Ralf König was born in 1960 in Soest, Germany, and studied at the Staatliche Kunstakademie (National Academy of Fine Arts) in Düsseldorf. König published his first comic book ("Schwul-Comix I") in 1981 and appeared in many gay papers in the early '80s. In 1987 he began a long-term relationship with Rowohlt Verlag, Germany's largest publisher. There he published "Der bewegte Mann," which inspired the largest grossing movie in German history, released in the U.S. as "Maybe...Maybe Not." König has published more than 20 full-length comic books which have sold more than two million copies and been translated into 14 languages.

Author: Jeff Krell

Jeff Krell created the groundbreaking comic strip "Jayson," which debuted in the "Philadelphia Gay News" in 1983. By 1985 "Jayson" had achieved national prominence in "Gay Comix," where the strip was named Most Popular Feature. "Jayson" then became a staple in Leyland Publications' "Meatmen" series of gay male comics anthologies, gracing nearly twenty volumes. In 1990 "Jayson" debuted in national syndication.

Krell also translated and published English versions of two works by famed German gay cartoonist Ralf König. "Maybe...Maybe Not" and "Maybe...Maybe Not Again!" were the basis for one of Germany's highest grossing comedy movies.

Krell collaborated with singer/songwriters Ron Romanovsky and Paul Phillips to produce an off-Broadway "Jayson" musical at The 45th Street Theatre, which The New York Times praised for its "tart, keenly observed humor." The show ran for 10 weeks in the summer of 1998.

Krell's first collection of "Jayson" cartoons, "Jayson: A New Collection" (1997), contained all of the stories that inspired the musical. In 2005 he published two new retrospectives, "Jayson: Best of the 80s" and "Jayson: Best of the 90s."

On the eve of "Jayson's" 25th anniversary in comics, Krell unveiled "Jayson Goes to Hollywood" (2008), the first in a planned series of new "Jayson" graphic novels. This milestone was celebrated at the San Diego Comic-Con, where Krell was a featured guest on the 2008 Gays In Comics panel.

Krell is currently writing new stories for his next book in the "Jayson" series, "Jayson Gets a Job." Visit his blog for the latest information.