! ISSUE 402 – OCTOBER 2007! AUTUMN 2005 ThTeh Je eJessteterr
TRICK AND TREAT OH, THE HORROR! HALLOWE’EN HILARITY INSIDE
“You’re home early, Pumpkin.”
DUNCAN BOURNE ON WEBCOMICS / FUN AT QUIZ 25 MARK LYNCH ON PLAGIARISM / TIM HARRIES’ GAGS 101 CLIVE COLLINS SCORES A TRY / TRIBUTE TO IAN GRAY NEW EDITOR LIMBERS UP / BIG DRAW APPROACHES NeThewsletter Newsletter of the of theCar Cartoonists’toonists’ Club Club of of Great Great BritainBritain THE JESTER ISSUE 402 – OCTOBER 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK The Jester Issue 402 - October 2007 Published 11 times a year by The Cartoonists’ Club The Chair of Great Britain The CCGB Committee Chairman: Terry Christien WE WERE a bit depleted in the THE weekend of October 13 and 14 020–8892 3621 meeting department in September sees the Covent Garden Big Draw – but we decided to run Mike in action. Us cartoonists can and do [email protected] Turner’s quiz when we broke into play active roles in this nationwide Secretary: Jed Stone double-figure attendance! sponsored event every year. 020–7720 1884 The quiz content was general If you haven’t participated before, [email protected] humour – cartoon, film, TV, and this join us. Treasurer: Anne Boyd and that. I did appallingly badly, I’m Of particular interest is the Battle 020–7720 1884 ashamed to admit, but Jester Ed of the Cartoonists. This takes place Royston was as sharp as ever and from 3pm-5pm on the Sunday in [email protected] stood a round on his winnings. So, in the South Court of Covent Garden Membership Secretary: the 25 questions in 25 minutes quiz, market and features teams from Jed Pascoe: 01767–682 882 the round came to, you’ve guessed it, The Guardian, The Independent, [email protected] £25 to the penny! Stern stuff, Private Eye, and the Professional Royston. The piggybank’s on hold. Cartoonists Organisation. Les Barton: 01895–236 732 And talking of Royston – he is to Each team of four will have a hand over the Editor’s reins to another blank four metre banner to com- [email protected] willing member who’s stepping for- plete, then the public will vote for Clive Collins: 01702–557 205 ward: namely our valued associate the winning banner. It is hoped [email protected] member Steve Willis. Steve is not a that patron Andrew Marr will Neil Dishington: 020–8505 0134 cartoonist but has his digits in many compere the event, providing [email protected] cartoon goings-on and he also has a commentary. Ian Ellery: 01424–718 209 background in advertising, marketing All of us cartoonists can greatly [email protected] and copywriting, which is bound to assist throughout the day by contribute some useful content. overseeing and encouraging Graham Fowell: 0115–933 4186 Alex Matthews was at the meeting children and adults alike to get [email protected] with us. He’s one of our younger drawing where they never thought Pete Jacob: 01732 845 079 members and is off to Russia to teach they could. We are using two Jill Kearney: 0115–933 4186 art. No doubt he will break into car- interior courtyards at a lower level, [email protected] toon mode at any given opportunity. allowing spectators to view the Helen Martin: 01883–373 202 Alex has even taken Russian lessons – Battle from above, taking up that takes sphericals doesn’t it? We’re positions all around the balustrades [email protected] bound to hear from him from time to in the South Hall. Roy Nixon: 01245–256 814 time. Meanwhile Alex, best wishes There is a theme, with relevance to Derek Quint: 01984–632 592 from us all at the club. The beauty of Covent Garden: High Life/Low Richard Tomes: 0121–706 7652 the net of course means he can down- Life. This is a wonderfully rich [email protected] load Jester to keep in touch. seam to mine, but the organisers Mike Turner: 01206–798 283 point out that they are obliged to [email protected] ask cartoonists to keep all imagery within child-friendly bounds! Jock Williams-Davies: 101 Uses for The atmosphere just gets better 01473–422 917 The Jester every year so join us to see for [email protected] yourselves. Campaign Director Sue Trish Williams-Davies: Number: 17 Grayson Ford has always extended [email protected] her gratitude for the cartoonists’ input. Jester Editor: Let’s help put the power back into drawing. There are loads of artists’ Royston Robertson materials provided for everyone to 01843–871 241 get stuck in. jester_magazine @yahoo.co.uk See you there, Terry Christien Front cover: Alex Matthews Back cover: Dave Parker For more Big Draw details, go to: Vampire repellant www.drawingpower.org.uk/bigdraw
