comiXology: CREATORS IN CONVERSATION
Mutiny on the Mousey is the latest comic by Harvey Award-winning creator Steven Weissman @stevenweissman, known for books like the critically acclaimed Barack Hussein Obama and the Yikes! series (both from Fantagraphics).
I was super excited to get the chance to chat with him about his new book, outside influences, old horror movies and some other cool stuff:
CX: Would you like to introduce yourself to our readers, assuming they aren’t already familiar with your work?
SW: Thanks! OK, about me:
I’ve made a lot of books with Fantagraphics + 1 with Retrofit.
I make weekly cartoons for The Stranger and Super Deluxe.
I also design for and help run (with Mats Stromberg) a boutique sticker operation called Stinckers @stinckers . These are sold in vending machines all over the place.
I like work that is funny, well-composed/well-drawn, colorful and high-contrast. I try to keep these things in mind when I make my own comics.
CX: Tell us a bit about your new book, Mutiny on the Mousey?
SW: Mutiny on the Mousey is based on Nordhoff and Hall’s famous account of the Bounty mutiny of 1789. Initially, I pared down the events in that story to illustrate a 9 sticker series for Stinckers. Once finished, I thought it would be fun to add diary entries written by a cat (playing the role of Master’s Mate, Fletcher Christian). The role of Captain Bligh is played by a mouse.
This is the first of three booklets I’d like to make based on the Bounty Trilogy. Booklet 2 is Mice Against the Sea, to be followed by Pussy Island.
CX: In this book, and in some of your others, you use a variety of materials beyond just pen and ink- screen tone, tape, sometimes hand-cut. Does this create unexpected results sometimes? Do you feel like this element of low-level chaos adds some vibrancy to your work?
SW:I believe that’s been the case with my Obama cartoons; with those I intended some level of improvisation. Mutiny on the Mousey is a lot more controlled. The edition available on Comixology is actually a completely redrawn version of a 2014 S.A.W. publication, which I thought looked sloppy.
CX: Many of your books are about childhood, or use images that recall children’s comics or illustrations from children’s literature. You also teach kids cartooning. Do you feel like working with kids, and their fresh, “naïve” perspective influences your own work?
SW: I like the straightforward style of great children’s authors like John Stanley (Little Lulu, etc.), Gaylord DuBois (The Lone Ranger’s Famous Horse, etc.) and Laura Ingalls Wilder (the Little House series). With my classes, I teach my students (4th-8th grade) to be as clear as possible in their presentation. Not because I have any problem with weirdness or ambiguity - I have tremendous confidence that weirdness shines through - but I want them to be able to make any point they want and have it land with the reader. The authors I mention above all do that so well.
I guess being surrounded by youths and youth literature does influence my own work and point of view. I don’t mind if it does.
CX: Speaking of kids, I don’t know how she knows this, but my friend tells me you like to watch Svengoolie with your son. Got any good horror movie recommendations?
SW: I grew up in the Bay Area, watching Bob Wilkins’ Creature Features. His dry presentation is my horror host ideal, but our whole family enjoys watching Svengoolie now on Saturday nights. Some of the better ones I’ve seen on his show are the Acquanetta Wild Woman/Jungle Woman movies. He just ran Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy, which is nowhere near as good as Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein.
CX: And since we’re on recommendations, been reading any good comics lately?
SW: Fawcett Dick Tracy reprints, Kramers Ergot 9, Patience and [of course] Sir Alfred.
CX: Finally, one of your best known books is Barack Hussein Obama. Will this year’s bizarre election cycle lead to another politically themed book?
SW: YES. Looking For America’s Dog will be published by Fantagraphics this September (at better bookstores, or digitally on Comixology). Until then, my Trump Boyzz mysteries at Super Deluxe are at least trying to keep up with current events.
