Jackie Estrada posted a short note on the newsgroups this afternoon to the effect that Dennis Kitchen had dissolved his company as of yesterday. Can anyone confirm?

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I find it hard to believe that Dennis would "dissolve" the company. Does anyone agree with me that if anything, he'd sell it? So many logos, assets, titles, equipment.

I hope this is not true. Dennis is a real hero of mine. No offense, but I guess Jackie Estrada gets around: My buddy and commissions agent Larry "Sheltone" Shell had just sent me an email telling me that he'd recieved a note from Mr. Estrada.

IN the past, Dennis has survived the worst shitstorms imaginable longer than any indie now publishing. He helped INVENT this field. Smart, ethical, and honest-- That's Dennis.

He's a hard man to kill.

However, if he IS down, it might mean bad things. And I don't mean MORE bad things. I mean THE bad thing.

I was recently told by a friend of mine who works for Kitchen Sink that they were hoping that since Todd Mcfarlane now has the Crow book coing out as well, it might help boost sales on the KS book. They could only do black and white Crow stuff now since Todd has the color rights. I can imagine the Crow fans might not want to by a black and white Crow book, that I suppose would sell for as much if not more than an Image version which is in color. I was also informed by same said friend, that they had stopped work on the new Spirit book. I'm not sure if this is true or only rumour. I hate to see them go as well if rumour turns to fact. I agree with Tim, this may be bad. But I hope not, "The Bad" yet. At this point any heat that dies out, any flme that is snuffed, really is noticable.

Mike M. -Guess I'll go pull out my Steve Canyons

The post that appeared in rec.arts.comics.misc:


Matt High (formerly of Antarctic Press) said that he had heard a similar rumor a week ago, but that KSP was getting out of the comics publishing part and would be concentrating on the more lucrative areas of business, such as Hardcovers, tradebacks & asst. Merchandise.

I'm researching now, and will update when I know more.

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Bradly E. Peterson
Psychodrama Press
"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds"
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Deciding that the direct method is best, Greg Bennett (Big Planet Comics and SPX) called Kitchen Sink and asked what was going on. He was told that Kitchen Sink was not closed but that some people were laid off and that they were re-evaluating their plans and such.

I am going to be one very cranky person if I don't get my Joe Lansdale written Spirit Story.

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Karon Flage, Feature Editor
Sequential Tart Webzine
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First off, to Tim T, Jakie Estrada is a she, not a Mister and I didn't tell you I'd gotten a message from her directly, I merely forwarded a copy of message she posted about KSP's demise which I found on one of the comic newsgroups.
That said, it'll be a sad day for sure if this is indeed true and Denis gives up the ghost for good. Hopefully another reorganization will occur and they will concentrate on trade books and merchandizing, leaving comics alone which unfortunately is the true wave of the future given the state of comic book distribution today.


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Larry Shell, VP - Marketing for Cremo Studios. Distributed to the free world by Shel-Tone Publications. Check out our latest release, SOUTHERN-FRIED HOMICIDE! Try it, you'll like it!

I wish I had more to add to this fire. I received the same note from Jackie(via another source in the business). I am still researching further and will try to post when I know more.

I also agree that i would think Dennis would try to sell the rights, etc. Unless he has decided to fold up shop for now, sort through stuff and proceed from there. one can only hope.

peace
Joe

Apparently official word is out today that KS will cease its publishing business January 31 and that all rights to titles currently published will revert to the copyright owners (Will Eisner, James O'Barr, etc.).
(BTW, I don't consider my original post in Usenet to have been a "rumor" since this info came from a freelancer who had just spoken to Denis himself on the phone.)

Hey, Jackie, I'm sorry I called you a he.

PS- Thanks for the explanation. It wasn't "rumor," then. It was gossip.

Aw, just kiddin' ya, Jackie Estrada. And you too, Larry "That's no alligator, that's my agent" Shell. Sorry. I ain't much into newsgroups.

Don't mind me. I guess I'm still a little toasted at some guy I never heard of before who just emailed me to chide me for calling Dennis "Smart, ethical and honest." I don't think I changed his mind, and he sure as hell didn't change mine.