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Reporter Jeff Daniel: E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 314-340-8399
* St. Louis trio is drawing national notice in the alt-comics world
Taken together as a group, St. Louisans Kevin Huizenga, Ted May and Dan Zettwoch might not exactly be on par with the Justice League. No fantastic powers in their arsenal. No supernatural tricks up their collective sleeve.
But this crew is definitely something special: a trio of close friends who, individually, have staked out a growing place in the world of alternative-comics artists. Working mainly in the small- scale, self-published genre known as minicomics, Huizenga, May and Zettwoch have established national reputations through inventive and challenging releases such as "Supermonster," "It Lives" and "Iron Clad."
A far cry from the mainstream world of "Batman" and "Spider- Man," perhaps, but influential in their own way.
How influential? Writing in The Comics Journal, the de facto bible of the comics world, contributing editor Tom Spurgeon recently proclaimed May his minicomics artist of the year. May accepted the crown from none other than Huizenga, the previous year's winner. Huizenga also is up for two of the comic world's most prestigious awards: the Harvey and the Eisner. Heady stuff.
And well-deserved, according to Todd Hignite, editor and publisher of St. Louis-based Comic Art magazine.
"These guys are important artists, all well-known in the artistic- minded comics community," he says. "As far as St. Louis' reputation in the contemporary art world, I think people are more aware of the city through these three than through anything else. And that says something."
And perhaps such recognition in the comics realm shouldn't be so unexpected here. After all, the area is also home to Jerome Gaynor, longtime minicomics artist and creator of the influential 1995 anthology "Flying Saucer Attack" and the recent follow-up, "Bogus Dead," which features strips from Huizenga, May and Zettwoch.
Another St. Louisan, Matt Kindt, co-creates the highly praised "Pistolwhip" graphic-novel series, which is nominated for two Harvey Awards, and Hignite's well-respected magazine has become a must- read for comics aficionados here and overseas. Comic Art also received Harvey and Eisner award nominations this year.
Three's company
What's unusual about Huizenga, May and Zettwoch, however, is the close sense of camaraderie they share.
They push and pull each other...