We were lucky enough to have Richard Starkings visit us on Sneaky Dragon this week. Richard is the writer and creator of Elephantmen, a pioneer of digital lettering in comics with his company Comicraft. He’s had a long career in comics, first in Britain then here in America. Richard is a great interview since you can basically turn on the recorder and let him do the talking and he inspired Ian to put up lots of links on our Sneaky Dragon Facebook page so let’s get to them!
First up, Ian has posted this example of how you interview Richard Starkings as opposed to our slapdash, winging it mess:
See? That’s how you do it, Ian! Ask the guest questions. I figured it was something simple like that.
Richard is a big-time Doctor Who fan and, although we didn’t talk about the show as much as I wanted to, we did talk about one of the most simple and brilliant concepts in TV history, having the main character regenerate so other actors can take over the role. Whoever thought of it was a genius!
As it turns out, a couple of fellows named Innes Lloyd and Gerry Davis came up with the idea. Very clever!
During the show, Ian confused this song:
With this song:
Well, both Tina and Elton’s hair is so similar, it’s easy to see how the mix up occurred.
And for Richard:
All right, for, like, the tenth show in a row, Ian brought up the clearly traumatic death of Optimus Prime. I think it’s best if we just let him purge:
Let’s hope that’s finally out of Ian’s system.
Doesn’t anybody watch that and think, “Why does Megatron need to distract Prime to get the gun? HE IS A GUN!” Also, aren’t the Transformers the worst shots ever? Still, it seems better than the Michael Bay movie.
We talked about the British comic magazine, 2000 AD. Here’s a famous fan:
I loved 2000 AD back in the day. Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, The Stainless Steel Rat. Great strips. It’s funny though how 2000 AD once seemed futuristic. Kind of like:
Wow, the future of 1999. Not just 1999. September 13, 1999. What was everything like two years later?
Oh yeah, I remember that. The giant space baby. What was it like nine years after that?
Hmmm, a lot like 2001, only not as good. But still, GIANT SPACE BABY!
Richard talked a bit about neighbourhoods where neighbours live. That’s right. With a U, neighbour:
Call back! Remember Kylie Minogue on Doctor Who? The not very good one on the space Titanic/Poseidon? It all comes around. Yeah, Canadians spell around with a U too.
We talked a little bit about Japan and Kit Kats. Ian found this fun clip of a guy testing some interesting Japanese Kit Kat flavours:
Hmmm…not something I’d want to try, but what the hey, they also have sex with tentacles over there. It’s a well-known crazee kountry!
Richard brought up Youtube memes. Ian dug up this annoying shit:
Horrible! Some internet memes are the greatest thing ever invented though. Like Nyan Cat! Nyan Cat, Nyan Cat!
That’s right! 100 hours of Nyan Cat. I think my brain would melt after a while and I seriously love Nyan Cat! Still, this is for you. Please watch all of it. Please. Oh, and let me know how it ends.
We talked about the fun animated show, Adventure Time. Ian found the pilot for you:
Algebraic!
Ian wishes to pass on this public service message: “Are you watching this show? You should be. The comic book is aces too!”
Mathematical!
Richard is a big Eddie Izzard fan. So is Ian. Ian is such a big fan, Izzard came to Vancouver and performed improv with Ian. Richard brought up Eddie Izzard as an example of how we can listen to a language we can’t speak and yet understand the context:
Tres bien, Eddie! Tres hot! As they say in Quebec, where they also speak French (of a sort).
Why did Richard talk about The Italian Job? Well, never mind, good enough reason for a clip:
Some sort of Eddie Izzard connection, I think. Is it just me or does Caine look like he’s wearing mascara? Maybe that’s the connection.
Ian tried to bait Richard by bringing up Comic Sans. Richard gave a reasoned answer then threw a chair through the window.
Man, I had to stop watching that! Hey, buddy, before banning Comic Sans, ban that horrible music on your Youtube video. That was awful.
Oh boy! A clip from my favourite CSI episode!
Ha ha, furries. I like to say that this episode of CSI is to furries what the “punk rock” Quincy was to my generation.
They call it sensationalism, daddy-o!
The subject of imprinting came up and Ian referenced this cartoon:
The moral of this cartoon is obtuseness can become annoying! But it does have a nice ending.
Richard says this show was badly written and also dumb. Oh, and stupid too.
Richard, there are a bunch of hipsters who are mad at you now.
We brought up The Hunger Games. We brought up The Hunger Games? Wait, when was that?
I think Ian was looking for an excuse to run that clip.
Richard brought up Sting as an example of someone he followed from the beginning of his career…
…through the twists and turns his career has taken over time. Surely not as far as the whole lute thing, Richard???
Okay, that’s actually really good. FUCK!
Let’s move on. The writer and creator of The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman, on his motivations:
Thanks, Robert.
Let’s hear from Alan Moore about Before Watchmen:
I didn’t know that Dan Clowes, Art Spiegelman and Alan Moore were Spanish. Huh, you learn something new everyday.
Richard and I are both fans of Dave Sim. Here’s Sim then…
Cool dude with his sunglasses and his earing. Here’s Sim now(ish)…
Sorry, haters, I’m a Sim fan. I proudly wear my “Cerebus for Dictator” shirt.
For our last clip, Ian has found some great video of his wife Pia in a “draw off” against Marley Zarcone at the Elephantmen booth. The Elephantmen booth is always a great place to visit at any con. Richard Starkings himself appears in the video as the judge of the contest. And as an added bonus, Elephantmen colourist, Gabe Bautista, also appears. (I think that’s JG Roshell, Richard’s partner at Comicraft, in the background too.)
And did you notice that past Sneaky Dragon guest, Branwyn Bigglestone, was Pia’s model for her drawing. Yes, it all comes around in a big circle.
And on that brings this links post to a close. See you next time!