table of contents

3

4

10

11

17

22

25

31

THE KINGDOM OF THE RAT KING written by matt kranis | illustrated by Pete Ivanecky

DON’T EAT THE YELLOW SNOW by gabe abright

DOWNER by nico appleford

THE CRINGE by carlos rojas

MADAME MYSTERY by pete ivanecky

WALTZ No. 307 by harry nordlinger

PRISONERS OF WAR written by paul spears | illustrated by amos stillwell

THE ADVENTURES OF TEA GIRL AND SUGAR PACKET written by olivia billbrough | illustrated by melinda thompson

Graphic novels and comics have risen in popularity in recent years due to their unique way of storytelling. Most people associate comics with superheroes or the Sunday Funnies, but comics can delve into topics and genres as widespread as any other literary form. In this issue of Artful Comics, there are horror stories, personal reflections, blends of dream sequences and realities, and yes, even superheroes. With each varied storyline, there’s a well-suited drawing style to bring it to life.

From the start, Artful Comics wanted to emphasis the artistry that goes into writing and drawing comics. Our publication encourages collaboration between authors, illustrators, and editors. With three people invested in the outcome of each project, the creativity that emerges from those experiences helps produce the best comics possible. Some are funny, some are twisted, but they’re all entertaining. To see a comic develop from a script to character sketches to a completed work is a very gratifying experience. We hope you enjoy reading this collection of comics as we’ve had creating it.

editor’s letter

enjoy!

katherine ouelletteE D I T O R I N C H I E Fartful C O M I C S

The K

ingdom of the R

at King | M

att Kranis &

Pete Ivanecky

3

4

Don

’t Ea

t th

e Ye

llow

Sno

w |

Gab

e A

lbri

ght

5

Don’t Eat the Yellow

Snow | G

abe Albright

�

Don

’t Ea

t th

e Ye

llow

Sno

w |

Gab

e A

lbri

ght

7

Don’t Eat the Yellow

Snow | G

abe Albright

�

Don

’t Ea

t th

e Ye

llow

Sno

w |

Gab

e A

lbri

ght

�

Don’t Eat the Yellow

Snow | G

abe Albright

10

Dow

ner

| Nic

o A

pple

ford

11

The C

ringe | Carlos R

ojas

12

The

Cri

nge

| Car

los

Roj

as

13

The C

ringe | Carlos R

ojas

14

The

Cri

nge

| Car

los

Roj

as

15

The C

ringe | Carlos R

ojas

1�

The

Cri

nge

| Car

los

Roj

as

17

Madam

e Mystery | Pete Ivanecky

1�

Mad

ame

Mys

tery

| Pe

te Iv

anec

ky

1�

Madam

e Mystery | Pete Ivanecky

20

Mad

ame

Mys

tery

| Pe

te Iv

anec

ky

21

Madam

e Mystery | Pete Ivanecky

22

Wal

tz N

o. 3

07 |

Har

ry N

ordl

inge

r

23

Waltz N

o. 307 | Harry N

ordlinger

24

Wal

tz N

o. 3

07 |

Har

ry N

ordl

inge

r

25

Prisoners of War| Paul Spears &

Am

os Stillwell

2�

Pris

oner

s of

War

| Pau

l Spe

ars

& A

mos

Stil

lwel

l

27

Prisoners of War| Paul Spears &

Am

os Stillwell

2�

Pris

oner

s of

War

| Pau

l Spe

ars

& A

mos

Stil

lwel

l

2�

Prisoners of War| Paul Spears &

Am

os Stillwell

30

Pris

oner

s of

War

| Pau

l Spe

ars

& A

mos

Stil

lwel

l

31

The A

dventures of Tea Girl and Sugar Packet | O

livia Billbrough & M

elinda Thom

pson

32

The

Adv

entu

res

of T

ea G

irl a

nd S

ugar

Pac

ket

| Oliv

ia B

illbr

ough

& M

elin

da T

hom

pson

33

The A

dventures of Tea Girl and Sugar Packet | O

livia Billbrough & M

elinda Thom

pson

34

The

Adv

entu

res

of T

ea G

irl a

nd S

ugar

Pac

ket

| Oliv

ia B

illbr

ough

& M

elin

da T

hom

pson

35

The A

dventures of Tea Girl and Sugar Packet | O

livia Billbrough & M

elinda Thom

pson

3�

The

Adv

entu

res

of T

ea G

irl a

nd S

ugar

Pac

ket

| Oliv

ia B

illbr

ough

& M

elin

da T

hom

pson

37

The A

dventures of Tea Girl and Sugar Packet | O

livia Billbrough & M

elinda Thom

pson

3�

The

Adv

entu

res

of T

ea G

irl a

nd S

ugar

Pac

ket

| Oliv

ia B

illbr

ough

& M

elin

da T

hom

pson

3�

The A

dventures of Tea Girl and Sugar Packet | O

livia Billbrough & M

elinda Thom

pson

Editor in Chief & Design

Editors

Marketing Team

Katherine Ouellette

Christine S. GrantSawyer HurwitzMatt KranisBen Parinello Danny Taverner

Maureen A. McDermottErin Arata

Special thanks to John Rodzvilla, Manny Jaquez, Arthur Hickman, everyone who attended the Publishing Gala, and all of our superheroes.

COLOPHON

Artful Comics issue 3 is set in RawengulkSans, a typeface by GLUK fonts. The folio, byline credits, and logo use Gill Sans MT. The display font is Alexandria, also featured in the logo.

artfulC O M I C S SPRING 2013