Inception came out last week and my good friend Katelan Cunningham reviewed it on The District. I did an illustration to accompany her write-up, and to experiment with some new tools. Go and read her article!

One of my favorite scenes that usually ends up as an afterthought for most people is the one where Cobb tells Ariadne that you can never really remember the beginning of a dream. He asks her how they ended up at the cafe, and all she can say is, “Well we came from the.. uh..”. I really like that idea so much, especially because it is a scene in a movie. Movies have scene after scene strung together, and sometimes they jump time. We don’t always get to see what happens in between scenes where a character might be getting ready in his bathroom, then ending up at work in the next scene.

Nolan points out that movies aren’t real and that they mirror our dreams more than they mirror life. It’s references itself by pointing out that Inception is just a movie, by not showing us exactly how they got the cafe: just that they ended up there. And as seriously as some of us take our movies, deconstructing plausibility and finding plot holes, you have to keep in mind that movies have no reason to make sense. My dreams never do.

Have you ever done a MAD Fold-in? You know, those things on the back cover of MAD Magazine? It was a riddle of sorts, where you read the set-up, folded the page over, and got the punchline!

Now, I wouldn’t ask this of anyone who comes to the website in any other circumstance, but in order to really fully experience this piece, you have to print it. Print it out, and fold it, and laugh or feel enlightened. That’s right, PLEASE PRINT THIS OUT AND FOLD IT TO GET THE PUNCHLINE. You can print the above image, or download the PDF by clicking here.

[UPDATE: It will also work if you print it in black and white. This really is the one and only time I would ask ANYONE to print something from my website, after years of giving my art and comics for free. Thanks!]

It was originated by living legend Al Jaffee who responded to the fold-out pages of dirty mags, and inexpensively thought of the fold-in. He’s been doing it for about four decades now, and was even profiled in The New York Times. And if I knew how to use Adobe Flash, I would have provided online fold-ability, too!

MAD Magazine ushered in an entire movement. Most of today’s greatest satirists like Saturday Night Live and Monty Python wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for MAD. There were many doppelgangers of it back in its heyday, but these days the magazine is cutting back employees more and more. I wish there were more comic artists doing comics for humor and making statements on society and culture.

This is one of my favorite things I’ve done. So please, print this, and fold it this week, and next week I’ll talk about why I think it makes a unique statement about everything that is important to me!

I started braindrawing what I thought Shane looked like, just based on what I know of him. It’s an exercise to test out my visual memory. It turned out horribly.

But they were coming out way too scary. I was exaggerating things way too early when I should have focused on getting likeness down. So I took a step back and did my research. Naturally, I Facebooked him.

I wanted to get the creepiest, nastiest photo of Shane, because that’s part of his onstage persona. It’s very Jim Norton, without the anger issues.

You can see which drawing I went with! I wanted to get that half-smile that Shane does. He also keeps his head down while he speaks, which shows a lot of the white of his eyes, making them appear bigger and more bugged out.

(Pretend there’s a picture here. It’s on my camera.)

Here’s some early inks. Sometimes I don’t even pencil out the entire image before finalizing the inks.

And here’s the final! As for the explanation of the title, well, you just might be able to catch that joke being said at the show. Here’s the Facebook event details.

Click the image above to read “New York Bagel”!

New York is a magnificent place. Can you believe that I went there for the first time ever?? I had a blast with my classmates, Ben Frisch, Amber Gant, Lilly Higgs, Caleb Soloman, and Dean of SCAD: John Lowe. It was a brilliant week, felt longer than 8 days, and it’s too bad I won’t be back for a long long time. I kept a log of it in my sketchbook. It’s filled with visits to plenty of professional offices and practicing artists, including:

• Mickey Duzyj
• Rebekah Isaacs (whose name I spelt wrong throughout my journal, SORRY!)
• Cliff Chiang
• Paulo Rivera (whose name has a ‘o’ in place of the ‘u’. Gawrsh, I’m a great journalist).
• R. Kikuo Johnson
• Sean Chen
• Peter Kuper
• DC Comics
• Marvel Comics
• First Second Books
• ….and more!
• Special thanks to my great friend Alyssa and her family for housing me for a period of time (she’s in the journal for a bit, too). Hope you enjoy these 20-24 pages of my vacation/class!

]]> http://www.jeremywinslife.com/2010/06/21/new-york-bagel/feed/ 0 http://www.jeremywinslife.com/2010/06/07/female-comics-and-females-in-comics/ http://www.jeremywinslife.com/2010/06/07/female-comics-and-females-in-comics/#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2010 01:05:35 +0000 Jeremy http://www.jeremywinslife.com/?p=1899

I’ve got my feet in both comics culture and the culture of stand-up comedy, and I’m seeing two similar conversations happening. Female comedians and female comic readers both face similar issues being that stand-up and comic books are largely male dominated.

