Kevin and Kell

Infobox comic strip
title= Kevin and Kell


caption= The Dewclaws, protagonists of "Kevin and Kell". Clockwise from upper left: Kevin, Kell, Lindesfarne, Coney and Rudy.
author= Bill Holbrook
url= http://www.kevinandkell.com/
rss=
atom=
status= Updating daily
syndicate=
publisher= "The Atlanta Journal-Constitution"
"Plan 9 Publishing"
first= September 3, 1995
last=
genre= Furry/Comedy
rating=
preceded by=
followed by=

"Kevin and Kell" is a furry comedy webcomic strip by syndicated cartoonist Bill Holbrook. The strip began on September 3, 1995. [cite web|last=Holbrook|first=Bill|authorlink=Bill Holbrook|url=http://www.herdthinners.com/index.phtml?current=19950903|title=The first strip|publisher=Herd Thinners|date=1995-09-03|accessdate = 2007-11-17] It is one of the oldest continuously running webcomics.

The strip centers on the mixed marriage between a rabbit, Kevin and a grey wolf, Kell Dewclaw. In their society, their major difference is their diet: Kevin is a herbivore and Kell is a carnivore. Their family includes three children: Lindesfarne, a hedgehog adopted from Kevin's first marriage; Rudy, a wolf/fox hybrid born during Kell's first marriage; and Coney, a carnivorous rabbit.cite web|last=Kohler|first=Chris|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/about/|title=The Story Behind Kevin and Kell|publisher=Kevin and Kell|accessdate = 2007-11-09] The comics plot revolves around species-related humor, satire, and interpersonal conflict.

"Kevin and Kell" receives over three million pages views per month and is published in "The Atlanta Journal-Constitution". [cite web|last=Reynolds|first=John|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/about/faq.html#1.39|title=How many people see K&K every day?|publisher=The Unofficial Kevin and Kell FAQ|date=2007-09-06|accessdate = 2008-01-05] cite web|last=Markstein|first=Don|url=http://www.toonopedia.com/kevnkell.htm|title=Kevin and Kell|publisher=Toonopedia|accessdate = 2007-11-09] Holbrook has won honors from the Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards and the Ursa Major Awards for the strip.cite web|url=http://www.ccawards.com/2001.htm|title=2001 Winners and Nominees|publisher=Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards|date=2001-02-19|accessdate = 2007-12-04] cite web|url=http://www.ursamajorawards.org/UMA_2003.htm|title=Award Winners 2003|publisher=Ursa Major Awards|accessdate = 2007-11-09]

etting

"Kevin and Kell" takes place in a town known as Domain, populated entirely by animals. The comic describes the world they live in as created by an organization called birds, commonly referred to by fans of the strip as the "Great Bird Conspiracy" (GBC). Birds were the next species after humans to reach sapience. After humans left the planet, the birds traveled back in time to create a world without humans, and gave intelligence to fauna. However, their plan fails to remove predator-prey relationships. As a result, the world created is similar to that of twentieth century Earth, but with a greater likelihood of a violent death. [cite web|last=Reynolds|first=John|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/about/faq.html#3.1|title=What is the Great Bird Conspiracy (GBC)?|publisher=The Unofficial Kevin and Kell FAQ|date=2007-09-06|accessdate = 2007-01-08]

The society in "Kevin and Kell" rather than identifying people by race or social class identifies by scent and having class distinctions such as "carnivores", "herbivores", "insectivores", and "nocturnal". [cite web|last=Holbrook|first=Bill|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/1998/strips/kk19980202.gif|title=Odd Couple. There are support groups for everything..|publisher=Kevin and Kell|date=1998-02-02|accessdate = 2007-12-02] There is also a "Wild" where civilized animals can leave civilization and act like normal animals, walking on all fours and not wearing clothing. [cite web|last=Holbrook|first=Bill|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/1997/strips/kk19970612.gif|title=The Wild. Rudy is running away from civilization.|publisher=Kevin and Kell|date=1997-06-12|accessdate = 2007-12-02] Predation is central to strips and jokes are made about it being commonplace. [cite web|last=Holbrook|first=Bill|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/1997/strips/kk19970717.gif|title=Carnivore Shopping. The grocery stores are different.|publisher=Kevin and Kell|date=1997-07-17|accessdate = 2007-12-02]

