Kenk: A Graphic Portrait

Kenk: A Graphic Portrait is a book written by Richard Poplak about notorious Toronto bike thief[1] Igor Kenk.

Kenk: A Graphic Portrait
AuthorRichard Poplak
IllustratorNick Marinkovich
Publication date
2010
ISBN978-0986488405

Production edit

Kenk: A Graphic Portrait is published by Alex Jansen of Pop Sandbox, written by Richard Poplak, and illustrated by Nick Marinkovich, and with a release date that coincided with Igor Kenk's release from prison.[2][3] To research the book, Poplack interviewed Kent the Don Jail in Toronto and travelled to his home country of Slovenia to interview Kenk's family and friends.[4]

Synopsis edit

The book documents the activities of Kenk in the Queen Street West area of Toronto, Canada.[3] It is presented from the perspective of Kenk, and explains his actions and philosophy of survivalism and scavenging from society.[3]

Critical reception edit

Alex Good, writing in Quill & Quire remarked on the combination of journalism, film, and comic book, and notes the lack of critique of Kenk's narrative.[3] Despite the critique, Good concludes that the book is "brilliantly executed" and described it as an "insightful, realistic portrait not just of a man but of a specific time and place."[3]

Kim Nayyer, writing in the New York Journal of Books describes the books as captivating.[5]

Shannon Winterstein, in her 2010 Broken Pencil review compared the combination of graphical novel and journalistic style to the work of Joe Sacco, Brian Michael Bendis, and Marc Andryko.[1] Winterstein stated that the book was "arguably one of the best pieces of journalism released in recent years, graphic novel or otherwise."[1]

In April 2010, the Globe and Mail named the book their Illustrated Book of the Week.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Winterstein, Shannon. "KENK: A Graphic Portrait." Broken Pencil, no. 48, summer 2010, pp. 53+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A241279017/AONE?u=wikipedia&sid=ebsco&xid=3032d36f. Accessed 19 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Igor Kenk gets book treatment". The Globe and Mail. 2010-02-03. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Kenk: A Graphic Portrait - Quill and Quire". Quill and Quire - Canada's magazine of book news and reviews. 2010-08-30. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  4. ^ "Bicycle thief . . . in words, pictures Intrigued by Igor Kenk's contradictory nature, graphic portrait tells tale of a 'fascinating' man." Toronto Star [Toronto, Ontario], 7 Apr. 2010, p. 2. Gale OneFile: News, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A223292448/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=ebsco&xid=8db058c4. Accessed 19 July 2022.
  5. ^ "a book review by Kim Nayyer: Kenk: A Graphic Portrait". www.nyjournalofbooks.com. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  6. ^ "PICTURE PERFECT / ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF THE WEEK." Globe & Mail [Toronto, Canada], 24 Apr. 2010, p. F13. Gale In Context: Biography, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A224765570/BIC?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=e7820379. Accessed 19 July 2022.

External links edit