Official Press Release

New “Steven’s Comics” Collection to Include Foreword by Dan Savage of the “It Gets Better Project”

SEATTLE, WA (1/24/11)—Northwest Press announced today that their forthcoming collection—David Kelly’s Rainy Day Recess: The Complete Steven’s Comics—will feature a foreword written by It Gets Better Project founder Dan Savage, and that Northwest Press will be making a donation to the organization for each copy of the book sold. The book collects the entire Xeric-award-winning series that ran in alternative and LGBT newspapers from 1995 to 1998, as well as rarely-seen additional artwork and 16 new pages of Steven stories.

“Since there’s been so much focus lately on bullying and teen suicide among LGBT youth,” says publisher Charles “Zan” Christensen, “I thought this would be the perfect time to bring ‘Steven’s Comics’ to a wider audience. Steven is an innocent, optimistic and resilient kid who’s coming to terms with the things that make him different, and determined to live his life without apology. This series is so heartfelt and genuine that I think it could be a great resource to help people better understand what it’s like to be a queer kid.”

Rainy Day Recess looks at growing up “different” from a kid’s point of view, and handles topics like bullying, divorce, and first loves with sensitivity and restraint. While previous Northwest Press releases have been aimed only at older teens and adults, this book is appropriate for young adult and adult readers alike.

“I am excited to have all of my Steven’s Comics strips collected in this new book,” said Kelly. “While it’s been several years since I’ve drawn any new strips, coming back to the Steven character was like seeing an old friend at summer camp. He may have grown up a bit and experienced so many things, but he’s still the same.”

“David Kelly captures the solitude and magic of queer childhood with an eerie realness,” says Alison Bechdel, author of the the New York Times bestseller Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic.

“I’m thrilled that Northwest Press is publishing this,” says Kris Dresen, creator of Grace, Max and Lily and Manya. “Steven’s Comics is a fantastic comic.”

“I was charmed right from the start,” says London comics writer and editor Paul Gravett, “by David Kelly’s understanding of the inner life of a lonely, anxious boy, growing up living with his grandma. I sense the influence here of the great Lynda Barry in these strips’ bold, expressive art and generous texts. It’s great to have them all compiled in this smart kids-book style landscape package.”

Rainy Day Recess: The Complete Steven’s Comics is now available for pre-order through several online retailers, and for wholesale order by retailers to arrive on store shelves in March. The book is black-and-white with a color cover, and has a cover price of $14.99 US.

Charles “Zan” Christensen and David Kelly will both be attending the Emerald City ComiCon in Seattle, March 4th-6th, where they will appear on a panel of LGBT comics creators.

About David Kelly
David Kelly is a comics artist living in Seattle. In addition to “Steven’s Comics”, he has published and co-edited the anthology series Boy Trouble since 1995 with founder Robert Kirby. David’s comics have appeared in The Stranger, Gay Comics, Stereoscomic, and in numerous ‘zines and weekly newspapers.

About Northwest Press
Northwest Press is a publisher founded in 2010 that is dedicated to publishing the best lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) graphic novels and comics collections. Its first two books were Jon Macy’s Teleny and Camille and Justin Hall’s Glamazonia: The Uncanny Super-Tranny. Northwest Press has a mission to find and publish the best quality LGBT comics work in a polished, professional format, and bring it to as wide an audience as possible.

About Dan Savage
Dan Savage writes the syndicated “Savage Love” sex-advice column and is the editorial director of The Stranger newspaper in Seattle. He started the It Gets Better Project in 2010 to combat gay teen suicide and bullying.