Kirk Vanderbeek

I have a new story and short interview up on @forge_litmag today and I could not be happier about it. Huge thanks to everyone on The Forge team; loved working with each one of them. forgelitmag.com/2025/02/10/smo…

"The satire here feels thoughtful but almost warm, cutting to the essence of modern economic/social decay… The @Troma_Team cartoon's weird joy and accessibility is still very much front and center.”—@AIPTcomics TOXIC CRUSADERS #4 by @MattBors and @tristanatsirt is out today!

@JLMoultrie I love that place so much, such a gem

If you come to Detroit, don't visit 8 Mile. Go to the Detroit Institute of Arts as much as possible

Shout out to Joe Orsak for the perfect accompanying illustration!

This ridiculous little story was a lot of fun to write—and the back pages of a fantastic Toxie book just feel like the perfect fit for it. @AhoyComicMags @MattBors @therealsobreiro @lloydkaufman @tompeyer

New story of mine out today in Toxie Team-Up from @AhoyComicMags — come for the wild fun from @stuartmoore1 and @funrama, stay for the darkly comic story about anxiety from me…

A single line of chalk on cement > AI "art" A stickman scrawled in crayon on the back of a kids' menu tossed into a garbage can > AI "art" A piece of dead leaf glued to scrap of paper > AI "art" A smattering of saliva sprayed on a window by an errant sneeze > AI "art"

New story out next week in the latest issue of HOWL (4/30) @AhoyComicMags @akwitney @Mauricet34

Pick up an instrument and make some noise with it. Pick up a pen and scribble some shapes with it. Pick up a camera and point it at something beautiful or ugly or interesting. Pick up a microphone and scream something into it. MAKE REAL THINGS.

Stop normalizing A.I. (please)

At this point it takes EVERY OUNCE of my willpower to keep my anger focused on the people in power, not everyone who put them there. On the systems of misinformation, not the people who mainline them constantly. On the big picture, not the disaster of the day. And man, I'm tired.

Don’t ever trust anyone who discredits the arts

"To Weigh a Ghost" by Kirk Vanderbeek (@KirkVanderbeek) . Read and listen at the link: torontojournal.com/issue5-to-weig… #LiteraryJournal #Toronto #ShortStory

I keep forgetting to post about my @AhoyComicMags publications this year, so here’s a smattering of stories/scripts from the past few months…

Best book I’ve read in a while

"Micah stood alone in the dark room surrounded by more objects than he’d ever imagined owning. He picked up another game cartridge and felt an undeniable desire to pocket it." @KirkVanderbeek @forge_litmag:

My latest story—featured this week and free to read from the amazing people at The Forge Lit... forgelitmag.com/2025/02/10/smo…

My story, "To Weigh a Ghost," is in the latest issue of @JournalToronto — give this fantastic lit mag a read, submit a story of your own, show them some love. torontojournal.com/issue5-to-weig…

@hbahedry Happy birthday!

In lieu of gifts, why not sign up for the AHOY newsletter? #ExpectMoreShamelessPlugs bit.ly/AHOYnews

Pick up issue 5 at @BookCityTO in the Beaches @makewavesTo ! #WritingJournal #Toronto #ShortStory