2 THE JESTER ISSUE 402 – OCTOBER 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK News downs of Britain and Europe over Big Draw 2007 the last 50 years. The Cartoon Museum is at 35 Little Russell gets under way Street. It is open Tuesday to Satur- day, 10.30am- 5.30pm and Sunday It’s Big Draw time, again. The 12pm-5.30pm. Admission: Adults Big Draw is launched on September £4; Conc. £3; Free to under-18s and 30 and there will be events students. Email info@ throughout the country. Go to cartoonmuseum. org or go to campaignfordrawing.org/bigdraw to www.cartoonmuseum.org find an event in your area. The Covent Garden Big Draw takes place on October 13 and 14, from Follow Dave 12pm – 6pm. The Sunday is of particular interest to cartoonists and online CCGB members are invited to come along and get involved. See A 20-minute documentary about The Chair, on the opposite page, for late CCGB member Dave Follows more details. A book by Timothy S. Benson is available on the club website. entitled The Cartoon Century Being a Cartoonist features images (Random House) accompanies the and archive radio recordings of exhibition. The Political Cartoon Dave interviewed by Franchesco Gallery, at 32 Store Street, London Williams, with permission of BBC WC1E 7BS, is open Monday to Radio Stoke. It is divided into eight Friday 9.30am- 5.30pm and on chapters and features Dave talking Saturdays between 11.30am- about how he started cartooning, his 5.30pm. strips May un Mar Lady and Crea- ture Feature and lots more. Go to the website and click Articles (un- New Jester der Categories on the right). Editor found 100 years of CCGB associate member Steve Comics on TV cartoons Willis has stepped forward and Hopefully many members will have voluntered to take on the editorship been enjoying the excellent Comics The Cartoon Century: Modern of The Jester. Steve, who is not a Britannia season, now running on Britain through the Eyes of its cartoonist but runs several cartoon BBC Four. More on this in the next Cartoonists, an exhibition of 60 websites, has a background in issue. If you have any articles, original cartoons, is at the Political advertising and experience of thoughts, cartoons, send ’em in. Cartoon Gallery in London from producing small magazines and October 25 until December 24. brochures. Royston Robertson will From the death of Queen Victoria continue as Editor until the end of to the downfall of Saddam Hussein, the year and Steve will take over it shows the views taken by the for the February issue. nation's leading cartoonists of the Meanwhile, the club is looking for issues and personalities that domi- another volunteer to help out: see nated the news. Many of the page four for details. cartoons on show had been rejected or censored by contemporary Never mind the newspapers. Together they offer fascinating and revealing snapshot €urobollocks views of Britain over the course of a tumultuous century. A show entitled €urobo££o©ks!, The exhibition features the work which covers Britain's relationship of leading cartoonists past and pre- with “Europe” through cartoons, is sent including Sir David Low, at the Cartoon Gallery in London Leslie Illingworth, Trog, Gerald from October 10 until January 20. Scarfe, Ronald Searle and Steve It features more than 90 original Bell, amongst many others. cartoons looking at the ups and 3 THE JESTER ISSUE 402 – OCTOBER 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Book review Hang on a minute, that’s not right! I’ll bly seen many of the cartoons in the try a more reliable source: www. Jester, but I for one am very pleased timharries.co.uk ... that he decided to publish this collec- tion. Some of my laugh-out-loud fa- “Based in Newport, South Wales, Tim vourites are included, such as this one... offers a professional, dependable service delivering quality artwork to the tightest of deadlines ... In 2005, filmed with CBBC for a number of cartooning tutorials shown on TV. It certainly taught me that I have a face for radio.”
That’s more like it. Apart from the “face 101 Gag Cartoons for radio” bit. Tim is an exceedingly By Tim Harries good-looking (if a bit on the lanky side) Welshman. From Wales. He has a I WAS delighted when a copy of One lovely spontaneous, economical draw- “I’ve cleared the morning but you’ve Hundred and One Gag Cartoons by ing style and he does quick, on-the-spot got bandits at 12 o’clock.” Tim Harries dropped onto my doorstep scribbles to die for (professional a couple of months ago. I was less jealousy creeping in.) Well worth the cover price. Though I got it for free. delighted when Royston asked me to Tim’s gags always make me laugh. Ian Ellery review it for last month’s Jester. This book (yes, I’ve finally started the I had just taken on a whole heap of review proper) is no exception. It is a To buy for £6.50 (inc. UK postage) go work so I asked for a raincheck. Well, lovely little collection of his work from to timharries.co.uk or send a cheque, this morning he asked me again and I the last 12 years, consistently funny payable to Tim Harries, to: 6 Gaer didn’t have an excuse. The problem is throughout. Club members have proba- Street, Newport NP20 4FD that I've never reviewed anything be- fore. Where do I start? I know, I’m in front of my faithful Mac, I’ll look up “gag cartoon” on Wikipedia – the free online encyclopedia (unfortunately created by Americans who can’t spell encyclopaedia). Here goes...
“A gag cartoon is a single-panel cartoon, usually including a written caption that appears beneath the drawing, most often published in magazines.”
OK. I think I knew that. Let’s look up Tim Harries...
“Tim Harries (born 1959) is a British bass player, who has occasionally played in Katie Melua's backing group. He was a member of Steeleye Span ...”
