The following is an interview with Clover Press publisher Hank Kanalz regarding the company’s upcoming slate of releases for the remainder of 2022, including a hardcover release for Popeye Variations which is now on Kickstarter. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Kanalz about the star-studded lineup of creators involved with Popeye Variations, the upcoming Kickstarter campaign for Ricardo Delgado’s Dracula artbook, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Clover Press has quite the outstanding slate of projects scheduled to release this fall and winter, with titles including Carmen: The Graphic Novel, Golem of Venice Beach, and the hardcover collection, Popeye Variations. As the company’s publisher, what can you share with us about this incredible lineup which will be available later this year?
Hank Kanalz: Oh, thank you. We’re happy with how our slate is developing, and I think as more folks discover us, the more interesting projects come our way. Both Carmen and Golem are graphic novel debuts of writers with interesting backgrounds, with established artists attached to each. Alek Shrader is an opera singer (tenor) who adapted one of the most well-known operas, collaborating with P. Craig Russell on layouts and the amazing artist Aneke who fully illustrated the graphic novel. It’s beautiful and captures the opera in graphic form perfectly. Golem is written by newcomer Chanan Beizer and the graphic novel features art by Bill Sienkiewicz, Jae Lee, Nick Pitarra, Paul Pope, and Stephen R. Bissette’s return to comics! And Vanessa Cardinali is the one to watch, I think. She did great work on Slumber over at Image, and she really brings this story to life here.
And with Popeye – this has been in the works for a while. This is a curated collection of some of the most amazing Popeye art created over the years, really showing off the characters in different ways, illustrated by a wide variety of creators. It’s such a unique offering and shows the flexibility Popeye has in today’s world.
BD: Why do you feel that these projects were a perfect fit for Clover Press?
HK: We are self-described as an eclectic publishing house, so I feel some obligation to see that through! I joined Clover for the opportunity to create high-quality publications of books we (the Clover team) want to read. We don’t want to limit ourselves to just one narrow focus, and I think if you look at our offerings over a span, you’ll find a book of interest to you.
BD: You also have a Kickstarter campaign launching later this year for Ricardo Delgado’s Dracula artbook. What is the best way for readers to stay tuned for the launch of the campaign?
HK: The easiest way is to sign up for our newsletter at cloverpress.us. Or if you back any of our campaigns, you’ll receive updates to our new projects. And Fanbase Press I hope will let folks know, too, right?
BD: Are there any other upcoming projects headed our way in 2022 or 2023 that you’re able to share with our readers?
HK: We continue to publish Terry and the Pirates: the Master Collection with the Library of American Comics. We’re expanding our LOAC offerings in 2023 forward with some interesting, new books. We’re thrilled to be going back to press on our sold-out Dracula of Transylvania, this time in softcover. And we’re releasing a collection of our The Great Gatsby series in a handsome hardcover. And we’re also publishing The Tragedie of Macbeth by Stewart Kenneth Moore in a new collected edition along with playscript. There’s even more to come, but not yet ready to announce.
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell readers who want to learn more about Clover Press and their catalog of books?
HK: Browse through our catalog at cloverpress.us and give one a try. Ask your retailer to carry our books – it’s a challenge to stand out from the clutter, so every request matters.
