Michael Kaluta. CHUTES LIBRES. [SN12079] $75

Paris: Les Editions du Triton, 1980. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 72pp, b&w, 16pp in color, wraps. VF.

A collection of 13 Kaluta stories from the fanzines. Portfolio with 16 paintings in color. Some of the stories and paintings have not been reprinted elsewhere. Text in French.

Jean-Philippe Kalonji. KALONJI SKETCHBOOK. [SN25784X] $30

Paris: Comix Buro, 2009. 1st. 8vo (8-9"), b&w, wraps. VF. Signed by the artist.

For more Comix Buro sketchbooks click here.

Nicolas Keramidas. Crisse, Didier. LUUNA, TOME 3 - DANS LES TRACES D'OH-MAH-AH - EDITION SPECIALE. [SN25916] $95

Toulon: Soleil, 2004. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 48pp, b&w, pictorial boards. Scrawl in ink on copyright pages otherwise VF in a fine slipcase. Limited to 3000 copies. Luuna is a series about a Native American girl before the arrival of Europeans. This oversize black & white edition has a special cover, a limited edition color print, and is limited to 3000 copies for Christmas 2004. Text in French.

Paris: Comix Buro, 2008. 1st. 8vo (8-9"), 48pp, b&w, wraps. VF.

Keramidas is best known as the artist of the Soleil series, Luuna.

Keramidas. PERSONNEL. [SN23334X] $30

Rennes: Granit Associes, 2003. 1st. Six 7" x 9 ½" color plates in a cardboard folder, VF/VF.

One of 500 numbered copies signed by the artist. A collection of six original illustrations created expressly for the Personnel series. In this case, Keramidas has created a series of pin-up images of his most popular character: the North American Indian girl, Luuna.

Kerascoët. JOLIES TÉNÈBRES. [SN27772X] $36

Paris: Dupuis, 2009. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 96pp, color, pictorial boards. Fine/Fine.

A strange and morbid tale of a community of tiny people, who live within the gradually decomposing corpse of a little girl.

Kerascoet. Hubert, MISS PAS TOUCHE TOME 1 - LA VIERGE DU BORDEL. [SN23081X] $25

Paris: Dargaud, 2006. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 48pp, color, pictorial boards. VF.

Kerascoet is a team of Marie Pommepuy and Sebastien Cosset. This is their first album. Their artwork is reminiscent of Joann Sfar. Text in French.

"It's the 1930s. Two Parisian sisters, Agathe and Blanche, scrape out a living working as maids. The attitude of the carefree Agathe, who is determined to get the most out of life, contrasts with that of the timid Blanche. One night, the two hear strange noises coming from somewhere near their rooms. Too curious for her own good, Agathe is shot and dies instantly. This tragedy will transform Blanche's life: After escaping from the attackers, she undertakes her own investigation. It's an investigation far out of the ordinary, one that will eventually lead her into a house of pleasure."

Kerascoet. Hubert, MISS PAS TOUCHE TOME 2 - DU SANG SUR LES MAINS. [SN23082X] $25

Paris: Dargaud, 2007. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 48pp, color, pictorial boards. VF.

Miss Pas Touche is the damsel in distress in the conclusion of this serial killer thriller. Kerascoet is a team of Marie Pommepuy and Sebastien Cosset. Their artwork is reminiscent of Joann Sfar. Text in French.

This is an example of what I love about the French: this book about a serial killer of prostitutes, whose heroine is a dominatrix in a brothel, is categorized by its publisher as "For All Ages." You gotta love it.

Kokor. LES VOYAGES DU DOCTEUR GULLIVER - LIVRE 1. [SN23162X] $32

Moulineaux: Vents d'Ouest, 2006. 4to (11-13”), 64pp, color, pictorial boards. VF.

"Freely inspired by the works of Jonathan Swift." Text in French.

Kokor. BALADE BALADE. [SN22516X] $38

Issy Les Moulineaux: Vents D'ouest, 2003. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 120pp, b&w, vinyl wraps. VF.

