Interviews

Unique, Stupid Flava

By Chris aka the4thpip
November 26, 2005 - 15:50

Jim Mahfood is quickly becoming an artist who needs no introduction, but here is one anyway: Even if you're not a fan of his independent solo works like Grrl Scouts and Stupid Comics (and shame on you if you ain't!) you could not help but notice the times he brought his unique style to Marvel on projects like the Generation X< Underground Special, Ultimate Team-Up or Wha... Huh? Working with bigshots Brian Bendis and Kevin Smith isn't exactly hurting, either.

SUPER BAD MO FO!

Chris aka the4thpip: First of all, let me say I'm really grateful to my bud Kevin for letting me do this interview. Not only because I've been a big fan for years, but also because you represent a side of America that does NOT scare the snot out of us Europeans.

What I love about your art is that your style is instantly recognizable. How would you describe your style, and what makes it different from everybody else? And does it bother you that people rip off your drawings so much – I just saw a store in the small German town of Freiburg using one of your drawings on their sign, and I just bet they didn't pay you.

Jim Mahfood: My style is the visual interpretation of funk; the feeling and spirit of funk and everything it relates to. I went out of my way a long time ago to really develop an art style that no one else had; ya know, to stand out from the herd. I want my art, my drawings and paintings, or even my lettering, to be the Mahfood brand. It’s like a label or a logo to me almost. Like the Puma symbol or something; I want my drawing style to let people know this is a Mahfood piece of art right off the bat.

It doesn’t really bother me that much anymore that so many people have bitten my style over the years. It used to make me mad, but now I don’t really care. I guess it’s flattering in a way. The thing is, no one will ever really be able to tap into exactly what I’m doing with my style. They’re not me, they can’t get inside my head or my soul, so they’ll never really be able to duplicate what I do in a complete way. Besides, the style and approach is always changing. My shit doesn’t look the same as it did five years ago and it certainly won’t look the same five years from now.

Chris: Graffiti art has been an enduring, global phenomenon for decades now, but other than with Keith Haring, there hasn't been much acceptance by the art establishment. Is there a Mahfood in a museum somewhere, and how would you feel about that?

Jim: No, my stuff isn’t in any museums yet, but who knows, right? Maybe one day if I’m lucky. I’m obviously a huge fan of graf, and I don’t really mind seeing it in galleries or museums. It’s the purest form of art that has ever existed. So whether it’s on the streets or trains, or in some fancy space, it still has the same visual impact on me. It still means something to me. I just saw the big Basquiat one man show in LA at the Moca museum and it totally blew my mind. It didn’t matter what environment it was in.

Chris: A lot of your strips clearly have a message that you want to share. Do you feel you're usually preaching to the choir, or do you sometimes get feedback that tells you that you're actually educating some people?

Jim: Most of the time I’m already preaching to the choir, but occasionally I get some great feedback from random people who tell me I made them think in a different way or I changed their view on something. That’s a huge deal to me. I also get the random hate mail here and there, usually from nutjobs or disgruntled artists or writers, telling me that I suck and my opinions and view are way off. It’s pretty funny, actually.

Chris: Personally, I absolutely love the fact that you come over as very gay-friendly in many of your strips. It's something I never take for granted, not even from liberals. One of my favorite strips is the one where you suggest that cool people need to make more babies, and that gay couples should "adopt six kids and raise them right." Is it a misconception that the hip hop/graf scene is rather homophobic on average?

Jim: I think it’s a misconception, at least in the underground hip hop scene anyway. Mostly everybody in that scene that I know is really open-minded, really into cultural diversity, ya know? I do know that the word ”faggot” is thrown around in hip hop, but that’s mostly a term that mc’s use to diss each other. Like, calling each other a sissy or something like that. I’m not defending it, I’m just saying the word has different meanings in different circles.

Chris: Since you started doing Stupid Comics, a lot of the things that really get you riled up seem to have taken deeper root in American culture: Puff Daddy (or whatever name he goes by this week) is bigger than WalMart and teaches Martha Stewart how to talk Hip Hop on her show, spoiled suburban white kids hold "Kill Whitey" Hip Hop parties, religious fundamentalists wield a huge amount of power in the government, everybody is a brand-whore, etc. etc. etc. How do you yourself cope with living in America today, and do you ever feel like just moving to another country?

