KENK: A GRAPHIC PORTRAIT

NOTE: It has come to our attention that there was a binding error at our printer with some of the first edition copies of KENK. Please let us know if you’ve been affected.

Latest News

JULY 14, 2011:

KENK is set to be released into US bookstores on November 2, 2011. The book is currently available in comic shops everywhere and online, but November should prove to be an exciting time as we prepare events and maybe even some new content coincide with the US release!

JUNE 13, 2011:

Pop Sandbox and the KENK team are proud to announce that the largest and oldest publisher in Igor Kenk’s native Slovenia, Mladinska knjiga has purchased the rights to publish KENK in Slovenian. To find out more about this interesting and historic publisher check out their website here.

JANUARY 28, 2011:

For the month of February original art and animation from KENK will be on display at Jet Fuel Coffee Shop. For more details and directions check our events page.

DECEMBER 8, 2010:

A twenty-page, translated excerpt from KENK will appear this month in the French language anthology, les Fumettos du Cyclope. The anthology, from Ottawa based publisher Éditions TRIP, is a diverse volume featuring the work of thirty-five artists and authors. With a focus on photographic collage, interdisciplinary practices, and graphic narratives, KENK is a perfect fit for the anthology. les Fumettos du Cyclope was produced in the tradition of the book as art object and is therefore limited to one-hundred copies and is accompanied by handmade objects such as serigraphs, photos, and charts. If you would like to find out more about this unique volume and its December 18 launch, check out its blog and our events page for more details.

NOVEMBER 25, 2010:

It has been a great and exciting week for KENK and its creative team, as Quill and Quire has again placed the book on one of their best of the year lists. This time KENK has been recognized as having one of the best covers of 2010. Erik Mohr, a designer with ChiZine Publications, says, “I looked at a lot of book covers this year. Many were clever and clean, but nothing has stuck with me as much as this one.” Read more about the award here.

NOVEMBER 23, 2010:

KENK has been deemed one of the books of the year by Quill and Quire, Canada’s magazine of book news and reviews. Check out Quill and Quire’s full list here to find out why they recognize KENK as one of the “non-fiction books that made the most impact in 2010.” And be sure to check out the events page for more details on the KENK creative team’s presentation at the 23rd International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) happening today.

NOVEMBER 15, 2010:

Remember that next week the KENK creative team will be at the 23rd International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), which is the world’s largest documentary film festival! Check the events page for more details, and be sure to check back soon for details on an in-store appearance by the team at Europe’s oldest and most famous comics shop and art gallery, Lambiek.

NOVEMBER 2, 2010:

KENK Producer and Publisher Alex Jansen and Animation Director Craig Small will be at the 23rd International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) on Nov. 23rd. IDFA is the world’s leading documentary film festival and screens more than 250 international films each year. Alex and Craig will be presenting KENK as a part of the IDFA DocLab, which showcases documentaries that utilize new media and the latest innovations in digital storytelling. Full details can be found on the events page.

OCTOBER 18, 2010:

The KENK team are featured on the cover of the Ottawa XPress (Ottawa’s largest weekly paper) and will be traveling to Ottawa for a special event co-presented by the Ottawa International Writers Festival and the Ottawa International Animation Festival this Saturday. In addition to discussing the book, Craig Small (Animation Director) will be unveiling the latest developments on the animated film. Full details are available on the events page.

OCTOBER 2, 2010:

KENK Producer and Publisher Alex Jansen is heading to the Frankfurt Book Fair to start exploring international plans for KENK, and will be speaking at the Canadian Book Professionals Association event on October 14th.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010:

KENK is reviewed in the latest edition of Spacing Magazine, releasing today, and a link will be available on the reviews page when it is posted on-line.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2010:

This weekend included great events at Queen’s University and St. Lawrence College as part of the Kingston WritersFest, and a steady crowd and busy day at Word on the Street. The team will be out to the Ottawa International Animation Festival and Writers Festival October 23rd and CANZine in Toronto October 24th. Details on the events page.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2010:

A reminder of events this weekend with the Kingston WritersFest and Word on the Street in Toronto. Details on the events page.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010:

KENK Writer, Richard Poplak, is touring the US with The Sheikh’s Batmobile this fall. Visit www.richardpoplak.com for details.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2010:

Very exciting news on the animated film to be announced before end of year…

SEPTEMBER 1, 2010:

Details on several fall events, including the Kingston WritersFest, Word on the Street, Canzine, and a special co-presentation with the Ottawa International Animation Festival and Ottawa International Writers Festival are now available on the events page.

