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Curmudge ([personal profile] johncomic) wrote2011-01-23 04:23 pm
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2011: A Cartooning Odyssey, Part 3


In 1985, I began to draw and self-publish The Mundane Adventures of Dishman, a major step in several respects. One, for the first time I was inking a comic book with a Proper™ dip pen like the pros used. (Well, the pros who didn't use a brush, anyhoo.) A dip pen was far more challenging for me but I saw it through anyway. Also, none of my previous comic books had been published -- there was only the one original drawing which I passed around to friends. So, this was that much closer to being a Real Comic Artist®, I thought.

Partly as a result of the change in tools, partly as a result of the broken hand, partly as a result of getting older and tastes changing... I think that Dishman looks like it was drawn by a different guy than the one who drew The Titans or Two Heroes Met.

The most fun part of doing Dishman was always the covers -- here's a few of my faves, issue 9 being probably my fave drawing in the whole series:



Still hadn't lost my fascination with light and texture, but maybe I reined it back a little:




And once in a while I would capture a bit of a “spark of life” in a face or body language, that pleased me a bit and still does:












Work on Dishman trailed off in the early '90s for various personal reasons, but when I had surgery on my drawing hand in 1999, then it was the whole “re-learn to draw, change your drawing style” scenario all over again! So I can no longer draw like that 1980s guy anymore either!

And, once again, there are those who say that my work on Dishman is my best ever, and better than what I'm doing now. However, even if I could go back, it wouldn't be my choice today, so there it is.
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[identity profile] ginsu.livejournal.com 2011-01-23 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)


I think that Dishman looks like it was drawn by a different guy than the one who drew The Titans or Two Heroes Met.

A different guy living in a different century influenced by different source material.

How did you break your hand?

Also, re this

One, for the first time I was inking a comic book with a Proper™ dip pen like the pros used.

How do you feel today about the concept of proper tools?

I think the tools should suit the artist and the project (think electric guitars, pedals, amps, etc.) rather than some tools simply being "proper" or "pro" and others not.

[identity profile] alisonebruce.livejournal.com 2011-01-23 10:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, you know I've always been a Dishman fan, but I am thoroughly enamoured with Space Kid. Would I have been in 1988? I don't know. We've all changed since then.

[identity profile] jasonturner.livejournal.com 2011-01-23 11:58 pm (UTC)(link)
This has been a neat trip through your drawing history! Thanks for sharing.

[identity profile] jkcarrier.livejournal.com 2011-01-24 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
This is really neat, thanks for sharing all this cool old stuff. While you mention your hand injuries as being the impetus for your stylistic changes, I wonder if you wouldn't have gotten to that point eventually anyway. In each case you achieved a pretty high level of proficiency in your chosen style, and there's a sense of, "Ok, I've got this down pretty good...now what's the NEXT challenge?"

Or maybe I'm just jealous because, as my pal Dan once pointed out, my style hasn't changed significantly in 20 years...
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