Congrats to ADDTF for one solid year of reading comics naked.

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Why I Want To Be Kyle Baker When I Grow Up



Like zombie movies and Conan novels, the work of Kyle Baker defies my attempts at criticism. He is without a doubt one of my favourite modern day cartoonists. When I first saw that Newsarama had an interview with Baker on the topic of his upcoming run on Plastic Man, I was incredibly tempted to post a link here, but I resisted. Today I checked his recently updated site, and I can stand no more.



I first became aware of Baker's work in a music magazine called Reflex, where he and Evan Dorkin co-created the Critics At Large strips. These were supposed to be live band reviews, but more often then not they centred on the shirtless, sweaty guy who rubs up against you every chance he gets, overdressed self-obsessed androgynous bastards, and other misfits of the club scene. It was the funniest comic I had ever read. I bought Reflex every month for the Critics At Large strips alone. The strips that Dorkin was involved with have since been collected in his Dork #2. Reflex also printed an interview with Fishbone (FEEEEEEESHBONE!) by Baker. That was, of course, a killer issue.



Afterwards, I only occasionally stumbled across the odd Baker strip. One of the books I came across was his run on the Shadow, which is still some of my favourite art by him, despite the fact that this came fairly early in his career. He had a style where most of the linework was composed of uniform width, thin shaky lines that sometimes didn't meet properly. In contrast, the interiors of these outlines of the people and settings were filled with large, inky pools of black, as if contained by glass cannisters. Oftentimes, shading was placed on characters' faces with pencil, lending a realistic sheen even when the art was at its most cartoony. Baker seemingly had no hesitation in experimenting, leaping from gritty noir, to cartoonish slapstick to high adventure, sometimes within the same page. Baker has admitted that he pencilled and inked each issue in less than three weeks (or was it two?), which might go towards explaining the spontaneity. It's shocking that it works as well as it does. Most cartoonists would be lucky to be as good and as daring as Baker was at the beginning of his career. Ahead of his time, these comics are usually readily available from the bargain bins. I'm slowly collecting the rest of the Seven Deadly Finns storyline as I write this.

The interview with Baker in The Comics Journal #219 is probably the one I have read and reread the most. It was with this that my admiration for Baker solidified completely. There are enough potential pull-quotes in there that there would barely be an interview left afterwards. Baker confounds his interviewer, Kent Worchester, at nearly every step, taking serious questions about his art and answering with fairly blunt, honest answers that are so obvious that they're shocking. One example.

Worchester: So, how come your work is so satiric, and yet you're not angry? I mean, I read the Cowboy Wally book as potentially the work of an angry artist. And yet, you're obviously this happy, well-aadjusted individual. How is that?

Baker : But it's funny.

Worchester : Yeah, but it's not funny-light.

Baker : It's funny - it's funny like stupid people are funny.

While not nearly as good, both the Newsarama interview linked to at the beginning and this online interview are still incredibly entertaining in their own right.

I could, and probably will, slobber over Baker much longer then I just have. In fact, this entry barely touches on his entire career, a career that has largely been neglected by the comics community. Kyle Baker is one of the most accessible comic artists of the last two decades. I once read a comment that Baker's stories weren't worthy of praise since they were basically on the level of mainstream romantic comedy movies. For me, even though this is really only part true, that's part of their appeal.

And if anyone reading this is going to San Diego, could you pick me up the exclusive comic he's offering at his booth? Or even better, a sketch?

Please? Pretty please?
posted by Steven at 3:00 AM

 
24

"These events take place between ten am Thursday and ten am Friday. I'm weblogger Steven Wintle. This is the longest day of my life."

10:12

I've decided to take a crack at a 24-hour comic. Over the day, I will be posting the occassional message, both procrastinating and chronicling my slow descent into madness.

I'm off to a ridiculously bad start. The bottle of Dr. Smooth I bought for today's events was half-consumed last night, leading to my staying up until around 1 or 2 am when I should have gone to bed at 10 pm. That, and my cats kept waking me up. So, my initial start time has been bumped up to 10 am, and I'm only running on 4 hours sleep.

