Books by Noah Van Sciver

The Hypo: The Melancholic Young Lincoln

by Noah Van Sciver

The debut hardcover graphic novel from Noah Van Sciver follows the twenty-something Abraham Lincoln as he loses everything, long before become our most beloved president. Lincoln is a rising Whig in the state's legislature as he arrives in Springfield, IL to pracitice law. With all of his possesions under his arms in two saddlebags, he is quickly given a place to stay by a womanizing young bachelor who becomes his friend and close confidant. Lincoln builds a life and begins friendships with the town's top lawyers and politicians. He attends elegant dances and meets an independent-minded young woman from a high-society Kentucky family, and after a brisk courtship, becomes engaged. But, as time passes and uncertainty creeps in, young Lincoln is forced to battle a dark cloud of depression brought on by a chain of defeats and failures culminating into a nervous breakdown that threatens his life and sanity. This cloud of dark depression Lincoln calls "The Hypo." Dense crosshatching and an attention to detail help bring together this completely original telling of a man driven by an irrepressible desire to pull himself up by his bootstraps, overcome all obstacles, and become the person he strives to be. All the while unknowingly laying the foundation of character he would use as one of America's greatest presidents.

NOW #4: The New Comics Anthology

by Noah Van Sciver, Walt Holcombe, Rebecca Kirby, Matthias Lehmann, Maria Medem, J.C. Menu, Roman Muradov, Jesse Reklaw, Walter Tate, Nick Thorburn

Volume 4 presents all-new short comics by a host of established and up-and-coming talent from around the globe, such as J.C. Menu, Roman Muradov, María Medem, Walt Holcombe, Rebecca Kirby, Noah Van Sciver, Jesse Reklaw, Matthias Lehmann, Walker Tate, Nick Thorburn, and many other surprise contributors.

NOW #1: The New Comics Anthology

by Sammy Harkham, Dash Shaw, Eleanor Davis, Noah Van Sciver

Now is an affordable and ongoing (three times a year) anthology of new comics that appeals both to the comics-curious as well as the serious aficionado. It's a platform for short fiction, experimentation, and for showcasing diversity in the comics field. The only common denominator to each piece is an exemplary use of the comics form, with a lineup of established and up-and-coming talent from around the globe. The first issue includes new work from acclaimed creators such as Noah Van Sciver (Fante Bukowski), Gabrielle Bell (Lucky), Dash Shaw (Cosplayers), Sammy Harkham (Crickets), and Malachi Ward (Ancestor), as well as international stars such as J.C. Menu, Conxita Herrerro, Tobias Schalken, and Antoine Coss. Plus strips from Tommi Parrish, Sara Corbett, Daria Tessler, and Kaela Graham, as well as a gorgeous painted cover by Rebecca Morgan.

Fante Bukowski Three: A Perfect Failure

by Noah Van Sciver

After another year of living in the great American Midwest, self-styled erudite and superstar-to-be Fante Bukowski has a final showdown between his father and his dreams, is hired to ghostwrite a teen celebrity’s memoir, and attends his first local zine fest. Meanwhile, there are hidden forces working behind the scenes to push Fante Bukowski into the critical and financial success he’s always longed for, despite his continued lack of talent.

The Complete Works of Fante Bukowski

by Noah Van Sciver

Living in a beat-up motel and consorting with the downtrodden as well as the mid-level literati, Fante Bukowski must overcome great obstacles ― a love interest turned rival, ghostwriting a teen celebrity's memoirs, no actual talent ― to gain the respect and adoration from critics and, more importantly, his father. Van Sciver has created a scathing, hilarious, and empathetic character study of a self-styled author determined that he's just one more poem (or drink) away from success.

Saint Cole

by Noah Van Sciver

This sophomore graphic novel from Noah Van Sciver may seem like a left turn from his critically acclaimed debut graphic novel biography of Abraham Lincoln (The Hypo), yet upon closer reflection, it showcases Van Sciver’s preoccupation with pathos and the human condition. Saint Cole depicts four days in the life of a twenty-eight-year-old suburbanite named Joe, who works at a pizzeria to support his girlfriend Nicole and their infant child―and then Nicole invites her troubled mother to move into their two-bedroom apartment until she lands on her feet again. Joe reacts by retreating into alcohol: he wants out, and he's angry. He’s in a position to act rashly―and he does.

Fante Bukowski

by Noah Van Sciver

Noah Van Sciver’s latest graphic novella drops in on the life of the self-styled, aspiring young writer, Fante Bukowski, as he delusively makes his way to literary fame and fortune, one drink at a time. Living in a cheap hotel, consorting with the debased and downtrodden, searching for that golden idea that will rocket him to the success he yearns for as the great American novelist, and to get respect from his father once and for all. But, there’s just one problem: Fante Bukowski has no talent for writing.

Beat It, Rufus

by Noah Van Sciver

Rufus Baxter is an aging, professionally unemployed loser, desperately -- delusionally -- hanging on to his 1980s hair metal fantasies of headlining arenas, despite so much evidence to the contrary (like audience members ducking when he tosses promo t-shirts at an open-mic night). The rest of his bandmates in Funky Cool died decades ago in a horrible plane crash on the cusp of their first big break. When he gets kicked out of the Denver storage unit he's been illegally sleeping in, his only prospect is a last-second wedding gig the very next day -- in Wyoming. A hop in his car, and possibly a peyote button or two, sends Baxter on a psychedelic and existential road trip through his past, and forces him to confront every bad decision he's made along the way.

Beat It, Rufus is very much a kindred spirit with Van Sciver's Fante Bukowski series, a comedic character study both played for laughs but also infused with a surprising gravitas that has you rooting for Rufus despite having every reason not to. Van Sciver's comedic and graphic talents are in peak form in this original graphic novel, his follow-up to the award winning and critically acclaimed graphic bio, Joseph Smith and the Mormons. Note, finished book will feature a leopard spot fabric spine/quarter binding.