1. What drew you to comics originally?
I started drawing cartoons when I was about 11 years old after my fifth grade art teacher assigned the class to write and draw their own comic strip. I had always enjoyed reading newspaper strips but never even thought to try it myself until then, but something about coming up with a funny idea and then drawing it just immediately clicked with me. I started filling up sketchbooks with drawings and comic strips just trying to figure it all out, and it just led to an obsession that still sticks with me thirty years later.
2. What do comics allow you to do as a creator?
The most rewarding thing for me is just to create ideas and images that haven't been seen before. It's a cliché to say that being an artist allows you to create and be in charge of your own little world, but it's true and is a lot of fun. Since using comics as a storytelling medium is much less expensive than making a movie or tv show, I feel it really opens up the creative floodgates since the only limit you have is what you can think up and draw.
3. Are there any particular creators/titles who inspire you?
Oh man I have tons of influences that are all over the place, so just off the top of my head: MAD Magazine, old black and white cartoons, The Ren & Stimpy Show, all of the Zap cartoonists, Charles Addams, Sergio Aragones, Basil Wolverton, Tom Bunk, Dave Cooper, Gary Baseman and Bill Plympton were all hugely influential to me.
4. Please tell us about Twisted Tongues, Rocko, and any other work you'd like to share about.
Twisted Tongues is a super fun book I got to work on with my good friend and fellow MAD Magazine and SpongeBob Comics writer Kit Lively, and was edited by the super awesome Chris Duffy who I worked with on SpongeBob Comics as well. We thought it would be fun to fill a book with not only really difficult tongue twisters, but also make them as weird and gross as we could. We even included a series of comic strips starring two boogers, so it was a complete blast. I have an upcoming graphic novel called Snot Goblins and Other Tasteless Tales that is a horror/comedy anthology that was written by the amazing Rob Kutner, and should be in stores next year. We are super proud of it and excited to unleash some kid-friendly grossness onto the masses!
5. Where can we find more information about your work?
The best place to find my work and all of my socials is at my website: degrandland.com
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