First off, I am not a woman. I do not claim to be an expert in feminism or femininity. Just check my dating track record with women.  (Hint: it’s non-existent.) But my audience is surprisingly mostly women. I’ve received more responses, comments, and e-mails from women than men. Most of the people who have approached me after a stand-up show are women. And the people who most get excited about seeing my work at conventions and end up buying my comic books and prints are women.

THE RESOURCES

• Graphic Novelist Hope Larson took a survey to gauge the thoughts of women who read comics.
• There have been a ton of follow-up thoughts sprouting up in response to her results, and some of them can be read here, and one from Kiel Phegley.
• Hope Larson even responds in an interview here with Kelly Thompson.

• Jessie Geller writes how she feels as a female comic.
• Here’s the article by Kate Hendricks linked to at the bottom of previous source, here. Also, here is the Vanity Fair article, “Who says Women Aren’t Funny?” from 2008.
• A new web documentary series called Welcome to the Stage recently just popped up. It’s about stand-up comedy in San Francisco, and though it hasn’t really brought up the issue of “female comedy”, it follows 4 female stand-up comedians exclusively.

THE COMMONALITIES

Most of these articles I’ve brought up tend to be written by women. Where are the guys who have an opinion about this subject? These are the recurring topics I found in both camps.

1. Female comedians feel outnumbered and mistreated when going to an open mic. Female comic book readers feel outnumbered and mistreated at a comic book store.

2. Comedy club bookers/owners tend to be male. Comic book store owners tend to be male.

3. Men generalize female comedians to only talk about boys, dating, and relationships. Men generalize female readers to like reading about boys, dating, and relationships. (and ponies and sparkly stuff)

Both parties think that stand-up comedy and comic books are a boy’s club. Women tend to think of themselves in relation to men. But I’ve noticed that men tend to ONLY think of themselves.

Also, I should bring up that a common issue in stand-up is that people assume “women are not funny”. But in comic books, there is no equivalent. Women are just as good as men at creating compelling stories and illustrating moving artwork. Women in comic books are completely competent, and are not met with the hostility that female comedians receive.

AUDIENCE AND NERDS

The comparison is a little disconnected, because female comic book bloggers talk more about readers and audiences than female comedians talk about their audience. Hope Larson mentions that her books appeal to young adult female readers. Do female creators write to appeal specifically to men without making assumptions as to ‘what men like’? I also want to know who the female stand-up comedians are targeting, without having to say “Am I right, ladies?” at the end of a joke. To be fair, I don’t even know if male comics target a gender-specific audience, so generally speaking, comedians may be gender-blind in developing an act. There are comic books that appeal strongly to women, but is there a specific kind of comedy that appeals to women?

When female comic creators get together for a panel or a singing, female readers flock to them. But when female comedians go on tour together, do females flock to their shows in droves? I might be able to relate because I watch a lot of Asian comedians, and I follow the work of Asian comic book creators. But do women really geek out about female comedy?

This may also be in part due to “nerd-dom” levels in either field. In comic books, female nerds are definitely growing in size with the help of manga’s influence in comic book culture. Zine and Mini-comics culture is very closely half-and-half. Nerd-dom in stand-up comedy is relatively new, and not quite as passionate as comic book nerddery. Comedy nerds may be few, and most of the times if there are any, it is largely male. But even that is changing with women attaching themselves to the likes of Tina Fey, Maria Bamford, Natasha Leggero, Garfunkel and Oates, etc. Even Patton Oswalt, Eugene Mirman, and Zach Galafianakis have a large fanbase, many of the passionate ones include women. But in my own life, rarely do I find a girl who is in the know of some of the latest stand-up comedy. It’s largely guys who geek out about it.

GET GIRLS INVOLVED

I’m a little disheartened that there aren’t many guys involved in the conversation. I think that Hope Larson calls retailers and publishers to action with her ten points to get girls reading comics, things that I’ve noticed and rooted for for a very long time. And I’m not saying it isn’t happening, because it is. I see a lot more women and girls attending conventions with their girlfriends, and not tagging along with their guy friends. And in comedy, well there’s always been female audience members, but I’m seeing more and more women express interest in performing at open mics. I’m happy to see that the female comic book creators and comedians are inspiring other women to join in, and I hope me being a guy doesn’t exclude me from inspiring them, too.

Andrew Yip?

