The
Interview That Almost Wasn't....
So, a
while back, the Buzz Bugle, a
fledgling webcomics 'zine, asked if I'd do an interview for them. At
first, I was a little cautious - I'd thought they only did news about
Buzzcomix List comics, but eventually decided to go ahead. I spoke with
the interviewer over ICQ for an hour or so and then went on my merry
way.
Then, almost a month later, the interview went up,
and an overwhelming sense of, "What the fuck" washed over me.
The omitted questions or statements the interviewer made so that some of
my statements made no Goddamned sense whatsoever. They yanked off the
tail end of the conversation. They cut a part where I said I felt I was
"the luckiest motherfucker in webcomics."
Oh - and they misspelled my names. Not name. NAMES! According to
them, I'm Randall Milhollund, not Randal Milholland.
Y'know, if you're going to do an interview, get the person's NAMES
RIGHT!
I don't blame Matt, the guy who interviewed me - this is something on an
editorial level. Now, the only agreement I made with them was that I'd
link to the interview - and I have. I'm also reposting the FULL
interview below. I hope you enjoy it. I know I did.
Oh - and cock.
Randy (08:10 AM) :
how are ya?
Buzz Bugle (08:10 AM) :
I'm good. You?
Randy (08:11 AM) :
Friggin' cold. Stupid New England.
Winter's coming early.
Buzz Bugle (08:11 AM) :
I know all about the cold. It's pretty warm for an Alaskan October
though
Randy (08:12 AM) :
So I thought the Buzz Bugle was just for Buzzcomix
stuff
Gah! Alaska?! Masochist.
Buzz Bugle (08:13 AM) :
Born and raised here )
As I understand it it was at one time, but when I was brought onboard it
was being revamped for universal appeal.
Randy (08:14 AM) :
Aaaah - well, understandable. Buzz is a pretty limited audience.
Buzz Bugle (08:14 AM) :
True enough. I think a 'brand name' for webcomics is a pretty silly
idea, to be honest.
Randy (08:15 AM) :
Don't even get me started ;-)
Buzz Bugle (08:16 AM) :
Uniquely enough, that's sort of what an interview does, but I follow
you. : -)
So, what got you interested in doing a webcomic in the first place?
Randy (08:16 AM) :
I apologize if my responses are slow - I'm working on the strip, too
Buzz Bugle (08:17 AM) :
It's ok. I'll apologise for any typos in advance, as my keyboard is
suffering from multiple kitten assaults.
Randy (08:19 AM) :
So it was 2001. I was unemployed for a while - I was at the front of the
dot-com layoff. I spent about seven months unemployed, taking acting
jobs when I could get them. Around July, I was newly single and the show
I'd spent a few months on was over. I couldn't get any interviews. I was
very depressed, so I pondered doing a webcomic. I'd thought about
webcomics back in 1997 after discovering Space Moose and had considered
adapting my old ezine, Generation Hate, into a webzine. So I pulled out
some old ideas - mainly fantasy and cyberpunk stuff - to see what would
be a good project to take my mind off all the crap going on in my life.
In the end, I chose to do a strip inspired by the people I knew.
Randy (08:19 AM) :
Man, if you think I'm going to throw stones about typos, you're outta
your skull.
Buzz Bugle (08:20 AM) :
You never know, some people are anal about that sort of thing.
Randy (08:21 AM) :
Bah. Some people are bigger assholes than me - and that's impressive.
Buzz Bugle (08:21 AM) :
How far ahead do you plan out your storylines?
Randy (08:22 AM) :
Oh, I've got the major stories planned through year ten. The minor stuff
sort of just happens within that framework. A few things have changed
because of spur of the moment ideas - but overall, I've stuck to my
general plan from day 1.
Buzz Bugle (08:23 AM) :
Wow, that's pretty impressive!
Buzz Bugle (08:24 AM) :
I know that some of your characters are named after people you know in
real life. How closely based on your RL friends are your characters and
do your friends ever resent the way their alter egos are represented?
