Clarence draws "Hellboy!"

A panel from "the Experts" graphic novel

New Superhero pin-ups by Clarence Pruitt

See more of Clarence's artwork here..

new "Experts" art

some new art from "The Experts" graphic novel ...

"the Experts" (graphic novel cover - inks)

Pencil drawing by Clarence Pruitt... inks by me.

-Kenn

more art from "the Experts"

comicrelated.com says something nice about me...

Surfing the Panels: Reviews for the Comic Web
By John Wilson

Kenn Minter's Webpage
www.kennminter.com

The work of Kenn Minter gives one the feeling of the very familiar and the absolutely original all at the same time. In part he seems to be channeling equal amounts of indie legend Chris Ware and Marvel humorist Fred Hembeck with maybe just a little R. Crumb sneaking in. And conversely, he has ideas that wouldn't dare spring from anyone else. He is an illustrator, graphic designer, college educator and comic creator, all of which he approaches from a very unique perspective.

One of Kenn's forays into comics is "I'm Not From Here". A semi autobiographic, semi embellished account of his life looked at through wacky colored glasses. It's just like your life...if your life had a giant bunny (he's not a rabbit) named Oliver, goblins that kill small animals and moments that run from the mundane to the wacky both in and out of Kenn's head. He even allows guest artists to play in this world but it all still has his overwhelming sensibility.

Read more here.

new art from "the Experts" graphic novel

some new art from "the Experts" graphic novel.

Clarence Pruitt has long since finished all the pencil work on this book. Now, I'm feverishly trying to finishing all the inking, photoshopping, and lettering by the middle of February. Wish me luck.

-Kenn

Holiday Money Burning a Hole in Your Pocket?

Near Mint Press books can help extinguish that flame with good stories and fine art.



I'm Not From Here
$10.99
"I'm Not From Here" is the first collection of semi-autobiographical comic strips Kenn Minter has been creating since 2001. The comic strip, as the cover suggests, is slightly embellished. All the stories are yanked from Minter's daily life, friends, and thoughts... and have been twisted and blended for their maximum amusement potential.
"I'm Not From Here" has benefited from an ever-growing cult following since it's first appearance online.
It's weird... but always humorous.
100 Pages | Black & White TPB



Super World
$3.49
From the pages of "The Experts," comes this hilarious, one-shot collection of short, sardonic, and snappy stories of sarcastic and hardly-sane superheroes.
In "SuperWorld," you'll meet IncredoLad, the Z-Squad, the Love Lantern, and many more!



the Experts #1
$3.00
This new team of heroes combines three novices with three adventure veterans: Doctor Delta (a mystical apparition), Free Mary (a spit-fire vixen), Naked Man (a young, eager buck), the Emerald Yeti (a gentle-natured, mechanical, furry giant), Ninja Witch (a moody, youthful witch-in-training), and Mr. Elaztik (the obligatory, rubber-bodied, shape-changing comic relief).
These six individuals have been chosen to fulfill certain demographic appeal. Though, more importantly, they have been selected for their ability and willingness to work cheap.
As a whole, the Experts is a quirky, off-kilter superhero series revolving around characters that are completely unprepared for their atypical roles and responsibilities.
This issue also features two back-up stories: "Incredo-Lad: Out of the Closet," and "Dr. Michael Schlessinger: Psychiatrist to the Superheroes."



the Experts #2
$3.00
The Experts members, Ninja Witch and Free Mary, go on their first mission as a duo to thwart international art theif, the Silver Muse. If anything can go wrong... well, it does.
Also in this issue, the Z-Squad, the most angst-ridden super-powered teenagers ever, are featured in a 4-page back-up story.



the Experts #3
$3.49
The Experts saga rolls forth. What's the story with the new costumes and attitudes? See Ninja Witch spar with Samurai made from ingerbread! Look who Naked Mans sleeping with now! Also, featured in this issue, the mysterious origin of Doctor Delta!
Meet the Love Lantern in an exciting back-up story!
Be sure to check out the Experts #1 and #2 as well!

the Experts (Part 2, Page 26)

Okay, this is the end of the first two chapters of "the Experts" graphic novel. The book will contain 3 more issues worth of continuing storyline above and beyond what you've seen on this blog. The book should be available by this Spring or Summer.

Stay tuned to this blog for more details and artwork updates.

-Kenn

the Experts (Part 2, Page 25)

the Experts (Part 2, Page 24)

Signing copies of "I'm Not From Here."

Kenn in Ace Weekly

ACE Magazine, Lexington, Kentucky's local, weekly rag does a piece on me this week in anticipation of my book signing at the Morris book shop on Saturday, November 22, 7pm to 9pm (see flier):

""Cute but Deadly:
Artist Kenn Minter is... Not From Here!

