Renowned comics creator Jimmy Gownley shares his adventures as he grows from an eager-to-please boy into a teenage comic book artist. This is the real-life story of how the DUMBEST idea ever became the BEST thing that ever happened to him.
As I read this book, I actually got so overwhelmed that I had to keep putting the book down to calm myself.
After reading Jimmy Gownleys life story, Amelia Rules makes much more sense. Its kind of like he poured his whole self into the characters. Or maybe not like that. The way his stories and drawings are, they are just too amazing to explain in mere words.
As part of Jimmy Gownleys job, he speaks at schools, libraries, and conventions around the country. If I had seen one of his speeches as a kid, I would have been inspired.
As a cartoonist myself, this story really got to me, and reading Jimmy Gownleys origin story made me think about my origin story. I always loved drawing as a little kid (mostly stick figures), but I really started to take off when I discovered Calvin and Hobbes. It was in 5th grade that I decided I wanted to be a cartoonist. I started by drawing my own spoof of Calvin and Hobbes, which I called Halle and Carrie. Halle was a human girl, and Carrie was a kangaroo (I have no idea why a kangaroo). I had to start somewhere. And my origin story is still in progress. Ive just finished writing my own childrens book featuring my own characters. It was a long stressful journey, but I did it. Heres what the front and back cover is going to look like.
Ive already started drawing a sequel which will probably be published next year if Im lucky.
For all the artists out there reading this, keep drawing. Even if you start off drawing stick figures, thats a good start. You can only get better.
This weeks Weird but True Fact about Comics
Artist Charles M. Schulz created nearly 18,000 Peanuts comic strips.