Noah Van Sciver

In 1999 I had no direction in life. I was a college drop-out living with my mom, and working at a sub shop. No plans, no real interests - Except for Nora. I want to sleep with Nora.

1999

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.

Saint Cole

The debut graphic novel from Noah Van Sciver follows the twentysomething Abraham Lincoln as he loses everything, long before becoming our most beloved president. Lincoln is a rising Whig in the state’s legislature as he arrives in Springfield, IL to practice law. With all of his possessions 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.

The Melancholic Young Lincoln

The Hypo

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.

Fante Bukowski

Eleanor Davis

Dash Shaw

Eric Reynolds

Now 1

Roman Muradov

Nick Thorburn

Jesse Reklaw

Matthias Lehmann

Maria Medem

Rebecca Kirby

Walt Holcombe

JC Menu

Walter Tate

The New Comics Anthology

Now #4

Joseph Smith and the Mormons

From 2017 to 2019, cartoonist Noah Van Sciver was creating short stories and illustrations for local magazines and alt-weeklies, in order to serve as what he calls a personal "survival mechanism." All of these comics are collected for the first time in Please Don’t Step On My JNCO Jeans. When do you know you're too old to trick-or-treat? What's the best way to effectively dispose of those teenage ode-filled journals? Where do cherished cereal box prizes go when you grow up? JNCO Jeans, mostly told through one-pagers, holds observations, reflections, and breakthroughs from one of the most prolific and inspirational cartoonists of his generation.

Please Don't Step on My JNCO Jeans

Collects a dozen comic short stories by the acclaimed cartoonist behind Fante Bukowski and The Hypo. Noah Van Sciver is a keen observer of the human condition, exploring the decisions people make that make, break, and define them. Disquiet showcases the best of his short comics work, including: “The Death Of Elijah Lovejoy,” the story of the midwestern abolitionist in the 1830s;“The Lizard Who Laughed,” a painfully dysfunctional reunion; and “Punks V. Lizards,” an anarchic and darkly comic piece of absurdity that blends Quadrophenia with Jurassic Park.

Disquiet

Collects all three volumes of the Eisner Award-nominated graphic novels series, which skewers a self-important male literary poser. 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. The book includes a foreward by novelist Ryan Boudinot (Blueprints of the Afterlife), a facsimile reproduction of Bukowski's literary debut, 6 Poems (thought lost to time in the wake of a motel fire that destroyed the entire original print run), a "Works Cited" section, and a selection of "visual tributes" by over two dozen cartoonists including Nina Bunjevac, Simon Hanselmann, Jesse Jacobs, Ed Piskor, Leslie Stein, and others.

The Complete Works of Fante Bukowski

Youth Is Wasted

Fante Bukowski dos

Johnny Ryan

Tom Neely

Keenan Keller

In the final installment of the greatest love story ever told, about the domestic life of "Henry" and "Glenn" as well as their neighbors "Daryl" and "John," we are treated to three new short stories. This issue includes the shocking conclusion to the story of Glenn's mother living with them (spoiler alert: zombies), Glenn and Wendy make a daring rescue from Space City after Henry gets a pep talk from Lemmy, and Henry saves Glenn from some giant lizards after his drummer quits. It’s a true testament to the power of love to overcome even the biggest, manliest egos of our time. The book also features dozens of pin up art and full color covers from the original serialized series. Will our lovers continue to frustrate, inspire, and show us the way?

Henry & Glenn Forever & Ever #4

In Noah Van Sciver's new funny and heartfelt memoir, he is haunted by memories of growing up in a big, poor, Mormon family.

One Dirty Tree

Paul Buhle

John Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed, made himself the stuff of legend by spreading the seeds of apple trees from Pennsylvania to Indiana. Along with that, he offered the seeds of nonviolence and vegetarianism, good relationships with Native Americans, and peace among the settlers. He was one of the New World’s earliest followers of the Swedish theologian Emanuel Swedenborg. The story of John Chapman operates as a counter-narrative to the glorification of violence, conquest, and prevailing notions of how the West was Won. It differentiates between the history and the half-myths of Johnny Appleseed’s life and work: His apples, for instance, were prized for many reasons, but none more so than for the making of hard cider. He was also a real estate speculator of sorts, purchasing potentially fertile but unproven acres and then planting saplings before flipping the land. Yet, he had less interest in financial gain―and yes, this is an accurate part of the mythology―than in spreading visions of peace and love. Johnny Appleseed brings this quintessentially American story to life in comics form.

Johnny Appleseed

My Hot Date

Blammo #8

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.

Noah Van Sciver

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