Wanted: website volunteer
A web-savvy member is required to help several months behind with those gags! upload stuff to the CCGB website. At the The volunteer would liaise with the Ed and moment, I put up any news items of would need to be able to convert gags to a general interest to the public on the web format, add captions, and upload Cartooning News section of the site and them. Plus add news stories, reviews, and add gags to the Cartoon Galleries. But it any other items you think would be of is, to be frank, a bit difficult to get this interest. If you’re interested, let me know. done on top of the usual workload of put- ting The Jester together ... hence I am Royston Robertson
4 THE JESTER ISSUE 402 – OCTOBER 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Dear Jester
Clive battles on considerable success. Ian’s father Royston promptly deposited was Walter Gray – for many years the winner’s purse with the In answer to those of you kind the cartoon editor of The Weekly bartenderess. enough to enquire, there’s no way I News. Ian will be greatly missed. I’m pleased to report that, in spite shall stop my column unless Bill Ritchie of a couple of bruised egos and dismissed by Royston’s successor. memory blanks, no rider was put My comments at the committee Editor’s note: Readers may have down following the race. Thanks to meeting that were quoted in Mike spotted Ian Gray in the first part of all those who participated. Turner’s letter [see September BBC Four’s Comics Britannia Bon voyage and best wishes to Jester] were no doubt fuelled by series. The programme was Alex Matthews who is now Our drink or drugs or emotional dedicated to him. Man In Moscow. Alex is working as over-tiredness. a 008 agent to promote the Clive Collins British cartooning viewpoint in the Race for the prize Red Square district. Treble vodkas Ian Gray all round! In spite of Tube strikes and holiday Following on from the mention of arrangements the Quiz 25 Humour Terence Green, who ran a cartoon A stalwart of the Beano editorial Hurdles was run, as planned, at the agency in Germany, in the last issue staff for many years, Ian “Smokie” September meeting. of Jester: Another agency was run by Gray died on September 6, aged 69. The thoroughbred starters Ingo Stien from Hamburg but about Ian joined the Beano staff in catapulted from the starting gates four or five years ago all contact 1955 and was with them for more at 8.l5pm to tackle the gruelling seemed to go off the radar. Does than 20 years, becoming chief obstacle course at The Cartoonist. anyone have an update on this ? sub-editor. An early faller was Frank Holmes Mike Turner In 1977 Ian became editor of Plug on “Quanda Express” and Terry – a comic reflecting his zany, Christien’s mount “I’m in Charge” For more on Quiz 25, see page 6 . over-the-top humour. Ian’s next pulled up at The Chair. move was to edit the Beano Comic So many riders were thrown at Show finds new home Library series. Beechers Brook that the water In 1992 he took early retirement, resembled the Seafront Lido at Margate on a hot Summer’s day Thanks for the Ed’s note about my giving him more time for his many exhibition piled up in our dining and varied interests. Arbroath born, (whatever that is) while the rider who put “Sorry Not Quite’s” saddle room [see September Jester]. A Ian was well known in Angus for new venue for the exhibition has his folk music with his band on back-to-front and spent the whole race looking for the horses already surfaced. The exhibition Smokie Folk. will be part of the Fringe at the Childhood holidays in Glenesk head shall remain nameless. Outstriding them all, Royston Brighton Festival next May. And – gave him a love of the countryside who knows? – there may be other and led to an interest in sheepdog Robertson’s “Blue Pencil” streaked over the line to the cheers of the venues in 2008! trialling. Another of Ian’s passions Alex Noel Watson was pigeon racing, in which he had sporting fraternity. A delighted
Missing the, er, spaceship: I’ve just come back from a nice summer break on the storm lashed coast of West Wales. Now I’m finally warm ‘n’ dry, THE JESTER I find you’ve sent me a nice new c/o ROYSTON ROBERTSON Jester and I hadn’t had a chance 20 UPTON ROAD to send me science-fiction drawings in. BROADSTAIRS I mean, just what is occuring KENT CT10 2AS here, guys? The Jester arriving regulary, on time? Anyhow, Email: jester_magazine here’s a redundant sci-fi piccie, if you have a space ... @yahoo.co.uk Tim Leatherbarrow
5 THE JESTER ISSUE 402 – OCTOBER 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK 10 turn out for Quiz 25* SEPTEMBER’S club meeting was another enjoyable affair, despite the valiant efforts of the London Underground strikers to to stop anyone attending. Once again Gerard Whyman was my travelling companion for the day and since we’d both remembered to bring our legs with us, we managed the walk from Paddington to The Cartoonist with the minimum of fuss and maximum of pub visits. It was just like the July meeting but with a bit more exercise. After a quick detour to join up with club member Steve Willis, the three of us headed to The Cartoonist. Unfortunately, the strike had taken its toll on committee numbers, with only Royston, Terry and Mike “Quiz- *including the Quizmaster! The ten members who braved the Tube strike master” Turner able to attend. were, left to right, Mike Turner, Royston Robertson, Gerard Whyman, Steve, Ger and I briefly considered Steve Willis, Frank Holmes, Alex Hughes, Matt Buck and Terry some form of “coup d’tate”, but since Christien. Plus, in caricature form (thanks Terry) Alex Matthews, as he we couldn't agree how to spell “coup was only half in this picture, and Tim Harries (also added by the power of d’tate”, we grudgingly handed back Photoshop as he took the photograph) the Chair to Terry. As our ranks swelled courtesy of Matt Buck, Alex Matthews, Frank Holmes and Alex Hughes, who came Left: Royston down from Birmingham, we were checks the now into double figures and it was prize money is decided that Quiz 25 would go ahead. genuine. Below, Great fun it was too, thanks to Mike the depleted Turner’s excellent mix of topics old three-man and new. A total of 25 questions committee plus were asked in 25 minutes and after a others, shortly steward’s inquiry, Royston was before the crowned King Nerd, I mean Winner! attempted coop The prize was of course £25 which d’tate ... coup Royston managed to spend in 25 d’eta ... take- seconds, having bought us all a round. over type thing Well done that man! Spookily enough, the drinks came to exactly £25. Not a penny more, not a penny less. Suffice to say, we had Royston burned as a witch. I think that’s why we are looking for a new Jester Editor. Unfortunately the Tube strike cut short our socialising and we had to head for our train earlier than usual, but despite the delays and cancellations it was another enjoyable club meeting. If you’ve never been to one, please consider coming along – the more the merrier. See you there in October!
