Biography continues on, in tiny little spurts. This one came from my starting to read the big, heavy Drawn+Quarterly 25th anniversary collection/celebration thingie. See, I know the current owner/publisher. We used to work at the same comic store way back when. I knew him before that as he worked at the local Diamond warehouse (comic distributors). I used to drive him home on the way back to making the delivery at the store. He slept on the way. Tom's gone on to do exactly what he wanted; publish the kinds of comics he really likes to read. It's hard to compete with that, though really, I'm not in competition. As is usually the case, I veer away at the very end, not really delving deeply (heh) into my true feelings on this matter. I guess that's a theme in Biography. Hints and sudden turns. Can't confess even to myself... at least not publicly.
7 comments:
this is totally understandable. I think Tom has worked a lot harder than he likes to think to get where he is and he has been very lucky in how things worked out too. I get the feeling from him he would like to publish your stuff actually, but doesn't think it fits with what they publish for whatever reason, he is without a doubt interested in it. I think D&Q is a good fit for your stuff... Tamino and Fite particularly but what do I know? Not much. If you measure success by financial reward or attention we both have a lot to be down about but if you measure it by continuing to do what you love, working slowly through all the people/problems/insecurities that getting the way you are doing very well.
There's no doubt Tom has worked hard. I don't begrudge him anything. I really am glad for him. Tom has great taste in comics and a true passion for cartooning. It was him that got me to really LOOK at something like Peanuts and see how difficult it really was and to start to appreciate things like brushwork and stuff like that. Tom is generally someone you don't give personal info to, though. He used to take it and throw it back at me like a weapon though I don't really think he was being malicious; that was just his sense of humor or something. So you can see why it's difficult thinking of him as someone whose approval I would really like. But what's the point of doing a journal comic if you keep to the easy stuff?
the point of journals is to open up so i guess your right, you've got to deal with the hard stuff in it as well, which I think you do. I am a very private person so what you put in it seems very open to me! Tom is publishing comics but on the other hand, he isn't making his own anymore like you are so there's that to consider as well.
It's easier to make these journals when I don't think anyone's watching. There's this weird need, and I wonder if it isn't a 'need' particular to current times to 'share' things, to offer something personal in hopes of some kind of validation, as if our 'circle' must now include large numbers of people that we'll never meet. Then again, maybe not; many others, Crumb being a great example have been baring their souls in comics form for decades. Anyway, it's not a competition with Tom, more of an admiration, a wanting to belong. But that's the part I shy away from in the comic. TMI? :"D
maybe I shouldn't say anything! I don't get the impression you feel you are in competition with Tom at all. TMI? isn't it more TLI? LOL What do I know about anything anyway? I was just thinking i should try and see this weird movie where a 70+ Mickey Rooney plays and adult baby... but only because e drowns at the end. Seriously.. it's a thing!
Say what you feel. Don't worry about it! And what the hell is this about a Mickey Rooney baby movie?!! Gah!!!
My pal Donna is terrified of Mickey Rooney so I was researching some stuff about him and that film came up! So the point is, you may not think your career has been great, but you didn't end up shaved in a diaper drowning in a pool... that's some sort of lesson... I think.... OK maybe not. ;)
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