Randy (08:24 AM) :
Meh. Not really. By planning, I mean I have an outline of what's
supposed to happen when and to whom. It's changed once or twice, like
the "ending" to the strip. I scrapped my original plans, but who's to
stay I won't bring 'em back.
Buzz Bugle (08:26 AM) :
You, presumably : -)
Randy (08:27 AM) :
The characters in the comic are aspects of my friends' personalities.
It's hard to, if not impossible, to show every single point of who they
are in the confines of a comic. Some characters are closer to their real
inspirations than others - Aubrey is closer to her source than say
PeeJee - but thus far, no one's resented anything. I try to make sure my
friends know exactly where the characters are going so they have a say.
This doesn't always work out, of course, and some don't want to know. A
few, like Jason, have just told me to do whatever I need to do.
Buzz Bugle (08:28 AM) :
They sound like a pretty cool group.
Randy (08:28 AM) :
I'm lucky. I've got some really good friends.
Randy (08:28 AM) :
They've supported me through a lot.
Buzz Bugle (08:29 AM) :
The convention scene has been pretty active this year. How has that
affected things for you?
Randy (08:34 AM) :
Yeah. Conventions are a mixed bag. On one hand, it's wonderful to meet
your readers. It puts a face to the numbers you see in logs or the names
that show up in your email. It also makes you realize - yes, people ARE
reading this and your friends aren't just pulling a large prank on you.
It's also fun to travel (wanderlust is in my blood as my father would
attest). The flip side, it's a financial drain at times and dealing with
cons isn't always what I'd call pleasurable. A lot of conventions don't
see why they should shell out $200 to reimburse you for traveling 200 to
700 miles to show up at their con after you've promoted them for a
couple months and they definitely made some profit off of you. Or
they'll say they'll reimburse you and "forget," or they can't reimburse
you but they'll offer you a vendor table - oops! Sorry, we sold your
table. Sorry, I'm a little bitter right now. My con traveling is going
to be cut back a lot in the next year. I've had some less than pleasant
experiences.
Randy (08:35 AM) :
And, of course, it doesn't help my update schedule, running all over the
place.
Buzz Bugle (08:35 AM) :
I know you just got back from Ubercon. How was it for you?
Randy (08:38 AM) :
... It was. I'd had a really good history with Ubercon prior, but I
don't foresee myself returning, and I hate saying that. It makes me feel
like a complete dick. Whenever you say, "Well, I'm not going to go there
anymore because it's not financially feasible to do so," I feel like I'm
saying, "I know it's a chance to hang out with fans, but it costs me too
goddamn much." But sometimes, that's what it boils down to. I don't go
to cons expecting to make a lot of money or get star treatment in a
suite with a lot of alcohol - but at the same time, I hate walking away
saying, "Well, how much money did I just lose? That much? Well,
delightful. Time to adjust next month's spending."
Randy (08:40 AM) :
Man, I'm ranty today.
Buzz Bugle (08:41 AM) :
Hey, we're all working stiffs. I think your fans will understand your
fiscal situation, especially since it's largely of their own doing.
:-) Did you expect such a massive response from your "I'll
quit work and draw" proposal?
Randy (08:41 AM) :
Sorry, I'm probably not my most cheerful right now.
Buzz Bugle (08:41 AM) :
Rant away, I'm a professional listener.
Randy (08:42 AM) :
No. You gotta remember. I didn't actually ask politely - I dared them. I
was tired of people bitching about late updates or me not spending
enough time working on, and correcting, the site and strips, so I said,
"You don't like it, hey - pay my fucking salary." And... uh... they did.
Man, I was shocked. I expected I'd get enough to buy a cheeseburger.
Buzz Bugle (08:44 AM) :
Well, it seems to have worked out for everyone involved.
Speaking of fans, what is the most common question you get asked?
Randy (08:46 AM) :
Ugh. "What happened to Monette's baby?!" At Ubercon, my girlfriend
wanted to go to my S*P panel and sit in the audience to scream out
stupid questions a la Chasing Amy. "What happened to Monette's baby?