Words and pics: Tim Harries
6 THE JESTER ISSUE 402 – OCTOBER 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK YOUR TURN You’re nicked Mark Lynch of the ACA looks at plagiarism Couldn’t make it on the night? Then try your luck at Mike Turner’s humour “To steal ideas from one person is should have realised that he would quiz here. Just for fun! One point per plagiarism, to steal from many is have had scant access to the annual question except where stated. research” – Comedian Steven 101 Uses For Lint magazine where Answers page 15 Wright (who, in turn, nicked it my work appeared on less-than- regular basis. 1. Where in London would you find the from playwright Wilson Mizner) Cartoon Museum? Fortunately, I was able to blame at- 2. A UK comic and an American superhero, AT SCHOOL I was known as a copy- tention deficit syndrome, substance both still going, made their first appearance cat. I thought it was because of my abuse as well as the on-set of Alz- in 1938. Name them. (One point for each) constant fur ball and ability to lick my heimer’s for my honest mistake (I was 3. Name the dastardly penguin in ... but I digress. To look over another’s 11 at the time). The Wrong Trousers. shoulder for the correct answer took A copycat’s job is to take a brilliant 4. One-time CCGB chairman Bill Tidy was courage on two fronts: the danger of example of cartooning, twist it every elected President of which charity in 2007? being caught coupled with the distinct which way until it’s so unfunny, 5. Which humorous author had the first chance of them having the answer unsellable, and totally unrecognizable name Pelham? from it’ s original form, that the copy- 6. In which town would you find a statue of so unbelievably wrong, that the chance Giles’s Grandma? of two of you in the entire universe cat can then claim it as their own. 7. Who draws the Dilbert strip? sharing that level of stupidity, A plagiarist, on the other hand, is 8. Who regularly scores with Samantha on let alone in the same classroom, usually so lazy that they don’t even Radio 4? beggared belief. change the drawing and definitely not 9. What is cartoonist Vic Sarkans pen Fortunately, the cartooning fraternity the caption. name? has no plagiarists. There are imitators Of course, it’ s all about honesty isn’t 10. Mrs Krabappel is Bart Simpson’s galore, but no plagiar ... hang on a tick, it? If you found a fiver in the street, teacher. What is her first name? hands up who did the first desert is- would you send it back to The Queen 11. In 1988 a TV series on Andy Capp land cartoon. because it had her picture on it? came out. Who wrote the series and Methinks not, better to slip into the who played Andy? (One point for each) I was a fan of a certain American 12. Which author said, “Reports of my cartoonist when I saw one of his that local for a pint, pick up a copy of The death have been greatly exaggerated” ? seemed to be directly nicked from my Jester and perhaps come up with a 13. Who has a dog called Snowy? modest collection of dodgy works truly original idea for a cartoon. 14. Which was the last Carry On film, – until I realised that it was me, not Like drugs in sport, I say that if a made in 1992 ? he, that was the villain. chap can’t play off his own bat, he 15. Which long-standing cartoon icon It was obviously one of the few should give the game away. (As I started life as a French poodle? things besides a cold that managed to chew on my fourth Viagra of the 16. Chris Donald created which comic and stay, inadvertently in my head. I morning). which fictitious town features in many storylines and strips? (One point for each) 17. Who played Vicky Pollard’s mum in Little Britain? 18. What is one-time CCGB Golden Joker Terry Wogan’s new autobiography called? 19. “One would have to have a heart of stone not to laugh”. Who made the remark and what event prompted it? 20. Which TV comedy was recently voted the most influential in British broadcasting history? 21. What links the actors Robert De Mark Lynch is Niro, Kate Winslet and Patrick Stewart? now a semi- 22. Pete Dredge draws the Directors strip successful (one in Private Eye. Who writes it? handed) 23. Can you give the real first names of shoplifter in Chico, Harpo and Groucho Marx? Sudan. He is also (One point for each) a member of of 24. Which comedian said, “They laughed when I said I wanted to be a comedian the Australian but they’re not laughing now” ? Cartoonists’ 25. Who founded the CCGB and in which Association, a year? Stanleys recipient and ... and a special additional Jester question multi-award 26. What date are club subs due? winner
