kuš!
kuš! (speak koosh!) is a comic art publisher from Latvia founded in Riga in 2007. It is most well known for its signature pocket-sized anthologies and its mini-kuš! series, both made by skilled Latvian and international artists, each issue centering around a certain theme. The aims of kuš! are to popularize comics in a country where this medium is practically non-existent and to promote Latvian comics abroad.
kuš! doesn't just publish paper-back comic books, it also organizes exhibitions, workshops, residencies, comic jams and other comic related events, as well as traveling to international festivals to spread the Latvian comic fever.
kuš! links
kuš! blogspot, kuš! tumblr, twittering kuš!, kuš!agram, kuš! facebook
Awards and nominations
2012 Winner of Prix de la Bande Dessinée Alternative at BD Angouleme, France
2012 Nominated for 'Best Publication Design' and 'Best Anthology' at the Stumptown Comics Arts Awards, Portland, USA
2017 š! #26 'dADa' is nominated as 'Best Anthology' for the Eisner Awards at San Diego Comic Con
2017 š! anthology nominated as 'Best Ongoing Series' for the Broken Frontier Awards
2019 š! anthology won 'Best Ongoing Series' for the Broken Frontier Awards
2019 kuš! editors David Schilter and Sanita Muižniece entered the Broken Frontier's Hall of Fame
2020 š! #34-37 are nominated as 'Best Anthology' for the Eisner Awards at San Diego Comic Con
2020 The mini kuš! series is nominated as 'Outstanding Series' for the Ignatz Awards at SPX
2020 The mini kuš! 'Chapter Two' by Keren Katz is nominated as 'Outstanding Minicomic' for the Ignatz Awards at SPX
2020 š! anthology nominated as 'Best Periodical Series' for the Broken Frontier Awards
2021 š! anthology nominated as 'Best Periodical Series' for the Broken Frontier Awards
2022 š! #42 'Scientific Facts' is nominated as 'Outstanding Anthology' for the Ignatz Awards at SPX
2022 mini kuš! #103-110 are nominated as 'Best Periodical Series' for the Broken Frontier Awards
Memberships
CUNE Comics, LKNVOA, Lumbung of Publishers
Interviews and Features
Broken Frontier (UK 2022), LTV (LV 2022), Radio Naba (LV 2022), TV3 (LV 2022), Jungle World (DE 2022), Radio Weser (DE 2021), IR (LV 2020), LSM (LV 2020), TRANSIT (Japan 2020), LRT (Lithuania, 2019), Dagbladet Politiken (DK, 2018), LSM (Latvia, 2018), The Comics Alternative (USA, 2018), Broken Frontier (UK, 2018), 星期日生活 Sunday Mingpao (Hong Kong, 2018), New Eastern Europe (Poland, 2017), Talants tev līdzās (Latvia, 2017) Šiaurės Atėnai (Lithuania, 2017), Sputnik News (Russia, 2017), Deutschlandfunk (Germany, 2017), Tagesspiegel (Germany, 2017), The Comics Journal (USA, 2016), Lo Spazio Bianco (Italy, 2016), Not So Comics (Italy, 2016), World Literature Today (USA, 2016), Fumettologica (Italy, 2016), Comics Alliance (USA, 2015), Publishers Weekly (US 2015), Bacánika (Colombia, 2015), Broken Frontier (UK, 2015), Comics Workbook (USA 2015), La Segunda (Chile, 2015), SI Magazyn Czasu Wolnego (Poland 2015), LTV Panorama (Latvia, 2015), LTV (Latvia, 2015), VICE (Mexico, 2015), ARTE's Metropolis (France, Germany 2014), Goethe Institut (Germany, 2014), Baron Mag (Canada, 2014), European Youth Parliament (2014), Rough Guides (2014), North Adams Transcript (USA, 2014), Popey blog (Japan, 2013), It's nice that (UK, 2013), Fumettologica (Italy, 2013), Spots (Latvia, 2013), Arterritory (Latvia, 2013), Diena (Latvia, 2013), Youthless Fanzine (Italy, 2013), Dwutygodnik (Poland, 2012), Altre Velocita (Italy, 2012), Nordix (Belgium, 2012), Arteko (Latvia, 2012), Central Stn (UK, 2012), IR (Latvia 2011) Air Canada enRoute (Canada, 2011), LZK (Latvia, 2011), Polegadas (Brazil, 2007), Universo HQ (Brazil, 2007), Satori (Latvia, 2007)
Contact
Write to: komikss(at)gmail(dot)com
Bank details
Name: Biedrība Grafiskie stasti
Legal address: Uzvaras bulvaris 5-52, Riga, LV-1048 (please don't send mail here)
Reg. no.:40008135798
Bank: A/S Swedbank, Balasta dambis 1a, Riga, LV-1048, Latvija
SWIFT: HABALV22
IBAN: LV10HABA0551024403970
Paypal: kushkomikss(at)gmail(dot)com
Latvian Kuš! Contributors
Anete Matvejeva
Arnolds Soms
Dace Džeriņa
Frenks Hungus
Kavi
Kristaps Auzenbergs
Līga Koklače
Mairis Naglis
Māris Bišofs
Raids Kalniņš
Toms Kleins
Velta Ķešāne
International Kuš! Contributors (by January 2019, to be updated soon!)
