Note: This is the fifth in a series of "appreciations" of Al Wiseman by professionals in the comics/cartooning industry. What can one say about Bill Wray? Well, lots! First off, I consider him one of the most talented cartoonists working today, having contributed to an amazing array of swell projects. He's written and drawn scores of comic books (including
Hellboy Jr. with Mike Mignola and
DC Comic's Cartoon Network funnybooks), had a long run in
Mad Magazine, produced countless illustrations for a variety of clients and has extensive experience in the animation field. And speaking of animation, one would be remiss not to mention his awe-inspiring painted work from the original
Ren & Stimpy Show. (My favorite was the detailed close-up of Ren's mouth after his teeth had rotted out, leaving the painfully exposed nerve-endings. Beautiful!)
Bill's a big
Dennis the Menace/Al Wiseman fan. So a few years ago, I commissioned him to do the nifty Dennis painting you see in this post. Currently, Bill is directing his artistic energies to the relatively calmer realm of fine art oil painting.
(Oh, and Bill was kind enough to email me a thoughtful Al Wiseman appreciation, which my computer proceeded to take with it when it died last week. Turns out that was the only copy! So what did Bill do? He happily re-wrote the whole thing from scratch! Jeez- I owe you Bill!)
Al Wiseman- An Appreciationby Bill Wray
Legend has it that over the years, with the rise of the success of the
Dennis the Menace comic strip, it's creator Hank Ketcham became what is politically referred to in any normal profession as a "difficult" person. Strong willed, demanding and married to his drawing table more than his wife. Ignoring or abusing at his choosing.
Not constrained by PC mores, I can say exactly what Hank was: a mean, controlling Bastard. He had the talent, work ethic and wealth to get away with it. No surprise that the early Dennis was a real little Bastard too. These unrestrained early strips are my favorites- guns, animal abuse and cigarettes were still cute themes to be mined for the funny cartoonist. Even Mad magazine had to work hard at being meaner then the real thing produced by Ketcham.
With the wild success of the daily strip, Hank needed to do a Sunday strip and furnish art for the burgeoning merchandizing empire he was building. To create the work needed for a demanding Bastard like Ketcham, he was going to need some strong men to follow him up. A Talented, tough, group of cartoonists… A real "Bastard Squad" of assistants. Al Wiseman apparently fit right it being a pretty big talented Bastard himself. How mean he was before he started working for Ketcham only his family knows, but I know that having worked for some royal prick bastards that being treated like shit doesn’t make me a happy man and it’s tough not to bring it home and “pay it forward.”
At first, I assume that Al didn’t mind his tough new boss. Anyone would expect a period of adjustment, lots of changes and fussy demands. Especially in those days- bosses were expected to be pricks and the money was steady. Easy for Al, drawing cartoons looked effortless for him. Arguably, he could even technically draw “better” than Hank, or at least more realistically. I could swear there is a subtle competition where Hank competed with Al, drawing the strip more realistically himself as the years went by (as was Al's nature, too). Al’s works got more realistic in nature to the point where I didn’t care for it as much as the early cartoony days. When Al finally couldn’t take working for Ketchum anymore and left, Hank‘s work soon slipped to a formula. Lazy, stylized work epitomized by his other long-time assistant Owen Fitzgerald or just about any other guy who worked for him. Ironic, as the more of an unrelenting demanding Bastard Ketcham became, the more he toned down the strip. Gone were the cigarettes, slut jokes and blackface humor. Cartooning is a demanding job requiring a self-obsessed nature, usually one that involves ignoring everyone you know. Not an ideal profession for a father and that’s why I don’t have any kids. Back then it just wasn’t possible not to have them, societal pressure demanded it and it was not a time for a lot of introspection.
Imagine Al having to watch Ketcham make millions while he got fairly paid (I assume), but never wealthy. Doing all that work in another man’s style. A man who had a grudging respect for you, but still broke your balls. And you still had to sign his name to your art.
I have no way of knowing if any of my speculations are correct, except for my well honed Bastard sense. It doesn’t tingle; it heats your body like taking too many iron pills. My father was a big Bastard. And surprise! I can be one myself. It takes one to know one and to understand one. All my musings are my own and do not reflect anyone involved with this blog. But my deal was that my crap go up uncensored, so don’t blame Bill Alger. I’m the Bastard.
- Bill Wray
Bill Wray's CartoonsWilliam Wray's Paintings Blog
Above: A recent oil painting by Mr. William Wray
Al Wiseman Appreciations:
Bill WrayJoe StatonTerry AustinJim SalicrupMike LynchPlease order
Dennis the Menace books from
Fantagraphics (and ask them to reprint the Wiseman
Dennis comic books and Sunday strips).
"Dennis the Menace" & related characters are ©Hank Ketcham Enterprises, Inc.
