The King of Persia

Walt Holcombe’s The King of Persia, a single-issue comic from Accordion Press that launched in 1996, is a whimsical, hand-drawn fable about a bored monarch whose quest for amusement leads to a wonderfully absurd adventure. Holcombe, serving as both writer and artist, fills each page with intricate, playful linework and a gentle, deadpan humor that makes this brief tale feel like a lost classic of alternative comics. Though the series only produced one issue, it remains a charming showcase of Holcombe’s distinctive, folkloric storytelling.