Abraham Díaz (Mexico)
Adriana Marineo (Italy)
Afra Häni (Switzerland)
Agnieszka Piksa (Poland)
Aidan Koch (USA)
Aino Sutinen (Finland)
Aisha Franz (Germany)
Akvilė Misevičiūtė (Lithuania)
Aistė Mo (Lithuania)
Alabaster Pizzo (USA)
Alessandra Marin (Italy)
Alexander Rothman (USA)
Alexis Beauclair (France)
Alice Fiorelli (Italy)
Alice Socal (Italy)
Allison Cole (USA)
Amber Gyselings (Belgium)
Amy Lockhart (Canada)
Ana Galvañ (Spain)
Ana Maçã (Portugal)
Andrea De Franco (Italy)
André Lemos (Portugal)
Antoine Beauvois (France)
Amanda Baeza (Chile /Portugal)
Amanda Vähämäki (Finland)
Ana Albero (Spain)
Andrea Bruno (Italy)
Andrej Štular (Slovenia)
André Lemos (Portugal)
André Pereira (Portugal)
Andrés Magàn (Spain)
Andy Burkholder (USA)
Angie Wang (USA)
Anja Wicki (Switzerland)
Anna Anjos (Brazil)
Anna Deflorian (Italy)
Anna Haifisch (Germany)
Anna Prokofyeva (Russia)
Anna Sailamaa (Finland)
Anna Sommer (Switzerland)
Anne Stalinski (The Netherlands)
Ann Pajuväli (Estonia)
Ansis Purins (USA)
Anthony Meloro (USA)
Aseyn (France)
A.T. Pratt (USA)
Austin English (USA)
Ayumu Arisaka (Japan)
Beatrix Urkowitz (USA)
Ben Marcus (USA)
Ben Mendelewicz (USA)
Bendik Kaltenborn (Norway)
Berliac (Argentina)
Bettina Henni (France)
Betty Liang (Canada)
Bianca Bagnarelli (Italy)
BloodBros (New Zealand)
Box Brown (USA)
Brecht Vandenbroucke (Belgium)
Brie Moreno (Canada)
Bruno Borges (Portugal)
Caroline Paquita (USA)
Cátia Serrão (Portugal)
Celine de Cadt (Belgium)
Charles Berberian & Philppe Dupuy
Charles Burns (USA)
Charles Forsman (USA)
Chris Kuzma (Canada)
Chris Reijnen (Belgium)
Christopher Sperandio (USA)
Clement Baloup (France)
Cole Johnson (USA)
Coleen Anderhub (Germany)
Conor Stechschulte (USA)
Conxita Herrero (Spain)
Cornevu (Brazil)
Courtney Menard (USA)
Damiano Fenoglio (Italy)
Daniel Almeida (Brazil)
Daniel Lima (Angola / Portugal)
Daniel Lopes (Portugal)
Daniel Wernëck (Brazil)
Daniel Zender (USA)
Daphné Geisler (France)
Daria Tessler (Finland/USA)
David Biskup (UK)
Daylen Seu (USA)
deadtheduck (India)
Delphine Pauluzzo (France)
Derek M. Ballard (USA)
Derrengueta (Spain)
diceindustries (Germany)
Dilraj Mann (UK)
Disa Wallander (Sweden)
Dogboy (UK)
Dunja Janković (Croatia/USA)
Dustin Harbin (USA)
Duy Thang Nguyen (Canada)
Dylan Jones (USA)
Edda 'Dead' Strobl (Austria)
Edie Fake (USA)
Eikantas (Lithuania)
Ema Gaspar (Portugal)
Emelie Östergren (Sweden)
Émilie Gleason (Mexico)
Emilie Josso (France)
Emily Carroll (Canada)
Emma Rendel (Sweden)
Emma Roulette (USA)
Emmi Valve (Finland)
Erlend Peder Kvam (Norway)
Evan Androutsopoulos (Finland)
Evie Cahir (Australia)
Fabio Zimbres (Brazil)
Fenta (China)
Fermín Solís (Spain)
