www.ExpressGayNews.com • September 22, 2003 Q1 Q_COVERstory Did Someone Say Strip? ‘Chelsea Boys’ Hit the Big Time with a New Book of a real-life narrative.” Chelsea Boys creators Neuwirth also points out the Allan Neuwirth and Glen Hanson visual evolution of Chelsea Boys. “As we got more complex in our storytelling, we simplified the visuals. If you tell a story well, and tell it simply, and layer it with depth and emotion, it’s received Neither artist can choose a favorite better.” character; Hanson and Neuwirth feel a certain As the popularity of Chelsea kinship with each one. “Each of the characters Boys has grown over the years, so address a different part of myself, so it’s kind have both artists solo careers. of asking what part of myself is my favorite,” Hanson has won awards for his Hanson says. “My heart lies with Nathan, my work, which has appeared in head lies with Sky and my ego lies most with Entertainment Weekly, Soiree, because he’s a performer.” Cosmopolitan, GQ, The New York “Nathan lets us express our opinions, Times, and on MTV, Comedy Soiree lets us get our sarcastic side out and Central and VH1. His character Sky lets us get our altruistic qualities out,” designs have also appeared on the Neuwirth says. “Really, the three of them serve animated shows Daria, Beetlejuice as mouthpieces for different aspects of our and Freaky Stories. He also does personalities.” erotic beefcake illustrations and Hanson and Neuwirth are proud that has his own line of sexy greeting they’ve been able to go beyond the standard cards, which he does under his comic strip fluff and jokes and tackle some By Mary Damiano gay roommates, Jewish everyman Nathan, pseudonym, G-Man. real issues. Hanson particularly liked the Arts & Entertainment Editor hunky artist Sky and soulful diva Soiree. The Earlier this year, Neuwirth saw storylines focusing on Soiree and his estranged When Glen Hanson and Allan Neuwirth strip is the continuing story of their lives and publication of his own book, Makin’ Toons, father, as well as how the characters dealt with first began their comic strip Chelsea Boys, quests to find true love and to make their which gives a look inside the creations and the Sept. 11 attacks. they never imagined the strip would be so dreams come true. The strip first began creators of popular animated shows and Both writers would like to see Chelsea popular five years later. appearing in New York’s Next magazine in films. Neuwirth has worked on lots of Boys go beyond a comic strip. They’re keeping “If you had told either of us up front 1998, and is now syndicated on Web sites popular shows, including Dragon Tales, their options open for a Chelsea Boys cartoon, about what kind of commitment it would and in publications in the United States, Steven Spielberg’s Toonsylvania, and a live action film, TV show or even a stage take, how many sunny days I would have to Canada and the United Kingdom. Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, which won play. “We can certainly keep doing the strip witness from inside my apartment, we The book is only the tip of a him a nomination for a Writer’s Guild award. for years, but creatively, for us, I think we’re probably wouldn’t have done it,” Hanson merchandising iceberg for Chelsea Boys. He has also written comedy bits for Regis looking for the next challenge and the next says. Greeting cards will be released next month, Philbin and performed voiceovers for medium,” Hanson says. Chelsea Boys devotees can be grateful and in October, the strip is having its first cartoons and animated commercials. For now, Hanson and Neuwirth are proud that no one ever gave Hanson and Neuwirth art exhibit at the Leslie-Lohman Gay Art With such busy careers, it’s amazing that they’ve had the chance to present the a glimpse into the future. Five years after its Foundation Gallery in New York, where fans that they even have time to do Chelsea Boys. world with a positive and realistic view of gay inception, Chelsea Boys is not only a popular can purchase original Chelsea Boys artwork. According to Neuwirth, each strip takes life. “Our greatest return has been the bi-weekly strip running in dozens of gay Hanson and Neuwirth originally teamed about four days to produce. For several years, opportunity to have a forum and speak our publications, but also a soft-cover book, up to produce an animated short, Think Pink. they worked together in New York, minds as gay men, as artists, and then to have which was released this month by Alyson They created Chelsea Boys as a way of swapping ideas, acting out their plots and an audience for what we think.” Hanson says. Books. The book is a collection of all the garnering interest and securing financing for creating each new installment. But when Neuwirth cites the massive fan mail they strips—some in color, which is a real treat Think Pink. The strip was such a success, Hanson moved to California, they had to receive as proof that Chelsea Boys has reached for readers used to seeing the strip only in Think Pink fell by the wayside, and Nathan, adapt to a new way of doing things. Neuwirth many people in many ways. “It’s very black and white—and includes a new Sky and Soiree became gay household says that being on different coasts has not gratifying to know that what you’re doing is installment, a Chelsea Boys fairy tale called names. hindered their creative process. being appreciated and maybe causing “Sky Blue and the 7 Dwarfs.” The book also One of the things Hanson enjoyed about “It’s really not that hard,” Neuwirth discussion,” he says. “Not everyone always features a funny intro by Hanson and putting the book together was the says. “We really know how the other thinks. agrees with what we say, but it means that Neuwirth, with early sketches and answers opportunity to look back on all the strips and It’s come down to shorthand, and it’s gotten we’re provoking thought, and that’s great.” to their most frequently asked questions— see how they’ve evolved. “We started off easier and easier to create as time’s gone on. no, they’re not a couple; yes, they both write with something that was very light and very We almost become two quivering brains in and draw the strip; no, the characters aren’t comedy-based,” Hanson says. “Our bell jars communicating telepathically.” based on themselves or their friends. “We characters didn’t have the depth they have Technology also makes it easy to create the Chelsea Boys appears in The didn’t want to just put together a book now.” strip, and Hanson and Neuwirth are Express regularly. For more compiling our strips,” Neuwirth says. “We Neuwirth concurs. “It started out more frequently on the phone together with information on Chelsea Boys, visit wanted to give the readers more.” sitcom than what it evolved into,” he says. headsets, acting out the plot over the phone, www.chelseaboys.com. Chelsea Boys follows the lives of three “It went from a joke-oriented project to more and typing and scanning back and forth. Q2 www.ExpressGayNews.com • September 22, 2003 Q_ENTERTAININGnews Calendar Boys Abound to Help Keep Hot Dates Blue Door’s New Calendars Feature Couples, Erotic T-Shirt Pics From Staff Reports marketing director. Asked routines for numerous exercise and The BlueDoorCollection.com has which calendar was his fitness magazines and books. Cities announced the release of its new sensual line favorite, Hallock responded that will be featured in the Blue of calendars. As always, these include the that his favorite calendar this Door Collection 2004 Calendar classic Men 2004 and Erotica 2004 year is the Couples calendar. 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But our clients have successful Underwear destinations throughout the United overwhelmingly requested that the classic Calendar, The Blue Door States and the Caribbean. During Men and Erotica calendars be kept in the Collection presents Men In this period, he became fascinated forefront of our product line each year.” Tees. “We chose to create a with the creative aspects of still The work of the Blue Door Collection Men In Tees calendar because photography. After experimenting is distributed all over the world. Currently, we felt that nothing would be with different subjects, Vino, the entire product line, including greeting as sensual as the image of a whose parents were born in Italy, cards, posters and photo magnets, can be hot man wearing a wet T-shirt decided to go back to his roots.