Iris [Khing] comic book catalogue

11 items

Iris is a 'Pop-Art' comic strip drawn by Thé Tjong-Khing and written by Lo Hartog van Banda. It was the first 'comic strip for adults' in the Netherlands in 1968. More

Thé Tjong-Khing's Iris marks a high point in his career as a cartoonist. He and scriptwriter Lo Hartog van Banda wanted to create a socially engaged comic strip without restrictions, an experimental graphic novel, “a novel for viewers”.

It was the sixties with hippies and flower power, free sex and psychedelics, protests against war and for more freedom. The time of Pop Art too.
In France the first 'comics for adults' had appeared, such as; Jodelle, Barbarella and Scarlett Dream.
Iris was the first 'comic for adults' in the Netherlands.

The themes were about identity and manipulation and are still as relevant today!

The emotions of the characters drive the anti-capitalist story. A young woman, Iris, has set her sights on a singing career and, despite the warnings of her boyfriend Mark, is seduced by the capitalist producer; 'Dream King MG'. He turns her into a megastar, but also a weak-willed, unattainable person. Mark is only allowed to sell her 'merchandise'; a life-size Iris (sex) doll. Mark's attempts to save Iris always come to nothing, the only thing he achieves is that the Dream King can continue to play his games even more...

The first edition was by De Bezige Bij, 1968 – hardcover with dust jacket – with alternating pages in color and black and white.

The reprint is from Uitgeverij Sherpa, 2018, 160 pages – entirely full colour – hardcover.
The text has been re-lettered.

Automatic translation Click here for the original text