D.J. Coffman - Sequential Artist, Thinker

Batman Day! Going to see the 5oclock I guess. Can’t wait.

Lots of stuff going on behind the scenes, none of it I can really talk about right now, but I’m itching to show some new stuff off as soon as I can.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about certain negative situations that have been going on, and pretty much decided to ignore them all and move on. There are times where waves of anger come over me when I think about some of the bullshit being said out there online. The first instinct is to jump to my defense, or just keep telling the truth when asked questions, but I see that’s not a two way street. There are going to be idiots who spin things, and everyone seems to flock to a drama storm. It’s entertainment to them I guess. I wish people could know the details of things I’ve turned down doing… from dickhead legal moves that would really fuck up people’s days, to REALLY crude drawing requests. (you thought skullhumping was bad??? UGH…) - My only real agenda is to draw good comics, get paid doing it (on time would be nice) and be treated with just a SMIDGE of respect. My new rule I think is to just not work with assholes. Or if I’m working with top-secret assholes, the minute I discover they’re assholes in sheeps clothing, I’m out. It really disgusts me, people who put on a show to collect a check, say all the right things to the people. Sure, they’ll tell you how awesome you are, or how long they’ve been a “fan”, or SURE they check your site out regularly and love your work (SURE.), they even listen to ALL of your podcasts and “appreciate everything you do.”– but when it boils down to it, they’re just out for their own bottom lines. Forget about “creators rights” and all that, it just boils down to common decency and respect.

Somebody… I forget who, maybe it was multiple people (which means maybe I should buy a clue?), but somebody or multiple people suggested to me… why don’t I just look out for my OWN interests. My old friend Bob always would say to me “Why are you helping these other creators? Why are you sharing all this info about making money with webcomics?” — or he’d be baffled as to if I figured out something that worked for me, I’d share it with other creator friends of mine and encourage them. Some suggested i should be charging for it, make an ebook, start a consulting business…. but I just generally want to help people I guess. When a kid comes up to me at a show with a portfolio in his hand and wants a critique, it brings me a lot of JOY, even if they’re work isn’t Marvel/DC level quality, to be able to encourage them by saying…. hey, go launch this stuff on the internet as a webcomic. You’ll be seen EVERY DAY instead of just once a year at a comic book convention where editors are going to tell you to work on your perspective and anatomy and composition and layouts…. just go build your audience online! — I didn’t have that, so it’s such an AWESOME tool to me.

And I admit, it angers me and frustrates me to feel like I’ve been crapped on royally after doing so much GOOD for someone, opening doors for them, opening minds for them. I hope that NEVER makes me leary to act differently though. I don’t want to become a jaded old prick who never shares with the world.

Now my mind seems a bit open to a different world outside of “comics”, and I guess I’m applying the same thing there too. I have that rule that I sometimes end up breaking — the “don’t be a dick.” rule. I guess it’s hard not to come off like a dick sometimes when you’re doing satire or parody drawings, and people get upset. I end up breaking my no dick rule when others are being dicks to me. I guess sometimes I’m asking for it though. Maybe I should consider a preemptive “no dick” rule now? Like if I’m doing something, I should ask, will this make me be a dick later if I’m provoked?

Nah, that would be no fun.