My Monkey's Name is Jennifer Vol. 2

Creator Ken Knudtsen has done work for Terminal Press including I Hate Zombies and Crowpsey/Rufus & Cleveland, has a story appear in the I (Heart) Marvel anthology, and more. He is possibly best known for his creation, My Monkey’s Name is Jennifer, the story of a girl and her crazy chimp, Jennifer.  After an absence of a few years, Jennifer is back in a new graphic novel from SLG Publishing, My Monkey’s Name is Jennifer Vol. 2. Westfield’s Roger Ash recently caught up with Ken to learn more about this new book.

SPECIAL OFFER! Every copy of My Monkey’s Name is Jennifer Vol. 2 pre-ordered through Westfield will be signed by creator, Ken Knudtsen!

Westfield: For those who have never read My Monkey’s Name Is Jennifer, what should they know before picking up the new book?

My Monkey's Name is Jennifer page 1

Ken Knudtsen: It’s a very cute story about a little girl and a monkey. And the monkey is crazy! Crazy, because Jennifer is actually a male monkey that the girl Kaitlyn treats like a sister. They have tea parties with stuffed animals, Jennifer wears a dress, Kaitlyn’s parents always bop Jennifer on his monkey head… oh, and Jennifer is neutered as well! In the first graphic novel, Jennifer and Kaitlyn have adventures with evil scientists, ninjas, pirates, Huey Lewis, and the movie theatre.

Westfield: Jennifer hasn’t been around for a few years. Why did you decide to bring him back now?

Knudtsen: Since the last graphic novel was actually a collection of 6 issues plus additional stories, I was a bit burnt out from the run of writing and drawing all of it by myself. So, I thought I might try something a bit different. I had some books published through Terminal Press like Crowpsey/Rufus+Cleveland and I Hate Zombies. I got to do a Wolverine story in the I (Heart) Marvel anthology. I was part of the Popgun #2 anthology from Image Comics. And, like any guy trying to make it, I have worked on a bunch of projects that, for whatever reason, are in various stages of completion.

My Monkey's Name is Jennifer page 2

Westfield: What can you tell us about the story and characters in the new graphic novel?

Knudtsen: Well, once again, the story starts with Jennifer “enjoying” his afternoon with Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn, however, is sick, which means that Jennifer is also “sick”. This allows the evil Dr. Tunick to exact his revenge, which sends both Jennifer and Kaitlyn on an adventure that travels through both time and space! And just when you may wonder if things can’t get worse for your favorite monkey in a dress, they in fact do get worse.

Westfield: Why did you decide to do this story as a graphic novel as opposed to monthly comics?

Knudtsen: That was primarily Dan Vado and SLG Publishing’s decision. Without going into a mind numbing economics class, making comics today is pretty simple – if you’re not Marvel or DC, chances are pretty good you are not turning out individual issues anymore. Diamond doesn’t want to list them, comic stores don’t want to order them after the first two issues, and (to be fair to the publishers and distributers) we indie creators have a reputation for not being able to consistently make deadlines. For me personally, I work a full-time job on top of writing and drawing comics. It takes me A LOT of discipline to do this, and it’s only because I can’t not do it. Many guys find that they can’t or won’t work that hard all of the time, sometimes hurting the very publisher that gave them their first shot. That is just the business model at this time, and, to be honest, I am just fine with it.

Westfield: Are there any other projects you’re working on that you’d like to mention?

My Monkey's Name is Jennifer page 6

Knudtsen: Well, I’m already thinking up the next My Monkey’s Name Is Jennifer story! So guys, you don’t have to worry how many years it’s going to be until another graphic novel is released. Outside of that, I am working with Chris Kirby(Lost Squad) and Jim Ma (Burn) on a couple of things, and I’d like to get a hold of a story in Terminal Press’ Zombie Bomb anthology if time allows.

Westfield: Any closing comments?

Knudtsen: First, I need to thank Dan Vado for agreeing to publish the new Jennifer with nothing more than a simple pitch when I was at last year’s San Diego Comic Con. I can’t explain how awesome it is to have someone feel that confident in your ability to succeed that they just let you go do what you want to do. That kind of support is par for the course for Dan and everyone at SLG, so I just want to make sure everyone knows that.

Part of the Jennifer Sipping Cup mystery

Second, I’d like to thank you, Roger, for giving me a helping hand in getting as many people to be aware of my work as possible. But you must remember, “that’s not a sipping cup!”(that’s a convention joke, guys.)

Last, but definitely not least, I need to thank my fans that I have been patiently waiting for the new Jennifer as they picked up all of the books that I’ve worked on in the meantime. I truly appreciate all of your love and affection, as many of you have gone to beating your friends on the head until they agree to look at this comic with a monkey! That is dedication, and I promise that I do not take it for granted. I hope to see as many of you guys as possible at the conventions this year!