AUGUST 27, 2010:

The entire creative team will be appearing at FanExpo this weekend in Toronto alongside nearly a hundred guests from across the pop culture spectrum, including Stan Lee, William Shatner, Adam West and Burt Ward, and more. More details are on the events page or at www.fanexpocanada.com.

AUGUST 17, 2010:

This past week KENK was reviewed by Boing Boing, rabble.ca and prairie dog magazine (check the reviews page). It is also back in stock and featured on display tables at Toronto area Chapters Indigo stores. Lastly, there are events this weekend with the Bicycle Film Festival in Toronto and next weekend at FanExpo, and there are several new fall events being updated shortly on the events page.

AUGUST 10, 2010:

Pop Sandbox will be sharing a table with Koyama Press at Word on the Street in Toronto on Sunday Sept 26. Check out latest event details on the events page.

AUGUST 8, 2010:

KENK received a glowing review in the latest issue of Broken Pencil: “…arguably one of the best pieces of journalism released in recent years, graphic novel or otherwise.”

JULY 30, 2010:

KENK received a considerable amount of media coverage this past week, including interviews with jawbone.tv and CG Monthly, and a feature with Open Book Toronto. Video from CBC’s Q interview has also just been posted. Latest media coverage is available on the reviews page

JULY 22, 2010:

We are currently discussing potential upcoming fall events with the Kingston WritersFest, Ottawa Writers Festival and Ottawa Animation Festival. Full details will be available on the events page as they’re confirmed.

JULY 10, 2010:

The KENK team has been invited to FanExpo in Toronto, August 27-29. Hundreds of guests from across the comic book, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming worlds will be in attendance, including Stan Lee, Adam West and Burt Ward, William Shatner, David Cronenberg, Glenn Danzig, Santo and Ernest Borgnine. Check out latest event details on the events page.

JUNE 22, 2010:

A behind the scenes interview with artist Nick Marinkovich is now available to watch on the videos page.

JUNE 20, 2010:

The first edition of KENK was largely sold out across Canada within the first three weeks of release but our second edition is now available.

JUNE 15, 2010:

Nick Marinkovich has designed a striking massive wrap-around store window display at the Silver Snail which is up now through August. See photos on our flickr page.

JUNE 14, 2010:

This week the KENK team is heading down to New York for the 10th annual Bicycle Film Festival. We’ll be participating at the Anonymous Gallery show opening Thursday, have a behind the scenes short playing before the new Spike Jonze and Johnny Knoxville produced BMX feature on Friday, and then we’ll be selling books at the street festival on Saturday.

JUNE 5, 2010:

Last night, Richard Poplak, writer of KENK, won a National Magazine Award for an Explore Magazine piece. Poplak won for an article titled Cycle of Life, which details the pleasures and agonies of racing road bicycles. Congratulations to Richard!

MAY 31, 2010:

Behind-the-scenes interviews with writer Richard Poplak and animation director Craig Small are now available on the videos page. The Pop Sandbox flickr account has been updated with photos of the Kingston Launch.

MAY 26, 2010:

Tomorrow is the Montreal launch of KENK (Thurs May 27th at the Drawn and Quarterly Bookstore). The entire team will be back in Toronto for an entertaining discussion at Conspiracy Culture on Friday May 28th. And Richard Poplak will participate in a Community Discussion around Bike Theft on Thurs June 3rd at Cinecycle. Details are available on the events page.

