David Yurkovich began writing and illustrating stories during his childhood and early adolescence. In 1992 he began to focus on graphic novels and comics.
His first self-published comic was funded by a grant by the Xeric Foundation. As a writer and illustrator, his works include Death by Chocolate and Less Than Heroes (both published by Top Shelf Productions) and Altercations (published by Sleeping Giant).
In 2007 Yurkovich wrote, designed, and published Mantlo: A Life in Comics, a benefit magazine to help aid in the medical expenses of Bill Mantlo (creator of Rocket Raccoon and numerous other Marvel properties).
In 2016, Yurkovich was among ten prose authors statewide selected to attend the Delaware Seashore Poetry & Prose Writers’ Retreat. His short story, “The Last Day of Summer,” appeared in the 2016 anthology Beach Nights (Cat and Mouse Press).
In January 2017, he was awarded a fellowship by the Delaware Division of the Arts in the category of literature (fiction). He has published two prose novels, Glass Onion and Banana Seat Summer, with two manuscripts in development. David provided an introduction to the second volume of the Deadly Hands of Kung Fu Omnibus, published June 2017 by Marvel. He also edited the award-winning novel, One of the Madding Crowd, by author David W. Dutton in 2018 as well as the crime anthology Suspicious Activity.
Yurkovich and his family share a house with more pets than is likely healthy.
REVIEWS FOR BANANA SEAT SUMMER:
Love this story of the two young guys growing up in the 70s/80s. It’s so fun reminiscing and growing with these rascals. It also has a poignant turn. And if you don’t know what tick-tacking is, find out now, so you’re ready when Halloween comes! Perfect summer read, goes perfectly with the beach!
Banana Seat Summer by David Yurkovich is a great trip back to my youth. It revels in small town incidents and showcases boys who are all about comic books, television, and candy in the seventies. I remember constantly checking the spinner racks for new issues of comics I just had to have. I recall splurging on candy at the local little store. Yurkovich infuses each chapter with a rush of nostalgia and a devout respect for the wonder and carefree openness that is part of being a child.
The novel is a collection of stories detailing the one summer in the quaint lives of the two leads, Mike and Jeremy. Their endeavors ring true to the reader because the situations they get in harken to so much of what it means to grow up in a small town.
Another aspect I greatly enjoyed is how the story featured such little technology and dwelled on what the characters would set out to do instead of how passive the youth of today are with being so plugged into their phones and their gaming systems. Building a clubhouse, confronting a bully and even trying to sell Grit newspapers are all tales explored in Banana Seat Summer.
It really brought m back to a simpler time, where a bag of plastic green army men could fill an afternoon with endless battles whether under a porch, in a rock garden, or near a slow-moving stream (just a few places where I staged battles myself).
And boy am I left with a hankering for a Charleston Chew after devouring this great read.
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