7 THE JESTER ISSUE 402 – OCTOBER 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Doing it yourself Duncan Bourne explores the new frontier that is webcomics “THE market is shrinking” is a phrase I often hear from disgruntled car- toonists, watching in dismay as the publication of cartoons in newspapers and magazines spirals downwards in ever decreasing circulations. But although the future may seem bleak, for both the struggling new- comer and the established cartoonist, it should also be remembered that, in fact, the market is changing. As one door closes another opens, they say, and by door I mean that bur- geoning leviathan of modern media, the internet. One way in which the web has cre- ated new outlets for creative cartoon- ists is through the rise of “webcomics”. In the past, to get your cartoon vision to a wider audience, you would have to either court the interest of a publisher (or magazine editor) or self-publish. The former was fraught with the despondency of rejection and the frustration of com- promising one’s vision and humour while the latter required serious reve- nue and leg work to get it beyond a circle of close friends. But with the advent of the web anyone with a Excerpts from Questionable Content, top, and Sam and Fuzzy computer, and some appropriate software, can display their work to the media. The artist can develop char- Questionable Content world at the click of a button. acters and stories without constraint, by Jeph Jaques Of course it is never quite that sim- exploring different issues, experi- www.questionablecontent.net ple. Two requirements from the old menting with style and artwork. I world of publishing still carry over: have seen rough artwork develop into The things I like about this story are without talent and persistence you amazingly good artwork, jokey strips its simplicity and ever evolving may as well just show those comics to become intriguing stories, and comics artwork. Revolving around the lives your circle of close friends. The mere that defy conventional layout. of a group of friends (Faye, Martin, fact that you can publish online is no When I started to think about this Dora, Pintsize, etc) it relies on the guarantee of success. You still have to subject I had in mind the handful of interaction between characters promote your work, even if that is strips I had bookmarked on my com- rather than any grandiose plot. It something as basic as mentioning it puter but as I delved deeper I realised was one of the first online comics I on the forums, and you have to keep that this was a vast subject with a came across and I was soon caught it up. No matter how good your huge variety of excellent work. I was up in the complexities of Faye and comic is, it is not going to be a suc- surprised and delighted to discover Martin’s relationship and the amoral cess if you only post one up every 12 that many of the comics which had humour of Pintsize. But what really months or when you feel like it. begun life on the web had been sin- hooked me was that these characters Also, having complete freedom to gled out for awards (Eisners, etc.), “talked” to each other in an easy publish doesn’t mean that you neces- made their way into the printed word humorous way that seemed natural sarily should. There is a lot of crap by being picked up by major publish- and real rather than just a way of floating around in cyberspace that ers (Dark Horse) and even made it moving the plot along. Initially very wouldn’t make it through the foyer of onto TV. simply drawn it has been exciting to a publishing house, let alone the edi- Here is a flavour of some of those see it develop over the years with tor’s office. But of the good stuff varied works – the two comics that I the artwork getting better and better there is a freshness and freedom of read the most. I could have gone for all the time. A knowledge of indie expression rarely found in the printed others but I was spoilt for choice. music may help but is not essential.
