INTERVIEW WITH BOB WEBER FROM TheCelebrityCafe.com ARCHIVES
DM) How did you first start in cartooning?
BW) I always enjoyed drawing and writing as a kid, but I got my real start at doing cartoons in college... I edited a humor page for the campus newspaper and contributed many of my own cartoons. I was a biology major at the time. I soon realized I preferred cartooning to studying and began submitting cartoons to magazines
DM) What was the first magazine you submitted to?
BW) At first I submitted to small magazines (trade journals). I believe the first was called "American Machinist." They paid $10 a cartoon (single panel cartoon) The competition there was not as strong as major magazines so I was able to make sales early on.
DM) Then where did Slylock Holmes originate?
BW) This was a way for me to develop my drawing and writing skills and get paid a little too. Slylock Fox was part of a comic strip idea I submitted to King Features Syndicate in 1986 I wanted to do a strip for young readers and Slylock allowed me to combine my drawing and writing skills with my interest in science. Many Slylock mysteries and puzzles require some background in science to solve.
DM) But how did you think of the character? Was there on event that made it come to you?
BW) Once I had decided on the format I wanted for my strip I needed names for my characters. I made a long list. The name SLYLOCK FOX was on the list... When I read over the list SLYLOCK FOX just seemed to jump out... I thought THAT'S IT.
DM) Did you read Arthur Conan Doyle as a kid?
BW) I read a little, but only after I saw the old Sherlock Holmes movies on TV. I loved those films. After that, I got interested in the books.
DM) The cartoons seem to have a lot of fact to them. How scientifically accurate are they?
BW) If the fact is part of the puzzle it better be accurate!... If I'm wrong, I get many letters telling me! If it's not an important part of the story, like some background art I can do things that aren't correct... For example, I might have an owl in a tree observing some action in the strip and the owl's eyes are looking sideways... owls can't do this. Their eyes are fixed in a forward direction, they must turn their heads. I think I have a new Slylock idea here (laughing)
DM) How do you keep coming up with new ideas to keep the comic fresh?
BW) I read as much as I can and I'm always looking at detail around me. Writing these mystery puzzles requires me to pay close attention to the little things that are often overlooked or ignored I feel like I'm playing a detective myself sometimes.
DM) What do your children say about the comic?
BW) My 5 year-old son loves drawing the characters. I have a small drawing board in my studio for him. And he loves using the copy machine!!! My daughter is most interested in the "Find the six differences" puzzles. She has also memorized the Slylock Fox Brain Bogglers mystery cards that are sold in stores... When I go out to libraries or stores to promote the set and the strip, she shouts out the answers (laughing). I have to "shhh" her every time!
DM) Do you find that your career gives you more time to spend with your family then the typical 9-5 job?
BW) Yes. My daughter spent much of her early life in a playpen in the middle of my studio. She's eight now and she's in my studio right now watching "Rocko's Modern Life." I take time during the day to have lunch and play with my son, and when he's not in pre-school he enjoys drawing and watching videos in my studio. As long as I'm not writing, it doesn't bother me to have them with me. I try to do much of writing at night while they sleep. Of course, I do have to spend time with my wife!!
DM) Do you receive a lot of fan mail?
BW) I get 400-500 e-mail letters a week. I try to answer all of those. About 1,500-2,000 snail mail letters arrive each week. It is much harder to answer those! Many are drawing that kids are submitting for the spot in my strip I publish reader submissions.
DM) A few cartoonists have been known to put "inside jokes" in their strips. Naming a character after a friend or having a strip about a real life family event. Have you ever done anything like this?
BW) Not really. But I have put celebrities in my strip as characters. Once I put a comedian in strip. His name is Emo Phillips. I had seen him on TV and once in a comedy club and then he just sort of dropped off the face of the earth... I thought someone would see the strip and tell me what happened to him.. but I just got a few letters from people asking me what happened to him. By the way, I had him bound in chains about to have a brain transfer with a bowl of pudding.
DM) What advise do you have for children who want to be cartoonists when they grow up?
BW) I tell them to draw and write every day. I also tell them not to be afraid to learn from other cartoonists. Copying people you like is one way for a kid to learn how to draw certain things like hands, expressions, objects...anything. It's like a textbook. And nearly all successful cartoonists started out this way. Their own style will emerge and develop in time. I also stress the importance of writing... a cartoonist (especially a comic strip cartoonist) needs something to say. I encourage kids to read as much as possible and to study people.
DM) I think that about raps it up. I want to thank you very much for taking the time out to do this interview. I really appreciate it.
BW) Thank you! I invite all that are not familiar with my comic strip and those that are to visit my Slylock Fox website. See you there!