The Lost Art of Ah Pook Is Here: Images from the Graphic Novel (2012)

Seattle, Washington: Fantagraphics Books (book, 1st, inscribed), 2012.
10.25" x 13.375" x 0.875", 168 pages, hardcover without dust-jacket as issued (IBSN 867-60699-445-0).

Malcolm Mc Neill's The Lost Art of Ah Pook Is Here: Images from the Graphic Novel, as published by Fantagraphics Books in 2012. This is a compendium of the artwork created to illustrate William S. Burroughs' writing, from "The Unspeakable Mr. Hart" as published in Cyclops, issues 1-4, National Screw magazine, Crawdaddy magazine, The Someday Funnies, and, most important to the book, the unfinished collaboration Ah Pook Is Here. 

Ah Pook Is Here was a planned early graphic novel of sorts between Burroughs and Mc Neill which was not fully realized in publication. The "text was published by Calder Books without the images in the hope of finding a publisher for the full version. When it became clear that no publisher would take the risk, the project came to an end." [Mc Neill, p. 126] 

Later, Fantagraphics Books was willing to publish the book as collaboratively intended, but "[t]he Burroughs estate, however, would not agree to allow any of Bill's text to be included." [Mc Neill, p.127]. Fantagraphics was threatened with an injuction, and they reduced scope to publish this art without the words.  It is yet a fantastic view on what that completed collaboration might have presented together.

After the initial set of images, which take the book up to page 114, Malcolm Mc Neill includes his memory of the collaboration in the essay "Happened", pp. 123-127. Sara Van Ness also contributes an essay entitled "Ah Pook Is Where?", pp. 141-157, reproducing the original (terminated) contract with Straight Arrow Books for the proposed book.

This copy was acquired from Malcolm Mc Neill directly, and is inscribed by him to me.

Schottlaender v4.G54.