Or Jeremy Nguyen?

This one is way too uncanny. I only know of Andrew Yip through my friend Sam Wolfe Connelly. Sam says I am the Savannah knock-off to his Virginia original. What’s even  weirder is that Andrew Yip does stand-up comedy. Taking it into an even weirder level is that he seems to be influenced by Demetri Martin’s “Visual Aid” humor, and includes jokes that are drawings (like me!).

He’s based in D.C., so if ever I do comedy up there, I hope the clubs don’t introduce me as him. But somehow I think it might be better to be him than myself. It should also be noted that Andrew Yip has a photography doppelganger. Which is weird, because I, Jeremy Nguyen, have a photography doppelganger, too. I’ve said it so many times, but I must defeat Andrew Yip and gain his powers like Jet Li does in the movie, “The One”.

Do you have any Asian friends? They probably look like me! Send any photos you have of them to me at jeremywinsagainATgmailDOTcom. If you DON’T have Asian friends, snap some photos of some Asians you see on the street. Chances are they look like me, too!

My latest short story was a ton of fun, but not finished. So here’s a sneak peek.

My summer has been pretty hectic and I really want to just make and post work here. I’m working on plenty of great things, and I am having a blast just moving and settling into my new apartment. Things are in transition, and I’ve got plenty of new work to show. Much love!

At first, we were concerned with our placement, unsure if people would be able to see us at all and make it behind some of the bigger booths. Luckily for us, we had nothing to be afraid of.

The “we” that I’m referring to includes me and fellow artist, former course mate, and SCAD soon-to-be graduate, Guthrie Ensor. I had planned on going alone to Asheville, but thankfully Guthrie found out I was going. We put two minds together and carpooled up, and it was the most perfect decision I made for this weekend. We had a blast sharing a a car ride up, accommodations, and mostly a table. We got to share the same experiences, talk to a lot of the same great people, and riff off each other when we recorded an interview for a podcast, and when customers came up to peruse our wares. We saw tons of people and got to talk with lots of “new fans”. And luckily for Guthrie, he will be moving back up to Asheville (he had lived here previous to Savannah), and the new-found connections he and I made will benefit him, with some possible future appearances and signings.

I sold out of my latest comic, “Stand-up Comic Book” #1 in both the Limited Black Book Edition, as well as the standard blue book run. I also ran out of stock in Jimbo Maneuver books. Both books were quite a hit at the show, so I was glad not to have to haul them back to the hotel. I was able to get away from the table and meet with Hope Larson. She was completely pleasant and both her books Chiggers and Mercury looked immaculate! I was seeing people throughout the convention clinging their copies lovingly and it made me miss my copies at home. But meeting her was definitely a highlight, and I can’t wait until the next time I see her. NOTE: Had it not been for Hope Larson and her Twitter, and the tweet she sent out about the Fanaticon organizers treating her so well 4 months in advance to the convention, I wouldn’t have signed up. So thanks!

Guthrie sat by the booth and inked some work which captivated casual attendees. To our surprise, families were gathering around him, aspiring artists loomed over his shoulders. We also attracted the likes of the media, including a photographer for the Asheville Citizen Times. You can see us both in picture 4, and a close-up of Guthrie drawing in picture 44. Also, I’m on the Mountain Express website! We both felt so honored .

Asheville is a thriving community and a wonderfully beautiful city. People really wanted to see artwork. In the beginning, we had seen only exhibitors with golden age back issues, tons of guys with action figures and Magic Cards. I certainly felt out of place as the lone self-publishing artist, but it provided some variety on the floor. We later learned that the lower level had most of the self-publishing cartoonists, and though it would’ve been fun to riff with those guys downstairs, we were perfectly comfortable in our spot and made it work for us within the hour.

There were a handful of artists we got to meet and talk shop with, including our neighbors Nicki and Mary, who were selling and receiving commissions for minimalist superhero paintings. From the booth behind out table, we met Meg of the Firestorm Cafe, whose cafe/bookstore/performance venue we later visited. They have a zine section next to their bookshelves, and there were a ton of literary zines but no comics. I wish I hadn’t sold out or else I would’ve brought some over to the store. At the con, we also got to chill with TL, Darrin, and Patrick, representing Asheville’s comic shop Comic Envy. After the convention we trekked out of downtown to see the store, and again we were impressed. I noticed tons of independent graphic novels placed in very prominent shelves. They really have a love for comics that are not just superheroes. They had books that had JUST come out, like my friend Joey Weiser’s Cavemen in Space.

