Stay Tooned! Magazine is like an exclusive mentoring program for aspiring cartoonists. Premiering last March, the inaugural issue featured interesting and entertaining news articles and columns. But its most valuable feature lies in its central mission: publishing lengthy interviews with professional cartoonists, including Greg Cravens (
The Buckets), Scott Stantis (
Prickly City), and Norm Feuti (
Retail).
"It's a more than worthy successor to
Cartoonist PROfiles," says R.C. Harvey, dean of cartooning enthusiasts and
Stay Tooned! contributor. "There's so little that covers editorial cartoonists and comic strip cartoonists, and that's
Stay Tooned!'s focus." For anyone dreaming of making their living with cartoons,
Stay Tooned! is an overflowing supply of advice, assistance, information and encouragement that simply can't be found anywhere else.
Tom Heintjes, editor of Hogan's Alley, the eminent magazine of the cartoon arts, agrees. "How to become a cartoonist has always been shrouded in mystery," Heintjes recently told The Bin. "Beginners want to know things like if they should submit to one syndicate at a time or to all of them simultaneously. Of course, they want to know how much money they can make! How do they stand out from the thousands of other cartoonists who want the same thing? Learning the routes different cartoonists took to attain their niches in the industry is more than illuminating to aspirants--it's essential. Everyone's road to success is different, even if the ultimate goal--make a living drawing funny pictures--is the same. In this way,
Stay Tooned! is not just a how-to magazine. It's a motivational seminar between covers."
With the words "financial crisis" on everyone's lips, I wondered about the origins of
Stay Tooned! Magazine, and about its future in a precarious market. After all, many aspiring cartoonists may find their already-miniscule disposable income further diminished by a contracting economy. Founder and editor John Read kindly found time for a short Q&A with The Bin.
Comic Book Bin: It would be wonderful to know the story of how you got this going.
John Read: I work as a graphic designer at a sign company. One day sometime in May of last year, during my lunch hour, I was reading an autobiographical chapter by Marcus Hamilton (Hank Ketcham's hand-picked successor) in the late Jud Hurd's book,
Cartoon Success Secrets, which is a collection of articles and interviews from his magazine
Cartoonist PROfiles. In his story, Marcus relates the story of how, at age 50, he began a new life as a cartoonist, drawing
Dennis the Menace. Two things occurred to me as I read that: one, I missed reading cartoonists' stories -
Cartoonist PROfiles ceased publication when Mr. Hurd died in 2005; and, two, if Marcus could start such a wonderful new adventure at that age - the age I was when reading his story that day - then why couldn't I? Nobody else had tried to carry on the legacy of "CP," and there really wasn't another magazine quite like it (interviews with working cartoonists other than comic book artists) being published, so I decided to give it a go.
CBB: It seems that this is a real labor of love, and perhaps its continued existence will always be precarious in a decidedly difficult market. Is that how you see it?
JR:Stay Tooned! Magazine is, most definitely, a labor of love. More than one person told me, when I was shopping my idea for a "paean to professional cartoonists," that starting a printed-on-paper periodical during a time when print media is becoming less and less viable might not be such a good idea. But I was determined, and after discussing it with my wife (because we'll be doing this out-of-pocket for a couple of years, at least), we decided I had to at least try. Now, a year later, with the premiere issue having almost sold out and having been met with critical success, and with my second issue just out, I'm feeling very hopeful about quitting my day job. I would love to spend the next 20 years interviewing cartoonists! They're great people and deserve some attention.
The Bin couldn't agree more. The news that
Stay Tooned! Magazine is a success in today's market is music to our ears. The interviews are sharp and pointed, covering the interesting ground of influences and training, but also getting into the rather pressing issues of money and working conditions. At 88 pages, printed on high-quality paper,
Stay Tooned! Magazine is richly informative and densely packed with information, interviews, reports, and yes, cartoons. We are looking forward to another quarter century of quality news and interviews covering the cartooning profession.
Issue #1 is nearly sold out, with the few remaining copies reserved for new subscribers. Issue #2 has just come off the press, and features eight new interviews with professional cartoonists, including Jules Feiffer and Berke Breathed, and articles and columns from Tom Richmond, Jack Cassady, RC Harvey, and others. A five-issue subscription is available for just $40.00. Order online at www.staytoonedmagazine.com.
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