PR: NUMB due in February

Long Beach, CA, January 11, 2007, California cartoonist Joshua Kemble has been awarded a prestigious Xeric Foundation Grant to self-publish his debut comic book NUMB, to be released February. “I am incredibly gratified that the Xeric Foundation Distribution Committee believes in me and my project enough to give me this generous award,” said Joshua Kemble. “I am excited to have this opportunity to share my work with a wider audience, and I look forward to the process of self-publishing and giving my book the best possible presentation.”

Joshua Kemble’s NUMB is about a young writer named Seymour struggling with writer’s block. Having no other sources for inspiration he rehashes old memories of an ex-girlfriend, Leah Mizzi, to use as fuel to write. By reliving those experiences, he gains inspiration, and then begins to write a novel that he thinks will be wildly successful. However, Seymour is about to find out that there’s more to writing than having a muse.

A compelling, original and boldly visual story about meeting new love, exchanging books and CDs, making love, deciding to date, moving in, depression, drugs, lack of confidence, chatting, car rides, moving out, angry calls, depression, alcoholism, nervous breakdowns and eventual inspiration, NUMB will appeal to fans of such distinctive artists as Daniel Clowes, Adrian Tomine and Chris Ware. Joshua Kemble’s NUMB cover art was featured in the publications CMYK and 3X3 Illustration Annual.