Joe Conkwright is Oliver “a very large, sometimes pink bunny rabbit” in Kenn Minter’s comic strip. He writes, in the introduction to Minter’s new book, I’m Not From Here, “most of Kenn’s neon-coated life has been spent… in a Kentucky town of around 300,000 good and evil citizens…He got sucked back into the vanilla creamy vortex that is his hometown, and covered in the steamy, stinky juice of familiarity. It was only after his return to this familiar setting that he began to really devolve his special art style.” He concludes the Introduction by saying, “Because where you are from is different where Kenn is from, or coming from. I wouldn’t want to live there, but it is a nice place to visit.”

Arturo Sandoval describes Kenn Minter (who'll be signing his new book at Morris Book Store, this Saturday) as "one of the most active UK Department of Art alumni. He is constantly involved in producing his comic art, his radio music hour," adding, "he has a strong community presence."

Those are powerful words to art students who worry they may be working at Applebee's post-grad.

Minter is currently an Art Director at UK; works as a freelance illustrator; and his work has appeared in magazines and newspapers all over the country (including Ace and the Kentucky Kernel). With co-creator, Clarence Pruitt, he produces the off-beat, adventure, graphic novel series The Experts. He has taught at the Living Arts and Science Center and Spencerian College as an art instructor. He started his own publishing company a few years ago called Near Mint Press.

Asked to elaborate on his biography in a more Lex-centric fashion for the Ace readers, the title of one of his blogs says it all NotFromHereComic.blogspot.com, along with the title of his book, I’m Not From Here: Slightly Embellished Autobiographical Comic Strips.

His Facebook status, at this very moment, says “have the cakes delivered to my office.”

When pressed, he’ll offer a few more details. “My family moved to Lexington in 1981 when I was 11. I went to Morton Junior High... hated it. Then I went to Lexington Junior High.. loved it. I went to Henry Clay High School ... where I was introduced to beer, drugs and lost my virginity.”

His friend Cheryl Mohr reflects on their childhood days together (this would be pre-Henry Clay), “I have not seen Kenn in 26 years, sixth grade to be exact! But last year when I was having a conversation with my middle school aged daughter and we were comparing different kinds of boys, I thought of this mature, deeply, artistically talented boy named Kenn Minter. He used to draw comics for me as a vixen type character in all sorts of adventures! That was something for a twelve year old girl! He was complex even then and always left everyone wanting more. Well, as I told her about him, I thought to myself, ‘I should Google him and see if he continued with his enormous talent.’ Lo and behold, there he was and to know that he entertains the masses, as he did all of his classmates 26 years ago, makes me smile. And now we are friends again!”

As for his early art career, Minter says, “I went to UK for five years. I wrote and drew comics for the Kentucky Kernel and majored in graphic design and illustration. I also ocassionally worked for Ace. I worked a hundred different part-time jobs... I spent many years working as a delivery boy for Wheeler Pharmacy on Romany Road. I also worked for a short time at PEP TAB... the head shop downtown. Two different sorts of drug stores.”

He did make a break for it post-grad. “In 1996, I moved to San Diego and worked for a t-shirt and greeting card company called ‘STICKWORLD.’ When the paychecks started to bounce... I moved back to Lexington.”

Ron Penn, longtime musicology professor at UK, says "I had the pleasure of Kenn's company in a World Music class several light years ago. At the time I associated him with some wonderfully refreshing and deliciously odd cartoons that appeared in the Kernel... Since then, I have been pleased, amazed, delighted, charmed, and enlightened by Kenn's saucy, hilarious, surreal take on the world. Truth expressed in humor is a rare tonic for our times....And Kenn dispenses this tonic liberally and with grand effect."

Lucy Points describes him like this, "Kenn is that guy at the party peering out from the corner, behind a plate of salty snacks truly absorbing every detail of his environment. The party ends and a couple of days later—sometimes a month later—there, in the in-box, appears a meticulously and masterfully crafted comic depicting an otherwise mundane conversation or incident. Far superior to digital photos or thank you cards."

Kenn Minter signs his new book at Morris Book Shop on Southland Drive, Saturday, November 22.""

the Experts (pencil pin ups)

by Clarence Pruitt!

the Experts (Part 2, Page 23)

the Experts (Part 2, Page 22)

I am a lazy artist (the Experts, etc.)

Yes, it's true. I can be pretty lazy sometimes with my art. Plus, I just enjoy scribbling... it's very relaxing. I kick myself for not doing it more often.

Anyway, Clarence Pruitt and I are on our way to finishing the first "the Experts" graphic novel. Usually, when I have a visual idea for something that Clarence will create for the final illustration... I'll scribble my idea down... and then Clarence will crank the pencils out... for real.

Here are the scribbles I recently sent to Clarence for the cover of "the Experts" graphic novel. They're not good... but they don't have to be. Clarence is an excellent draftsman... and requires very little direction.

He'll appreciate that I said that. ;o)

Thanks,
Kenn