Let's get to work!

11:33

I'm way too picky. I must work faster. I imagine that's the same tumbling block that most people have, making something look nice instead of getting it done.



That's just a practice drawing I did the other night. Wanted to make sure my markers hadn't dried out from disuse. And yes, this will be a Jenny Everywhere production.

Jinkies! Johnny Cash just came on the stereo. Normally I don't listen to music while drawing, but today I'm making an exception, seeing as concentration would probably be detrimental. Of course, the mix I have going is so erratic that it'll be a miracle if the comic comes out looking anything less than manic-depressive. From Blue Rodeo to James Kochalka to Petula Clark to Danzig.

The hairs on your arm will stand up
In the terror in each sip and each sup
Will you partake of that last offered cup
Or disappear into the potter's square
When the Man comes around

1:21

Crotch!



I received a reply from a roving reporter/cartoonist who is interviewing me for a possible piece in Canada's national alternative mag. I don't want to jinx it by going into details. Instead of holding off on answering a few of his questions, I launch into this novel-length response that took me well over half-an-hour to type out. What the Hell is wrong with me?

3:59

Not going so well, though I have a plan to help me catch up. It might be considered cheating by some, but I prefer to call it fudging, mainly because that sounds a little risque, playground-style.

One thing I am in desperate need for is some more refreshment. Should I go to the corner store and get Coca-Cola, or dare to go the distance and purchase some more of that fine Dr. Smooth? Maybe I should get some adult diapers while I'm out, just in case.

7:20

Have a few pages done, and a bunch more near completion. Ooh, boy. Normally I'm like a big ol' hermit up here, but today I've been getting calls from bill collectors, my family and a couple of friends. It's like they're trying to sabotage me.

I'm having fun, despite a pain in my little finger. The pain keeps me awake. Feel the burn! Grrr!



Thorold is for lovers. Perspective is for losers.

10:53

Things are coming along pretty well, now. It might be a case of too little, too late, but I still think I have a shot at the title. Even if I fail, it will be a glorious failure! If the only thing I get out of this is that drawing of Jenny framing her crotch with her hands, I will be satisfied.

A bit of a Coca-Cola scare for a minute, there. I started developing gut-rot, so I had to switch to water. I hope this doesn't affect my wakefulness. Time for a Ren & Stimpy break.

11:41

Blah. Actually, I'm feeling ill. What bad timing. I think it's from sitting around all day. I'm going to take a break from updates, especially since they're so repetitive. Staring at this screen is making me woozy.

5:05

Oh, my... I soldiered on for a bit, doubled over in pain from stomach cramps and a slight fever. Reminder for next time : Eat good, healthy foods. Salads. Apples and oranges. Water. Rather then vomit on the work I had completed, I hit the hay for a nearly two hours. I wasn't really making any progress anyway, and I couldn't sit down in front of the computer without breaking into a cold sweat.

I was half-awake and hallucinating. I dreamt that all these people I barely knew were coming to visit, and they all brought toy swords which they tried to keep hidden from me. I thought that it was nice that these friends of friends were bringing me presents. It wasn't until just a few minutes ago that I realized that they weren't presents.

Everyone who knows me knows how I want to be sent off when I pass away. I want my friends to place me on a wooden barge with kindling, with the ashes of my faithful hound laid at my feet. Then, they will send me floating down the Welland Canal, and fire flaming arrows at the barge. While this is happening, they will play selected Motorhead and Manowar songs very loudly, or, if possible, get Anvil to actually play at the proceedings. The final touch will be to have all the dirtbags of the Rose City line up along the banks of the canal with the weapons they made in shop class, and clash the weapons together as I burn on my funeral pyre.

Those weren't toy weapons in my dream. Those bastards were anticipating my death. As if I would die in my sleep! By Odin's Beard!

It seems fairly obvious to me at this point that i will not make it within the 24 hours. That two hour break really did me in. Still, I'm feeling fresh like the daisy, and I've got nearly 5 hours left, so I'm going to do the best I can.

10:01

Close, but no Segar.

That's a joke, son. You're supposed to laugh.