Filipe Abranches (Portugal)
Flix (Germany)
Francisco Sousa Lobo (Mozambique / Portugal)
Franz Impler (Germany)
Franziska Adler (Germany)
Fredox (France)
Gabrielle Bell (UK)
Ganmu (China)
Gareth Brookes (UK)
GG (Canada)
Gefe (Switzerland)
Gillian Rhodes (USA)
Ginette Lapalme (Canada)
Gloria Rivera (USA)
Gonçalo Duarte (Portugal)
Gregor Hinz (Germany)
G. W. Duncanson (USA)
Hanna P (Sweden)
Hans Nissen (Finland)
Hanneriina Moisseinen (Finland)
Harukichi (Japan)
HAZ (Spain)
Heather Benjamin (USA)
Heikki Rönkkö (Finland)
Helmut Kaplan (Austria)
Henning Wagenbreth (Germany)
Henrik Duncker (Finland)
Hetamoé (Portugal)
Heta Bilaletdin (Finland)
Hicham Amrani (France)
Hironori Kikuchi (Japan)
HTMLflowers (USA)
Husmann/Tschäni (Switzerland)
Ichasu (Japan)
Ieva Gvazdaitytė (Lithuania)
Ian Andersen (USA)
Ignacio Serrano (Spain)
Ilaria Boscia (Italy)
Ilde Betanzos (Spain)
Imiri Sakabashira (Japan)
Indrė Svirplytė (Lithuania)
Ines Christine Geißer (Germany)
Inés Estrada (Mexico)
Inger Zivana M. Torvund (Norway)
Inkee Wang (China)
Iris Yan (Brazil)
Irkus M. Zeberio (Basque Country)
Itzik Rennert (Israel)
Iván McGill (Spain)
Jaakko Pallasvuo (Finland)
Jakob Klemenčič (Slovenia)
James Turek (USA)
Jan Soeken (Germany)
Jana Vasiljević (Serbia)
Jane Mai (USA)
Janne Marie Dauer (Germany)
Jannis Esselbrügge (Germany)
Jari Vaara (Finland)
Jarno Latva-Nikkola (Finland)
Jason Herr (USA)
Jean de Wet (South Africa)
Jesse Jacobs (Canada)
Jesse Lucas (USA)
Jen Rickert (USA)
Jen Tong (USA)
Jen Wang (USA)
Jeroen Funke (The Netherlands)
Jiro Ishikawa (Japan)
Joana Estrela (Portugal)
Joana Mosi (Portugal)
João Fazenda (Portugal)
João Sobral (Portugal)
Joakim Drescher (Denmark)
Joaquín Aldeguer (Spain)
Jochen Schievink (Germany)
Jodie Wilders (Belgium)
Johan Klungel (the Netherlands)
John Broadley (England)
John Martz (Canada)
John Porcellino (USA)
John Pound (USA)
Jon Boam (UK)
Jonny Negron (USA)
Joonas Sildre (Estonia)
Jooyoung Kim (South Korea)
José Ja Ja Ja (Spain)
Joseph P Kelly (UK)
Josh White (USA)
Juan Quintero (Colombia)
Juani Ta (Romania)
Jul Gordon (Germany)
Julia Gfrörer (USA)
Julia Kluge (Germany)
Julia Trachsel (Switzerland)
Juliána Chomová (Slovakia)
Julie Delporte (France)
Julie Doucet (Canada)
Julius Wagner (Germany)
Jun Oson (Japan)
Justė Venclovaitė (Lithuania)
Jyrki Heikkinen (Finland)
Jyrki Nissinen (Finland)
Kameeellah (Russia)
Kanako Furugori (Japan)
Kara Sievewright (Canada)
Karri Laitinen (Finland)
Kati Rickenbach (Switzerland)
Katharina Kulenkampff (Germany)
Katja Tukiainen (Finland)
Katri Sipiläinen (Finland)
Katsuo Kawai (Japan)
Kawai Shen (Canada)
Kevin Hooyman (USA)
Keiler Roberts (USA)
Keisei Kanamachi (Japan)
