Ralf König
Encyclopedia
Ralf König is one of the best known and most commercially successful German comic book creator
s. His books have been translated into many languages. He has resided in Soest, Dortmund
, and Berlin
, and now lives in Cologne
.
, König completed an apprenticeship, learning the trade of a joiner
.
In 1979, he came out
as a gay man, and about this time he created short comics stories that appeared in the Munich underground magazine Zomix and the gay periodical Rosa Flieder. He returned to school from 1981 to 1986, attending the public Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
and pursuing a major in free art (Freie Kunst). Also in 1981, his early collected comics were published by the gay publishing house Verlag rosa Winkel as SchwulComix (GayComix). In 1987, he wrote The Killer Condom (Kondom des Grauens), his first comic with a continuous story, which was later produced as a film.
In the German-speaking world, König's comics have a vast homosexual fan base. Despite initial skepticism about the prospect of a broader audience due to his works' frequent setting within the gay milieu, his comics have achieved considerable popularity among heterosexual readers as well. A few of his comics have been adapted into films, and several have translated into other languages. By 2008, his total publications exceeded 5 million copies.
style. Consistently written with humour
, they occasionally deal with serious themes such as the tension between sexual freedom and the risk of AIDS
infection. His work has repeatedly portrayed daily routines of gay life, often based on personal experiences of himself and his friends. He has also written works that deal centrally with heterosexuals (Der bewegte Mann, Hempels Sofa) and with religious themes, criticizing literalist readings of the bible (Prototyp and Archetyp) as well as Islamic fundamentalism (Dschinn Dschinn) .
Comic book creator
A comic book creator is someone who creates a comic book or graphic novel.The production of a comic book by one of the major comic book companies in the U.S...
s. His books have been translated into many languages. He has resided in Soest, Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
, and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, and now lives in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
.
Biography
After attending a German HauptschuleHauptschule
A Hauptschule is a secondary school in Germany and Austria, starting after 4 years of elementary schooling, which offers Lower Secondary Education according to the International Standard Classification of Education...
, König completed an apprenticeship, learning the trade of a joiner
Joiner
A joiner differs from a carpenter in that joiners cut and fit joints in wood that do not use nails. Joiners usually work in a workshop since the formation of various joints generally requires non-portable machinery. A carpenter normally works on site...
.
In 1979, he came out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
as a gay man, and about this time he created short comics stories that appeared in the Munich underground magazine Zomix and the gay periodical Rosa Flieder. He returned to school from 1981 to 1986, attending the public Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
The Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, formerly Staatliche Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, is the Arts Academy of the city of Düsseldorf. It is well known for having produced many famous artists, such as Joseph Beuys, Gerhard Richter, Sigmar Polke, Thomas Demand, and Andreas Gursky...
and pursuing a major in free art (Freie Kunst). Also in 1981, his early collected comics were published by the gay publishing house Verlag rosa Winkel as SchwulComix (GayComix). In 1987, he wrote The Killer Condom (Kondom des Grauens), his first comic with a continuous story, which was later produced as a film.
In the German-speaking world, König's comics have a vast homosexual fan base. Despite initial skepticism about the prospect of a broader audience due to his works' frequent setting within the gay milieu, his comics have achieved considerable popularity among heterosexual readers as well. A few of his comics have been adapted into films, and several have translated into other languages. By 2008, his total publications exceeded 5 million copies.
Works
König's stories are drawn in an expressive cartoonCartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
style. Consistently written with humour
Humour
Humour or humor is the tendency of particular cognitive experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement...
, they occasionally deal with serious themes such as the tension between sexual freedom and the risk of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
infection. His work has repeatedly portrayed daily routines of gay life, often based on personal experiences of himself and his friends. He has also written works that deal centrally with heterosexuals (Der bewegte Mann, Hempels Sofa) and with religious themes, criticizing literalist readings of the bible (Prototyp and Archetyp) as well as Islamic fundamentalism (Dschinn Dschinn) .
