Hepcats
Encyclopedia
Hepcats was a comic book
self-published
in the 1990s by artist Martin Wagner. It dealt with the lives of four college students, rendered as anthropomorphic animals (humanoid bodies, but animal heads), and was inspired by Wagner's own college
experiences.
, the student newspaper at The University of Texas at Austin
, in 1987. Each installment was typically four panels (but with frequent variation), usually with a comedic gag at the end, but with ongoing storylines.
In 1989, inspired by cartoonists such as Dave Sim
who were successfully self-publishing their comics, Wagner began publishing Hepcats as a black and white comic book series, under his own Double Diamond Press imprint. In this format, the series took on the highly detailed pen-and-ink artwork that would become one of its distinguishing features. Wagner immediately began experimenting with page layouts, including turning the pages sideways, using a double-page spread for each layout for issue #2. Issue #3 began what was intended to be an 18-part graphic novel
entitled Snowblind. Critics have frequently cited Sim's Cerebus the Aardvark
as an artistic influence on this material.
Though critically acclaimed, with a cult following, the series was not a financial success, and this led to an erratic publishing schedule that frustrated readers. In comments written later, in the summer of 1996, Wagner cited poor sales, his weak business skills, and his 1991 divorce as the causes of a financial "hole" he was struggling to get out of. Despite Wagner's increasing prominence as one of several acclaimed self-publishers of the period — along with Jeff Smith
(Bone), Colleen Doran
(A Distant Soil), James Owen
(Starchild), and Sim — the series stalled after issue #12 in 1994. Collections of the Daily Texan strips and of the first volume of Snowblind were released, but Wagner said those sales were not enough to make continuation of the series financially viable.
In 1996 Wagner signed a deal with Antarctic Press
to republish the series to date, along with new issues. A color "#0" issue was released to launch this reprint series, but it was the last new material published. Wagner claimed to have finished #13, and in a 1999 interview in Beau Yarbrough's "Comics Wire" at Comic Book Resources
, he stated that the "pitiful" advance orders for that issue had led him to look for another way to make a living. Antarctic employee Matthew High stated, shortly after the cancellation of these orders, that these orders were in line with the publisher's expectations and that Wagner had not turned in any art for #13.
Wagner left the comics industry in 1998. In 2006, Wagner announced that he would be finishing the Snowblind storyline as a webcomic.
Not reprinted in any of these collections are #2 (the sideways issue, reprinted in a "Special Edition" in 1994), and issues #11 (a 42-page story with a black on dark-gray cover, a dramatic turning point in the story) and #12 (the final issue to see print).
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
self-published
Self-publishing
Self-publishing is the publication of any book or other media by the author of the work, without the involvement of an established third-party publisher. The author is responsible and in control of entire process including design , formats, price, distribution, marketing & PR...
in the 1990s by artist Martin Wagner. It dealt with the lives of four college students, rendered as anthropomorphic animals (humanoid bodies, but animal heads), and was inspired by Wagner's own college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
experiences.
Overview
The series began as a comic strip in The Daily TexanThe Daily Texan
The Daily Texan is the student newspaper of the University of Texas at Austin. It is entirely student-run and independent from the university. It is one of the largest college newspapers in the United States with a daily circulation of roughly 30,000 during the fall and spring semesters and bills...
, the student newspaper at The University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, in 1987. Each installment was typically four panels (but with frequent variation), usually with a comedic gag at the end, but with ongoing storylines.
