie Powell
Cartoonman Goes to Hell by Charles Raymond
Climb Commaptain Confidential by Phil Redmon
Citizen Kidd by Damian Sheridan
Danger Duck by David Steinlicht
Bottomless by Steven Stwalley
Gender Ambiguity by Caitlin Warner
Safehaven by Adam Wirtzfeld
Polska, Sucka! Issue 12 by Vanesa Littlecrow Wojtanowicz
Free The International Cartoonist Conspiracy (2006, 8 page giveaway collection of jam comics)
The Cartoonist Conspiracy Li'l Library Volume One: How to Make Mini-Comics (February 2007, 16 page free guide on how to make a mini-comic, downloadable and printable mini-comic pdf here)
City Pages: The Comix Issue (July 18, 2007, Comix issue of Minneapolis newsweekly City Pages, comics on the theme of "True Tales of the Twin Cities" can be seen online here)
Includes (in alphabetical order by artist):
Art Critics with Badges by Ken Avidor
Roadkill Bill: Citizen Participation by Ken Avidor
A Moment of Beauty by Curtis Square Briggs
Yomanni by Bud Burgy
True Tales of Tenth & Nicollet by Kevin Cannon
True Tales of the Twin Cities by Zander Cannon
I Am Bruce Lee! by Justin "Spanky" Cermak
Dream City by Ryan Dow
Heart by Andrey Feldshteyn
Happy Holidays by Michael Furious
The View from Friday by Ursula Murray Husted
Great Moments in: Seekins Lore by Danno Klonowski (Dank)
Hipster Funnies by Danno Klonowski (Dank)
331 by Maxeem Konrardy
Work in Progress by Matthew Kriske
Birds vs. Bikes by Eric Lappegard
Uptown Girl by Bob Lipski
I Dream of Shinder's by Earl L. Luckes, Jr.
NE Athletic Field #3 by Kevin McCarthy
Bewilderedkid Comics by Daniel J. Olson
Perils for Poets Down Eat Street by Damian Sheridan
De La Salle vs. Rabbits by Dave Strong
Sid the Rat-Man by Andy Sturdevant
The Mall of America Mandrill by Steven Stwalley
Sunday Bloody Sundae by Scott Tauser
Celebrity Sightings by Mike Toft
Mpls Stories by Dwayne Williams
The Plague Sets In by Sara Witty
The Whittling Madman by Sara Witty
Schmapples by Eric Lappegard (September 2007, memorial collection of Eric Lappegard's webcomic Schmapples)
The Minneapolis Cartoonist Conspiracy and Friends Alley Cat: Cats on Bikes (with Ninjas): A Tribute to Eric Lappegard (September 2007, memorial tribute anthology to Eric Lappegard, cover by Roger Lootine)
Includes (in alphabetical order):
Arex
Ken Avidor
Bud Burgy
Kevin Cannon
Christopher Coffey
Cyrus Cords
Will Dinski
Ryan Dow
Cival Einstein
Andrey Feldshteyn
Michael Furious
Naomi Johnson
Loki Kaspari
Danno Klonowski (Dank)
Nichole Klonowski (Chloe)
Maxeem Konrardy
Matthew Kriske
Bob Lipski
Roger Lootine
Gypsy-Maria Lorimer
Earl L. Luckes, Jr.
Kevin McCarthy
M.J.
Sarah Morean
Anders Nilsen
Daniel J. Olson
Rita Panton
Anna Pratt
Connor Rice
Zak Sally
Jenny Schmid
Damian Sheridan
Tim Sievert
Mark Simonson
Andy Singer
Jon Sloan
David Steinlicht
Dave Strong
Andy Sturdevant
Steven Stwalley
Mike Toft
Brett VonSchlosser
Kevin Wind
Adam Wirtzfeld
Vanesa Littlecrow Wojtanowicz
The International Cartoonist Conspiracy San Francisco Cell (jam comic by Rio Roth Barreiro, Doctor Popular, Jeff Plotkin, Brian Kolm, Jeffry Mullet, Anthony Gomez, Cindy Chaw and Kraig Rasmussen)
24 Hour Comic Book Day 2007 (October 2007, Box Set of Mini-Comics, Box cover by Danno Klonowski (Dank) (with art by Sean Tenhoff & misc from previous years' events), limited edition of 100)
Includes (in alphabetical order by artist):
Outsourced From Hell! by Ken Avidor
Sloth Force Seven by Kevin Cannon
The Caterpillar Space Force of Robots by Zander Cannon
The Simpson's Curse by Ryan Dow
A Portrait of the Artist as a Big Dick by James H. Grafsgaard
Surreal Tiki Road Trip by Jennifer Manken
The Origin of Man the Ladybug by Daniel J. Olson
Dear Friends by Mike Sgier
24 Hour Comic Book Day: 33 Participants by David Steinlicht
Moony Moon Where Are You? by Steven Stwalley
Let's Go to the Roller Derby by Caitlin Warner
Highlight #5: Comrades!
Above, a group shot of most of the Conspirators who participated in Jam War 2006... Avidor, Steinlicht and Toft had already wisely hit the bar...
It's amazing what can be accomplished with the right group of people, and I think the Conspiracy is definitely a testament to that. For me, our numerous accomplishments are not the best part of being in the Conspiracy, though. Far and away the biggest highlight for me in being a member of the Conspiracy is all the wonderful friends and collaborators I've had the opportunity to meet. Through the monthly jams, the monthly open studio at The Minnesota Center for Book Arts (which graciously donates space to us each month), the 24 hour and other events, and the gallery shows, I've had the good fortune to meet some of my best friends.
Thanks to everyone who has participated in this grand experiment for making the Conspiracy the lively and active group it is today... I look forward to many more years of conspiring with you all.
Labels: cartoonist conspiracy, News
