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Thursday, September 2, 2010
The Astonishing Mike Kunkel!
On HEROBEAR, LAND OF THE SOKMUNSTER and the need for all-ages comics
Mike Kunkel burst into the comics scene only a few years ago, but he has made his mark indelible. His wonderful book, Herobear and the Kid, earned him two Eisners and gave the industry fresh inspiration for all ages stories. He was kind enough to grant Comic World News’ Rachel Gluckstern an interview to share his views on the industry, how his animation background correlates to cartooning, and give a little rundown of his latest project, The Land of Sokmunster.  Rachel Gluckstern (CWN): Tell me about yourself, your background, when you got interested in comics, and what kind of instruction and/or support you got for your career.
Mike Kunkel: Hmmm. Well, I actually always wanted to be a professional football player until I figured out I could use a pencil for more than math homework. After that, I just kept drawing and drawing all the time. I went to college for illustration and eventually found my way into working in animation for the studios. I’ve loved comics ever since I was a little kid and even did some of my own when I was younger. While working in animation I came across two very talented friends, Jason Lethcoe and Scott Morse, who had done their own professional comic books by themselves. They were awesome. I was so inspired by them. I didn’t realize what sort of can of worms I was opening as I went down the path of publishing my own stories. I was instantly hooked on finding this new way to bring my ideas to fruition. I’ve so enjoyed it ever since. CWN: I understand that you used to work in animation. How much did you carry over from your animation career into comics, and what did you have to change or adjust to? Kunkel: Animation has always influenced my comics. From the storytelling to the art. I think it really affects my storytelling, because I usually approach the stories from the point of view of how I’d treat a film, and how I’d storyboard it out. And then the art is influenced by spending time as an animator. It was always important to me when I would read comics that I could see some acting out of the characters. Sometimes, when they just stand there and there’s a whole bunch of word balloons by the same drawing, I’d wish that the character would change expression for the dialogue. I guess I just see the dialogue acted out like that because that’s how I would animate them talking. So for me, I try to change the expressions to fit the acting in the text. And, I’m still influenced by animation. My current day job is as the designer for Judd Winick’s new show at Cartoon Network, The Life and Times of Juniper Lee. The things I’ve learned working on my own stuff is affecting my work on this project, and the project and artists are influencing my own journey as well. So, I’m still crossing over the line back and forth between comics and animation. CWN: What is the relationship between cartoons and comics for you?  Kunkel: I think they are very closely related. Both have the opportunity to entertain visually and that should always be first and foremost. Cartoons and Comics all start with scripts, but it is then the next step of taking that script and visually building on it and making it really come to life. For me, I love them both, and could spend time creating in both worlds forever.
CWN: One thing that amazed me about HEROBEAR AND THE KID was your ability to be sweet and touching without cloying or overly sentimental. Your work evokes genuine emotions. How do you do it? Kunkel: Wow. First off, thank you. I’m always so grateful to hear people connecting with the heart of the characters and story of Herobear and the kid. I don’t want to ever lose that. I’m not sure what I do different from other writers that I admire that are able to capture nostalgia and warm sentiment in their work. I think the only thing I try to do is write and draw what comes from my heart. As long as I can look at it and it means something to me, then I know it connects on a personal level and hopefully on a level with the reader. If I only wrote to make the audience happy or some producer or somebody other than myself, I think it wouldn’t quite ring true. At least, that’s what seems to happen. Heck, I don’t know, maybe it’s because I just let Herobear tell me what he wants me to write and I just write it down for him. (hee hee)
