Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Cyclery
Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Cyclery | |
---|---|
Author(s) | Rick Smith and Brian Griggs |
Website | yehudamoon.com |
Current status / schedule | On hiatus as of March 2017 |
Launch date | January 22, 2008 |
Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Cyclery is a webcomic created by Ohio resident[1] Rick Smith.[2]
The strip chronicles the adventures and challenges of Yehuda Moon. The titular character runs a bike shop, the Kickstand Cyclery, with his friend Joe, and is often confronted with the challenges presented by his daily bicycle commute and the customers (or lack thereof) at his bike shop. Various characters include: the bike ninja, the bike hypochondriac, the ghost of the previous owner - Fred, the Shakers who built the bicycle frames, Thistle who worked in the shop with Yehuda and Joe, neighborhood kids, roadies, and commuters. Yehuda advocates simple, traditional, functional biking as espoused by the philosophy of Grant Petersen of Rivendell Bicycle Works.[3] His shop partner Joe acts as a foil to Yehuda and prefers a more performance- or racing-oriented style.
The author admires the work of Harold Gray, Chester Gould, Frank King,[4] and James Kochalka.[5]
A square-bound softcover print collection, reprinting the first 12 months of strips from January through December 31, 2008, was available. A second volume containing the 2009 strips was announced but delayed.[6]
Brian Griggs joined as a writer in late Spring 2010.[7]
For some time after September, 2011, the comic stopped updating, and a strip was posted that simply read "That's all, Folks." [8] The author indicated that he stopped the strip due to the demands of his day job and family. A final strip, echoing the visuals and structure of the very first strip, was subsequently posted.[9]
After a massive outpouring of support and entreaties by disappointed readers to resume the strip, Rick relented, and Yehuda Moon returned as a subscription feature on a five-day publication schedule.[10] In addition, because of a wildly successful fundraising through Kickstarter.com,[11] the long-awaited second volume finally saw print. In addition, volumes 3 and 4, which compiled the webstrips from January 2010 through October 2011 along with unpublished material and reprints of interviews with the cartoonist, were also created and are available. At the end of 2012, the author announced that the strip would be discontinued, although the books and other merchandise would continue to be available.
Strips have been sporadically produced in 2015, though a successful Kickstarter campaign in November 2015 will mean a Volume 6 will be published in 2016.[12] The entire five year run of the comic has appeared in syndication since 2013 on Facebook and Twitter. The authors were interviewed by Bicycling Magazine in 2015.[13]
The strip ran regularly throughout 2016 and early 2017, publishing strips that appear in the printed Volume 6.
References
- ↑ "Behind Yehuda Moon". crankedmag. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ↑ http://quickrelease.tv/?p=425
- ↑ "Lugged Steel Bicycles, Wool Clothing, Leather Saddles & Canvas Bike Bags from Rivendell Bicycle Works". Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ↑ Gary Boulanger. "Quick spin: 'Yehuda Moon' cartoonist Rick Smith". BikeRadar. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ↑ "Bicycle Comics - Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Cyclery - Page 2". Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ↑ http://comicsworthreading.com/2010/06/27/rick-smiths-bicycle-comic/
- ↑ Tracey. "Century Cycles Blog: Brian Griggs' new gig with Yehuda Moon + other news". Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ↑ http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=2011-09-27
- ↑ http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=2011-10-14
- ↑ http://www.yehudamoon.com/join.php
- ↑ "Kickstand Comics: Volumes 2, 3, and 4". Kickstarter. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ↑ "Kickstand Comics: Volumes 5 and 6". Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ "Inside Yehuda Moon & the Kickstand Cyclery". Retrieved 31 October 2015.