Chicago, 13 June 2023
Comics book artist and writer, Andrew Pepoy (“Fables,” “The Simpsons,” “Katy Keene,” Eisner Award winner) today launched his latest Kickstarter for his long-running “The Adventures of Simone & Ajax.” Though better known for his work at DC/Vertigo, Marvel, Archie, and others, Pepoy says, “My favorite thing I’ve ever done is my own creation, ‘The Adventures of Simone and Ajax.'” Simone, a fun-loving, 20-something girl, and her best pal, Ajax, a small, green dinosaur, first appeared over 30 years ago and have since appeared in many comics and been nominated for the Harvey Award for Special Award for Humor. “My true comics love is Simone & Ajax. I’m very excited to finally collect their earliest tales in one volume, and I’m asking for help to do that using Kickstarter.” You can find the campaign at https://kickstarter.com/projects/pepoy/simone-and-ajax-whats-black-and-white-and-read-all-over or https://bit.ly/simoneandajax1
Described by a reviewer as “…like the best issues of Cerebus, and a mood that harkens Bone,” and by a reader as “…the look of an Archie comic but the sensibilities of a Marx Brothers movie,” this 160-page collection, presented in black & white, as the comics were originally published, will gather together for the first time Simone & Ajax from their very first story, done when Andrew was still in college, to their final B&W adventure 15 years later, including the 30-page epic tale of how our daring duo met. Their secret origin, you might say! Plus, find out what happened to Atlantis, what it takes to go to Valkyrie school, see Ajax’s early detective tales, how they met the lemmings for the first time, see them go to the moon, face monsters, meet Santa Claus, and more, all wrapped in a newly-painted cover by Pepoy. There will also be a variety of rare extras from Simone & Ajax’s early days, including Holiday mini-comics previously seen only by Andrew’s family and friends. Pepoy says, “The world could use some fun, jokes, and adventure, and it seems the right time to bring these Simone & Ajax classics back for some chuckles.” More info will be posted at his websites, www.pepoy.com and www.simoneanajax.com.
Bill Sienkiewicz (Moon Knight, Elektra, Stray Toasters) says, “If I were to say that Andrew Pepoy’s Simone & Ajax is a wildly inventive, smart, delightful comic series that brings to mind the best of Looney Tunes, buddy comedies, fantasy, film noir, and adventure films from bygone eras channeled through the brilliant mind and hand of a master cartoonist, all of that would be completely true. It would also still not come anywhere near describing how much sheer fun Andrew Pepoy’s Simone & Ajax actually is. I absolutely love it.” And Pepoy promises lots of fun and adventure. “I can set their stories any time or place I want, so there’s always some new setting to play with and see how that world reacts to a girl and small dinosaur popping in.”
The Kickstarter campaign will run from June 13 until July 13. There are a variety of reward levels, from the book itself, in both print and digital form, to several kinds of art levels, mystery boxes, and even meet-ups with Andrew himself. “I’m had so much fun writing and drawing these comics! I can’t wait to share them once again with the world and hopefully bring a few smiles and laughs.” Please find the Kickstarter at https://bit.ly/simoneandajax1.
Andrew Pepoy has worked for U.S., Canadian, British, and French publishers on hundreds of comics on such characters and titles as The Simpsons, Fables, Batman, The X-Men, Iron Man, Star Wars, Wallace & Gromit, Scooby Doo, Betty & Veronica, Lanfeust, Uncle Scrooge, and many more over the last 30 years. In 2000 Andrew redesigned Little Orphan Annie and drew the newspaper strip for the next year, and in 2005 he brought his knack for retro glamour with a modern twist to writing and drawing a revival of the classic Archie Comics character, Katy Keene. Since 1990 he has written and drawn many stories of his own Harvey Award-nominated creation, The Adventures of Simone & Ajax, which has been collected in book form by IDW and by Andrew’s own imprint, Spicy Tomato Studios. Nominated several times, Andrew won an Eisner Award in 2009 and has also won an Inkwell Award and been nominated for the Harvey and Hugo Awards. He lives in Chicago. His recent work includes drawing a Dinosaucers mini-series for Lion Forge and an adaptation of George MacDonald’s Phantastes for Cave Pictures Publishing, inking the 50th Anniversary graphic novel adaptation of The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine for Titan, inking various Simpsons comics for Bongo Comics, art for MAD Magazine, a run as a guest artist on the Dick Tracy newspaper comic strip, inking and drawing Die Kitty Die for Astrocomix, and drawing covers for Doctor Who, Archie vs. Predator II, Red Sonja, Lady Death, and other titles.
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