Humans exist in an alternate Domain, and are referred to as creatures with no natural defenses. Most believe that they are fictional creatures; but a few, including the Dewclaws, know that they exist. This is developed further in 2003 by the introduction of the character Danielle, a human who enters the animal world via the Bermuda Triangle. [cite web|last=Holbrook|first=Bill|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/2003/strips/kk20031011.gif|title=Portal. Danielle crosses over|publisher=Kevin and Kell|date=2003-10-11|accessdate = 2007-11-18] [cite web|last=Holbrook|first=Bill|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/2003/strips/kk20031012.gif|title=Transported. The GBC is in charge.|publisher=Kevin and Kell|date=2003-10-12|accessdate = 2007-11-18] The series features jokes on a variety of topics. Many draw humorous parallels between its world and ours, making fun of sport, society, class-snobbery, school, technology and offices. Some storylines are satirical. For example, in January 2008 the Predator's Union was described as going on strike, a parody of the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike. [cite web|last=Holbrook|first=Bill|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/2007/strips/kk20071231.gif|title=Predator strike!|publisher=Kevin and Kell|date=2007-12-31|accessdate = 2008-01-08]

Characters

The strip's main characters are the Dewclaws, a blended family as a result of an interspecies marriage. The comic's primary characters are Kevin Dewclaw, a rabbit, and his wife Kell Dewclaw, a wolf. They met in a web forum for carnivores, where Kevin was "lurking". [cite web|last=Holbrook|first=Bill|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/1995/strips/kk19950904.gif|title=The first daily strip: how our heroes met and fell in love online.|publisher=Kevin and Kell|date=1995-09-04|accessdate = 2007-12-04] They began to fall in love, but it was not until they met each other in person that Kell discovered Kevin was a rabbit. The relationship they developed online leads them to continue dating and eventually marry, despite knowing that they would be outcasts from the rest of society. [cite video|people=Zampzon and Daku|date2=2005-11-27|title=Digital Strips: Show 48|url=http://www.digitalstrips.com/podcast/show48.html|format=mp3|medium=Podcast|publisher=Digital Strips|location=|accessdate = 2007-12-02|time=8.30]

Originally, Kevin worked as an sysop on a herbivore web forum, [cite web|last=Holbrook|first=Bill|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/1995/strips/kk19950912.gif|title=Intense threads on the Herbivore Forum.|publisher=Kevin and Kell|date=1995-09-12|accessdate = 2007-12-04] although his currently the co-owner of his own internet service provider, "Hare-Link". [cite web|last=Reynolds|first=John|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/about/faq.html#3.5|title=What is Flea-Bay? What is Mating_call.com? What is HareLink?|publisher=The Unofficial Kevin and Kell FAQ|date=2007-09-06|accessdate = 2007-12-04] Kell works as a staff predator for "Herd-Thinners", a company that hunts down prey. Her job is to hunt down other animals. Prey not eaten by Kell is later sold in grocery stores as "processed meat". [cite web|last=Reynolds|first=John|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/about/faq.html#3.6|title=What is Herd-Thinners?|publisher=The Unofficial Kevin and Kell FAQ|date=2007-09-06|accessdate = 2007-12-04]

