I’ve been drawing a story lately called “Saint Cole.” 

The story centers around a 28 year old man named Joe in an American suburb who works overtime at a pizza restaurant to support his girlfriend, Nicole, and their child, Oscar. Nicole invites her mother, Angela, who has recently split with her boyfriend, to move into their 2 bedroom apartment and sleep on the futon. Only until she gets herself on her feet again. 

Angela is a battling drug-addict with only 9 fingers. A bad influence who has a strained relationship with her own children. Nicole being the exception. Angela is an emotional manipulator who knows how to play Nicole and used tactics to gain a place in her daughter’s already crowded small apartment.

Nicole and Joe have been having problems ever since Nicole got pregnant. Joe never wanted to have a family, didn’t necessarily want to stay with Nicole and feels trapped by her. Nicole is a sweet girl who loves Joe in spite of his mood swings and is trying to keep things together at least for the sake of Oscar. Nicole doesn’t work. She hasn’t since she had Oscar. This is a giant cause of tension between herself and Joe. 

Alcohol is becoming a major problem in Joe’s life. Since gaining the responsibility of raising a child and supporting Nicole Joe has been escaping into alcohol and work everyday. His life isn’t what he wanted for himself and he doesn’t want to deal with it. He thinks he loves Nicole but resents her at the same time. He wasn’t ready to settle down with anyone at all, and when she got pregnant he had to. Probably they wouldn’t still be with each other if he didn’t feel he had to be. Joe wants out somehow. He’s angry. He’s in a position to act rashly. 

I’ve been posting the chapters of the story here: 

http://www.theexpositorcomics.com/noahfull.html

Every chapter represents one day of 4 days in which the story unfolds into a chaotic mess. 

Dog on Wheels (sold)

paint on bristol. This comic will appear in the upcoming Blammo #8 and was painted shortly after my heart was decimated by a long time girlfriend. Though working on it did take my mind off of the agony. $100 and it’s yours. Good riddance.

Mary Todd migrane #1

This is a deleted page from The Hypo wherein Ms. Todd suffers from a migraine headache. This page was drawn when I lived in a two bedroom apartment with a very messy roommate who had his loud friends over every night to play loud video games in the living room. I, the suffering young artist, had to learn to work amongst these awful and inconsiderate humans. $100

Mary Todd Migrane #2 (sold)

Here is the next page from that same deleted scene. Here we find Ms. Todd vomiting in the last panel. Also drawn whilst painfully enduring the horrors outside my bedroom door. Those were the days. I think.

$100

Dresses (sold)

Well lookie here! This page of dresses was published in the back of my highly acclaimed debut graphic novel The Hypo. Holy cow. $75 and you can own this perfectly delightful piece of artwork!

Lincoln study(sold)

Another deleted scene from The Hypo. Good lord! I sure did struggle through a lot of changes while working on that book! This is a respectable piece of comic art. Isn’t it? ??

$100

Limp Bizkit (sold)

I don’t remember what I drew this for. I dislike the band but I still felt the urge to draw their music video into a comic. I guess I’m just some asshole hipster. This page is for $50

THE HYPO COCA COLA (sold)

Here’s a nice thing! Gosh darn it! A superb piece of humor here. A rare treat. This is a coca cola ad for The Hypo. You can own this page and confound your friends! I really like this page and would love for you to have it.

$100

Thank you very much! Here I am with my new girlfriend Liz!

]]> http://nvansciver.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/the-hypo-at-kilgore-books/feed/ 1 noah van sciver OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA http://nvansciver.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/lincoln-pages-for-sale/ http://nvansciver.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/lincoln-pages-for-sale/#comments Mon, 20 Aug 2012 21:43:28 +0000 nvansciver http://nvansciver.wordpress.com/?p=1642 ]]> Hello, friends. I’ve been pretty busy here lately doing press for The Hypo, drawing comics for Blammo #8 and working on my 2nd graphic novel, Saint Cole. I’ve also been preparing for a trip with my old pal John Porcellino. On the trip John and I are going to visit The Lincoln tomb in Springfield, Illinois, and then continue onward to Bethesda, Maryland for SPX.

This year’s SPX will be special for me not only because of The Hypo premiering but also because I’m up for an Ignatz award for “Outstanding mini comic” for The Death Of Elijah Lovejoy.  Hooray!

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I’m selling some pages from the mini comic I did for Fantagraphics called “Who is dead in the white house?” If you are interested in any of these pages please email noahvansciver@gmail.com and let me know which one you want. these pages are about 11x13ish Deal? Deal.

ABE ONE  $75 (sold)

ABE STAIRS (sold) $75

ABE CORPSE $75 (sold)

ABE EAST ROOM $75 (sold)

ABE GUN $75 (sold)

ABE BED $75 (sold)

””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””’

I am also selling these two pages from a comic I did recently for the humor mag The Devastator. These pages are slightly smaller.