From the publisher:

"Following an announcement to all four corners of the universe that our planet was up for sale, a possible buyer turns up who, on the grounds that he wants a complete inventory, insists on a complete tour before he'll sign. The only client! A precious client! To ensure his protection and guide him in this journey, that he wants to do incognito: the qualified estate agent, bodyguard and great reporter: Sullivan Vilette! A superhelicopter awaits to take them on this long journey. But the client won't hear of it, he wants to do the tour of the world on horseback ... Kokor offers us a wild, fantastic journey round the world, with references to Don Quixote, the legend of King Arthur, and Orson Welles' radio plays. Because we find out as the story unfolds that in fact this is a radio serial that listeners are enthralled by. Another occasion for Kokor to sketch a whole gallery of colorful characters." A beautifully illustrated album with an incredibly cute little alien. Text in French.

Kokor. LE COMMUN DES MORTELS. [SN23170] $30

Moulineaux: Vents d'Ouest, 2004. 4to (11-13”), 56pp, color, pictorial boards. VF.

A man buys an old rundown hotel Text in French.

Kokor. KADY. [SN23171] $40

Moulineaux: Vents d'Ouest, 2001. 4to (11-13”), 112pp, pictorial boards. NF. Text in French.

Daniel Koller. Desberg, Stephen. MAYAM TOME 2. [SN21734X] $30

Paris: Dargaud, 2004. 4to (11-13"), 48pp, color, pictorial boards. VF.

From the publisher:

"Tyr Mayam is the most distant planet of the galaxy. It's also a paradise for a young Earthling without scruples eager to make a quick fortune. But in wanting to get rich quick, one sometimes rubs shoulders with people best avoided. This series by Stephen Desberg is not only a magnificent adventure in between Science Fiction and the heroic fantasy; it's also a confirmation. Having worked with Marini, Valles and many others, Desberg knows remarkably well how to choose his graphic artists and Daniel Koller, a young Swiss artist, is a real discovery. June Lenny, representative to the Ambassador from Earth, is one of the very few foreigners authorized on Tyr Mayam, a planet with 10,000 gods. This planet, in fact, has just been discovered and in order not to upset its inhabitants it was classified as a protected zone for the next 500 years. Lenny has but one purpose, to use his status to plunder all the wealth of the planet, to experience steamy adventures in the temples of sacred prostitutes and to take advantage of all the pleasures this strange planet has to offer. Unfortunately, our hero is going to meet even nastier profiteers and he will find himself mixed up in some unbelievable adventures." Text in French.

Preview the opening pages

Teddy Kristiansen. CARNET ROUGE. [SN23221X] $40

Toulon: Soleil, 2007. 4to (11-13”), 72pp, color, pictorial boards. VF.

A war story. This is the first of three parts. Teddy has been working on this book for years. Text in French.

Joe Kubert. Nizzi, Claudio. TEX, THE LONESOME RIDER. [SN23589] $50

Celje, Slovenia: SAF, 2005. 1st. Small 4to (9-11”), 240pp, b&w, color wraps. NF (slight shelf wear otherwise tight & unread).

The scarce English language edition of this volume of Tex featuring art by Joe Kubert. Excellent art but the story is the typical amoral spaghetti western antics. The series was created by Sergio Bonelli. With a small print run, this went fast and is out of print.

Wilhelm Kuhnert. Grettmann-Werner, Angelika. WILHELM KUHNERT (1865-1926). [SN11701] $50

Hamburg: Toro, 1981. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 248pp + 53 plates, 143 b&w illustrations, wraps. NF.

A doctoral dissertation on the wildlife artist Kuhnert, his life & work. Numerous reproductions of drawings & sketches appear in an illustrative section in the back. Text in German.

FRANKA

Sample pages from the book

Henk Kuijpers. FRANKA 1 - LES DENTS DU DRAGON. [SN23254X] $25

Paris: Les Humanoides Associes, 2007. 1st thus. 4to (11-13”), 48pp, color, pictorial boards. VF.