The couple has three children. The eldest is Lindesfarne, an English hedgehog daughter Kevin adopted during his first marriage. [cite web|last=Reynolds|first=John|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/about/faq.html#2.4|title=Who is Lindesfarne?|publisher=The Unofficial Kevin and Kell FAQ|date=2007-09-06|accessdate = 2007-12-04] The second eldest child is Rudy, Kell's son from her first marriage to a fox. Rudy often challenges Kevin for the position of alpha male, finding it hard to accept a rabbit as head of the household. [cite web|last=Reynolds|first=John|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/about/faq.html#2.5|title=Who is Rudy?|publisher=The Unofficial Kevin and Kell FAQ|date=2007-09-06|accessdate = 2007-12-04] The youngest child is Coney, a carnivorous baby rabbit and their only child by birth. Although only two years old, she is a capable hunter, though Kevin's mother Dorothy keeps trying to make her into an herbivore. [cite web|last=Holbrook|first=Bill|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/2007/strips/kk20070918.gif|title=Coney's Garden.|publisher=Kevin and Kell|date=2007-09-18|accessdate = 2007-12-04] [cite web|last=Reynolds|first=John|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/about/faq.html#2.6|title=Who is Coney?|publisher=The Unofficial Kevin and Kell FAQ|date=2007-09-06|accessdate = 2007-12-04]

Other regular characters include Ralph Dewclaw, Kell's brother. Originally hostile to Kevin, he accepts the rabbit as family after several unsuccessful hunting attempts. He now works for Kevin as part of "Hare-Link" and is married to George's former wife Martha. [cite web|last=Reynolds|first=John|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/about/faq.html#2.11|title=Who is Ralph Dewclaw?|publisher=The Unofficial Kevin and Kell FAQ|date=2007-09-06|accessdate = 2008-01-08] Another is Daisy, a daisy plant made intelligent by the GBC. It lives with the Dewclaws as a pet, having the same intelligence as a dog or cat in real world. [cite web|last=Reynolds|first=John|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/about/faq.html#2.21|title=Who is Daisy?|publisher=The Unofficial Kevin and Kell FAQ|date=2007-09-06|accessdate = 2008-01-08]

History

"Kevin and Kell" was one of the first comic strips to be syndicated online, although older webcomics exist. For example, "Argon Zark!" was created on June 1995, three months before "Kevin and Kell". [cite web|last=Parker|first=Charley|url=http://www.zark.com/front/about.html|title=About Argon Zark!|publisher=Argon Zark!|accessdate = 2008-01-09] However, Holbrook was the first syndicated cartoonist to invest heavily in online comic strips. One webcomic expert, T Campbell writing in "Comixtalk", wrote that Holbrook brought "an air of legitimacy and professionalism that many web cartoonists lacked then and still lack now." [cite web|last=Campbell|first=T|authorlink=T Campbell|url=http://comixtalk.com/the_history_of_online_comics_part_3|title=The Stone Age (The History of Online Comics: Part 3)|publisher=Comixtalk|month=November | year=2003|accessdate = 2008-01-09]

The strip started in black and white, changing to a color-scheme on June 23, 2000. [cite web|last=Holbrook|first=Bill|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/2000/strips/kk20000623.gif|title=Color! Social services visits.|publisher=Kevin and Kell|date=2000-06-23|accessdate = 2007-11-09] It is colored by husband and wife team Terrence and Isabel Marks. The strip has been considered for an animated television series. [cite web|last=Reynolds|first=John|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/about/faq.html#1.14|title=Is there any chance of an Animated K&K Television series?|publisher=The Unofficial Kevin and Kell FAQ|date=2007-09-06|accessdate = 2007-12-04] "Kevin and Kell" has appeared daily in "The Atlanta Journal-Constitution" since January 2004, after winning a contest where several new comics, (syndicated and/or on-line) were considered and voted on by readers; Holbrook has stated that this constitutes the "bulk of his readership", citing the paper's circulation.cite web|last=Holbrook|first=Bill|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/holiday/|title=Holiday|publisher=Kevin and Kell|accessdate = 2007-12-18]

