With Jeff Parker Artist, 'The Wizard of Id' Friday, June 27, 2003; 1:00 p.m ET
Welcome to the Washington Post Style section comics discussion, hosted by Comics page editor Suzanne Tobin. This week, Tobin is joined by Jeff Parker, artist for the comic strip "The Wizard of Id," which is written by Johnny Hart. The comic was initially drawn by his father, Brant Parker. Tobin and Parker were online Friday, June 27 at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the art of cartooning. The transcript follows. Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
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Suzanne Tobin: Welcome, comics fans, to another edition of "Comics: Meet the Artist." Today our guest is Jeff Parker, cartoonist for "Wizard of Id," who is joining us from his studio in the Shenandoah Valley. Welcome, Jeff and thanks for joining us Live Online.
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Jeff Parker: Glad to be here Suzanne. I'm looking forward to chatting with Wizard of ID Fans from the Washington Post.
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Towson, Md.: I've always heard the deadlines for doing a daily cartoon are grueling. Is it easier for you, since you just do the illustrating? How far ahead do you work?
Jeff Parker: Yes, it can be gruelling. 365 days a year! But I'm sure it's more gruelling when you are writing the gags and doing the illustrating.
I work 4 weeks ahead on dailies and 6 weeks ahead on Sundays. Makes it hard to remember what day it really is!
Most of the time I'm able to keep ahead. Occasionally it gets hairy when "life" happens - but all works out!
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Dumfries, Va.: I've noticed quite a few of your cartoons are set in the king's stables. Do you own horses or wish you did?
Jeff Parker: I do not own horses, although I remember my sister always asked for one. I grew up with horses nearby and still live in an area where many people own horses.
I love animals of all kinds. Most recently owners of a cat.
The horse gags are always fun to draw.
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Great Falls, Va.: What advice did your father give you about drawing a cartoon strip and what advice do you think he would give to others who would like to be cartoonists?
Jeff Parker: How much time do you have?
I always joke with my Dad that I’ve heard thousands of lectures over my 44-year apprenticeship! I can even quote lecture No. 244 regarding “elements”.
But all kidding aside, his main message was “Draw, Draw, Draw...”
I would also say that he loves to study the work of other cartoonists, both the older ones from the 30’s and 40’s up through today. He would pay close attention to expression, composition.
One of the many things I have learned from Johnny Hart is to “think funny”. Looking at a situation or character and seeing how to illustrate the gag by using the right expression or using exaggeration,.
My father believed in using “symbols” to give clues to reader about the character, location or setting for the gag. And what he called “warm corners”, familiar settings such as the throne room for the king, or the lab for the Wizard.
His other mantra was “Keep it Simple”. It’s easy to get carried away by the drawing and make the panel too busy. Getting across the gag is the important thing. The drawing shouldn’t get in the way.
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Madison WI: Have you gotten into trouble with jokes about the King's stature? Even Randy Newman received criticism for "Short People," and political correctness is stronger now than it was then.
Jeff Parker: My wife is a short person, and she's one of my favorite people. In fact, I'm surrounded by short people. fortunately, they all have a sense of humor.
You may have noticed that there are also lots of jokes about Rodney (the Knight) and his big nose. My father has always made jokes about his nose so he himself has instigated many gags about this feature.
To my knowledge, we have never gotten complaints about short jokes. Political correctness has its place, but humor seems to depend on poking fun at the obvious.
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Ballston : Hi, Jeff! Do syndicated cartoonists have the equivalent of continuing education classes or some forum where we aspiring, but unpublished, types can rub elbows with you all? Can you give me some ideas on how to find a mentor in this business?
Jeff Parker: I am fortunate to have learned from my father. I am aware that there are many talented artists and cartoonists out there, however, my training has been "on the job" and not formal art classes.
One of the best resources is Cartoonist PROfiles. If you are familiar with this publication, it has lots of good materials and resources.
I have not participated in any local cartoon events or lectures but perhaps I may in the future. Good luck with your work.
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Bethesda: What kind of student were you? I'm a C student, but I draw all the time, and have even won awards for it at school, and hope one day to have a job doing some sort of illustration. Please tell me you were a rotten student so I can show this to my parents and get them to chill out about my grades.
Jeff Parker: Right On!
My favorite quote is "Ignorance will prevaill".
I was also a mediocre student, and spent all too much time doodling on the school desks (among other non-studious activities). However, I wouldn't recommend bad grades as a path to a career in art.
Reading, writing and arithmatic come in pretty handy while you are waiting for your big break (did I spell that right?).
It's possible to be a great student and a creative artist! Keep drawing!
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Landover, Md.: Thanks for taking my question, Jeff. What other cartoonists (besides your father) do you admire? What kinds of comics did you read as a kid?
Jeff Parker: I enjoyed Peanuts, Beetle Bailey, and Blondie as a kid.
My father introduced me to the "classic" cartoonists of the New Yorker Magazine such as George Booth, and others such as Ronald Searle, Cobean , Harriman (Krazy Kat from the 30's).
I still like Family Circle, Mamma, Blondie and new cartoons such as Baby Blues, and For Better or For Worse.
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Sacramento, CA: Hi Jeff,
Just curious about the process. Does Johnny send you 6 or 7 scripts at a time? Do you ever reject any of his ideas? How far ahead do you draw the strip? Thanks.