Page one $50 (sold)

Page two $50 (sold)

Ninian married Elizabeth Porter Todd, Mary Todd’s older sister, and played a key role in Mary and Abraham Lincoln’s marriage. He was a legislator and lawyer whose mansion on Aristocracy Hill was the social gathering spot for  the promising or already established  Springfield politicians, and lawyers. A fine place for an ambitious man from New Salem to rub elbows with the best of the town’s society.  Lincoln was a frequent guest who was often the life of the party, telling stories and charming the room with his wit.  Lincoln had previously met Ninian Edwards in Vandalia, Illinois, when the two men worked together as a part of the vocal group of Whig legislators named the “Long Nine.” A name deriving from the fact that all nine men were an average of 6 feet tall and around 200 pounds each. The Long Nine’s goal was to move the Illinois state’s capitol from Vandalia to Springfield, and after gaining enough votes, finally achieved the relocation. After the Whig party’s successes, Ninian would invite all of his friends over to the house for oysters and cigars to celebrate.

It is said that Ninian was a vain man. Conceited and bad-tempered. Despite this temperament, he must have seen something promising in Lincoln as he claimed many years later in an interview with William Herndon to have at least attempted to help Lincoln, a “mighty rough man,” upon his arrival in Springfield. In the book Herndon’s informants, Ninian recalls  ”that when Lincoln first came to Springfield I assisted Lincoln – offered to buy him a good law library and send him to some law school and these offers he refused – said that he was too poor and did not wish to involve himself.”

Ninian and Mary Todd did not get along very well and as I mentioned in last week’s piece on Mary Todd, Ninian acted as Mary’s guardian, and he and his wife opposed Abraham and Mary’s original engagement. The son of Ninian and Elizabeth later remembered “My mother did what she could to break up the match.” But the two still found a way to commence the unapproved courtship through correspondence, in the summer and fall of 1840, while Lincoln was in southern Illinois campaigning for William Henry Harrison for president. Lincoln, no doubt, found his feelings easier to write down on paper than to muster them up on the spot for this young lady who had caught his attention. And Mary loved his attention. Returning the favor a couple times over by as Joshua Speed put it “Darting after him.” Lincoln’s friend, O.H. Browning recalled that “She had taken a fancy to Mr. Lincoln, and I always thought she did most of the courting until they became engaged.” By the time winter was beginning it was accepted in Springfield that the two were together as an item.

Unfortunately, the  relationship in its first round was troubled. Mary, for one thing, had been spending a  bit of  time in the company of other Springfield suitors, possibly  only to bother Lincoln. Or maybe she was having second thoughts the same as Lincoln had been. Ninian and Elizabeth later revealed “Lincoln and Mary’s engagement and courtship were broken off  by her flirtations with (Stephen) Douglas.”  Lincoln was beset by problems and distress in his political, and financial life and was being dragged down into a deep depression. These “flirtations” could have done little to rid him of his insecurities. Catherine Clinton in her book Mrs. Lincoln writes:

” In this operatic scenario, Lincoln failed to appear on time to escort Mary to a social gathering to which she ventured alone. When Lincoln finally appeared at the party, he found Mary dancing with Douglas, his ‘arch rival,’ provoking him to jealousy and anger.”

Sometime before or after New Year’s Day, 1841, the two were single once again, and Lincoln was gone, suffering a severe mental breakdown, living with another Springfield friend, William Butler and his family.

Below: Joshua Speed drunk with Ninian Edwards from The Hypo

On September 27, 1842, Mary and Abraham both found themselves at the same social event in Jacksonville, Illinois: the wedding of Martinette Hardin to Alexander McKee. The two at last spoke to one another again, beginning their reconciliation. Some have written that it was Mrs. Francis, the wife of Simeon Francis, the editor of the Sangamo Journal, who played matchmaker between the two the second time around. Mrs. Francis allowed the couple to meet privately in her Springfield home to renew  their feelings towards each other after their 18 month split. Mary insisted in later years that she was the only woman Abraham was ever truly attached to, and that they were destined to be together. Their early courtship troubles were caused by his crisis. Lincoln’s uncertainty.  Mary had waited for him, despite a great number of eligible beaux in line to sweep her off of her feet. Time had passed slowly and neither seemed able to move on. And now it was the fall of 1842 and it was time to settle matters.

Another of Mary’s sisters, Mrs. Frances Todd Wallace,who was also living in Springfield at the time, described Lincoln’s 2nd proposal to Mary:

“In his conversation with Mary, he referred to his lack of means, his ambitions, and his love for her. ‘I now suggest and insist upon our marriage at once.’”

Abraham and Mary decided to hastily marry in order, perhaps, to obstruct any further objections. On November 3rd Abraham visited  an Episcopalian minister, Charles Dresser, to ask him if he would perform the wedding service that evening at the reverend’s home. Then, out on the street, Abraham spotted Ninian and revealed his plans with Mary to him. Ninian was past the point of prevention, and insisted that the ceremony be held at his home and that the couple hold off until the following day to exchange vows.

