In this engaging conversation, Cathy Guisewite, the creator of the iconic syndicated comic strip ‘Cathy’, shares her journey through the world of cartooning, the challenges she faced as a female cartoonist, and the cultural impact of her work. From her early days of struggling with drawing to her experiences on The Tonight Show, Cathy reflects on her evolution as an artist and the significance of her comic strip in addressing women’s issues. She discusses the release of her 50th Anniversary Collection and the bittersweet feelings surrounding the end of her long-running strip.

Cathy 50th Anniversary Collection

Takeaways

• Cathy Guisewite’s comic strip ‘Cathy’ ran for 34 years in over 1,400 newspapers.
• She faced unique challenges as a female cartoonist in a male-dominated industry.
• Cathy’s work resonated with readers, providing humor and insight into women’s lives.
• The evolution of her character mirrored the changing landscape of feminism.
• Cathy received heartfelt letters from readers that kept her motivated throughout her career.
• Her experiences on The Tonight Show were both terrifying and rewarding.
• Cathy’s creative process involved rewriting and refining her strips up until the deadline.
• The 50th Anniversary Collection serves as a scrapbook of her career and the cultural conversations it sparked.
• Cathy’s daughter helped digitize her work for the anniversary collection, leading to humorous reflections on past comics.
• The end of ‘Cathy’ was not as planned as she would have liked, but it still resonated with readers.

Writing comedy is a challenge that is made even more daunting by the fact that humor itself is completely subjective and impossible to define. Here are some thoughts on developing a clever idea until it’s actually funny.

Brad thinks Kickstarter is the right place to go for a Brazilian cartoonist who wants to have his work re-published in English, but Dave thinks his co-host is Lost in Translation. Then, the dynamic duo gives some advice to a pro-am cartoonist who just lost their day job and is considering making the move to full-time cartooning. But first, Brad and Dave share some comic convention horror stories.

Summary

In this episode of ComicLab, hosts Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett discuss the chaotic experiences of comic conventions, the challenges of translating comics for the English market, and the importance of building an audience. They also provide advice for cartoonists who have been laid off, emphasizing the need for financial stability. The conversation touches on the realities of comic publishing and the necessity of having an emergency fund when transitioning to full-time cartooning.

Takeaways

• Comic conventions can be chaotic and noisy environments.
• Translation of comics can be a significant time investment.
• Building an audience is crucial before launching a comic.
• Kickstarter can serve as a market research tool for comics.
• Having an emergency fund is essential for transitioning to full-time cartooning.
• The comic market in North America is larger than in Brazil.
• It’s important to consider the demand for your work before translating it.
• Creating new work may be more beneficial than translating old work.
• Networking and social media can help build an audience for new comics.
• Financial stability is key when considering a career in comics.

On Substack, a cartoonist was struggling with writing a Halloween joke. He was experiencing a common problem. He was stuck in wordplay, when the really funny stuff often lies far beyond that. I offered some advice.

While you’re stuck trying to find the right way to start your comic, someone else is starting a comic their way. That’s because the only way to start a comic is the wrong way. Confused? We’ll explain. Also — storytelling without conflict? Kishōtenketsu is a story structure that emphasizes contrast over conflict. But first, Dave’s Los Angeles may have the highest number of “perfect days” in the United States, but Brad insists that Philadelphians appreciate their sunny weather more when it does happen.

Summary

In this episode of ComicLab, hosts Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett explore the challenges of starting a comic, emphasizing that there is no right way to create comics and that experimentation is essential. The hosts provide practical advice on overcoming creative blocks, the importance of consistency in practice, and the necessity of starting, even if it means doing it imperfectly. In this episode, the hosts explore the creative process, discussing the fear of starting projects and the importance of embracing imperfection. They share insights from their recent social media challenge, reflecting on productivity and the benefits of reducing screen time. The conversation shifts to the discovery of non-conflict storytelling techniques, particularly the Japanese writing style Kishōtenketsu, which emphasizes character development over traditional conflict. Finally, they discuss updates to the Patreon app, highlighting user experiences and the implications of its new features.

Today’s Show

• How to get started
• Kishōtenketsu / Yonkoma
• Patreon Quips and the new app layout