Today at BF, courtesy of Oni Press, we have a preview of Derek M. Ballard’s graphic novel Cartoonshow which will be debuting this August. We’re rather taken with editor Zack Soto’s description of it as “It’s like Hi & Lois but with a social/political consciousness.” Check out the preview pages and art below.
Single Dad-ing, Money Troubles, and Political Humor Take Centerstage in Oni Press’ New Graphic Novel Cartoonshow from Derek M. Ballard
Satirical Reflection Of Contemporary American Life Releases August 2
“I laughed and cried, y’all. These are the real $#!^ journal comics. Drawings that could slay a dragon. Every punchline a funny knife in your eye.” – Pendleton Ward (Adventure Time)
“Ballard has been producing a singular body of work for over two decades, congealing his keyed-up characters with idiosyncratic angular anatomy into an often-unforgiving neon science fiction setting. Oh yeah, these comics are also funny.” – RJ Casey, The Comics Journal
Oni Press, the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning comic book and graphic novel publisher are thrilled to announce the release of debut graphic novel, Cartoonshow, from single parent and creator, Derek M. Ballard (Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time and Netflix’s The Midnight Gospel). Originally published online, Cartoonshow follows the real-life challenges of being a single dad with insightful humor and satirical reflection of contemporary American life.
“This book of cartoons is a whole slew of dumb, funny, embarrassing, and true things that happened to my kids and me. Stuff that befalls average families every single day,” says creator Derek M. Ballard. “Oni Press made it possible to support my family while I brought my uncompromised scribbly vision to the page. That’s a big deal. Unbelievable really. Extra special thanks to my editor Zack Soto.”
“I think Derek’s comics are truly Great—like capital GC Great Cartooning, and the issues he’s talking about are important, under-discussed stuff. It’s like Hi & Lois but with a social/political consciousness,” says Editor Zack Soto. “Working with Derek and designer Carey Soucey to bring Cartoonshow to life in its current form was one of the more rewarding collaborative experiences in my editorial career to date, and I can’t wait for everyone to pick up a copy!”
Derek is a solo parent raising three kids in the American South while trying to make art. Told in a series of free-flowing and often hilarious comic essays, Cartoonshow gets to the heart of the struggle to be a creative person in a society that doesn’t value anything other than how much it can grind out of you. Covid, poverty, the failing social safety net, predatory lenders, and literal acts of God can’t stop our hero!
Cartoonshow will be available in hardcover for a list price of $21.99 (ISBN: 978-1-63715-218-8) at retailers everywhere on August 2, 2023.
About the Creator
Derek M Ballard makes modern American family comics. It’s not his fault that being a single parent in America is kind of a nightmare.