Jeff Parker: We get scripts, or "Gags" from Johnny a week or two at a time. So far, I have not had a reason to reject any ideas, although I do discuss gags with him occasionally to clarify something or talk about the best way to illustrate a particular gag.
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Pentagon City: Did your father and Johnny Hart ever consider having someone stage a coup? I, personally, would love to see the King's poor beleaguered mother rise up against him. It certainly would earn you points with the feminists, don't you think?
Jeff Parker: I agree! I will suggest this to Johnny Hart.
Mop Ladies Unite! As you recall, the King's mother works as a washer-woman or cleaning lady. She still loves her despotic son for some reason!
One of my favorite gags shows the king being handed a bunch of helium balloons and floating off into the distance. Rod replies something about a "bloodless coup".
I'll start working on a coup...
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Athens, Georgia: Love the Wizard of Id strip!! Which character is the most challenging to draw and why?
Jeff Parker: Glad you like the Wizard of ID.
I think the King is one of the most challenging characters to draw because he's so short and he's all nose. How my father ever managed to draw the King golfing is a great mystery to me. the club is twice as tall as him.
It's tough sometimes to figure out how to illustrate the King when he has more cape than arms or legs. and that nose... that big nose...It's a fun challenge though.
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Burtonsville, Md.: Hi, Jeff: What was it like to grow up with a dad whose comic was in the paper each day? Did that help you get chicks at school? Seriously, did people just naturally expect you to be able to draw?
Jeff Parker: I can remember when I was little standing behind his draft table watching my father draw. He was always drawing. There were fun things about growing up with a cartoonist father. I remember the syndicate used to send laminated Sunday proofs that we would use as place mats at the dinner table!
I'm not sure I expected to draw the strip one day, or that anyone else did, although I enjoyed drawing. I got into being an assistant on the strip much later.
I can honestly say that my father being a cartoonist did help me to get chicks. I like to think it was my magnetic personality that was responsible for getting chicks. I sincerely hope you don't know any of my high school buddies to check out this story.
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Boynton Beach, FL: A while back (I'm thinking a few years), Johnny Hart published a B.C. cartoon that created quite a furor in religious circles, for imagery that many felt to be antisemetic and Christian-superior. I'm not asking so much how you feel about Hart's work in other venues, but do events like this ever (in a general sense) bother you, and do they create issues where people ask you about working with Hart despite/because of/regardless of the sometimes painful attempts of his BC comic to proselytize the funnies page?
Jeff Parker: Basically, I believe in free speech.
I would not want to comment on Johnny Hart's behalf.
Cartoon strips have always been a reflection of the issues and culture of their day. I believe Americans have a right to express their opinions and also to express their dislike of others opinions. The important thing to me is that we live in a country where opinions can be publicly expressed.
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Columbia, Md.:
Hey, Jeff,
I noticed in today's paper you had a gag about "why do cigar smokers think their habit isn't harmful?" Was this intended as an anti-smoking message? I know that Ray Billingsley ("Curtis") is always having Curtis in nag his father about his smoking. Is this going to be a continuing theme in Id?
Jeff Parker: I believe Johnny has done gags both for against smoking. I'm not sure what gags we will have in the future on this topic.
But this does give me an opportunity to mention my concerns about cancer. Unfortunately, in the past several years my family and I have lost several friends to cancer and have seen the suffering caused by the many forms of the disease. If I were to choose one charitable cause to support this would be it. If people are interested in contributing to this cause, I would recommend starting with the American Cancer Society’s website at www.cancer.org.
Thanks for your question.
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Silver Spring, Md.: How many years has the Wizard of Id been in the paper? I remember it from my childhood, and I'm no spring chicken!
Jeff Parker: The Wizard of ID is coming up on it's 40th anniversary in 2004. It's hard to believe! I was only six when it started.
I'm glad you asked the question, as I'm sure my father would enjoy letters and cards in the coming year from people who have enjoyed the strip for so many years. These can be sent to
Brant Parker C/O
Creators Syndicate, Inc.
5777 W. Century Blvd. #7700
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Thanks for your comment and question.
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Federal Center SW: Why hasn't the king ever married? Doesn't he want an heir?
Jeff Parker: My guess would be that the king never married because he's such a self-centered despot.
Might not make for a happy marriage.
It would be fun to send him on a few dates however! As for an heir... the peasants might revolt. At least we get to vote every 4 years!
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Centreville, Va.: I saw on the Creators Web site that your dad splits his time between Centreville and California. I've just recently moved here and didn't know we had a celebrity in our midst! Cool!
Jeff Parker: My father now resides in Virginia year round. He's been in the Centreville area as well as some of my siblings and their children... and their children.
His favorite diner is Paynes in Centreville. He just loves the food there! Perhaps you'll run into him!
Thanks for the question.
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Suzanne Tobin: Thanks, Jeff, for taking time out to take questions from our readers. We'll look forward to seeing that coup you mentioned! I hope you and everyone else will join us again in two weeks for another edition of "Comics: Meet the Artist" when Richard Thompson, the cartoonist of "Richard's Poor Almanac," which appears on Page 2 of the Sunday Style section, will be our guest.
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Jeff Parker: Thanks Suzanne and thanks to everyone who sent in questions. Sorry we couldn't get to all of them.
We enjoyed reading the questions and meeting some of our viewers at the Washington Post through this Online session.
Thanks again. Have a great summer.
Jeff Parker
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