Pearls before SHUT THE F*CK UP.
Within, I give you a run down of the events leading to our smashing of the pig and rat, and what I really think of Stephan PAstis’s strip:
So– yesterday, yeah, we got those e-mails. The more that came, the more I thought.. “I’d better take a look at this” — at first glance, as Bob sat here in the studio/tiki shack, we both thought.. “WHAT THE F*ck?” — Now I myself, being versed in running a daily comic strip in newspapers know that you usually work WAY ahead, so it’s not like Pastis saw our recent “Brick of Silence” strip, but he could have seen the one in March. Bob immediately wanted to call his brother, a lawyer, and ask what was what, but I informed him that it was a totally differe joke. To that I got the response of the stare of doom from Bob, and he called me a “retard” — But really, it IS the same JOKE, but different delivery. “Brick o’ Silence” — “Towel o’ Silence”, etc…–
Like a complete moron, I decided to go and post in the Wisenheimer board. It’s a closed board for professional cartoonists, and houses many syndicated authors including Stephan Pastis. It’s the whole reason I thought I’d post in there in the first place, so he was sure to see my querry. He responded:
DJ,
Until today, I have never heard of or read your comic strip. I don’t even know who you are. The Pearls strip you reference was drawn on March 3, 2005.
Your statement is a) false; b) made publicly on a professional comics message board; and c) an implied accusation of fraud.
Stephan
Now, before hearing his response, our comic strip response was already drawn an in the engine ready to roll out. Bob made the interesting point that it was curious that he did give a date when the comic was drawn, being sure to predate our first “Brick of Silence” strip, which , ofcourse was also drawn before it’s publish date too…. so that point was moot. Wow, Stephan Pastis works 4 months in advance?! Crazy! I’m sure there are other syndicated guys doing that, but that’s not on the normal. I doubt we’d see Christmas strips on most syndicated authors desks right now. trust me on that.
So hey– We have to take the guy at his word. It actually made me go read his crappy looking comic and see that it’s actually pretty good. It takes a twisted mind to make me laugh. I’m frankly surprised that if some of these guys can dish out the critiques and accusations of other topics they probably amplify– but they can’t take it themselves. Either way, I’ve heard ALL sides today. From our bloodthirsty fans screaming the “HELL YES”’s to other professional comic artists telling me “Shame on you DJ” or “untalented and unpleasant” — Wow, those people call themselves pros? Hah!
As for the other print cartoonists I’ve offended? Eh, get over yourselves. For real. Just because I critize the crappy state of print comics in newspapers, and the mass mediocrity, doesn’t mean I’m so guy who never could make it into papers so I’m bitter or something. I LEFT 50 papers! (wait, 51) — There’s frankly NO money in the syndication model. Only for what, a FEW people to make living wage. More than half of syndicated cartoonists today have to work a FULL TIME job on the side to make ends meet! And they’re happy to do it! That’s dumb to me. And guess what? That ship is sinking! Why would anyone willingly jump on it??? —- But yeah, think that way all you want about my opinions… but I can tell you, it’s not about this guy… that’s for damn sure.
I am sooooo happy having a webcomic. It’s goddamn magical I tells you. Not only do we have access to many more readers than papers- it’s much cooler feeling to be able to turn around and draw something this evening that I could put up tomorrow. I mean, working 5-6 weeks ahead seems boring to me by the time the strips actually hit. Let alone someone working 4 months ahead?? Ugh! I’d rather build up some “ever greens” that can run anytime, and if something topical comes up, I can deliver it immediately FRESH to our peeps! Not enough webcomics are actually utilizing what is there, or putting that work ethic into their stuff… if you know any, please link me! —
I’m not going to piss all over the HISTORY of comic strips. I’m as big a fan as any. But I’m smart enough to know when to call a Dinosaur a Dinosaur. Or a Buggy Whip, a Buggy Whip, as Eric Burns would say. We’re entering into a new era where print and web will HAVE to work together.. especially as more and more people ditch their newspapers to read online and up to the minute. So to, comic strips will have to change. And you’ll see more “webcomics” in newspapers too… especially papers that WANT comics pages, but can’t afford to run them anymore. But there is a solution to that as well that I could have a hand in. Believe me, I don’t WANT newspaper comics to be extinct— but maybe they should stop acting as if they were.
That’s all from me on this. I’ll keep you all posted if we get any dick-move legal threats from anyone. That would be like, what? A death threat AND a legal threat in one week? RAWK!
July 26th, 2005 at 9:05 pm
Yeah, I totally agree on the point of Webcomics and Print comics needing to work together more. It’s already happening on at least one way, which is many print comics sticking there stuff online via www.comics.com In fact, I don’t think there’s a single comic in our local paper that’s NOT on that site. And personally, I’ll never understand how a person who makes their living (or at least some of it) with humor can’t handle any being tossed their way. Coincidence or not, it still makes for funny stuff on both parts. In fact, I think it would be hilarious if he were to come up with a good response and put it in PBS. It’s actually one of the few PC’s that I like. Liberty Meadows is by far my favorite though. Bastard Newspapers not carrying it locally *grumble* Which is exactly what comics.com is for, yay!