In "The Dragon's Teeth," the female detective comes into possession of an ancient oriental sword and is pursued by a female Chinese agent. Globetrotting adventures from Amsterdam to an English estate, Hong Kong, Venice, and the Philippines. This is a new French edition of an album originally published in 1984 in Holland. This was the seventh album in the Franka series which started in 1978 and is still going strong with the 19th album released in 2006 and the 20th in preparation. The character design of Franka evolved over the years from a wide-eyed more cartoonish-proportioned figure to a more realistically proportioned, sexier heroine. This album features Franka about two-thirds of the way in her evolution - lots of fun cheesecake.

Henk Kuijpers. FRANKA 2 - DRAGON-TONNERRE. [SN24291X] $25

Paris: Les Humanoides Associes, 2007. 1st thus. 4to (11-13"), 48pp, color, pictorial boards. VF.

In the conclusion of this two-part story, Franka searches in Southeast Asia, evades the army, finds a sunken 1930s seaplane, enters a primitive shrine inside a volcano, and is transported to prehistoric times. All in 48 pages! Another fast-paced action-packed adventure. This is the mature Franka: losing her clothes in the jungle, she goes without! This album was first published in 1987. Text in French.

Sample pages from the book

Henk Kuijpers. FRANKA 3 - VICTIME DE LA MODE. [SN23255X] $25

Paris: Les Humanoides Associes, 2007. 1st thus. 4to (11-13”), 48pp, color, pictorial boards. VF.

In "Victim of Fashion," a Paris fashion designer encounters Franka on the French Riviera and hires her as a model for a fashion shoot. Soon the female detective has to prevent the designer's murder by a rival. This is a new French edition of an album originally published in 1990 in Holland. This was the ninth album in the Franka series which started in 1978 and is still going strong with the 19th album released in 2006 and the 20th in preparation. The character design of Franka evolved over the years from a wide-eyed more cartoonish-proportioned figure to a more realistically proportioned, sexier heroine. This album features the mature (!) Franka - lots of fun cheesecake.

FRANKA DELUXE EDITIONS

Henk Kuijpers. FRANKA #11: DE VLUCHT VAN DE ATLANTIS. [SN20565M] $80

Aalden: Franka, 2004. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 96pp, color, cloth with an onlaid color plate. VF. One of 3500 numbered copies Signed by the artist.

Franka is a detective specializing in recovering art and antiquities.

From the publisher:

"Franka is one of the most popular comic series in the Netherlands. The adventures of this sexy redheaded heroine are followed by millions of readers. Franka captures a present day variant of classic 'grand adventure' strips in a well composed 'clear line' style. Bold artwork packed with careful graphic and architectural detail. Adventure enlivened by wit."

This volume was my introduction to Kuijper's work and the Franka series and I've become totally hooked. Kuijpers is obsessed with mid-20th century design and architecture and fills his albums with beautiful homages to his obsessions. This album features ocean liners, Constellation airliners, Flying Clippers, Life magazines, and more. In this volume, Franka encounters a reclusive cruise ship magnate (shades of Howard Hughes) and his Hollywood starlet wife (shades of Grace Kelly) and searches for the missing Atlantis, a huge sea-based, flying wing / cruiseliner! This deluxe edition of the popular series includes the 48-page color album and an additional 48 pages of Henk's background and development material with lots of studies, prelims, photos, and extra art. Text in Dutch.

Henk Kuijpers. FRANKA #15: DE OGEN VAN DE ROERGANGER. [SN21795X] $90

Heemstede: Big Balloon, 1997. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 96pp, color, cloth with an onlaid color plate. VF. One of 2000 numbered copies Signed by the artist.

Franka is in a race to recover a solid gold headdress in this fast-paced adventure. She globe-trots from Lisbon, Portugal, to the deserts of the middle east to the jungles of Malaysia. Along the way, she infiltrates an offshore casino hidden inside a cargo ship and pilots a Huey Cobra! This deluxe edition of the popular series includes the 48-page color album and an additional 48 pages of Henk's background and development material with lots of studies, prelims, photos, and extra art. Text in Dutch. This volume is sold out at the publisher and out of print.

