Kim Thompson
Encyclopedia
Kim Thompson is an American comic book
editor
, translator, and publisher, best known as vice president and co-publisher of Seattle-based Fantagraphics Books
. Along with co-publisher Gary Groth
, Thompson has for almost thirty years used his position to further the cause of alternative comics
in the American market. In addition, Thompson has made it his business to bring the work of Europe
an cartoonists to American readers.
and The Netherlands. His mother is Danish, and Thompson grew up speaking the language, a skill which aided his later career as a translator of European comic books. (He is also fluent in French.)
Thompson developed an interest in comics early in life, some of his favorites being the works of André Franquin
, Maurice Tillieux
, and Jacques Tardi
. As a young man, Thompson was a frequent contributor to American superhero
comic book letter column
s, with letters published in (among others) Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America, Conan the Barbarian, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Marvel Spotlight, and Marvel-Two-in-One. Early writing work by Thompson was published in the comics fanzine Omniverse in 1979.
Thompson has been a regular contributor to the industry magazine The Comics Journal
(which is published by Fantagraphics) since 1977. Although soft-spoken in person, as a writer Thompson has not shied from controversy. Even though he personally reviewed Dave Sim
's long-running self-pubiished comic Cerebus in early issues of The Comics Journal, Thompson (along with Groth) later took Sim to task in its pages for Sim's controversial statements about feminism and self-publishing.
Thompson was also a regular contributor to the (now defunct) Fantagraphics-published magazine Amazing Heroes
, writing for that journal from 1981–1987.
Since Fantagraphics began publishing comics in 1982, Thompson has edited many of the company's most popular titles, including Peter Bagge
's Hate, Chris Ware
's Acme Novelty Library
, Joe Sacco
's Palestine, Stan Sakai
's Usagi Yojimbo
, Linda Medley
's Castle Waiting
, and anthologies like Critters
and Zero Zero
.
co-published by Fantagraphics. Thompson describes his translation work for Fantagraphics this way:
in 2001.
He was a 1996 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards nominee for Best Editor for The Acme Novelty Library, Palestine, and Zero Zero.
:
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, translator, and publisher, best known as vice president and co-publisher of Seattle-based Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, magazines, graphic novels, and the adult-oriented Eros Comix imprint...
. Along with co-publisher Gary Groth
Gary Groth
Gary Groth is an American comic book editor, publisher and critic. He is editor-in-chief of The Comics Journal and a co-founder of Fantagraphics Books.-Early life:...
, Thompson has for almost thirty years used his position to further the cause of alternative comics
Alternative comics
Alternative comics defines a range of American comics that have appeared since the 1980s, following the underground comix movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Alternative comics present an alternative to "mainstream" superhero comics which in the past have dominated the US comic book industry...
in the American market. In addition, Thompson has made it his business to bring the work of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an cartoonists to American readers.
Childhood and early career
Child of a government contractor father, Thompson spent much of his youth in Europe, living in West GermanyWest Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and The Netherlands. His mother is Danish, and Thompson grew up speaking the language, a skill which aided his later career as a translator of European comic books. (He is also fluent in French.)
Thompson developed an interest in comics early in life, some of his favorites being the works of André Franquin
André Franquin
André Franquin was an influential Belgian comics artist, whose best known comic strip creations are Gaston and Marsupilami, created while he worked on the Spirou et Fantasio comic strip from 1947 to 1969, during a period seen by many as the series' golden age.-Franquin's beginnings:Franquin was...
, Maurice Tillieux
Maurice Tillieux
Maurice Tillieux was a Belgian writer and comic artist. He is regarded by many as a major figure of post-war Belgian comics.-Early life:...
, and Jacques Tardi
Jacques Tardi
Jacques Tardi is a French comics artist, born 30 August 1946 in Valence, Drôme. He is often credited solely as Tardi.-Biography:After graduating from the École nationale des Beaux-Arts de Lyon and the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs in Paris, he started writing comics in 1969, at the...
. As a young man, Thompson was a frequent contributor to American superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
comic book letter column
Comic book letter column
A comic book letter column is a section of a comic book where readers' letters to the publisher appear. Comic book letter columns are also commonly referred to as letter columns , letter pages, letters of comment , or simply letters to the editor...
s, with letters published in (among others) Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America, Conan the Barbarian, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Marvel Spotlight, and Marvel-Two-in-One. Early writing work by Thompson was published in the comics fanzine Omniverse in 1979.
Fantagraphics
Thompson moved the United States in 1977, and soon met Groth through a mutual friend. He joined Fantagraphics' staff in that year, and soon became a co-owner with Groth. In 1978, Thompson saved Fantagraphics from bankruptcy by pouring his inheritance into the company's financial coffers.Thompson has been a regular contributor to the industry magazine The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal, often abbreviated TCJ, is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books, comic strips and graphic novels...
