Books by Peter Kuper
Stop Forgetting to Remember: The Autobiography of Walter Kurtz
by Peter Kuper
WHO SHOT WALTER KURTZ?
Nobody. Walter Kurtz doesn’t exist. He’s the alter ego of me, Peter Kuper. But, if he were real, perhaps his obituary would read something like this:
Walter Kurtz, illustrator and self-exposing cartoonist, dies of embarrassment at 48.
Walter Alan Kurtz, born September 22,1958, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Harvey and Olive Kurtz (an Ellis Island rewrite from Kurtzberg), was pronounced dead at Mt. Sinai Hospital on Monday. He was rushed there following his collapse at the publication party for his coming-of-middle-age novel, Stop Forgetting to Remember. Kurtz was among the wave of cartoonists who helped to redefine the medium of comics and ushered in an explosion of interest in the graphic novel. He was noted for drawing the world-famous “Ebony vs. Ivory” for Nuts magazine every month and for cofounding the political zine Bomb Shelter with his lifelong friend Saul Blockman.
As an educator and lecturer, Kurtz has encouraged legions of aspiring cartoonists to avoid entering the field. He was a successful illustrator whose work appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines, but his heart belonged to cartooning until the end.
Survived by his wife, Sandra B. Russ, and their only child.
Of course, a laundry list of Walter Kurtz’s accomplishments barely scratches the surface of the cartoon character. Are professional details what define an alter ego?
“Brilliantly insightful,” “Painfully hilarious,” and “Pow! Blam! Bang! Comics aren’t just for kids anymore!” are words I’ve heard to describe Walter Kurtz’s work.Yet I can’t keep from wondering whether this excessive praise comes from people who are ignorant of the medium’s capacity to address serious subject matter like parenting and masturbation. But jealousy aside, the truth is, I could never bring myself to delve as deep and reveal as many embarrassing details as he has bravely (?) done in this book. The idea of exposing one’s shameful history for all to see is beyond me, and frankly I’m still baffled by what motivates him. One can only imagine the discomfort this must have created for friends and family, most especially for his long-suffering wife, Sandra. My spouse would have killed me!
But let me not end these flaps on a down note. I personally believe his self-immolation illuminates our understanding of the human condition and helps comics take another step closer to receiving the recognition they deserve as a serious art form. The best obituary that will ever be written about Walter Kurtz is the graphic novel you hold in your hands.
He’s dug his own grave.
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Theo and the Blue Note
by Peter Kuper
Even though he only knows one note, Theo the cat wants to play the saxophone and gets a chance of a lifetime to jam with such jazz greats as Charlie Porker and Duck Ellington when a rocket ship takes him to the moon.
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$35.00
Sticks and Stones
by Patricia Polacco, Peter Kuper
In a barren landscape, an empire is about to rise and an epic struggle is about to unfold. Sticks and Stones illuminates this earth-shaking tale without a single word. It is as elemental as hieroglyphics, a timeless story for all ages.
In Sticks and Stones, Peter Kuper has created a picture story of epic proportions. It is an intricate tale of birth and death, war and peace, artfully told without a single word. Sticks and Stones chronicles the rise of an empire and the consequences of hubris. This is a timeless allegory and a coutionary tale for our present-day world.
"Given that Peter Kuper's work is usually wordless and silent, it is all the more extraordinary that he should be one of the strongest and truest radical voices to emerge from contemporary America. In Sticks and Stones, Kuper crafts a Bush-era parable so beautiful, simple, and lucid that it could be understood and enjoyed by anyone, regardless of nationality. This is a powerful, angry, and compassionate document, and in its perfectly measured silence there resides a profound human eloquence. Highly recommended." —Alan Moore, author of Watchmen and From Hell
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Sticks and Stones
by Patricia Polacco, Peter Kuper
“Inspirational and tinged with nostalgia, this will please fans.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A well-intentioned tale full of expressive scenes…heartfelt.”— School Library Journal
From New York Times bestselling author and master storyteller Patricia Polacco comes the uplifting tale of three inseparable friends who pursue their talents and stop at nothing to achieve their dreams.
Based on her own childhood memory, author Patricia Polacco shares the pivotal story of one year in elementary school. On the first day of school, she breaks out in a rash and is called “Cootie” by her classmates. It seems like the year will be a disaster for Patricia until she meets Thom and Ravenne.
Each of the friends have their own talent. Thom, with his long legs and graceful manner, loves to dance ballet earning him the name “Sissy Boy.” Ravenne makes kits and paints on fabric, but she’s shy that people call her “Her Ugliness.” Thom, Ravenne, and Patricia are bullied by their classmates causing the three friends to band together for support. For years after that fateful year, encourage each other to stay true to themselves and achieve success in their passions.
This endearing and timely story celebrates uniqueness and proves that no matter what challenges stand in your way it’s your differences that make you who you are.
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$19.99
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$9.99
Fight Fascism!
by Peter Kuper, Seth Tobocman, Isabella Bannerman, Jordan Worley, Susan Simensky Bietila, Sandy Jimenez
"World War 3 Illustrated is the real thing."New York Times
"The best and longest running alternative comics anthology around."Comics Journal
Since its founding by Seth Tobocman and Peter Kuper in 1979, World War 3 Illustrated has been publishing cutting-edge, political comics that have inspired the developing popularity and recognition of comics as a respected art form. Now rebranded as a book series, the first, and timely, theme of this new imprint is fascism.
Contributors include: Erik Drooker, Sue Coe, Kate Evans, Peter Kuper, Steve Brodner, Isabella Bannerman, Kevin Pyle, Seth Tobocman, photographs from Unite the Right in Charlottesville by John Penley, and more.
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Coloring Insectopolis
by Peter Kuper
Color the beautiful and mind-bending art from Peter Kuper's epic graphic work Insectopolis. When lockdown arrived in 2020, Kuper was a Cullman Center Fellow at the New York Public Library, where he was studying insects. Virtually alone in the empty library, he visualized the insects surging through the apocalyptic, deserted halls of the historic building. This inspired the whimsical world of Insectopolis, where monarchs fly through the library, dragonflies explore marble staircases, and worker bees peruse museum exhibits. Now all these scenes and more are available as coloring pages in Coloring Insectopolis, so readers can make Kuper's world come alive. Kuper's recognizable style can be seen in his cartoons that regularly appear in The New Yorker, Nation, and New York Times. Full of his signature creativity, Coloring Insectopolis is a new way for readers to interact with Kuper's inventive artwork and give each image their own colorful twist.
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