Holbrook currently writes two other strips; "On the Fastrack" and "Safe Havens". He uses a "three-week schedule", saying in several interviews, "During this week, for instance, I'll be writing three week's worth of "Fastrack" material, and drawing the 21 gags I wrote for "Kevin & Kell" last week. Next week I'll write for "Safe Havens" while drawing the "Fastrack" batch. And on it goes… On a typical day I'll begin by writing four gags by 2:00, then I'll begin drawing, usually doing about four strips. At night, after everyone goes to bed, I'll write two gags." [cite web|url=http://comixtalk.com/ten_questions_with_bill_holbrook_of_kevin_and_kell|title=Ten Questions with Bill Holbrook of Kevin and Kell|publisher=Comixtalk|month=October | year=2004|accessdate = 2007-12-18] cite web|last=Geusz|first=Phil|url=http://www.anthrozine.com/itvw/itv.holbrook.html|title=Guess who's coming to dinner? Phil Geusz interviews Bill Holbrook|publisher=Anthro|date=September/October 2006|accessdate = 2007-12-20]

In 1998, Holbrook was named "Cartoonist of the Year" at Pogofest, in part for his work on "Kevin and Kell".cite web|last=Ficca|first=Donielle|url=http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=728|title=Ah, Love ... Between a Rabbit and a Wolf? Bill Holbrook|publisher=Sequential Tart|date=2007-11-12|accessdate = 2007-12-04] In 2001, the strip won the award for "Best Anthropomorphic Comic" at the Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards, and was nominated for the same award in 2002. [cite web|url=http://www.ccawards.com/2002.htm|title=2002 Winners and Nominees|publisher=Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards|date=2002-02-19|accessdate = 2007-12-04] In 2003, "Kevin and Kell" won the award for "Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip" at the Ursa Major Awards.

Reception

Since its creation, "Kevin and Kell" been mainly been given positive reviews, although there has also been some criticism. Resident Zompist.com comic reviewer "Bob" praises the way the comic is written and illustrated, and its dealings with difficult issues such as divorce and death. However, he criticizes its suburban nature, saying: "All the family crises are defused within a week or two. No one has any aspirations besides a computer-related job and a quiet heterosexual romance. There seem to be no cities, no foreign nations, no art, no teenage sex."cite web|url=http://www.zompist.com/bob30.html#2|title=Bob's Comic Reviews - Bill Holbrook: Kevin and Kell|publisher=zompist.com|month=October | year=2000|accessdate = 2007-11-09] Another review from "Disjointed Ramblings" comments on the use of satire in the comic, writing that "while the satire is usually gentle, there's plenty of it." [cite web|last=sQuonk|url=http://www.anarchic-teapot.net/spip.php?article87|title=Kevin and Kell: One of the classics|publisher=Disjointed Ramblings|date=2006-04-02|accessdate = 2007-12-18]

Brandon Sanderson's review in "The Official Time Waster's Guide" cites the comic's world design, longevity and a discomforting setting where intelligent animals are killed as strengths. However, Sanderson also complained that Holbrook does not enforce this aspect in the main characters, saying, "While Kell, Rudy, and others make kills every day, none of the main character herbivores ever really have to worry about being stalked and killed. When they are threatened (such as when Lindesfarne is stalked by some cougars near the beginning of the comic's run), [cite web|last=Holbrook|first=Bill|url=http://www.kevinandkell.com/1996/strips/kk19960710.gif|title=Cry for Help. Lindesfarne's in big trouble!|publisher=Kevin and Kell|date=1996-07-10|accessdate = 2007-11-17] the enemy predators are presented as dark, evil things to be defeated.…This sense of careless, off-handed killing gives the comic a lot of its humor--however, to maintain that air of humor, Bill never allows the society to work its everyday worst on any of the main characters."cite web|last=Sanderson|first=Brandon|url=http://www.timewastersguide.com/review/719/Kevin-and-Kell|title=Kevin and Kell|publisher=Time Wasters Guide|date=2004-04-12|accessdate = 2007-11-19]