Keren Katz (Israel)
Krystal DiFronzo (USA)
Kirsten Carina Geißer (Germany)
KJ Martinet (USA)
KLIL (Brazil)
Knut Larsson (Sweden)
Kolbeinn Karlsson (Sweden)
König Lü. Q. (Switzerland)
Koshi Kawachi (Japan)
krimi (Germany)
Kris Mukai (USA)
Kuba Woynarowski (Poland)
Laila Milevski (USA)
Lai Tat Tat Wing (Hong Kong)
Lala Albert (USA)
Lamelos (the Netherlands)
Lars Sjunnesson (Sweden)
Lasse Wandschneider (Germany)
Laura Callaghan (Ireland)
Laura Kenins (Canada)
Lauri Mäkimurto (Finland)
Lea Loos (Germany)
Leandro Waibe (Argentina)
Lee Kyutae (South Korea)
Léo Quievreux (France)
Leonard Riegel (Germany)
Liesbeth de Stercke (Belgium)
Liisa Kivimäe (Estonia)
Liisa Kruusmägi (Estonia)
Lilli Loge (Germany)
Lily Padula (USA)
Lina Itagaki (Lithuania)
L.L. de Mars (France)
Louise Aleksiejew (France)
Luca Schenardi (Switzerland)
Lucas Souza Teixeira (Brazil)
Lucie Lučanská (Czech Republic)
Luka Va (Lithuania)
Lukas Weidinger (Austria)
Luke Pearson (U.K.)
Luke Ramsey (Canada)
Luis Yang (Spain)
Maciej Sieńczyk (Poland)
Malin Biller (Sweden)
Marc Bell (Canada)
Marcos Farrajota (Portugal)
Marc M. Gustà (Spain)
Marcus Nyblom (Sweden)
Maré Odomo (USA)
Mari Ahokoivu (Finland)
María Inés Gul (Poland)
Mariana Pita (Portugal)
Marie Jacotey (France)
Marie Weber (France)
Marie-Pierre Brunel (France)
Marko Turunen (Finland)
Markus Häfliger (Switzerland)
Marlene Krause (Germany)
Marta Monteiro (Portugal)
Martha Verschaffel (Belgium)
Martin Lacko (Czech Republic)
Martín López Lam (Peru, Spain)
Mathilde Van Gheluwe (Belgium)
Matthew Thurber (USA)
Mawil (Germany)
Max Andersson (Sweden)
Max Baitinger (Germany)
Melek Zertal (Algeria)
Melissa Mendes (USA)
Menno Wittebrood (Netherlands)
Michael Comeau (Canada)
Michael DeForge (Canada)
Michael Fikaris (Australia)
Michael Jordan (Germany)
Michel Esselbrügge (Germany)
Michiel Budel (The Netherlands)
Mickey Zacchilli (USA)
Mikkel Sommer (Denmark)
Mikko Luostarinen (Finland)
Mikko Väyrynen (Finland)
Milena Baeza (Chile, Portugal)
Miriam Katin (USA)
missisisppi (Japan)
Moki (Germany)
Natalie Andrewson (USA)
Nerunodaisuki (Japan)
Nhozagri (China)
Nico Troti (France)
Nicolas Mahler (Austria)
Nicolas Zouliamis (Belgium)
Nicolene Louw (South Africa)
Nicolò Pellizzon (Italy)
Nishioka Bro-sis (Japan)
Noah Van Sciver (USA)
Nou (USA)
Nutoguran (Japan)
Ole Frahm (Germany)
Olegti (Russia)
Olive Booger (France)
Oliver East (UK)
Olivier Schrauwen (Belgium)
Otaki (South Korea)
Paddy Lynch (Ireland)
Pakito Bolino (France)
Pat Aulisio (USA)
Patric Sandri (Switzerland)
Patrick Kyle (Canada)
Patryk Mogilnicki (Poland)
Paula Bulling (Germany)
Paula Puiupo (Portugal)
Paulo Monteiro (Portugal)
Paul Paetzel (Germany)