July 26th, 2005 at 9:30 pm
I gave up on print comics when I was about eight. Twenty years later, I find that webcomics make up about an hour of my day at the least. From Yirmumah to QC to Megatokyo to Penny-Arcade and beyond, I can get all the topics and genres in one place… something I’ve NEVER seen exposed in the LIBERAL MEDIA. When was the last time (okay, Boondocks is a *loose* example, if you use that) you saw a manga-esque comic in major newspapers?
I say well done, DJ. Continually hilarious and fresh, just the way I like it! BTW, did you ever get that crab I sent? ^_^
July 26th, 2005 at 9:30 pm
Yirmumah rocks. Greetings from Brazil, from a daily basis reader.
DJ, your drawing is awesome, and so does Bob ideas. Keep cool, man. Or use the “Boulder or infinite quietness”, or the “Anvil of wanton serenity”, or the “Bulldozer of subtle gentility”, and so on…
July 26th, 2005 at 11:19 pm
RAWK !! Indeed!!… Controversy, Denial, Rumblings of Discontent..
I had not read your comic until I found it listed in the Daily Grind..
Now I am “addicted”..
You are raucous, unruly, arrogant, disrespectful, and .. Funny..
Yeah, I’m from a red state.. call me a “south park republican” if you want..
Not sure if Pastis ripped off your idea or not.. Don’t really care.. It’s the whole soap opera aspect of it.. Innuendo, recrimination, that sense of betrayal, oppression by “the man”.. fighting the establishment..
You’re making copy in the comics blogosphere, and that means readership, baby!!
Maybe the two of you cooked this up to draw attention to your strips..
Ahhh… Yes.. Collusion.. manipulation.. skullduggery… Readership splits, taking sides.. Virtual Civil War erupts..
Contemplating the possibilities boggles the mind..
I am aghast at the implication.. The sinister machinations of comic artists..
Armageddon approaches..
May God have mercy on us all..
July 26th, 2005 at 11:33 pm
Online comics are great because of this. I love reading artist’s ramblings, somehow makes me complete, i dont watch any of those trashy soaps so get all my drama from webcomics and its so engrossing. The only thing missing from this soap opera is sexual tension.
/me proceeds to send Scott Curtz flowers from ” DJ “
July 26th, 2005 at 11:37 pm
A good comic medium to look at for the shift to the web is editorial/political cartoonists.
They are being forced out of print media when they don’t want to be. They learned that in order for them to even be heard ANYWHERE they HAD to move to the web.
zanbower’s right. Enough with the elitiest “Well, I’m a PRINT cartoonist” bullshit. If either medium is to flourish they need to work together. They both still have loads to learn.
July 26th, 2005 at 11:45 pm
Evan– I’m not a chubby chaser.
Agreed– I know a guy who was an editorial cartoonist for a paper I think for 15 years, and then syndicated in other papers, and he was just dropped one day. Poof! Gone.
I think the blogosphere is a great place for topical comics and it creates discussion and debate. Although… well, that’s not what Yirmumah is for.
RIDE THE SNAKE!
July 27th, 2005 at 1:50 am
“Chubby” chaser.
Kurtz.
“Chubby”.
Yeah right, he wishes.
July 27th, 2005 at 2:09 am
^ What the?
Hey, everyone. Mitch is on drugs!
July 27th, 2005 at 2:50 am
No, I meant “chubby” is typically a term saved for modestly overweight people, or people who are fat but not gargantuan. Scott Kurtz looks like he’s could die of apnea at any second. It frightens me.
July 27th, 2005 at 8:54 am
Gah, zanbowser - moronic Kurtz disciple. A ‘manga-esque’ comic in newspapers? What the hell does that have to do with anything? I read Yirmumah at least partially because it ISN’T another fucking ‘manga-esque’ webcomic with elves and plaid skirts and bukkake and shit.
Anyway, DJ cut his teeth in print comics, a field where people without talent are weeded out - that’s what makes Yirmumah great visually: it *looks* good enough, stylish enough that it could actually appear in print. Say what you will about the conservative, tedious, uninspired storylines and dialogue of a lot of print comics, at least the syndicates require the bitches in their harem to be able to draw well. At least they’re slick. I am thoroughly sick of many of the amateurish ‘manga-esque’ MS-Paint webcomics out there.
July 27th, 2005 at 9:04 am
DJ,
While I agree with your sentiments, I again must disagree that PBS is actually funny. Since my opinion pre-dated this little Shitstorm of Silence, I’ll refrain from repeating from this point in this venue. Heck, it’s valid enough to stand on it’s own without a supporting column of “nearline-derivation”.
But if I ever spy a llama as I read the strip below it or above it, I’ll be back to get enough Bricks of Silence (justice edition) to build a schoolhouse.