I think it’s a shame to think anything good is not for kids. What silly notion to think that comics aren’t for kids. That’s like saying the only good movies are the ones for adults. Seems funny to think that, when most of the movies that come out and are huge hits are the ones that are for all ages. I think the big companies shouldn’t be afraid to tell good all-ages stories that are for kids. If you get the kids early on to like your products and stories and characters, then as they grow up, they will be loyal to you with your other offerings because they have a familiarity with your creations and sensibilities. CWN: Do you follow any all ages titles? For example, I find a lot of common ground between your work and AMELIA RULES by Jim Gownley, another great touching but not sappy title. Inspiration or competition? Kunkel: I love Amelia Rules. It’s got a great feeling to it. Jimmy has a really cool creation. To say that he’s the competition would not at all be correct. We are both in a very small minority of all-ages books, and I’d only embrace his book and be inspired by it. CWN: At the end of the day, what do you hope to achieve with your work? Kunkel: That’s hard to answer. I think it would always be important to me to know that the creations I offer to everyone somehow connect on an emotional level. I don’t want the stories to be shallow and uninspiring. I hope that they continue to give enjoyment to those that come across it. And I guess, if at the end of the day there was a float of Herobear in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade - that would be a pretty cool achievement as well. CWN: HEROBEAR AND THE KID really swept the industry by storm and netted you an Eisner. What need do you think you fulfilled with your work, and what do you think that says about the state of the industry in general? Kunkel: You know, I’m blown away by the Eisners that we’ve won. I think in general, the industry is hungry for all-ages titles that connect with kids and parents. I think the comic industry has avoided that for far too long, and should definitely step in and be more involved in that arena. CWN: The general state of the industry is a big concern these days. What are your ideas on how it can be saved or perhaps what it’s changing into? Is the end coming or a new direction? Kunkel: Whew, that’s a big question. I don’t think that the end is anywhere near. I just think things are evolving. It certainly seems that books, TPBs and Graphic Novels are part of the future of this industry.  CWN: I hear you have a new project coming out soon. What can you tell us about LAND OF SOKMUNSTER? Will it be the next volume in the Herobear adventures? And if not, is there another volume planned?
Kunkel:I’m so excited about The Land of Sokmunster. It’s not the next chapter in Herobear, it’s a brand new series and world. I had a great time working on it with my friend Randy Heuser, the other creator. It’s a story of a young boy named Sam that has something special taken from him and he has to go on this journey to get it back. And the journey takes him to this amazing place called Sokmunster where he meets all kinds of bizarre creatures. The main ones are the Sokmunsters. If you’ve ever lost a sock, this is where they go . . .and if you’ve ever lost anything else, the sokmunsters have taken it from you. It is really this wild “Wizard of Oz” type adventure. It was fun to step into this other story, while the next Herobear has been stewing in my brain. I’m anxious to get onto the next Herobear story. It’s entitled Herobear and the kid: Saving Time. Also, I’m wrapping up the crossover I did with Penny Farthing Press’s character Decoy. The creator, Courtney Huddleston, and I have been swamped since we did the first issue. So now both he and I have been able to do the second 50-page conclusion and we’ll publish with the first issue and a whole bunch of extras as a nice 120 page TPB. We should have it in about a month or so. Maybe even some advance ruff sneak copies at San Diego Con. CWN: Any other thoughts and/or upcoming projects you’d like to share with us? Kunkel: Hmmm, I can’t give away too much. There’s “Emperor”, “Ladybug”, “ Timmy and the Moonpiece,” and “The Famous Monty Brothers.” That’s about, all I can probably give is the titles. But I can’t wait for when I’m allowed to show and talk about them more. sooon, very sooon . . . . J Oh, and again, I can’t wait for everyone to see Juniper Lee when it comes out on Cartoon Network. Judd Winick has created a very cool show and pulled together a great team. I’m honored to be part of it. CWN: And finally, what’s the best part about being a comics creator? Kunkel: Hey! I get to meet the fans. Absolutely. When you work on movies, you don’t get to meet the fans as much and get the instant response from your art and stories. I love all the great fans that I’ve gotten to meet since I’ve stepped into this industry. Everyone is so supportive and encouraging, it just makes you want to keep doing this forever. Who knows, maybe I’ll get to. Mike Kunkel runs the Astonish Factory in California with Scott Christian Sava. Together, they have created an animation studio, a comics publisher, and a design studio for toys and video. Click here for a preview of Kunkel’s latest book, The Land of Sokmunster.
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April 22, 2008:
February 4, 2008:
November 20, 2006:
A Comic-Con without the Captain