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I emailed Jeph a few questions concerning his comic. Sam and Fuzzy by Sam Logan Q: What prompted you to do an www.samandfuzzy.com online comic? Jeph: Boredom mostly! I used to Sam and Fuzzy is like Calvin and work a crappy desk job at a local Hobbes reversed, with added psy- alternative newspaper where there chological disturbance. And I love was literally nothing to do but sit it. It has developed from a one-off and answer the phone and read gag strip into a story with complex- webcomics all day. I drew pretty ity and excellent pacing, it had the much constantly from the age of audacity to remove one of the lead about three to 18, at which point I characters for several months and went to college and decided to try to has even been very moving at times. be a rock star (obviously this did If I had to pick favorite scenes it not pan out). So I figured, “Hey, I would be those involving the like all these other webcomics and I Satanically possessed fridge, Sid the used to draw a lot, I bet I could do Sickos “new” Opus and Mr Blanks one!” And that is how it got started. and the Grrbils. If none of that Q: The original QC is very simply ‘You have to have makes sense read it and find out. drawn compared to later strips, was this a deliberate simplifica- a unique business Here’s Sam Logan talking about tion or did your drawing style model – which is his work progress as the series went on? Jeph: I hadn’t done any drawing for not something a Q. What prompted you to go for five or six years before starting QC, the online comic thing? so I was horribly out of practice lot of artists Sam: Everyone else was doing it! (and probably not all that good strive for’ I’d been drawing comics for years – anyway). Plus, I was doing QC comics that were read by about using Photoshop and a Wacom three people – and when I saw graphics tablet, which is a totally Q: Are your characters based on others taking their stuff online I different skill than drawing on real people or events? figured I ought to as well! paper. So as my art’s progressed, all Jeph: Nope! Q. Do you actually make any of that progression is me learning Q: How do you make money? money out of it? how to do things better on the com- Jeph: All of my income currently Sam: You bet! I never would have puter or draw things more correctly. comes from merchandise sales and suspected that would happen when I Q: How often do you update? advertising. started, but it's a big business now. Jeph: QC updates every weekday, Q: How did your comic get so Q. How? Monday through Friday. I usually popular so quickly? Sam: Entirely through merchandise put the strips up between 10:30 and Jeph: I don’t really know, actually! ... book collections, artwork, posters 11:30 EST the night before. I just always tried to do the best and t-shirts. Q: Where did you come up with work I possibly could, and word-of- Q. Do you promote the site? the name Questionable Content? mouth and some helpful linkage by Sam: I rely pretty much entirely on Jeph: I was just trying to think of a my pals is basically all there is to it. word of mouth. Fortunately, on the vaguely unique-sounding name, I strongly believe that the internet is internet, some people's word of that’s all. It’s sort of a joke in that a meritocracy. mouth is published on large web- there’s not really all that much Q: What are the biggest problems sites read by lots of people! “questionable content” in QC. you have publishing online? Q. What are the main problems Q: How do you draw QC? Jeph: Not enough hours in the day! associated with online publishing? Jeph: I do all of the actual illustra- Really the biggest problem is that I Sam: Finding a way to make a tion in Adobe Photoshop with a just don't have the time or energy to living doing it. There is no one sys- 9x12 Wacom drawing tablet, and I do as many different projects as I tem, you have to find the formula use Adobe Illustrator to lay out the really want. As far as publishing that works for you. Most people just text and do the speech bubbles for online goes, it is infinitely prefer- stumble into what works for them. each strip. I use the brush and eraser able to wrangling with syndicates or You have to come up with a unique tools pretty exclusively. The lines publishers in the print world. business model, and coming up look super-smooth because I have a Q: What’s the best bit? with business models is not some- pretty smooth drawing style to be- Jeph: In all honesty? Sleeping in. I thing that a lot of artists strive for. gin with, and because the original love doing the comic itself, and I Q. What is the best bit? art for each panel is really, really am indescribably thankful for the Sam: Total, unbridled creative huge. When it gets shrunk down support of my readers, but not freedom to do anything you want, any little jiggles I accidentally make having to get up at 7.30am to go to and make it available to millions of get smoothed out. work is the best thing. people, at almost no expense.
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“Unfortunately, this isn’t a Hallowe’en mask – it’s my face.”
“You don’t scare me – I’ve got to face the wife when I get home.”
“On the bright side, the little gits used free-range eggs.”
“How do, Sue. Hi, Di. Hello, Een.”
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Hallowe’en
“Clear off! We don’t agree with it.” Hilarity
“Every Hallowe’en barbecue he “Trick or treat?” goes way over the top.”
Many thanks for all your Hallowe’en cartoons. For those that sent in Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night gags ... that’s November’s theme (with some inevitability!) More are required. Usual addresses please.