Henk Kuijpers. FRANKA #16: SUCCES VERZEKERD. [SN21792X] $90

Aalden: Franka, 1999. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 96pp, color, cloth with an onlaid color plate. VF. One of 2000 numbered copies Signed by the artist.

This album begins with a bomb blast rocking an art gallery. A painting is stolen and Franka is hired by an eccentric collector of modern art to recover it. Kuijpers parodies specific modern artworks throughout. The story concludes in Franka #17. This deluxe edition of the popular series includes the 48-page color album and an additional 48 pages of Henk's background and development material with lots of studies, prelims, photos, and extra art. Text in Dutch. This volume is sold out at the publisher and out of print.

Henk Kuijpers. FRANKA #17: EIGEN RISICO. [SN20547M] $80

Aalden: Franka, 2001. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 96pp, color, cloth with an onlaid color plate. VF. One of 2000 numbered copies Signed by the artist.

In this concluding volume set in the Christmas season, Franka visits London and some old country estates to get to the bottom of a case. This deluxe edition of the popular series includes the 48-page color album and an additional 48 pages of Henk's background and development material with lots of studies, prelims, photos, and extra art. Text in Dutch.

Henk Kuijpers. FRANKA #18: KIDNAP. [SN21794X] $80

Aalden: Franka, 2004. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 96pp, color, cloth with an onlaid color plate. VF. One of 2000 numbered copies Signed by the artist.

Franka is hired to find a pop singer's kidnapped daughter. This deluxe edition of the popular series includes the 48-page color album and an additional 48 pages of Henk's background and development material with lots of studies, prelims, photos, and extra art. Text in Dutch.

Henk Kuijpers. FRANKA #19: HET ZWAARD VAN ISKANDER. [SN21796X] $80

Aalden: Franka, 2006. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 96pp, color, cloth with an onlaid color plate. VF. One of 2000 numbered copies Signed by the artist.

This is a brand-new Franka album completed in 2006. Franka is under surveillance and her (and her lover Rix's) every move is being recorded by a mysterious team. The plot involves a yacht builder leading from his dry docks to a ship's graveyard. This is part one of a two-part story. This is a brand-new Franka album. This deluxe edition of the popular series includes the 48-page color album and an additional 48 pages of Henk's background and development material with lots of studies, prelims, photos, and extra art. Text in Dutch.

Henk Kuijpers. FRANKA: MOORDENDE CONCURRENTIE. [SN25631X] $80

Benneveld: Franka, 2006. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 96pp, color, cloth with an onlaid color plate. VF. One of 2000 numbered copies SIGNED by the artist.

This is a deluxe edition of a Franka album first published in 1990. This deluxe edition of the popular series includes the 48-page color album and an additional 48 pages of Henk’s background and development material with lots of studies, prelims, photos, and extra art. Henk reproduces hundreds of reference photos and clippings accompanied by the resulting roughs, prelims, and finished panels. Text in Dutch. The French edition went under the title Victime de la Mode.

Henk Kuijpers. FRANKA: DE ONDERGANG VAN DE DONDERDRAAK. [SN25632X] $80

Benneveld: Franka, 2007. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 96pp, color, cloth with an onlaid color plate. VF. One of 2000 numbered copies SIGNED by the artist.

This is a deluxe edition of a Franka album first published in 1986. In this adventure, Franka and her companion travel to Southeast Asia and discover a "lost world" of prehistoric animals and a lost tribe. This deluxe edition of the popular series includes the 48-page color album and an additional 48 pages of Henk’s background and development material with lots of studies, prelims, and extra art. Text in Dutch. The French edition went under the title Dragon-Tonnerre.

Henk Kuijpers. FRANKA: DE TANDEN VAN DE DRAAK. [SN25633X] $80

Benneveld: Franka, 2007. 1st. 4to (11-13"), 96pp, color, cloth with an onlaid color plate. VF. One of 2000 numbered copies SIGNED by the artist.

This is a deluxe edition of a Franka album first published in 1984. This deluxe edition of the popular series includes the 48-page color album and an additional 48 pages of Henk’s background and development material with lots of studies, prelims, photos, and extra art. Text in Dutch. The French edition went under the title Les Dents du Dragon.