What's a nubian?" Turns out she didn't need to as I managed to cause
enough commotion by offending a reader who stormed outta the panel.
Buzz Bugle (08:47 AM) :
Wow. I was going to follow that up with "What's the dumbest question you
get asked but I think it's a tie.
Buzz Bugle (08:49 AM) :
I guess I'll skip down to "What's the weirdest thing anyone has ever
sent you, apart from my interview request?"
Randy (08:49 AM) :
The dumbest question? Jesus. Oh fucking Jesus. Well, that's up there.
But there was a time when the most common question was, "Why won't Jhim
date PeeJee?" Then you explain to the person Jhim is GAY - and they
reply, "But PeeJee loves him - they're soulmates." No. Jhim is GAY! He
likes him some man-cock.
Buzz Bugle (08:50 AM) :
I can't wait to see what my editor has to say about adding man-cock to
the site.
Randy (08:50 AM) :
Skyler Breeden of the comic Puppetry sent me a Choo-Choo Bear puppet,
which I adore. I guess that's not so much weird as endearing. Weird?
Actually, I don't get a lot of weird things. I get books from time to
time from people. Oh, and some guy told me I'm sexist and a gender
traitor since I support the Vagina Monologues.
Randy (08:51 AM) :
Your editor doesn't like cock? Everyone should like cock. It's half of
what makes the world go 'round. Cock and vagina. If it weren't for those
magical things, none of us would be here.
Randy (08:52 AM) :
I don't see what the big deal about "obscene words" is. We don't like
words like cock, pussy, gash, dick, dildo or anything else - but we're
all for extreme dipictations of violence.
Buzz Bugle (08:53 AM) :
I never thought to ask what his particular take on the genital area was.
Oops!
And I totally agree with you on the selective taboos thing.
Buzz Bugle (08:53 AM) :
Something I've always wondered: Do you see Davan as a hero of the common
man?
Randy (08:55 AM) :
I know a few cartoonists who try to keep their comics "family
acceptable" and I appreciate why they do it. Makes a bigger audience.
Look at Sluggy Freelance. I like Pete - he's a GREAT guy - but he
(probably wisely) avoids certain taboos to keep Sluggy PG to PG-13. So
sexuality is nixed but there is violence - sometimes gorey violence. It
just seems fucked up that people being ripped apart by demons is more
acceptable than a character talking about cock. And that's not a shot at
Pete by any means - just people's ideas on what's acceptable.
Randy (08:56 AM) :
Davan's not a hero. Davan's a guy who does some things right and a lot
of things wrong. A lot of people have complained to me that I've created
a protagonist who's a complete dick and that I'm trying to make people
admire someone who's antisocial. That's bullshit. I'm not trying to make
you do a damn thing. If you admire him, good for you. If you hate him,
good for you. I'm just telling a story with a lot of jokes.
Buzz Bugle (08:57 AM) :
Fair enough.
Randy (08:58 AM) :
People can and will make their own decisions. If they're so easily led
that I can make them look up to Davan as a hero, I think there are a lot
bigger problems that need to be addressed.
Buzz Bugle (08:59 AM) :
going back to taboos, is there one subject out there that you tend to
stay away from?
Randy (09:02 AM) :
Politics, but that's because I generally think it's uninteresting when a
comic that hasn't been political suddenly starts spouting rhetoric. I'm
not going to start endorsing a political candidate or way of life
(although you can probably figure out where I lie by reading my comic)
in S*P. But that's not for "taboo" reasons. That's because I just don't
want to. If I touch politics (and I've done so vaguely), I want to be
equally offensive to all sides. That's not easy to do. But, in comics,
taboos are useless. Jon Rosenberg of Goats explained it best when he
told me that, when he has a comic he's worried might be too dangerous or
going to far, he posts it anyway. Usually, it's not as out there as you
think. But that works for comics like Goats and S*P, I guess.
