“Dunce is an alternative universe, where Calvin has grown up and moved to Norway.”
“One of the most unique modern comic book artists right now (...) a tremendous talent.”
finally: an english dunce-book!
At last, the first collection of Dunce strips is available in English! Dunce: Arctic Tails spans 196 pages and features a mix of sequential strips, standalone pieces, and an extended Christmas story. I've been anticipating this release for quite some time, and it's finally here!
book-launch in angoulême
The second French Dunce-book was launched at the 50th Angoulême Comic Festival. I was there to sign books at 404 Comics all weekend, and it was an awesome experience! The reception in France has been simply amazing, read about it in the Reviews-section.
I’m still on the look-out for Dunce-publishers in other languages.
DUNCE IN SPANISH
The publisher Oceano Mexico has launched the first Dunce-collection in Spanish! The book will be distributed to all Spanish language countries, PLUS the Spanish book-market in the US.
I was at the book-launch, signing and giving interviews, at the Guadalajara International Book Fair, fell instantly in love with Mexico.
christmas SPECIAL
Christmas got saved (thrice)! For the holiday seasons of 2021-23, there were Dunce Xmas Specials out in stores (in Norwegian). The books contained regular Dunce-strips and storylines, PLUS brand new (18-25 pages long!) Dunce-stories made especially for these books! Reviews were amazing overall … You can still order these online from the publisher Strand, or find it in bookstores like Norli and Ark. WILL there be a Dunce Xmas Special also in 2024? Time will show…
dunce - impulskontroll
OUT NOW: Impulskontroll (Impulse control) is the fourth hardcover Dunce-book, also this one is filled to the brim with single strips, strip sequences and longer series. Styve is in great shape, both as a draftsman and storyteller, join in on a car trip through Norway (with NAF RoadBook from 1989), Brego's attempts to go into hibernation, and the gripping sequence in which Gustav single-handedly takes responsibility for saving the rainforest.
The Dunce series alternates between everyday struggles and deep, existential crises. The whole thing is drawn and told so funny, and so warm-hearted, that one can hardly put the book down.
The book is out (in Norwegian), find it in your local comicshop/bookstore or order online from Norli Bookstore.
“It gives hope to the whole industry that newspaper strips could be renewed in this way that Styve has managed to. ”
SPROING AWARD!
Proud winners: Jens K Styve, Tonje Tornes (Egmont) and Grethe Kristensen (Egmont).
Jens K Styve’s Dunce got the Sproing Award in the category Best Norwegian Comic! Sproing is the Norwegian “Oscar” for comics, which has been awarded annualy since 1986. International winners through the years have been amazing artists like Bill Watterson, Jeff Smith and Carl Barks…
Dunce books
Five Norwegian hardcover Dunce-collections are all over bookstores (real ones, and online). Beautiful, tactile books, each around 200 pages, tons of strips, sketches, bonus stories, and also some exclusive guest covers++. Foreign rights have been sold to France and Spain/Latin-America, for agent info, see the page “Books from Norway”.
Order the books (in Norwegian) at Egmont’s webshop!