(which is published by Fantagraphics) since 1977. Although soft-spoken in person, as a writer Thompson has not shied from controversy. Even though he personally reviewed Dave Sim
Dave Sim
David Victor Sim is an award-winning Canadian comic book writer and artist.A pioneer of self-published comics and creators' rights, Sim is best known as the creator of Cerebus the Aardvark, a comic book published from 1977 to 2004, which chronicles its main character in a 6,000-page self-contained...
's long-running self-pubiished comic Cerebus in early issues of The Comics Journal, Thompson (along with Groth) later took Sim to task in its pages for Sim's controversial statements about feminism and self-publishing.
Thompson was also a regular contributor to the (now defunct) Fantagraphics-published magazine Amazing Heroes
Amazing Heroes
Amazing Heroes was a magazine about the comic book medium published by Fantagraphics Books from 1981 to 1992. Unlike its companion title, The Comics Journal, Amazing Heroes was a hobbyist magazine rather than an analytical journal....
, writing for that journal from 1981–1987.
Since Fantagraphics began publishing comics in 1982, Thompson has edited many of the company's most popular titles, including Peter Bagge
Peter Bagge
Peter Bagge is an American cartoonist. He is the creator of Buddy Bradley, Hate, Neat Stuff, Martini Baton, and Sweatshop, Apocalypse Nerd and Other Lives. His stories often use black humor and exaggerated cartooning to dramatize the reduced expectations of middle-class American youth...
's Hate, Chris Ware
Chris Ware
Franklin Christenson Ware , is an American comic book artist and cartoonist, widely known for his Acme Novelty Library series and the graphic novel Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he resides in the Chicago area, Illinois...
's Acme Novelty Library
Acme Novelty Library
Acme Novelty Library is a comic book series created by Chicago cartoonist Chris Ware. Its first issue appeared in 1993. Published from 1994 by Fantagraphics Books and later self-published, it is considered a significant work in alternative comics, selling over 20,000 copies per issue.-Format, style...
, Joe Sacco
Joe Sacco
Joe Sacco is a Maltese-American comics artist and journalist. He achieved international fame through the 1996 American Book Award-winning Palestine, and his graphic novel on the Bosnian War, Safe Area Goražde.- Biography :...
's Palestine, Stan Sakai
Stan Sakai
is a third-generation Japanese American Cartoonist comic book creator. He is best known as the creator of the comic series Usagi Yojimbo. -Biography:...
's Usagi Yojimbo
Usagi Yojimbo
is a comic book series created by Stan Sakai in 1987. In 2011 IGN ranked Miyamoto Usagi 92nd in the top 100 comic books heroes.-Concept:Set primarily at the beginning of Edo period of Japan , with anthropomorphic animals replacing humans, the series features a rabbit ronin, Miyamoto Usagi, whom...
, Linda Medley
Linda Medley
Linda Medley is an American comic book author and illustrator, known for her Castle Waiting series of comic books and graphic novels.-Biography and early career:...
's Castle Waiting
Castle Waiting
Castle Waiting is a comic book series created by Linda Medley. It is in a world of fairy tales and mythology featuring a mix of old-fashioned storytelling and more ironic, modern touches....
, and anthologies like Critters
Critters
Critters was an animal anthology comic book published by Fantagraphics Books from 1985 to 1990 under the editorship of Kim Thompson.Prior to Furrlough and Genus, this was the longest running funny animal anthology comic book series. The title lasted for 50 issues...
and Zero Zero
Zero Zero
Zero Zero is a synth band, formed out of the New Jersey punk band Lifetime by Lifetime members Dave Palaitis-guitar & vocals , Ari Katz-vocals & drums, and Katz's wife Tannis Kristjanson -vocals & keyboards...
.
Translator
A long-time champion of European comics, Thompson has translated the work of a number of international cartoonists published by Fantagraphics, as well as material used in The Comics Journal. He is also the regular translator of the Ignatz SeriesIgnatz Series
The Ignatz Series is an international comic imprint. It is published by Fantagraphics Books , Avant Verlag , Vertige , Oog & Blik , Coconino Press , and Sinsentido...
co-published by Fantagraphics. Thompson describes his translation work for Fantagraphics this way:
Awards
Thompson was given an Inkpot AwardInkpot Award
The Inkpot Award, bestowed annually since 1974 by Comic-Con International, is given to some of the professionals in comic book, comic strip, animation, science fiction, and related pop-culture fields, who are guests of that organization's yearly multigenre fan convention, commonly known as...
in 2001.
He was a 1996 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards nominee for Best Editor for The Acme Novelty Library, Palestine, and Zero Zero.
Tributes
Comics journalist Tom SpurgeonTom Spurgeon
Tom Spurgeon is an American writer, historian and editor in the field of comics, notable for his five-year run as editor of The Comics Journal and his blog The Comics Reporter, which he launched in 2004 with site designer Jordan Raphael.-Books:...
:
External links
- Thompson's Fantagraphics blog
- "The Infinite Kim Thompson," A photo comic written by and starring Kim Thompson
- Inkstuds: One-hour podcast interview with Gary Groth and Thompson
- Spurgeon, Tom. "A Short Interview with Thompson and Gary Groth," Comics Reporter (December 31, 1999).