Iconic Illustrator Eddie Campbell Talks Denis Kitchen and ‘From Hell’ [Exclusive]

Publisher. Underground Cartoonist. Activist. Historian. Quirky Collector. Troublemaker. Denis Kitchen has been taking on the establishment for decades. Now an all-new documentary, Oddly Compelling, highlights Kitchen’s long, strange trip — from his early days as a hippie cartoonist, to his thirty years as one of the most important independent comic book publishers, and his work as a fierce advocate for the First Amendment. Oddly Compelling is now on Kickstarter.

Filmmaker Soren Christiansen and Ted Intorcio have captured hours of in-depth, candid conversations with Denis Kitchen, as well as fellow cartoonists and colleagues including Alison Bechdel, Warren Bernard, Eddie Campbell, Paul Gravett, and Karen Green. The film also features rare archival footage of comic book legends Robert Crumb, Will Eisner, and Harvey Kurtzman, along with new animation of Kitchen’s iconic cartooning. The film charts Kitchen’s career as an indie cartoonist, a provocateur and publisher, and founder of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

In our exclusive clip from the documentary, illustrator and frequent Alan Moore collaborator Eddie Campbell talks about the censorship of From Hell and how Kitchen encouraged creative freedom in the world of comics.

Watch here:

“Who would’ve thought that in the 21st century the world would watch Americans ban books, challenge free speech, and threaten its own democratic principles,” said Soren Christiansen. “We’ve had threats to our democracy before, and every time these threats occurred, it took people, like Denis, to stand up and fight for those inalienable rights. He may be the least appreciated of the underground legends, in part because he devoted a disproportionate amount of his career to publishing the work of others. He was there at the very beginning of the Underground Comix movement, and his contributions, starting with Mom’s Homemade Comics, Krupp, Distribution, and Kitchen Sink Press are responsible for bringing ground-breaking and much-loved content to a much wider audience.” 

“Let’s face it, Denis Kitchen is needed now more than ever,” said Ted Intorcio. “We want people to know about Denis Kitchen to benefit or learn from his struggles in confronting their own challenges. Denis has been (and continues to fight be) an advocate for artists, free speech, and underrepresented voices. The work he published under Kitchen Sink Press and his formation of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund have provided untold assistance to comics retailers busted for product that offends local authorities and creators feeling the pressure of censorship and cancellation.”

The Oddly Compelling will document Kitchen’s career and activism and also explore his personal collection of curiosities. Kitchen has amassed an astonishing array of unusual collectibles, from over 100,000 vintage postcards, scores of Big Boy, Kewpie, and celluloid figures, metal toys and robots, to original comic art and political buttons. He has also spent years creating “The Valley of Frankenstein Dolls,” an eccentric outdoor art project that offers unique eye candy throughout the documentary. 

In collaboration with Tinto Press and Denis Kitchen Archives, the Oddly Compelling will be offering rare Underground Comix, remarqued books, personalized prints, film posters, and original Kitchen art, along with streaming and Blu-ray versions of the documentary.

“The lion’s share of the Oddly Compelling documentary footage has been captured, although there are some elusive interviews we hope to secure,” said Christiansen. “Our goal is to raise enough to finish editing and production and prepare for the festival circuit. We estimate several months of work remain to finish shooting, edits, adding effects, animation of Kitchen creatures, and sound design.”

Support the campaign now on Kickstarter. 

For more information follow Denis Kitchen on Instagram, follow Tinto Press on Facebook and Instagram  and follow Oddly Compelling on YouTube.

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