11 THE JESTER ISSUE 402 – OCTOBER 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
+..7564#614$475*/#&0'55 ,AST ISSUE WE PLAYED WITH 0HOTOSHOP BRUSHES BY CAPTURING PARTS OF PICTURES BECAUSE 0HOTOSHOP IS LARGELY A PIXEL BASED PROGRAM )LLUSTRATOR IS A SHAPE PROGRAM AND ITS BRUSHES ARE BASED ON SHAPES 4O DEMONSTRATE THIS OPEN THE "RUSHES PALETTE AND JUST DRAG ANY BRUSH OFF THE PALETTE ONTO AN OPEN l LE 3TART CLICKING IT WITH A WHITE ARROW TOOL AND YOULL SEE THE KIND OF SHAPES THAT MAKE THE BRUSH /BVIOUSLY YOU CAN MAKE BRUSHES THE SAME WAY #REATE A NUMBER OF SHAPES TO MAKE A PLEASING BRUSH OR OTHERWISE SELECT THE GROUP OF SHAPES AND DRAG IT ONTO THE "RUSH 0ALETTE ! DIALOG BOX WILL APPEAR ASKING WHETHER YOU WANT TO CREATE A 3CATTER !RT OR 0ATTERN BRUSH FOLLOWED BY A SECOND DIALOG BOX WITH APPROPRIATE OPTIONS #REATING AND DRAGGING SHAPES ONTO THE "RUSH PALETTE IS THE BASIS FOR MAKING ALL THE BRUSHES EXCEPT #ALLIGRAPHIC BRUSHES #ALLIGRAPHIC BRUSHES MUST BE MADE BY CLICKING THE .EW "RUSH )CON AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PALETTE OR CHOOSING .EW "RUSH FROM THE PALETTE MENU 3ELECT .EW #ALLIGRAPHIC "RUSH AND CLICK /+
4O USE A BRUSH 3ELECT THE BRUSH TOOL SELECT A BRUSH FROM THE "RUSH PALETTE AND DRAW 7ITH THE LINE STILL ACTIVE CLICK A DIFFERENT BRUSH IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT !LTERNATIVELY CLICK ANY PATH AND CHOOSE A BRUSH FROM THE PALETTE ,EFT4HE SAME SHAPE DRAGGED ONTO THE "RUSH PALETTE THREE TIMES TO CREATE 3CATTER !RT AND 0ATTERN BRUSHES "ELOW $AILY 4ELEGRAPH MASTHEAD CONVERTED TO OUTLINES 4YPE #REATE /UTLINES DRAGGED ONTO THE "RUSHES PALETTE AND .EW !RT "RUSH SELECTED
"ASIC 2ULES 9OU CAN DRAG ALMOST ANY SHAPE OR GROUP OF SHAPES ONTO THE "RUSHES 0ALETTE TO CREATE A NEW BRUSH 4HIS INCLUDES TEXT )& YOU CONVERT IT TO OUTLINES l RST 4HINGS YOU CANT DRAG INCLUDE SHAPES WITH GRADIENT l LLS TEXT OBJECTS ./4 CONVERTED TO OUTLINES AND VERY LARGE OR VERY COMPLEX OBJECTS "RUSHES ARE SAVED WITH ANY l LE IN WHICH YOU USE THEM )F YOU WANT TO ACCESS A BRUSH OR BRUSHES THAT YOU CREATED IN A PREVIOUS l LE YOU CAN ACCESS THAT l LE BY USING THE "RUSH 0ALETTES SIDE MENU CHOOSE /THER ,IBRARY 4HIS WILL BRING UP A TYPICAL WINDOW FOR ACCESSING l LES 3ELECT THE l LE AND THE OLD 4HE 2IGHT (ONORABLE 3IMON #REAN 5SING AN BRUSHES !BOVE (OW TW O AO CCESS BRUSH HAT 2 IGHT 3TT -AR YS m O-ORR Pm ATTE RNN P !RTBRUSH ) CREATED 5SED THROUGHOUT THE WORK APPEAR LIBRARIES FROM THE PALETTE MENU USING A 0ATTERN BRUSH ) CREATED
&OR MORE DETAILS FROM THE )LLUSTRATOR (ELP SCREEN x 4ILL THE NEXT )NKSPOT THEN 4YPE h#REATING AND %DITING "RUSHESv INTO THE 3EARCH l ELD INFO CHRISKELLYNETAU
Reprinted by kind permission of our friends at the Australian Cartoonists’ Association magazine Inkspot 12 THE JESTER ISSUE 402 – OCTOBER 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
Clive Collins
LAST year I received an email from Jean-Louis Perrier, a jazz musician and cartoon buff in Paris who asked me if I’d like to draw 15 mono car- toons, in company with two French cartoonists, for a book to be called Le Rugby et sa Music. It was intended to coincide with the start of the World Rugby Tour 2007. Since I knew nothing at all about either subject I naturally agreed, and set to working out 15 ideas. The two French guys were Bridenne and Jy, both of whom I’d met; Bridenne, along with four of his comrades in Japan, and Jy in St. Just on various occasions. I duly e- mailed my drawings to my host and Clive’s there was a l-o-o-o-ng silence. cover art The silence lasted almost three for the months, and despite regular emailing rugby and phoning, I heard nothing. book, By this time I’d become quite with a downhearted about the whole project, cartoon by and after sending a final email to Bridenne Jean-Louis expressing my disap- pointment at the way his business known from my two Japan trips in methods seemed to be aping British 1989 and 1991, and others again from cartoon buyers, I gave up on it. I laid St. Just – Avoine, Barbe, Blachon and the drawings aside for some future Laville. The latter could make one or book that might come my way in- two CCGB members seem teetotal volving, er, rugby and music. and was still chatting up women – my Lo and whatever, a month or so later wife included – while not being able I received an apologetic email from to focus to see them [Are you saying him, explaining that he hadn’t real- that only blind old farts chat me up ised I would be quite so quick off the these days? – Lynne]. There were no mark, and the French guys were still members of the All Blacks in atten- working on some early roughs. The dance, despite their presence on the project, however, was now up and invitations, but then why would fit panting. And that was where I left it. where Bridenne, Jy and I signed rugby players submit themselves to a He liked the