Sammy Harkham Stands Accused

Publisher: Gingko Press (December 31, 2004)

"Harkham's anthology series Kramer's Ergot has established itself as the center of the comics avant-garde, and the mammoth fifth volume is the most impressive to date — a full-on plunge into the spot where contemporary visual art discovers narrative. (Some of its 20 contributors, like Souther Salazar and the Swiss duo Elvis Studio, present work that looks like it's drifted over from a particularly edgy gallery wall.) "

– Publishers Weekly

Publisher: Gingko Press (November 15, 2005)

"With his Kramers Ergot series cartoonist, editor and publisher Sammy Harkham has created a comics anthology that outdoes all others – in size, style and content. Poor Sailor is his own pen and ink on bristol contribution to Kramers Ergot 4, reproduced in mini format. It is based on Guy de Maupassant's short story, At Sea, the message of which is the tragedy that occurs when property protection prevails over human suffering and loss. Poor Sailor uses few words to tell the similar tale of a woodsman who trades a simple but contented life for adventure at sea, and the high price he must pay for it. Harkham's quiet tone is eerie, emotional, honest and moving – all of the things this gifted cartoonist believes a comic should be. Poor Sailor is a must have for comics enthusiasts of all dispositions."

– Amazon.com

 Publisher: Buenaventura Press (July 2006)

"Kramers Ergot (like the longer-running BLAB!) is a showcase for avant and art comics. It is, however, twice as large and more lavish. Its paper covers are flexible cardboard nearly as pliable as a leather-bound Bible's, and it incorporates several off-white stocks as well as the usual white. The contributors are predominantly twenty- and thirtysomethings, though one sixties underground vet (Gary Panter) and one historic figure (Japanese war-propagandist Suiho Tagawa, 1899-1989) also appear. Normal-seeming strips and sequences of single-page and panoramic images alternate throughout, with color schemes ranging from mono- and bichromatic to full spectral. Dan Zettwoch, Sammy Harkham, Chris C. Cilla, Tom Gauld, and Ron Rege provide the most logical narratives other than Tagawa's. Other ostensible stories proceed like dreams and even near chaotically. While extreme intricacy characterizes many dazzling, if barely decipherable, pieces, the whole shebang concludes with a simple, poetic image by John Porcellino (Perfect Example, 2001; Diary of a Mosquito Abatement Man, 2005). One thing is made perfectly clear: there's no lack of graphic skill among the younger comics makers." – Ray Olson

"The Colonel sat me down on his lap for advice... but I can't remember for the life of me what it was."

ink on bristol. image area approx. 5.5 x 5.5 panel of a five pae strip for the Typewriter anthology.

As mythology expert Joseph Campbell puts it as “In marriage you are not sacrificing yourself to the other person, you are sacrificing yourself to the relationship”.

This is a piece, although ghoulish on first appearance, truly symbolizes the act of commitment. The choice of losing independence and autonomy to another individual within the chosen confines of a relationship is present in the ancient ritual of marriage, although usual not so terrifyingly represented.

"In issue #2, Harkham turns to slapstick with "Black Death", throwing in farts, a comedy of errors in trying to retrieve a naked man out of a well involving pratfalls and characters who can't see, a black & white flashback (meant to evoke the classic film version of Frankenstein, I believe) of the Golem's origin and subsequent sad banishment to the woods, the naked man leading them in circles and finally a horrific ending as a huge worm crawls into his ear. The deadpan, reserved nature of Harkham's style makes the slapstick and scatology stand out sharply, especially when he immediately contrasts it with horror or tragedy."

– www.drawnandquarterly.com

9x12 inches. ink on bristol board. recently sold for 250$.

 ink on paper. 5.5 x 8.25