Buzz Bugle (09:03 AM) :
I just thought of an interesting irony: We hush up sex but promote
violence, yet of the two, which do we want our children to be doing?
Randy (09:04 AM) :
Hah - for a lot of people, they prefer their kids violent over sexual. A
degree of violence amongst boys is okay, ya know. It's macho. "My kid
can kick ass." Good for you. You've raised a braindead idiot who thinks
it's okay to beat the shit out of people. And let's see if his penchant
for violence doesn't carry over when he finally DOES become sexual,
asshole.
Buzz Bugle (09:05 AM) :
A valid point.
Buzz Bugle (09:06 AM) :
Since you have the stories mapped out for years to come, do you have any
major changes for the site itself planned?
Randy (09:07 AM) :
My parents are Southern Baptist, but I was taught violence is next to
never acceptable - there are almost ALWAYS other ways to settle a
problem. I was also taught there's nothing wrong with sexuality. Sex can
be a beautiful thing, but there's a lot of responsibility with it. My
dad removed the taboos from it and spoke plainly to me - about sex,
condoms - everything. But I was lucky. My dad's a pretty openminded man.
Randy (09:09 AM) :
Not really for the site. I've debated on doing a pay-for "bonus" area
like a lot of other comics have done. I have to have some way to be
self-sufficient as I've no desire to become the PBS of webcomics. But I
can't say I really sit down and plan long term for the site. I used to
be a webdesigner - I redesign the site on whims, usually when I'm upset
about something and need something to unwind.
Buzz Bugle (09:09 AM) :
Yeah, that is pretty lucky. Not a lot of folks can claim parents that
are so supportive.
Randy (09:11 AM) :
My parents are good people. They worked very hard to support my sister
and me. Plus, they tolerated a LOT of stupid shit from the both of us.
My sister and I were not pleasant children to raise.
Randy (09:12 AM) :
This must be the most dull interview you've ever had. I better say cock
a few more times.
Cock.
Cock.
And, oh yes - cock.
Buzz Bugle (09:12 AM) :
Is there any one thing you feel you can contribute your success to?
Buzz Bugle (09:13 AM) :
Want to know something? This is my first interview, so you're
automatically both the most boring AND the most exciting!!!!
Randy (09:14 AM) :
Word of mouth. My readers kick ass. I'd not be near where I am without
them telling other people to read and getting their friends in on the
site, but I think that's what a lot of cartoonists would say. In fact, I
seem to recall at Ubercon, Abrams said the same thing. You can buy all
the advertising in the world but it won't be as good as some guy
messaging his buddy and saying, "YOU NEED TO READ THIS!"
Randy (09:14 AM) :
Awwww... I took your journalistic cherry. I'll be gentle, baby. I
promise.
Buzz Bugle (09:15 AM) :
That's really cool.
By the way, did you know that you were really popular with the ladies? I
recently did a survey of female webcomic enthusiasts and you were #1 on
their lists.
Randy (09:16 AM) :
WHAT?!
Buzz Bugle (09:16 AM) :
....and if I'd wanted it gentle I'd have interviewed Adrian from Count
Your Sheep.
Randy (09:16 AM) :
I thought I was only popular with sexually confused teens and gay men.
Randy (09:16 AM) :
Gentle or Scottish.
Randy (09:16 AM) :
How the hell am I popular with women? Obviously they've not seen me.
Bizarre.
Buzz Bugle (09:16 AM) :
Surprise surprise! If you comb through the BB editorials you'll find my
write-up on it.
Randy (09:17 AM) :
Somewhere, there's a fourteen year old in me saying, "ABOUT TIME!" I'll
be sure to tell my girlfriend that I'm popular with the ladies. I can
already hear her saying, "Sure you are, baby. Go make my dinner."
Then she'll punch me in the eye.
It's just her way.
Randy (09:17 AM) :
That's really nuts.
Randy (09:18 AM) :
I wonder why. See, I offended some lady this last weekend.
Buzz Bugle (09:18 AM) :
Queen of Wands almost tied with you if that helps any.
