Matthew Thurber is a cartoonist from Washington State, now residing in Brooklyn. His comic book series, “1-800-MICE” is to be collected by Picturebox. His comics have appeared in anthologies such as Kramers Ergot, The Ganzfeld, and Yale University Press' Anthology of Graphic Fiction. He has exhibited at Adam Baumgold Gallery, Southfirst in Brooklyn, and the Fumetto festival in Lucern, Switzerland. In 2006 he was named “Mini Comics Artist of the Year” by The Comics Journal. He has performed at venues from the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles to Issue Project Room in New York with his musical project Ambergris, and played saxophone from 2006-08 with Soiled Mattress and the Springs.

1-800-MICE Issue #4

by Matthew Thurber

Published by Ambergris Books

Release Date: February 2010

B/W: 24 pages with color cover

Retail price: $4.00

Matthew Thurber’s epic comic book series returns with a fourth issue. An anthropological study of the imaginary city of Volcano Park, with a soap-opera-styled fractured narrative and a cast of thousands, Thurber’s work is sure to delight fans of ambitious comic book narratives, as well as those of screwball comedy and Oz-style fantasy. Cover painting by Rebecca Bird.

"Thurber's 1-800-MICE is one of the best comics of the decade." -Rob Clough, The Comics Journal

To summarize this episode:

Groomfiend the mouse tries his prescription of creosote and wanders into a disturbing group-think seminar at work. Fleeing the scene, he applies for a vacation, vowing to track down Peace Punk. Meanwhile, the wedding of Officer Nabb and Chlorie the Tree Maiden is tragically disrupted by the Creosote Gang. Groomfiend receives a distress call from Saline Berg and travels to his rescue, while interpreting a mysterious message on Mindbook. In Scotland, several ducks are drinking brandy. Peace Punk finds gainful employment with Aunty Lakeford, and details about the Shogun of L.A.'s origins are revealed.