We ate at Doc Chey’s, checked out the Malaprop Bookstore, hit up the True Blue art store, and Guthrie pointed out all of the landmarks to (basically) his entire life. We showed me restaurants and construction site he worked at, body shops and food stops his wife worked at. The skate shop, the free parking lot, the bar/restaurant where he proposed to his wife. He definitely brought an energy to the trip that I wouldn’t have gotten had I gone alone.

And here’s some other show notes:

• We were the only SCAD students there. That alone made it feel a little bit more special.
• There was a Ghostbuster’s car!
• The news was all over the place, and that combined with the costumers and street performers drummed up a ton of hype around our venue.
• Because it was free, it brought in all kinds of people. I was surprised to see droves of girls come in together, guys dressed in tuxes waiting on their prom dates, moms who wanted to buy my books for themselves by using their children as an excuse to buy them. We did a lot of people watching at the booth, had some great conversations, and met the great people that make up Asheville. I’m visiting again soon.
• This experience for us will never happen again. It was a feeling of surprise that just delighted our entire weekend and we couldn’t stop talking about how much fun we had at the con.

And once again, you should visit Guthrie Ensor’s portfolio and check him out. He took some boss photos and I’m really glad to have been a part of his FIRST real comic book convention experience. This one was definitely a good one to start with.

After 2 months of absences at the Sentient Bean, I’ll be appearing tonight to make more people aware that I am able to stand on a stage and speak. Laughs are secondary, optional, not required, but highly appreciated so thank you for your donation! Filmmaker Dan Fine will be shooting scenes for his documentary which he also stars in, performing comedy as a comedian usually does. He’s my dude, so come out and add your laughter onto his audio recordings.

I’m emceeing an event on Friday from 12:00 to 3:00 called “Your Future Looks Bright” at Arnold Hall. You want a career int he arts? You gotta get yourself to this, because it’s going to be poppin’ off with tons of bright minds who want to let you know how you can EMPOWER yourself with the business attitude of a successful artist. Get it son!

I will in Asheville that evening, tabling Saturday morning at Fanaticon, held at the Asheville Art Museum. I’ll be selling mini-comics, prints, and posters between the hours of 10:00 – 6:00pm. If you’re in the area and you want some comics, I am providing them!

It’s been a good week, got my future in my hands. My path is laid down and I’m ready to walk the line. Say hello to ya motha for me!

Please click to enlarge! The “Booster Party” is one of my favorite undertakings, with stories that criss-cross around the board, alluding to events that happen at the same party that happened, that are about to happen, and that ARE happening as you read.

I will be selling prints at the Norris Hall Swap Meet tomorrow at 11AM – 1PM. I have a limited edition print run of 15, measuring at 24″ x 19″, at $30 each, and signed! And finally, I have process scans after the jump, where you can see the stages of its creation. Enjoy!

First of all, I want to thank everyone who has enjoyed this project as much as I have enjoyed making it. Thanks to Brian Ralph for pushing to find wall space where we could hang our very first pieces. It brought lots of eyes from people throughout the department, and if you are one of those people, I hope you had a good laugh!

Besides Where’s Waldo, I was inspired by the illustrations of Scott Campbell, whose work always has lots of simple characters taking part in a large scene. There are always little stories in the scene that create a big picture, and looking at each one allows a reader to slow down and take it in. I also loved the simultaneity aspect, and the referencing of past, present, and future. I’m a fan of Lost, and injected some of that influence on a much smaller scale here.

And I love creating characters. My work in previous comics classes were much more based on realism and accurate proportions, but this class encouraged me to think more about the concept. I stuck to a much simpler style that resulted in lots of energy and personality in each person I drew. It was a lot of fun to create an image on such a large scale, yet hone in on small characters who take up very little of the space.

The Original Pencils

I worried a lot about how I could reprint these inexpensively and at a similar or exact same size. After my penciling, I was too scared to ink on top and have to erase the graphite underneath. Projects where I’ve employed that process always ended with inks that look too different, lots of smudging, and lower quality of blackness in the inks after an eraser went over them. So I decided to do the blue line process and ink over the blue printout, which now results in two original art pieces of the same project (and less stress!)

Inks

Soon after the inks, I printed another version. This time I would complete the assignment by cutting it into puzzle pieces. My cutting was improvised, but by gridding out the comic beforehand in rectangles, I was able to make each conversation contained within a puzzle piece.

Color in Progress.

Party on!

Thanks for reading! Again, I will be selling these at tomorrow’s SWAP MEET in Norris Hall between 11AM and 1PM. I’ll also be selling comics, graphic novels, and action figures (and other people’s prints!) from my personal collection. Hope to see you there .