Publisher Q& A: Clover Press

We sat down with publisher Hank Kanalz to talk about Clover Press's mission and upcoming titles. They do wonderful work, from their Marvel Art-Of series spotlighting various comic artists, to their graphic editions of classic novels like The Great Gatsby and Macbeth. They're a truly unique publisher, and it was great to learn more about them and their mission!
Happy reading! — Alexandra

Q: You describe yourselves as an “eclectic, boutique” publisher. What does that mean to you?

A: We love books, but especially higher-end quality hardcovers. We’re a small publisher and essentially publish books we would like to read ourselves. The team has varied tastes, which creates an eclectic selection.

Q: Your books are very beautiful and intricately designed. What does it take for Clover Press to decide on publishing a book?

A: Thank you. Our designer and co-founder Robbie Robbins designs the books himself or collaborates with another designer to art direct them. We try to find elements of each book and call attention to them with special details. Things like a fine gold detail for a roaring 20s book cover like The Great Gatsby: The Essential Graphic Novel Adaptation, 3-D glasses tucked into a pocket for Project MK-Ultra, or red foil gilded edges for our The Marvel Art Of series of books to add a special touch.
However, the first criteria to decide if we want to publish a book is “Would we want to read this book? Does the book work on a visual level? Is this a book readers will want to keep on their shelves or table for years to come?"

Q: As a medium for telling stories, what do graphic novels offer that is different from traditional novels?

A: A great graphic novel is a seamless marriage of words and pictures. When reading a traditional novel, you can certainly imagine what’s happening, and that leaves a lot open for interpretation. A good visual artist can really help bring a writer’s words to life, and together, they build worlds beyond your own imagination.

Q: You’ve published a lot of “art-of” books. What about an artist’s work inspires you to publish a collection of it?

A: I’ve worked with artists for over 35 years and I never lose that awe and amazement at an artist’s ability to create moving visuals from a blank canvas or page. My favorite “art of” books really showcase the growth and variety of an artist’s style. We need to review and proof books several times over the life of the production of a book, and I always find something new in a piece that I didn’t see before. When an artist’s dedication to his or her craft shows in the line work, color, composition, that’s what we want to capture and share by publishing the work. My roots are in the comics and graphic novel space, as are Clover Press’s, so we just can’t help ourselves.

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