#497 Peter Kuper: Demonstrating what comics can do

Ruins by Peter KuperPeter Kuper has been pushing the boundaries of comics for over two decades, using media like linoleum prints, scratchboard, and stencils & spray paint (including in The System) to make a wide variety of comics, from those with political or environmental messages to autobiography, adaptations of Franz Kafka’s writings, and (since 1997) Spy vs. Spy.

In this episode, Peter talks with Tim about the varied media; his youthful encounters with Harvey Pekar, R. Crumb, and Howard Chaykin; his ambitious graphic novel Ruins; the importance of getting out of your comfort zone; and much more.

#493 The Dangers of Satire (But don’t back down!)

Charlie HebdoThe panel discussion “You can get killed doing this: sketches from the satire biz” was held at the recent MoCCA Fest in New York. The panel discussed the chilling effects on what satirical works get published, and why it’s important to keep publishing satire anyway. The blurb in the festival’s booklet reads in part: “Can satire survive in a world of trigger warnings and Kalishnikov triggers? Could the National Lampoon be published in a post-Charlie Hebdo world? Is self-censorship the greatest sin of all?” This week we present an excerpt of that discussion.

It was led by Rick Meyerowitz, formerly of National Lampoon, and featured political cartoonist Steve Brodner, former National Lampoon co-editor Sean Kelly, and cartoonist Peter Kuper.

Also: Tim meets up with Mike Seid, Rahsaan Romain, and John Lee at the New York Aspiring Comic Creators Club meetup!

#402 Ted Rall pushes the boundaries

Ted RallThere are numerous ways in which you may have encountered Ted Rall‘s work. In addition to his political cartoons, he’s taken on a variety of other formats and other media: comics journalism (in central Asia, including Afghanistan), newspaper columns, radio, graphic novels, and MAD Magazine work.

While his political views are left-of-center, his tendency to question Democrats as well as Republicans has brought pushback from some on the left. Whether his target is a Republican, a Democrat, or another political cartoonist, Rall pulls no punches.

In this episode, he talks with Tim about his philosophy of political cartooning, filing comics from a war zone, why his editors at MAD just don’t “get” his character Fantabulaman, and much more.

#197 Adrian Raeside: From The Other Coast to Antarctica

9/14/09 Adrian Raeside: From The Other Coast to Antarctica

Canadian cartoonist Adrian Raeside is a veteran of editorial cartoons, the comics page (The Other Coast), animation, and children’s books. He talks about all of these and his newest book, Return to Antarctica, in a wide-ranging interview.