Clover Press and cartoonist Ruben Bolling are gearing up to complete The Complete Tom the Dancing Bug, an eight-volume definitive collection of the two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and award-winning political humor strip. And as part of the upcoming Kickstarter campaign, we can exclusively reveal that fans will be able to snag an official Tom the Dancing Bug t-shirt and sticker set—available only through the campaign.
The new Kickstarter will fund the final two volumes in the series, collecting Tom the Dancing Bug’s earliest years. Secret Origins gathers strips from 1990–1994, while Sex, Tom the Dancing Bug, & Rock ‘N’ Roll compiles work from 1994–1998. Together, they offer a rare glimpse into Bolling’s formative creative period—strips The New Yorker once called “a quietly thrilling revelation” that teased pop culture, human nature, and comics history with “sensitivity and an eye for the subtly absurd.”
“These two volumes will document this strip’s earliest years, and in some ways, my most audacious and ambitious work,” Bolling said. “With the announcement of these two volumes, The Complete Tom the Dancing Bug program will soon stand as a full eight-volume chronicle of 35 years of comics—my life’s work.”
Beyond the books, the Kickstarter will also feature a collectible 11″ x 13″ lithograph print, a slipcase to house all eight Clover Press editions, and the newly revealed merch: a limited-run Tom the Dancing Bug t-shirt featuring original Ruben Bolling artwork, along with a matching sticker set. These exclusives will not be sold outside the campaign, making them must-haves for longtime fans and new readers alike.
Publisher Hank Kanalz praised Bolling’s enduring relevance: “Tom The Dancing Bug has been running in newspapers for 35 years. This is a direct look at its roots, proving it is as timely and sharp as ever. Ruben’s fluid style provides the right delivery mechanism for his chosen send up du jour.”
Fans can follow the pre-launch page now to be notified when the Kickstarter campaign goes live later this summer.
You must be logged in to post a comment.