Cranking Out Material for the Unfillable Maw!
Al Wiseman Speaks! And ladies and gentlemen, it ain't pretty. Al did an interview with the San Francisco Examiner in 1975 (reprinted in Cartoonews #3, June 1975) and boy was he bitter. I'm posting this article now because it offers insight on Al's childhood and where his career headed after he quit "Dennis". He seemed to have a real love/hate relationship with cartooning and was still feeling quite burned from his years working with Ketcham.
Of particular interest to me was that, as a youngster, Al was able to visit the studios of famed cartoonists. Imagine being instructed on cartooning by the creators of "Krazy Kat" and "Maggie & Jiggs"! I have to wonder if Wiseman counted George McManus as an influence since both cartoonists were excellent draftsmen.
Tomorrow I'll post something happier. I promise!
Of particular interest to me was that, as a youngster, Al was able to visit the studios of famed cartoonists. Imagine being instructed on cartooning by the creators of "Krazy Kat" and "Maggie & Jiggs"! I have to wonder if Wiseman counted George McManus as an influence since both cartoonists were excellent draftsmen.
Tomorrow I'll post something happier. I promise!
2 Comments:
sadly, I can relate.
I always marvelled at what seemed to me like a superhuman effort put into the artwork of those Dennis comics. Wiseman deserved better, that's for sure.
Its always sad to hear when artist/creators behave in the same manner as clients/corporations. You'd hope they'd have more empathy than that. I'm reminded of Bob (Batman) Kane, for example - or most of those Image Comics guys for that matter.
Seems like morales are always sacrificed on the alter of the All-Mighty Dollar...
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