During a review in webcomic podcast "Digital Strips", commentator Daku describes "Kevin and Kell" as "one of the few anthropomorphic strips that I actually like," saying that "this is as if animals had a society." Zampzon praises the quality of the artwork, but complains that the strip relies on too many animal jokes. [cite video|people=Zampzon and Daku|date2=2005-11-27|title=Digital Strips: Show 48|url=http://www.digitalstrips.com/podcast/show48.html|format=mp3|medium=Podcast|publisher=Digital Strips|location=|accessdate = 2007-12-02|time=12:50]

"Kevin and Kell" and Holbrook are both popular within the furry fandom. Holbrook was first contacted by the fandom in late 1995, soon after the strip was published. He attended his first furry convention, ConFurence, in January 1997. Holbrook holds an annual "Kevin and Kell" patron social" at Anthrocon for people who sponsor the strip. Holbrook also works occasionally with other cartoonists, both furry and non-furry, and characters from his strip make cameos in other strips. Examples include "Newshounds", [cite web|last=Dye|first=Thomas K.|authorlink=Thomas K. Dye|url=http://www.newshounds.com/d/19990614.html|title=Kevin in Wonderland|publisher=Newshounds|date=1999-06-14|date=2007-12-20] "Ozy and Millie", [cite web|last=Simpson|first=D. C.|authorlink=D. C. Simpson|url=http://www.ozyandmillie.org/d/19990401.html|title=April Fools Day strip, by Bill Holbrook|publisher=Ozy and Millie|date=2000-04-01|accessdate = 2007-12-20] "General Protection Fault", [cite web|last=Darlington|first=Jeffery T.|url=http://www.gpf-comics.com/d/20040126.html|title=GPF Archive: Monday, January 26, 2004|publisher=General Protection Fault|date=2004-01-26|accessdate = 2007-12-20] "PartiallyClips", [cite web|last=Balder|first=Robert T.|url=http://www.partiallyclips.com/index.php?id=1359&c=1|title=Empty Nightclub|publisher=PartiallyClips|date=2005-08-28|accessdate = 2007-12-20] and "Schlock Mercenary". [cite web|last=Tayler|first=Howard|url=http://www.schlockmercenary.com/d/20010921.html|title=Name That Cameo, PART III!|publisher=Schlock Mercenary|date=2001-09-21|accessdate = 2007-12-20]

Products

There are 12 books containing collections of "Kevin and Kell" strips, including bonus strips. A 13th book is due to be published on June 29, 2008. They are currently published by "Moonbase Press". [cite web|url=http://www.plan9publishing.com/sunshop/index.php?action=category&id=1 Kevin and Kell books|title=Kevin and Kell|publisher=Plan 9 Publishing|accessdate = 2008-01-11]

A role-playing game based on "Kevin and Kell" was released in July 2005 by "Comstar Games". [cite web|url=http://www.comstar-games.com/csg-store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17&products_id=41 Comstar Games|title="Kevin And Kell: The Roleplaying Game"|publisher=Comstar Games|date=2006-08-05|accessdate = 2007-07-08] "Hare Link", the Internet Service Provider run by Kevin, is a real-life ISP available at www.harelink.biz. [cite web|url=http://www.harelink.biz/|title=Hare Link Homepage|publisher=Hare Link|accessdate = 2007-11-18]

References

External links

* [http://www.kevinandkell.com Kevin and Kell.com] — The official "Kevin and Kell" site.
* [http://www.herdthinners.com Herd Thinners Inc.] — The first internet site to syndicate "Kevin and Kell".
* [http://www.kevinundkell.de Kevin und Kell.de] — A German translation of "Kevin and Kell".
* [http://www.kevinandkell.com/about/faq.html Unofficial "Kevin and Kell" FAQ]
* on WikiFur
* [http://www.billholbrookstore.com/ Bill Holbrook's online store, selling "Kevin and Kell" books]