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A YELLOW FELLOW
talkin' 'bout that sponge…and then some
Almost eight years ago, in February 2010, I wrote a post on my website marking 10 years of my drawing SpongeBob SquarePants. I talked about how I came to be affiliated with and learned to draw him, and what it led to, for me and my career.
At that time, Nickelodeon Magazine (for whom I'd been drawing regular comics starring SpongeBob and others, but mostly SpongeBob) had shuttered, and a new endeavor, SPONGEBOB COMICS, was but a notion, gestating. But that gestation became reality one year later, in February 2011, with the release of SPONGEBOB COMICS #1.
SPONGEBOB COMICS is unique, and here's why: it's published by the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, Stephen Hillenburg. Which is to say it's not published by Nickelodeon or a publisher licensing SpongeBob from Nickelodeon. No. SPONGEBOB COMICS is Steve's. Everyone that works on SPONGEBOB COMICS, at the end of the day, works for Steve and his United Plankton Pictures. It is, for all intents and purposes, a creator-owned comic, which is kind of awesome.
Of course, day-to-day operations of the comic falls under the auspices of it's editor, Chris Duffy (who I first worked with nearly 20 years ago, drawing an issue of WHAT IF…? that mashed up current "movie stars" Iron Man and Dr. Strange - he was ahead of his time) and its stalwart production guru, Paul Tutrone (credit to them both, to be sure).
But as popular as SpongeBob is -- as an icon, star of his own cartoon, two movies, innumerable memes, and now a Broadway musical -- not that many people know he's got his own comic book, too (even more evidence it's not a Nickelodeon/Viacom product, am I right?).
And that's a shame, because it's a really great book with the work of a lot of talented people.
But that can change, as this year, in partnership with Abrams Books, selections from the comic series are now available as collected editions! There are three paperbacks:
And this beautiful hardcover slipcase edition:
All four books feature different material, all pulled from the 70+ issues (to date) of SPONGEBOB COMICS. And all four books have work by me in them, to varying degrees (the hardcover has some bonus, exclusive content, including a pin-up from which this newsletter's banner is excerpted).
If you know someone who loves SpongeBob, these could be well worth your attention (and pick up copies of PIX while you're at it, maybe?).
Back in 2010, when I wrote my post about SpongeBob, it included this line:
"One day, maybe, I’ll actually get to meet Steve Hillenburg and thank the man himself. But until then, I’ll thank him here, on a news feed I can only imagine he’ll never, ever see."
In 2011, prior to San Diego Comic-Con, I was invited to a gathering of SPONGEBOB COMICS contributors (thanks, Chris Duffy and Derek Drymon) where I finally did, indeed, meet Stephen Hillenburg, as well as his wife, son, and mother-in-law (along with a good helping of other SPONGEBOB COMICS folks). He was gracious and complimentary…he and his family were a pleasure to be around.
In March of this year Steve went public that he was diagnosed with ALS. This was and continues to be crushing news. Every month I've sat down to write one of these newsletters I've thought about how to talk about this, and every month I haven't, as in the end, it's not my place or business to talk about.
But I think about it.
I think about what he and his family and his close friends are going through. I think about that night in 2011 and how I had the chance to meet and thank him in person.
He created SpongeBob SquarePants! And by a stroke of good fortune and timing I was at Nickelodeon with SpongeBob as my assignment. My affiliation with him is in large part how I've been able to work pretty steadily as freelance cartoonist for now over 15 years.
And while I know Steve doesn't read this (he unsubscribed some time ago), it is November, the month of Thanksgiving, so it seems if nothing else I ought to thank him again, for his creation, his work, and for keeping a lot of us employed via SPONGEBOB COMICS. Thank you, Steve. Maybe I'll get to thank him in person again one of these days…
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PIX STUFF!
No real news here save for the fact that I've started thinking more about the next Pix book, when it might come out and when I'd have to start to make that happen...which begs the question: How much do you like or dislike progress updates? Do you like knowing if/when I've finished writing or penciling or when I'm coloring, etc? Or would you rather just find out that the book is done and when it'll be available?
Anyway, with December around the corner I'm sure there are "best of" lists in the making. If you know anyone making such a list, particularly about comics for kids, hip them to PIX!
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With the holiday season approaching, please consider, if you haven't, reviewing either or both PIX books wherever one might do such a thing; Amazon, GoodReads, Barnes & Noble, etc. Positive reviews can help people who don't know about PIX find it. I thank you in advance!
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PODCAST Stuff
In case you missed it, on 10/20, I released the latest episode of CRUISIN' TOGETHER, covering his newest movie, AMERICAN MADE. Our guest was a pretty big deal in that it was Robert Kirkman, who, if you don't know, is the guy behind THE WALKING DEAD comic (which is the same WALKING DEAD as the TV show). He was an awesome guest and we had a great time and you should listen to it by clicking right here.
Looks like there won't be another Tom Cruise movie 'til next summer, but make sure your Apple Podcasts subscription's up to date or follow @CruisinShow on Twitter in case we release one of our patented "Special Version" episodes!
Finally, as always, you can still listen to all past episodes of my other show, STUFF SAID, at stuffsaidshow.com or search Apple Podcasts.
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