Too bad. Just a few more pages to go. And don't think I blame my sudden illness, either. That was my fault all the way. Stupid dietary habits. That and an inability to pace myself properly. Next time I'm just going to scribble if out. Pen to paper, no pencilling. Maybe I'll get a group of people together. Yeah, that's a good idea. Last time I did that, we put Queen's Flash Gordon soundtrack on repeat and I only got two pages done. Ah, the folly of youth.



Good night!
posted by Steven at 10:12 AM

 
Fireworks

I was away from the computer for over a week due to family matters, and completely missed Flat Earth's first Canada Day. Time to make up for it.

Kill Whitey



Via the ever wonderful EGON, comes news that Canadian zine mag, Broken Pencil, has released its comics extravaganza. I was tempted to submit my own work to this issue, but didn't feel that I had anything worth contributing at the time.

The only online component to the comics issue is an interview with Native cartoonist Tania Willard. Her name seemed familiar, and by the end of the interview it was mentioned that she was part of the Tony Millionaire kerfuffle seen on the Comics Journal message board ages ago. That thread has since disappeared, but the one at the Redwire message boards is still active. Scroll down for the offending comic strip and Tania Willard's rebuttal.

Soop on Wheels



One of the great pleasures of writing this blog, and the only real reason I have for keeping it going, is that I've learned, and continue to learn, so much. In her interview, Willard mentions a gag cartoonist by the name of Everett Soop.

Mr. Soop was an outspoken political satirist who did not suffer fools gladly and took on both cultures (white and aboriginal) with telling accuracy. He was ahead of his time, exposing injustices and messy realities two and three decades ago that only now are beginning to be dealt with: suicide, incest, sexual abuse, political corruption and addiction.

Soop is the only Native represented in the Museum of Caricatures of the National Archives of Canada, was awarded the lifetime achievement award by the Native American Journalists Association, held two terms on council in his reserve, was nominated for the Order of Canada, and became a member of the Alberta Council of Persons with disabilities, a cause he fought for in his later years. He passed away in 2001 at the age of 58.

In a world where political cartooning is slowly losing its teeth, it's a shame that someone as fierce and funny as Everett Soop is no longer among us. More information on this maverick can be found here and here.

Montreal vs. Toronto

I almost never receive mail through the blog, but the last week and a half has been the exception. I've received an email with more information on Leo Bachle, two requests for my address for some comp comics, and a request from someone from Exclaim! magazine. Thanks to all who wrote. I really appreciate it.

Speaking of Exclaim, Salgood Sam of the Montreal Comix Jam has posted an entry that lists a number of interesting articles from that magazine. I've gleaned a great deal of information from Exclaim's articles in the past. Good stuff. Check them out.



Finally, I'd like to thank all the cartoonists that made me feel at home during June's Montreal Comix Jam. It was an absolute pleasure to finally be able to attend. It was also just a little bit terrifying, considering the sheer amount of talent on hand. I hope no one took my shyness for rudeness. In fact, I was so nervous and disoriented that I didn't quite catch everyone's name, so I'm sorry if I don't accurately place the names to the faces. Special thanks to the uber-talented Max, who I finally got to meet, and a.j., for talking about the weather. Bernie for Cracked, Young Adonis for Alf, and Jack for helpiong to introduce me to this gang of misfits. And all the contributors in Mensuhell for a wonderful (monthly!) anthology. I was genuinely excited to be able to contribute to a few strips. Thanks, everyone.

This entry at Sequential has links to most of the contributors. I highly recommend taking an hour out and checking out their stuff. Montreal is ready to take over the cartooning world, folks, if they haven't already. And don't forget to read the two samples from that night, here and here.



Not to be outdone, Toronto's Royal Academy of Illustration and Design is set to unleash it's first anthology, Rumble Royale on an unsuspecting public. With beautiful contributions by Kagan McLeod, Chip Zdarsky, Ben Shannon, Samuel Hiti, Cameron Stewart and Ray Fawkes, this is sure to be the mag all the kids will be talking about. Get in on the ground floor, gang, and click those links for some stunnng work.
posted by Steven at 11:57 PM