Not really. I have done some dirty comics that I was not featured in. I did a comic book series called Gabagool! before I started working on Freddie & Me and in the last three issues there was a long story where they go to the hedonism resort in Jamaica. It’s funny—it’s a comedy.
It must be so hard to draw yourself objectively. Do you make a point to exaggerate yourself?
Well, I wanted to find humor in my own portrayal of myself. I do think that the way that I looked as a little kid, with the giant soccer-ball head, and the way that I looked as a teenager, was funny. And also, because it is autobiographical, and it features a lot of people that I know—like my family, friends, stuff like that—I did actually make sure that I looked pretty bad so all the people who complain about how I draw them really can’t complain. ‘Who looks the worst in this book? I look the worst.’
But my wife hated her drawings… She hates the scene where she’s sitting on the deck with my family because she has the sunglasses on. “You make me look like an asshole! Sitting around with my glasses on, hanging out with your family.” My sister hates the way that she’s drawn. My mother doesn’t like the way that she’s drawn. But nobody looks as bad as I do.
You were born in England and lived there until you moved to New Jersey when you were in middle school. How did that affect you? Do you feel like you are torn between two identities—your English identity and your American identity?
I think that I would sort of liken it to superheroes that have dual identities, you know? Sort of like, ‘Secretly, I’m English.’ [laughs] But yeah, it does affect you. I feel very American now but I grew up to have very strong English sensibilities and therefore the book has very strong English sensibilities. The fact that I’m so annoying throughout the book—I personally feel that my character is incredibly annoying throughout the whole book—in like a funny way, in the way that I’m not afraid to make myself look like a jerk, you know? I think that’s kind of an English sensibility.
I’ve told my parents, and I don’t think they’re very happy about it, that I feel completely American at this point. They don’t and I understand why. They moved here when they were almost 40. I feel like if I were to leave America at this point and move to another country, for the rest of my life I would feel like an American living somewhere else.
Article comments