30 Comments

This is when you find out that one of those students took your lessons to heart and went into video games. Their big hit? Super Seducer.

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Thanks for the tip about SKCHED. Until I read that you were the "busiest man in comics," I was unaware that I was dead.

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Oh! Sorry!!! I didn't realize you were also drawing, colouring and lettering a book as well! I'll let them know!

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Fuck off. Why, just my around-the-clock humanitarian work with Comics Writers Without Borders or Savings Accounts is enough to fill my days, much less the twenty-three books I'm writing for DC editors quaking in fear for their post-Discovery futures.

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ugh FINE you're BUSY (for your age). Happy now??

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Goddam, you must be the human torch, because Mark just got BURNED!

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Hey, hey, hey. You all are busy.

*Jeff Lemire has entered the chat*

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I want you to do a special OFF PANEL with me, Mark and Jeff where we just go at each other to determine who is the BUSIEST MAN IN COMICS

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In which you introduce/scream the iconic line, “DO YOU EVEN LETTER, BRO?!?!”

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BEST! ADVICE! EVER! (can also be applied to those seeking an acting career as my lovely normally employed wife just pointed out)

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basically ALL the arts!

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As someone who works at a post-secondary school in Toronto, the Sheridan goss is going straight to my veins.

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hahah some real HOT GOSS

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HA my artsy spouse married me and now he never has to worry about health insurance (‘merica!!) actually we got married specifically so he’d have health insurance (‘mericaaaaa!) and because during the peak pandemic you could do it over zoom. how can you say no to a 15 minute wedding done over microsoft teams! romance!

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wow if they ALSO needed a green card that would have made this PERFECT

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absolutely perfect!!!! hallmark would’ve been calling us up!!!! we met on a movie review website so we have actually been interviewed before about how weirdly perfect for each other we are

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haha that's amazing

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I love love!!!!!!

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dear chip,

thank you for this message! lots of good information here!

in addition to the information, thank you for funny jokes like this fun one:

"Basically, sleep your way to the top. And by “top,” I mean a roof over your head."

it's also basically sleeping your way to a place where you can sleep.

sleep so you can sleep.

zzzzzzz,

myq

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Brutal! But true. My partner has to know how important it is that she figures out this finance thing because I sure as shit don't understand it. I can't imagine somebody going into comics because they think it's a great way to make money!

In all seriousness, art school needs more sobering lessons around the business of creativity. My graphic design degree was like "spend 3 weeks coming up with an album artwork" as if the timeline, the client or even the purpose behind the work was going to be anything like that in the real world.

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it's always the challenge with art schools, keeping the lessons up to date with the realities of the profession

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Hey Chip, this was really helpful to read.I want to draw comics more than anything, truly, and this reality check you gave is seriously super helpful in this weird and trying time in my life. It’s nice to have more realism of saying, “it can be done, it’ll just be hard as hell, and I need you to know that.” I just really wanted to say thanks for the insight and help.

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Having done a LOT of odd art jobs back in the day, "comic artist" is probably the hardest art profession there is. You can definitely make a living at it, but it requires a constant hustle. I generally suggest people make their own comics in the evenings and weekends while they hold down a job, and after you've put out a few you'll have a better idea if it's a career choice

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You’re the best. Thanks so much. I’ve been doing that and trying to get the hang of the grind of it and making a habit as well

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OK, personal question: is not Allison, editor of Public Domain and co-star of Chip Class, your wife? Did you miserably fail to take your own life/dating advice?

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haha oh my god Allison is not my wife

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Ah ok! She really dodged a bullet.

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I think I missed a step somewhere. You said *like* "desperate perverted flashers"? I only subscribed to Substack for the real dea...what's that? OnlyFans, you say? Well, this newsletter is pretty amusing. Guess I'll stick around to keep supporting that #illustrationlife.

Also, that 8-bit Mister Rogers-esque Christmas sweater is amazing. Just saying.

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Honestly, I want to hear more about illustrating for Christian magazines that pay out after 120 days.

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Honestly, it was very rare to do work for a publication that didn't take between 90 and 120 days to pay. Comics is much better in that regard, shockingly (when they don't go bankrupt).

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