| German
cartoonist Ralf König invades America
Internationally acclaimed cartoonist Ralf
König has published nearly 30 graphic novels about gay
life in his native Germany. They have sold more than two million
copies and have been translated into 14 languages. Yet very
few of his works are available in English.
The unprecedented success of the German
film “Der Bewegte Mann,” based on two of Ralf
König’s graphic novels, encouraged Ignite! Entertainment
to begin translating König’s works into English
– starting with the two that inspired the movie. The
resulting volumes, “Maybe…Maybe Not” and
“Maybe…Maybe Not Again!”, were translated
by Jeff Krell, creator of the popular gay-themed comic strip
“Jayson.”
Within the panels of these stories, we get
to know Axel Feldheim, a straight man who may or may not stay
that way. It starts off innocently enough, with Axel just
trying to win he ex-girlfriend back. She won’t take
him back unless he learns how to be more sensitive. To appease
her, he joins a “men’s support group.” There
he meets a gay man who likes him just the way he is. Will
Axel – and the woman he wants – and the man who
wants him – find a way to live happily ever after? Over
the course of two zany books, the answer is: Maybe…Maybe
Not!
Sales of “Maybe…Maybe Not”
and “Maybe…Maybe Not Again!” have been so
brisk that the first printing has sold out and Ignite! Entertainment
has just released a second printing. Ignite! has also purchased
the translation rights to more of König’s works,
including “The Killer Condom,” a gay send-up of
slasher films that has inspired both a feature film and a
long-running live show featuring life-sized puppets.
“Maybe…Maybe Not”
(128 pp.) and “Maybe…Maybe Not Again!” (120
pp.) are available in finer bookstores, comics shops, and
on Amazon.com for just $14.95 each. The publication date for
“The Killer Condom” will be announced shortly.
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