MAY 19, 2010:

Last night’s launch and discussion in Kingston was packed and sold out books. Look for photos on the flickr page soon. Next up is the Montreal launch next Thursday and Conspiracy Culture event in Toronto on Friday. More event details on the events page.

MAY 16, 2010:

Photos of the Vancouver and Toronto launches are now online at our flickr page.

MAY 15, 2010:

Following successful events in Toronto and Vancouver, Nick Marinkovich, Jason Gilmore and Alex Jansen will be at a Kingston event this Tuesday, meanwhile Richard Poplak will be Yellowknife on Thursday. Check the events page page for more details. The entire team will be at the Montreal launch on Thursday May 27th.

MAY 14, 2010:

Tonight the team behind KENK will be featured in a 3-5 minute profile on CBC’s The National, nationwide.

MAY 13, 2010:

KENK is the book choice of the week for the Georgia Straight, and tonight at 6:00pm Richard Poplak will be appearing at Lucky’s Comics for the Vancouver Launch of KENK. See full details on the events page.

MAY 12, 2010:

A free online preview of KENK, including exclusive behind-the-scenes videos, is now available on our preview page.

MAY 9, 2010:

The KENK teaser is now available on the videos page.

MAY 8, 2010:

The full creative team behind KENK will be at the Pop Sandbox table at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival this weekend. Visit our events page or www.torontocomics.com for more event details.

MAY 7, 2010:

Thank you to everyone who attended last night’s packed KENK Toronto launch party. Nearly 500 people showed up throughout the night! The event was covered on CBC’s The National and was repeat headline news on CBC’s Radio 1 this morning. Thank you!

MAY 6, 2010:

Tonight is the Toronto Launch Party for KENK at the Cadillac Lounge from 7:00 ’til late (1296 Queen St W) & KENK is featured on the cover of this week’s NOW Magazine!

MAY 3, 2010:

Richard Poplak (Writer) will be at Lucky’s Comics for the Vancouver Launch of KENK on Thursday, May 13. Look for more details on the events page.

APRIL 30, 2010:

Richard Poplak (Writer) and Alex Jansen (Producer) will be on CBC Radio’s Q to talk about KENK this coming Tuesday, May 4.

APRIL 29, 2010:

KENK will be featured in the National Post this Saturday, May 1

APRIL 28, 2010:

Feature articles on KENK will be included in the upcoming issues of TCHAD Magazine and Dandyhorse Magazine.

APRIL 27, 2010:

KENK will be participating in Free Comic Book Day with a free sampler available at the following Canadian comic book retailers this Saturday May 1st: One Million Comix (Toronto), The Beguiling (Toronto), The Comicshop (Vancouver), Dragon Lady (Toronto), Drawn & Quarterly (Montreal), Elfsar Comics & Toys (Vancouver), Golden Age Collectables (Vancouver), Hairy Tarantula (Toronto), The Labyrinth (Toronto), Lucky’s Cards Music Comics (Vancouver), Paradise Comics (Toronto), RX Comics (Vancouver), The Silver Snail (Toronto), Strange Adventures (Halifax), and Tazmanian Comics (Burnaby).

APRIL 23, 2010:

Tomorrow, KENK will be excerpted in the national Focus section of the Saturday Globe and Mail.

APRIL 18, 2010:

The Coverage and Reviews pages are now being updated regularly.

APRIL 13, 2010:

Follow the KENKisms Twitter feed for daily quotes pulled right from our original documentary source footage.

APRIL 12, 2010:

The official book release party for KENK will be on Thurs, May 6 at the Cadillac Lounge, in partnership with the CFC Media Lab, Hot Docs, the Toronto Comic Arts Festival and Steam Whistle. Check the events page for more details on this and other upcoming events.

APRIL 2, 2010:

KENK will participate at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) May 8-9. The full creative team will also be at the Drawn & Quarterly Store in Montreal May 27. Check the events page for more details.

APRIL 1, 2010:

Our full website is now live and being updated regularly. Look for preview pages soon.