Randy (09:18 AM) :
So I've go the S*P panel at Ubercon, and about 15 minutes into it, I say
"Cunt." I don't remember why, but it pertained to the topic - and this
woman just gets PISSED and storms out with her male friend.
Randy (09:19 AM) :
Well, what woman wouldn't like a good wand. I hear the vibrating ones
are exceedingly appreciated.
Buzz Bugle (09:19 AM) :
Wow, the dreaded "C" word.
Randy (09:19 AM) :
But anyway - she reads my comic - she should know I'm a dick. And it
wasn't like I was talking about HER!
... or WAS I?!
Buzz Bugle (09:19 AM) :
Vibrating wands....somewhere a new Harry Potter slashfic is being born.
Randy (09:20 AM) :
I try to avoid "cunt' in my comic. I've used it once- and ONLY ONCE -
and really was unsure about using it.
Randy (09:20 AM) :
I doubt it's new, man. There's Harry slash doing things I'd rather not
imagine.
Randy (09:21 AM) :
"Harry walked towards Ron and brushed his cheek. 'You fill me in a way
only my double dildo of infinite power had done so before.'"
I can't believe I just wrote that.
Randy (09:21 AM) :
75% of this is never going to see the light of day, is it?
Buzz Bugle (09:21 AM) :
I think I remember thatone. Maybe my eidtor will do an archive link or
somesuch. It goes back to his feelings on genitals again....
Buzz Bugle (09:22 AM) :
I thought I'd submit 2 versions and see which one he likes best
Randy (09:22 AM) :
The S*P mention of cunt was in the conclusion of the "Jack In, Jerk-Off"
storyline. Mike calls PeeJee a cunt as he pulls back to throw a punch at
her. Then he's pulled into an alleyway by Davan, Jhim and Jason.
Buzz Bugle (09:23 AM) :
If there's something you'd rather have off the record just let me know.
You've been really cool about the interview hogging your day and I don't
want to be rude in return.
Randy (09:23 AM) :
I'd love to see his face when he reads this. "WHY DOES HE KEEP SAYING
COCK?!?!?!?!"
"Randy just likes cock... and cunts."
Randy (09:23 AM) :
bah. Say it all, man. Just copy and paste the ICQ window ;-)
Randy (09:24 AM) :
SHIT! My window closed : -(
Buzz Bugle (09:24 AM) :
I have been at regular intervals. I thought I'd changed your icq nick to
RM for your privacy's sake.
Buzz Bugle (09:25 AM) :
it's okay, you didn't miss anything.
Randy (09:25 AM) :
go for it.
Buzz Bugle (09:25 AM) :
Is there anything you'd like to add?
Randy (09:25 AM) :
if you could, copy and paste the whole thing in an email to me- I'd like
to keep a copy.
Randy (09:25 AM) :
Besides my undying love of cocks and cunts? My readers rock. I really
think I'm the luckiest motherfucker in webcomics.
Buzz Bugle (09:26 AM) :
Will do. I've got wordpad open with my notes so I'll just fire you off
one when I'm done.
Randy (09:26 AM) :
cool - I just want the whole transcript so I can show people what your
editor pulled out - y'know, before he has a heartattack.
Buzz Bugle (09:28 AM) :
Well, I can't remember when I've had a more enjoyable interview! ;-)
BTW, my editor wanted me to ask if you'd link to the interview when it
comes out (if it ever does : -) ) but I'll leave that up to
you.
Randy (09:29 AM) :
Surely. I'll cockly link to it with cuntacular ease!
Buzz Bugle (09:29 AM) :
BWAHAHA
I'm so gonna get fired!
Randy (09:29 AM) :
No - there'll just be a ban on talking to or about me in Buzz Bugle
Buzz Bugle (09:31 AM) :
Heh
Thanks a lot for being such a good sport and sharing your time.
Randy (09:31 AM) :
my pleasure. Don't forget to email me the cocking transcript. take care.
<
Buzz Bugle (09:31 AM) :
Will do!