Pedro Burgos (Portugal)
Pedro Franz (Brazil)
Phillip Janta (Germany)
Pixin (Singapore)
Placid (France)
Powerpaola (Ecuador)
Rafael Gouveia (Portugal)
R. Kikuo Johnson (USA)
Ratigher (Italy)
Renata Gąsiorowska (Poland)
Renee French (USA)
René Rogge (Germany)
Richard McGuire (USA)
Richard Short (England)
Rob Corradetti (USA)
Rokudai Tanaka (Japan)
Roman Muradov (Russia/USA)
Roméo Julien (France)
Roope Eronen (Finland)
Ruedi Schorno (Switzerland)
Ruppert & Mulot (France)
Ryan Cecil Smith (USA)
Sabin Cauldron (USA)
Saehan Park (South Korea)
Sam Alden (USA)
Sami Aho (Finland)
Sammy Stein (France)
Samplerman (France)
Sandra Rummler (Germany)
Sara Varon (USA)
Sarah Mazzetti (Italy)
Scott Jason Smith (UK)
Scott Travis (USA)
Sergi Puyol (Spain)
Sharmila Banerjee (Germany)
Shawn Eisenach (USA)
Shee Phon (China)
Simon H (Austria)
Simon Hanselmann (Australia)
Simon Moreton (UK)
Simon Schnellmann (Switzerland)
Siobhán Gallaher (Canada)
Sophia Foster-Dimino (USA)
Søren Mosdal (Denmark)
Steve Wilson (Canada)
Syhmen (Russia)
Takako Ooki (Japan)
Tamia Baudouin (France)
Tana Hiuchi (Japan)
Tanya Hrabovska (Ukraine)
Tara Booth (USA)
Tatari Takayama (Japan)
TeER (Germany)
Terhi Ekebom (Finland)
Tetsu Kayama (Japan)
Theo Ellsworth (USA)
Thomas Toye (USA)
Thomas Ott (Switzerland)
Thomas Wellmann (Germany)
Thu Tran (Malaysia)
Tiago Casanova (Portugal)
Tiago Manuel (Portugal)
Tiemo Wydler (Switzerland)
Tiina Lehikoinen (Finland)
Till Hafenbrak (Germany)
Till Lukat (Germany)
Tin Can Forest (Canada)
Titas Antanas Vilkaitis (Lithuania)
Tokushige Kawakatsu (Japan)
Tomasz Niewiadomski (Poland)
Tommi Musturi (Finland)
Tommi Parrish (Australia)
Tor Brandt (Denmark)
Toyoya Li (China)
Triana Muñoz (Spain)
Triinu Lille (Estonia)
Tsuchika Nishimura (Japan)
Tsukue Akimoto (Japan)
Tyler Boss (USA)
Ugo Schiesaro (Italy)
Ulrike Seitz (Germany)
Valentin Orange (France)
Valentine Gallardo (France)
Ville Hänninen (Finland)
Ville Kallio (Finland)
Vincent Fritz (Germany)
Vincenzo Filosa (Italy)
Vuk Palibrk (Serbia)
Wakana Yamazaki (Japan)
Ward Zwart (Belgium)
Warren Craghead (USA)
Weng Pixin (Singapore)
Whit Taylor (USA)
Wladimir Kaminer (Germany)
Wolfgang Matzl (Austria)
Xhu (Poland)
Xue Tsung-Hsien (Taiwan)
Yan Cong (China)
Yoshie (Japan)
Yoshi (Lithuania)
Yuichi Yokoyama (Japan)
Yuko Tateyama (Japan)
Yvang (France)
Zejian Shen (China)
Zosia Dzierżawska (Poland)
Kuš! Interns ❤
Adrijan Praznik, September - October 2013
Nina Brič, September - October 2013
Katharina Röser, July 2016
Chiara Abastanotti, September - October 2016
Lucy Rivers, May 2017
Tonijs Strods, June 2018
Lukas Weidinger, May - July 2018
Cécile Thomas, May - July 2019
Herta Balode, June 2022
© kuš!