Jim: It’s really, really frustrating. Each day I can almost feel it getting worse. It sucks being an artist with a voice here. I was born here and I love this country, but I hate the assholes and the elite running it. They have totally ruined everything. I feel like we’re fucked and there’s no way out. All I can do is make my silly little comics about it and vent my rage. Maybe things will change, maybe not. Seriously though, if there’s any wealthy Europeans out there reading this that want to adopt me, please contact me. Also, if there are any foxy, single girls out there that need a roommate/loveslave/artist boyfriend, hit me up. Maybe we can work something out. I’m pretty quiet and I clean up after myself.

Chris: Prepare for an avalanche of mail! How are your forays into animation going? And have you had a chance to check out the new Boondocks cartoon?

Jim: Nothing on the animation front right now. I’m trying but no luck so far. I sometimes get burnt out on shopping my ideas around to the fickle assholes that work at the studios. Lately, I’ve just been working on comics and doing tons of live art in the clubs around the U.S.



I haven’t seen the new Boondocks cartoon yet, but I’m a fan. I don’t have cable at my place. I would never get any work done. I don’t have a video game system either.

Chris: You were a bit of a trailblazer with your work for Marvel. Recently, both Peter Bagge and Tom Beland have done Spider-Man stories. Do you think that mainstream comics are becoming more accepting of the underground?

Jim: Not at all. The work I did at Marvel was all approved because Brian Bendis made it so. He’s been championing my stuff for awhile now, and I owe him. For the most part, the mainstream companies are reverting back to an early 90’s approach to doing comics. Originality, diversity in drawing style, and pure experimentation have all been thrown out the window for bullshit storylines and repetitive art. It sucks.

Chris: How did those co-operations with Bendis start?

Jim:Bendis will usually call or email me with an idea and we’ll go from there. He’s the one that always starts these crazy things off, and he’s the one that has the power to see them through. I’m just along for the ride most of the time.

Chris: Do you realize the incredible marketing potential in Smoke Dog? Over the past few weeks, almost everybody on Joe Quesada's message board went Smoke Dog crazy and now there are over 100 personalized Smoke Dog avatars. Have you ever thought about stuffed toys, t-shirts, bobble heads or wind-up Smoke Dogs that dance to "Super Bad"?

Jim: Ha! Yes, I have, actually. I have no money to make any of that shit, so if you can find someone to do it have them contact me and we’ll flood the market with that crap.

Chris: What single piece of work are you most proud of?

Jim: Uh...that’s too hard to say. Making a living off my art since 1997 is the thing I’m most proud of.

Chris: What's up next from Jim Mahfood? And how do I get my comic book dealer to order it? (a.k.a. the "Pimpin' ain't easy" question)

Jim: My very first original graphic novel, ”The Further Adventures of One Page Filler Man” hits the stands in Dec right before Christmas, so please check it out! It’s over 150 pages and Image Comics bravely put it out. It’s a crazy surrealist superhero adventure. After that, Dave Crosland and I are taking over the art chores on an issue of the Amazing Joy Buzzards, and I’m doing five pages of art for Speakeasy Comics new Beowulf book. Also, we’re finally redoing my website (www.40ozcomics.com) from scratch with all-new art and goodies! You can also check out my stuff at www.myspace.com/mahfood.

Chris: What was it like to do your first original graphic novel? Was it very different from doing the strips or the monthlies like Grrl Scouts or Clerks?

Jim: Yes, very different. I had to sit and focus on one big book, one big concept for three months. Drawing over 140 pages of original material for one book is a lot.

Chris: If my boyfriend and I ever can get legally married in South Beach, are you gonna do live art at our reception?

Jim: Of course.

Chris (doing a little happy dance): Cool! And to wrap things up, the immortal question: Boxers or briefs? (I know, I suck!)

Jim: Boxers, of course.

I also wanted to say that I’m looking to get in contact with European comic book show promoters. I have never been over there and am dying to travel. If anyone would like me to be a guest at one of their shows and could help bring me out, I would be eternally grateful.

Chris: You have to come! I'm sure you'll be a big hit at Angoulême. And if you come to a show in Germany, I'll visit and yell "Jim Mahfood! I always thought you were black!"

Thanks for the interview, Jim. I had a blast.

Editor: Everyone should give it up for Chris (he's definitely a Kühlen Sie Katze ab :) ) and the GREAT job he’s done here. He’s got a fresh voice and definitely brought his flava to the dance.

Much love to Da Mahfood for stopping by and giving up his time, too. Doors always open, man :)

Now, why don’t you, the reader, have your say, stop by our Message Boards and leave feedback, we’d love to here from you.

Peace & blessings :)

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12