And so, the same mansion that hosted the social gatherings that Lincoln had frequented years before was also the location of a wedding on a very rainy day. November 4th 1842. The Lincoln’s wedding was planned over the course of hours by Elizabeth Edwards. She had only gotten word of their plans that morning, and had hosted a sewing circle in the home the night before. Elizabeth, resentful, complained that she may only have time to send out for gingerbread. Pushing Mary, referencing her sister’s feelings of Lincoln’s poor origins, to sourly reply ” Gingerbread is good enough for plebeians!”

A week later, the Sangamo Journal announced:

MARRIED-in this city on the 4th instant. At the residence of N.W. Edwards, Esq., by Rev. C. Dresser ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Esq., to Miss MARY TODD, daughter of Robert Todd, Esq.

In a letter that Lincoln wrote to a friend he casually mentioned “Nothing new here, except my marrying, which to me, is a matter of profound wonder.”

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On a special note, Fantagraphics books is now offering a special mini comic with all orders of The Hypo. This comic features an all new comic adaptation of Abraham Lincoln’s prophetic Assassination dream only weeks before his murder. Please click on the cover for more info!

Daughter of Robert Smith Todd, a lawyer and member of the Kentucky Legislature, Mary was raised in a very wealthy and politically influential family. She was provided with an excellent education, and because of the Todd’s close relationship with Whig party founder, Henry Clay, she developed a keen interest in politics and political issues. She moved to Springfield, after the urging of her older sisters who lived there already.

Mary was a difficult woman, strong-willed, and by William Herndon’s account “haughty and sarcastic but an excellent conversationalist.” She was not the most beautiful woman in Springfield but her bloodline was enviable, and so she was therefore very desirable to the up and coming political hopeful. But, Mary was 21 years old, and for as much as she was courted by all of the prominent bachelors of the town (including Stephen A. Douglas) she was on the verge of becoming an “old maid.” And acted in a way that other women of the time would have found to be improper. In Catherine Clinton’s excellent book Mrs. Lincoln: A Life she recounts this story of Mary and her friend, Mercy Levering enjoying themselves in their new town during a rainy day, while also giving an example of this “incorrect behavior” for a young woman in the 19th century:

” Once, after the girls had been trapped by rain inside their houses for days, Mary convinced Mercy that they should make their way into town by scattering shingles to walk on-until they could reach the sidewalks lining Monroe Street. They escaped their perches on the hill, and frolicked into town. But after the visit, they had no way to get back home without sinking their shoes ankle-deep in mud. In desperation, Mary Todd hitched a ride back to her home with a local driver, Ellis Hart, jumping onto his donkey-pulled dray. But Mercy refused to go along, ‘failed to take advantage,’ fearing reprisals such impropriety might provoke.”

Mary disregarded the conventions of the time, and seemed to take glee in deviating from dull prescribed roles in the tedious dance to marriage. This was  surely maddening to her guardians, Ninian and Elizabeth Edwards.

Although he was probably aware of her, considering Lincoln was acquaintances with Ninian Edwards and was a law partner to her cousin John T. Stuart, It is generally agreed upon that the couple was first introduced at a cotillion held in December of 1839.  It was at this cotillion where Lincoln uttered his famous line “I want to dance with you in the worst way” of which Mary in later years recalled with humor that “he did just that.” Her attraction to Lincoln, a poor lawyer,  might have begun as a personal challenge of drawing this bashful man out of his shell. He would have stood out compared to the bold, impudent men, young and old, who were drawn into Mary’s orbit. Lincoln was clumsy and inexperienced with women. He was probably awkward in his attempts to converse with her early on, and so learning that Henry Clay was Lincoln’s hero was sure to have been a great way to open him up.  Mary could impress Abraham with her political erudition, and her passion for great literary works and poetry, specifically their mutual love for Shakespeare of which they could quote pieces from heart. Mary’s sister, Elizabeth describing Mary’s effect on Lincoln said “He would listen and gaze on her as if drawn by some superior power.” Soon enough Mary would find herself in love with this odd looking fellow, sharing sleigh rides with him and having long conversations. Quickly the two were engaged to each other.

Abraham Lincoln was not exactly what the Todds had in mind for Mary. Her family hoped for her to meet someone of equal pedigree in Springfield to marry and were very against the pairing up of Mary and Abraham, even playing a part in their break up. The personal struggles and doubts in Lincoln’s life only pushed the two apart more. And eventually Abraham and Mary split.

Below: a page from The Hypo in script form and the final page.

Mary was very troubled as well, and was plagued by migraine headaches and

obsessive habits. She was very prone to temper tantrums and erratic behavior.

I believe that in 1842 when Lincoln and Mary once again began secretly meeting up at the home of newspaper editor, Simeon Francis, it was at a point when perhaps her family had lowered their expectations for Mary. And just maybe that’s why they didn’t seem to have struggled as much to keep them from their inevitable marriage.

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Please do pre order my new book The Hypo from Fantagraphics here!