July 27th, 2005 at 11:00 am
Tom, while I read PVP, I’m no “Kurtz-disciple.” I added manga to the list because there’re many artists on the web who really DO have talent - notice, Megatokyo was in the list as a good example - but I listed it mostly as an example of what styles are broadly unaccepted in the scope of print comics.
Also, you say that print comic artists are slick and able to draw well; another fully subjective statement painted as fact by another essentially anonymous forum-goer. Take a moment to read instead of blindly attacking me, fool: I never said anything about print comic artists being any less-talented or any such nonsense. I know that DJ was in the mix before (long time reader, DJ - continued kudos, mate), and I consider him quite talented; consequently, the difference between print and web comics, as I defined it, was a sense of “freshness.” I would argue that print comics are no longer so fresh, and rather past their prime for the very reasons our kind host elucidated.
July 27th, 2005 at 11:28 am
I agree with the statement by zanbowser (god I referring to people’s forum names
) on the point of “freshness” — That hit the nail on the head for me. There seems an air of staleness to the comics page. Sure, some comics are trying to push the envelope a little, but even those strips are still pushing the 1992 envelope. It’s 2005, almost 2006.
I just heard the word “Bitch” on one of my wife’s soap operas. And I’ve heard Oprah ask what “tossing a salad” meant for god’s sake. No wonder the print comics are pretty dead.
I was the biggest fan of Garfield when I was a kid, for reals. I could only moan and grown at the terrible movie they made… it appears even THAT should have come out in 1992. It’s like comic strips are forever behind the times. I look forward to choking at the Pearls before Swine movie when I’m 77.
July 27th, 2005 at 11:48 am
It took, what, 25 years or more to make a Garfield movie. Right? I liked it when I was a kid too, but it definately peaked at the Garfield and Friends hour on saturday morning.
You all had a short of a frightening looking homeless man beating up a doll with a brick after only a couple of years. Thats progress.
July 27th, 2005 at 12:13 pm
Well, it was a funny comic anyways. Heck, do a series of bob and dj smashing obnoxious little cartoon characters into paste and flying eyeballs.
July 27th, 2005 at 12:52 pm
Well, I’m glad you came around to reading Pearls. I acknowledge that it is the same joke, told in a different way… but that’s been happening in comedy for generations. (Don’t even get started on ‘original’ music!
Plus, if you look back far enough into Pastis’ work, he has a long history (of hits and misses) of similar gags. (Box o’ Stupid People, Pit ‘o Morons, Sphere of Isolation, etc.) I don’t doubt that he writes 4 months ahead, b/c look at the drawings. They’re not that complex, and he admits that. I also agree that its probably not the norm.
At least Pastis is pushing the limits of steralized decency in newspapers. Moreso than Baldo and For Better or For Worse.
July 27th, 2005 at 1:56 pm
I still say the fuckers stole your idea, bastards!
July 27th, 2005 at 2:32 pm
I really wish that The Family Circus would steal your idea
The only question is, which little child or parent will be the one that wants the others to OMFGSTFUKTNXBBQ!!!11!1one
July 27th, 2005 at 2:41 pm
Fuck the pig and rat, let me introduce them to my baseball bat.
What was that? SPLAT SPLAT SPLAT!!!
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
July 27th, 2005 at 5:03 pm
pig and rat got brick’d
many others need bricking
DJ is the man
July 27th, 2005 at 7:26 pm
I did a LOL at the top when I read Pastis’s reply.. not sure if you are aware.. but Pastis was a full time lawyer up until Aug 2002. So that explains his bulleted and strongly worded reply.
I read pearls every day and I like it a lot. And I like your strip too.. it’s just a bit different. I can see a subtle evil in Bob’s eyes that scares me a little. Then I look back to when he wore the pope hat and it all washes away.
Go in Uke.
July 27th, 2005 at 8:12 pm
DJ
Note that there’s the possibility of creating your own Garfield cartoons. It brings me such joy to pervert the cat to my own kind of humor. I don’t suppose it would get printed in papers, though. Try it:
http://www.spelletjes.nl/game2083.html
July 27th, 2005 at 9:13 pm
zanbowser, fair enough with regards to ‘freshness’ - I admit I read very few print comics compared to webcomics - well, I *enjoy* very few at any rate. There’s one in my paper called ‘Zits’ (King Features Syndicate) that often hits the spot, it seems quite ‘fresh’ to me. I was just utterly shocked by your statement that you ’stopped reading print comics at age 8′ - so you missed the golden years of Calvin and Hobbes? The Far Side? The Wizard of Id? (That last one having declined spectacularly in recent years). Or, for Aus/NZ readers, Footrot Flats?
Anyway, I hope that print dailies have a little Renaissance someday - comic books, too, for that matter. You know you can’t buy comics, with one or two exceptions, in newsagents here anymore? No more comic rack, just a few Phantoms and Beanos stacked inamongst the videogame magazines… I hate having to go to those dank pop culture superstores to buy comics.
DJ - yay! A webcomic artist admits to having been a Garfield fan! I chose to avoid the risk of childhood memories being gang-raped and so didn’t actually see that new film…