drawings, and was books for four hours, fortified by tiny smoke-filled café for an evening? happy. My two companion cartoon- plates of highly aromatic meats, patés Le Figaro, l’Express and Jazzman are ists were also happy. and copious bottles of wine. running individual cartoons through- On September 3 , Lynne and I set off On a health note here: France goes out the World Cup and afterwards. via Eurostar from Waterloo to play totally non-smoking in January, and I felt thrilled and honoured to have my part in the launch with a book we got the distinct impression that the been a part of this and although it was signing in Paris. Ever the cautious occupants of the bar were doing their a tiring trip, really enjoyed the one, and realising that we had to leave damnedest to get in their quota of friendly atmosphere and the good Paris early on Tuesday morning, due nicotine before the hoses were played humoured interest in the book and in to pressing cartoon matters, she on them. A grey fug rose to the ceiling the art of the cartoonist. Vive la booked us into the Mercure Hotel, like clouds over washing, as we France and all that! bang opposite Gare du Nord. It’s not hunched over our signing, while at all bad, clean but in need of a bit of Bridenne and Jy attempted to get The book is published by restoration but then, aren’t we all? themselves into the Guinness Book of La Boutique Editions, 14 Rue Jean The launch and signing was to be in Records for the Filling of Ashtrays Macé, 75011, Paris a tiny café bar in an even tinier Pari- with a Vast Range of Dog Ends. Old Web: laboutiqueproductions.com sian street – La Rue du Main d’Or – chums turned up, some of whom I’d Email: [email protected]
13 THE JESTER ISSUE 402 – OCTOBER 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
Clockwise from above: from the Dundee Courier and Advertiser, September 6; Daily Record, September 17; and The Sun, August 21. All spotted by John “Speedy” Harrison
14 THE JESTER ISSUE 402 – OCTOBER 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
THE JESTER DEADLINE IS THE 12th OF EVERY MONTH Left: excerpt from a Times article, September 20, spotted by the Editor’s Dad!
Thanks again for the Hallowe’en gags. Remember, remember, the Contributions via email: theme for November jester_magazine is Guy Fawkes and @yahoo.co.uk Bonfire Night and the following issue Contributions via post: will, of course, The Jester feature your c/o Royston Robertson Christmas gags. 20 Upton Road Broadstairs Cartoons to the Kent CT10 2AS usual addresses Tel: 01843-871 241 please. All articles and cartoons welcomed (especially for the QUIZ 25 answers
front and back covers)
(from page 7) …) wrong
April (Bet everyone gets this one one this gets everyone (Bet April 1st 26.
24. Bob Monkhouse; 25. Ian J. Scott. 1960; 1960; Scott. J. Ian 25. Monkhouse; Bob 24. Email submissions are
Adolph. Julius; Adolph.
23. Leonard. Leonard. 23. preferred, as then images
rust you got this one, Pete?); one, this got you rust
22. Rigg (T Rigg 22. and text do not need to be
sitcom; sitcom; 21. ; Extras Circus Flying s
Python’ scanned – but snail mail is
Little Nell; 20. 20. Nell; Little Dickens’ of death
Monty still acceptable. All images The The Wilde. Oscar 19. ; 18. Mustn’t Grumble Mustn’t
. Fulchester; 17. Dawn French; Dawn 17. Fulchester; . 16. iz V sent by email must be jpegs
earrings); large her became ears s
(The dog’ (The Change of address at a resolution of 300dpi
;15. Betty Boop. Boop. Betty ;15. 14.
Carry On Columbus On Carry Geoffrey Whitehead intin; intin; T 13. wain; T Mark 12. Bolam; James
aterhouse. aterhouse. W Keith 1. 9. Sax; 10. Edna; 1 Edna; 10. Sax; 9. The Farthings REMINDER: the next
); ( yttleton. L I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue a Haven’t I Sorry I’m Leadenhall Road
two club meetings are Adams; 8. Humphrey Humphrey 8. Adams;
6. Ipswich; 7. Scott Scott 7. Ipswich; 6. Holbeach St Marks
odehouse; odehouse; .G.W P 5. averners; T Lords The 4. 4. Lincolnshire October 2 and
Superman; 3. “Feathers” McGraw; “Feathers” 3. Superman; PE12 8EY . 2. Street; Russel Little 1.
The Beano The Tel: 01406-701 190 November 6 at The Cartoonist pub, Membership enquiries to: Jed Pascoe (Membership Secretary), Shoe Lane, London. 4 Osprey Close, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 1TW Tel: 01767-682 882. Email: [email protected] Subscription enquiries to: Anne Boyd (Treasurer), 57 Terry House, Park Row, Bristol BS1 5LX Tel: 07804-889 052 Committee: 5.30pm Email [email protected] Members: 7pm Website enquiries to: Ian Ellery, 25 Nelson Road, Hastings TN34 BRX. Tel: 01424-718 209. Email: [email protected]
15 THE JESTER ISSUE 402 – OCTOBER 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
“Honestly, kids – your treat’s in the post.”
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