In 1989, inspired by cartoonists such as Dave Sim
Dave Sim
David Victor Sim is an award-winning Canadian comic book writer and artist.A pioneer of self-published comics and creators' rights, Sim is best known as the creator of Cerebus the Aardvark, a comic book published from 1977 to 2004, which chronicles its main character in a 6,000-page self-contained...
who were successfully self-publishing their comics, Wagner began publishing Hepcats as a black and white comic book series, under his own Double Diamond Press imprint. In this format, the series took on the highly detailed pen-and-ink artwork that would become one of its distinguishing features. Wagner immediately began experimenting with page layouts, including turning the pages sideways, using a double-page spread for each layout for issue #2. Issue #3 began what was intended to be an 18-part graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
entitled Snowblind. Critics have frequently cited Sim's Cerebus the Aardvark
Cerebus the Aardvark
Cerebus the Aardvark, or simply Cerebus , is an independent comic book, written and illustrated by Canadian artist Dave Sim, with backgrounds by fellow Canadian Gerhard. Cerebus ran for 300 issues from December 1977 to 2004, and was over 6000 pages long, the longest-running original...
as an artistic influence on this material.
Though critically acclaimed, with a cult following, the series was not a financial success, and this led to an erratic publishing schedule that frustrated readers. In comments written later, in the summer of 1996, Wagner cited poor sales, his weak business skills, and his 1991 divorce as the causes of a financial "hole" he was struggling to get out of. Despite Wagner's increasing prominence as one of several acclaimed self-publishers of the period — along with Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith (cartoonist)
Jeff Smith is an American cartoonist, best known as the creator of the self-published comic book series Bone. His current series, RASL, focuses on an art thief who hops through dimensional barriers, hiding out on various parallel worlds.-Early life and education:Jeff Smith was born in McKees...
(Bone), Colleen Doran
Colleen Doran
Colleen Doran is an American writer/artist, film conceptual artist, and cartoonist. She has illustrated hundreds of comics, graphic novels, books and magazines, and dozens of stories and articles, including works written by Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Anne Rice, J...
(A Distant Soil), James Owen
James A. Owen
James A. Owen is an American comic book creator, publisher and writer. He is best known for his creator-owned comic book series Starchild and as the author of The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica novel series, that began with Here, There Be Dragons in 2006.-Life and career:Owen...
(Starchild), and Sim — the series stalled after issue #12 in 1994. Collections of the Daily Texan strips and of the first volume of Snowblind were released, but Wagner said those sales were not enough to make continuation of the series financially viable.
In 1996 Wagner signed a deal with Antarctic Press
Antarctic Press
Antarctic Press is a San Antonio-based comic book publishing company which publishes "American Manga" style comic books.Founded by Ben Dunn in 1984, Antarctic Press has produced over 850 titles with a total circulation of over 5 million...
to republish the series to date, along with new issues. A color "#0" issue was released to launch this reprint series, but it was the last new material published. Wagner claimed to have finished #13, and in a 1999 interview in Beau Yarbrough's "Comics Wire" at Comic Book Resources
Comic Book Resources
Comic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
, he stated that the "pitiful" advance orders for that issue had led him to look for another way to make a living. Antarctic employee Matthew High stated, shortly after the cancellation of these orders, that these orders were in line with the publisher's expectations and that Wagner had not turned in any art for #13.
Wagner left the comics industry in 1998. In 2006, Wagner announced that he would be finishing the Snowblind storyline as a webcomic.
Collected volumes
- Yo: The First Hepcats Book (1988; collection of Daily Texan strips — cover spoofs sleeve of Peter GabrielPeter GabrielPeter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
's album SoSo (album)So is the fifth studio album by British rock musician Peter Gabriel, released in 1986. Many of its songs reflect a more conventional pop-writing style and became radio hits, while others still retain Gabriel's dark, brooding sense of experimentalism.It is Peter Gabriel's second album produced by...
) - The Collegiate Hepcats (1993; complete collection of all Daily Texan strips, plus Hepcats #1 and some pre-Hepcats work from the University of Houston paper)
- Snowblind, Part One (1995; collecting Hepcats #3-10, first half of unfinished Snowblind graphic novel)
Not reprinted in any of these collections are #2 (the sideways issue, reprinted in a "Special Edition" in 1994), and issues #11 (a 42-page story with a black on dark-gray cover, a dramatic turning point in the story) and #12 (the final issue to see print).