Comics
- Sarius, 1981
- Das sensationelle Comic-Book, 1981
- SchwulComix (Gay Comics), 1981
- SchwulComix 2 (Gay Comics 2), 1984
- Macho Comix (Macho Comix), 1984
- SchwulComix 3 (Gay Comics 3), 1985
- SchwulComix 4 (Gay Comics 4), 1986
- Kondom des Grauens (The Killer Condom), 1987
- Der bewegte Mann (Maybe...Maybe Not), 1987
- Lysistrata, 1987
- Pretty Baby, 1988 (Maybe...Maybe Not Again!, sequel to Der bewegte Mann)
- Comics, Cartoons, Critzeleien, 1988
- Safere Zeiten (Safer Times), 1988
- Beach Boys, 1989
- Prall aus dem Leben (Life to the Full), 1989
- Bis auf die Knochen (To the Bones), 1990 (sequel to Kondom des Grauens)
- Heiße Herzen (Flaming Hearts), 1990 (with Detlev Meyer)
- Zitronenröllchen (Lemon cake), 1990
- Schwulxx-Comix (Gay Comix), 1990 (with Walter MoersWalter MoersWalter Moers is one of the best-known and commercially most successful German comic creators and authors.-Life and work:...
) - Deutsche Tuntenpost, 1991
- Bullenklöten! (Bull's Balls), 1992
- ...und das mit links!, 1993
- Konrad und Paul, 1993
- Konrad und Paul 2, 1994
- Konrad und Paul 3, 1997
- Jago, 1998
- Superparadise, 1999 (sequel to Bullenklöten)
- Poppers! Rimming! Tittentrimm!, 2001
- Wie die Karnickel (like bunnies), 2002
- Sie dürfen sich jetzt küssen, 2003 (Third part of Bullenklöten)
- Suck my duck, 2004
- Roy und Al, 2004
- Dschinn Dschinn: Der Zauber des Schabbar, 2005
- Dschinn Dschinn 2: Schleierzwang im Sündenpfuhl, 2006
- Trojanische Hengste, 2006
- Hempels Sofa, 2007
- Stutenkerle, 2008
- Prototyp, 2008
- Archetyp, 2009
- Antityp, 2010
Films
- Der bewegte MannDer bewegte MannDer bewegte Mann is a 1994 German film comedy directed by Sönke Wortmann and starring Til Schweiger, Rufus Beck, Joachim Król and Katja Riemann....
, 1994 - Kondom des GrauensKiller CondomKiller Condom is a 1996 German horror comedy based on the comic book of the same name by Ralf König. It was directed by Martin Walz and featured Jörg Buttgereit as its special effects coordinator and H.R...
, 1996 (script by Ralf König) - Wie die KarnickelWie die KarnickelWie die Karnickel is a comedy by Sven Unterwaldt from 2002, based on a script by Ralf König.- Storyline :Horst Bömmelburg's relationship to his girlfriend Vera is stressful and unsatisfactory in every aspect...
, 2002 (script by Ralf König) - Lisístrata, Spain 2002 (following Lysistrata)
English translations
Some of König's books have been translated into English. First was Kondom des Grauens, published as The Killer Condom (1991, reprint 2009). The two-part book Der bewegte Mann/Pretty Baby appeared as Maybe... Maybe Not (1998)/Maybe... Maybe Not Again! (1999), Bullenklöten as Bull's Balls (2002), Roy und Al as Roy & Al (2006) and Down to the Bone (2011).Awards
- Joop Klepzeiker Prijs, 1988
- Best German comic creator, Grenoble, 1990
- Max-und-MoritzMax & Moritz PrizesThe Max & Moritz Prize is a prize for comic books, comic strips, and other similar materials which has been awarded at each of the biennial International Comics Shows of Erlangen since 1984...
Prize, 1992 - Best International Comic Creator, Barcelona, 1992
- Bundesfilmpreis for the movie Der bewegte MannDer bewegte MannDer bewegte Mann is a 1994 German film comedy directed by Sönke Wortmann and starring Til Schweiger, Rufus Beck, Joachim Król and Katja Riemann....
, 1995 - Goldene LeinwandGoldene LeinwandThe Goldene Leinwand is an award created in 1964 by the HDF and the journal Filmecho/Filmwoche....
mit Stern for the movie Der bewegte Mann, 1995 - Goldener RIK, Köln, 2002
- Zivilcourage-Preis des Berliner CSD, Berlin, 2004
- Prix Alph’Art, AngoulêmeAngoulême-Main sights:In place of its ancient fortifications, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the cathedral and the hôtel de ville, the...
, 2005 - Premio miglior storia lunga, 2005
- Max-und-Moritz Prize, 2006
- Max-und-Moritz Prize, 2010
External links
- Ralf König official site
- Ralf König biography on Lambiek Comiclopedia