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The Cartoonist’s Cartoonists: Stephan Pastis
With the return of The Cartoonist’s Cartoonists, I’m happy to feature Pearls Before Swine creator Stephan Pastis. “Pearls” became one of my all time favorites with its dark and irreverent humor. Apparently I’m not alone, the feature runs in roughly 500 papers.
Pearls Before Swine was the fifth syndication attempt for Stephan and according to his recent interview on CNBC’s The Big Idea, the feature was almost cancelled even before launch, but Dilbert creator Scott Adams championed his strip and it launched on December 31, 2001. It has been nominated for Best Newspaper Comic Strip three times by the National Cartoonist Society and won that category in 2004 and 2007.
Here now are his influences.
Charles Schulz: Everyone cites him, but it’s with good reason. He taught me timing, tone, character development, practically everything.
Gary Larson
Berke Breathed and Garry Trudeau: Even when I didn’t understand the politics, I appreciated that these two were mavericks that revolutionized what could go on a comics page. Also, Trudeau’s relevance and sharpness some 38 years after he first created the strip is an inspiration in and of itself.
Scott Adams: From him, I learned how to write a three-panel comic. Probably the best pure writer on the comics page.
Darby Conley: Such well developed characters and brilliant artwork. Reminds me of Krazy Kat in that both strips fundamentally revolve around just 3 core characters, and yet still manage to be creative and funny. A seemingly impossible task, especially when you consider that Rob, Bucky and Satchel practically never leave their living room.
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Community Comments
March/5/2008 @ 9:33 am
Alan, as you know, this feature is a favorite of mine. Glad to see it back!
March/5/2008 @ 9:53 am
I’ll second that.
Since Pearls often pays tribute to Peanuts, I would have been surprised NOT to see Schulz make the list.
March/5/2008 @ 10:59 am
I excited he named all people I don’t have to google! :D Not a single “FuFu Le Farhur, famous Swedish spin-art innovator” or anything.
Is it wrong that makes me feel relieved? I love this feature, but sometimes I walk aways going, “Wow. I am ig’nant!!!”
Anyway, I’m off to stick my head back into the pop-culture sand again.
March/5/2008 @ 11:01 am
I think the only thing that surprised me on this list were Breathed and Trudeau. But Stephan’s explanations really ring true. I find it scary and fascinating all at the same time that Pearls was almost canceled before it saw the light of…um…print. Now look where Pearls is. That certainly says something about the state of things.
Congrats!
March/5/2008 @ 2:04 pm
>>>Is it wrong that makes me feel relieved? I love this feature, but sometimes I walk aways going, “Wow. I am ig’nant!!!”
One of the best things about this segment is that it has the potential to expand one’s appreciation for work beyond ones own boundaries or comfort zone. Expanding one’s taste is usually a good thing.
March/5/2008 @ 3:08 pm
I too am glad to see this feature back on TDC. I may not be a huge Trudeau fan, but, as Mike said, Stephan’s observations of Trudeau’s work and why he included him in his list is accurate. Although, I’m sure Breathed and Trudeau don’t like to be lumped together like that, as they often are. LOL.
March/5/2008 @ 3:26 pm
“One of the best things about this segment is that it has the potential to expand one’s appreciation for work beyond ones own boundaries or comfort zone. Expanding one’s taste is usually a good thing”
LOL! Yes it is. I was joking with how I said my prior statement…BUT, it was nice to see that Mr. Pastis didn’t have any obscure references just on the basis I wouldn’t either, and I greatly admire his work on Pearls.
Why that made me feel good? I have no clue. :)
March/5/2008 @ 5:18 pm
Am I alone in finding the popularity of “Get Fuzzy” baffling? I know Pastis and Conley are friends, but Conley’s work, while very nicely drawn, seems to me to be exceptionally unfunny.
March/5/2008 @ 6:02 pm
I have to agree. I agree that “Get Fuzzy” is well-drawn, but the writing is, um, too “zen” for me.
Does that make sense?
March/6/2008 @ 12:33 am
I love Get Fuzzy. It has a lot of heart, but not in a sappy Rose is Rose kind of way. The dialogue is refreshingly real, and I appreciate the distinct voices of the characters.
People often ask me what syndicates mean when they say they prefer character-driven strips. Get Fuzzy is definitely character-driven, while Pearls is more gag-driven. I suspect that’s why Pearls almost didn’t make it (though he has developed his characters nicely over time), and why readers may not find Get Fuzzy LOL.
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