Oral history interview with Kim Deitch, 2007-2009.

Biographical Note

Comic book artist.

Scope and Contents

Early years: 1944 born in Los Angeles, CA; influenced by father's jazz gag cartoons entitled The Cat in The Record Changer magazine and Harvey Kurtzman Mad comic books; 1960s attended Pratt Institute; assistant animation photographer at L&L Animation in downtown NYC; leave of absence during sophomore year; joined Norwegian Merchant Marines; worked for Manpower Inc., a warehouse, mental hospital New York Hospital in White Plains, NY and Abbott House girl's orphanage in Irvington, NY; Career: Sunshine Girl comic for underground, psychedelic comic strip in East Village Other; marijuana dealer and post office worker; night school courses and painting lessons with Jacob Lawrence; works with Joel Fabricant; editor of Gothic Blimp Works; 1968 meets Art Spiegelman; moves to San Francisco; creates comics for Gary Arlington's San Francisco Comic Book, Gilbert Shelton's Hydrogen Bomb and Biochemical Warfare Funnies, story for Jack Jackson's Up From The Deep; 1970 marriage ends with Trina; 1972 in Portland, Oregon, with girlfriend, Sally Cruikshank; creates first comic book, Corn Fed Comics; created comics around character named Waldo; Waldo in New York Times-reviewed graphic novel, The Boulevard of Broken Dreams; modeled "Two Jews From Yonkers" after Victorian, 19th century graphic novels; thesis advisor, public speaker, and guest lecturer; Later Projects: collaborative graphic novel with brothers Deitch's Pictorama; updating Sunshine Girl into oral history illustrated story book; The Amazing, Enlightening and Absolutely True Adventures of Kathryn Whaley; Awards: 2004 Ignatz Award nomination; 2007: Inkpot Award recipient.

Subjects

• Artists--United States--Interviews.
• Cartoonists--United States--Interviews.
• Deitch, Kim, 1944---Interviews.
• Graphic novels--History and criticism.
• Interviews.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Perkins, Lucas W., interviewer.--http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/ivr
• Underground comic books, strips, etc.--History and criticism.

Access Conditions

Copyright by Kim Deitch and Lucas W. Perkins. The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York holds a license to use the work for non-commercial purposes. Permission of copyright holders is required to publish interview in part or full.