Scott Adams trying to find artist for someone else's comic

Axonite · Post by **Axonite** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:23 pm

An interesting link I saw today - A message Scott Adams posted on his blog calling for people to apply to be the new artist for Mike Belkin's syndicated comic Unfit. Apparently he thinks it's the artwork holding that comic back (and I guess Mike Belkin agrees), so they're looking for a better artist.

I don't think I'll be sending anything myself, but I thought I'd post the link here in case any better artists were interested in it.

Jackhass · Post by **Jackhass** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:18 pm

*Sigh*...another (somewhat) succesful comic that looks like it's drawn by a kid in grade 2.

Bustertheclown · Post by **Bustertheclown** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 10:09 pm

I think it's probably the height of irony that it's Scott Adams, of all people, who would put out a call for an artist to a strip that's being held back by its art. Still, worth checking out, I suppose.

...and after looking at the work, Scott's right. He should be ashamed of himself, by the way. He's the one who has done this to comics. Before him, people at least had to look like they were trying.

EDIT (after reading some of that Unfit archive):

...HONESTLY! How in the hell do some of these people actually get PAID to do this work? Here I am, scrapping away for years, doing underpaid shit work and developing a difinitive style, and THESE clowns get syndication deals!? That's IT! I quit!

(metaphorically...kinda)

Anywherebuthere · Post by **Anywherebuthere** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 10:29 pm

Geeze, if I wasn't subbing for David Wright at Todd and Penguin this week I'ld consider it....

...or maybe not. I'ld just wind up drawing them all like Rob Leified clones as my little in joke.

Mr. Caravaggio · Post by **Mr. Caravaggio** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 10:56 pm

I'd do it but I'd want a berkely breathed style contract saying newspapers must give me a full half page to use a a canvas for large format art. Because I'm all pretentious like that.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 10:56 pm

I really like the concept of Unfit, but because I only ever saw it off Dilbert's site, I figured Scott Adams was drawing it (similar style too).

It really probably is a good deal for someone...

Anywherebuthere · Post by **Anywherebuthere** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:00 pm

Mr. Caravaggio wrote:I'd do it but I'd want a berkely breathed style contract saying newspapers must give me a full half page to use a a canvas for large format art. Because I'm all pretentious like that.

You're thinking Bill Waterson

Jen_Babcock · Post by **Jen_Babcock** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:23 pm

anywherebuthere wrote:
Mr. Caravaggio wrote:I'd do it but I'd want a berkely breathed style contract saying newspapers must give me a full half page to use a a canvas for large format art. Because I'm all pretentious like that.
You're thinking Bill Waterson

Breathed did this too w/ his newest comic, "Opus"

Anywherebuthere · Post by **Anywherebuthere** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:24 pm

Did he?

Huh, I learn something new every day...

Jen_Babcock · Post by **Jen_Babcock** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:59 pm

anywherebuthere wrote:Did he?

Huh, I learn something new every day...

Yeah, it caused quite a stir w/i the newspaper/print cartooning world. Wiley (Non Sequitor) drew a cartoon that satirized the situation.

Breathed wanted 1/2 a page b/c he wanted to "bring art back to the newspaper." If you look at the first five published "Opus" comics, you'll notice that he put a lot of effort to make it look painterly. Now it pretty much looks like Bloom County- only bigger.

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:13 am

Jackhass wrote:*Sigh*...another (somewhat) succesful comic that looks like it's drawn by a kid in grade 2.

I said I'd never say things like this out loud, but I totally agree. The one that's up on the page right now violates some of the "how not to run a webcomic" rules. It's also difficult to tell what's going on.

bustertheclown wrote:...HONESTLY! How in the hell do some of these people actually get PAID to do this work? Here I am, scrapping away for years, doing underpaid shit work and developing a difinitive style, and THESE clowns get syndication deals!? That's IT! I quit!

Yeah, I know. I bust my ass to up my draftsmanship, and it's annoying to see poorly drawn stuff get successful. The writing may be good, but just look at it.

Yeahduff · Post by **Yeahduff** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:15 am

bustertheclown wrote:I think it's probably the height of irony that it's Scott Adams, of all people, who would put out a call for an artist to a strip that's being held back by its art. Still, worth checking out, I suppose.

...and after looking at the work, Scott's right. He should be ashamed of himself, by the way. He's the one who has done this to comics. Before him, people at least had to look like they were trying.

EDIT (after reading some of that Unfit archive):

...HONESTLY! How in the hell do some of these people actually get PAID to do this work? Here I am, scrapping away for years, doing underpaid shit work and developing a difinitive style, and THESE clowns get syndication deals!? That's IT! I quit!

(metaphorically...kinda)

Part of me shares your frustration. I just look at the crap on Adult Swim and I just.... guh. Meanwhile, well drawn, well animated stuff written with wit and intelligence like Mission Hill dies an quiet anonymous death. But another part of me feels that every comic only needs what fits it best. I haven't read this thing being discussed, but I think bad drawin has a place on the funny pages, though yeah, it's really annoying if that's all there is.

Anywherebuthere · Post by **Anywherebuthere** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:15 am

Jen_Babcock wrote:
anywherebuthere wrote:Did he?

Huh, I learn something new every day...
Yeah, it caused quite a stir w/i the newspaper/print cartooning world. Wiley (Non Sequitor) drew a cartoon that satirized the situation.

Breathed wanted 1/2 a page b/c he wanted to "bring art back to the newspaper." If you look at the first five published "Opus" comics, you'll notice that he put a lot of effort to make it look painterly. Now it pretty much looks like Bloom County- only bigger.

I've noticed a change from the first few Opus' up to the point where he left Antartica. The first were frigging insane in what he was doing with coloring.

Jen_Babcock · Post by **Jen_Babcock** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:42 am

anywherebuthere wrote:
Jen_Babcock wrote:
anywherebuthere wrote:Did he?

Huh, I learn something new every day...
Yeah, it caused quite a stir w/i the newspaper/print cartooning world. Wiley (Non Sequitor) drew a cartoon that satirized the situation.

Breathed wanted 1/2 a page b/c he wanted to "bring art back to the newspaper." If you look at the first five published "Opus" comics, you'll notice that he put a lot of effort to make it look painterly. Now it pretty much looks like Bloom County- only bigger.
I've noticed a change from the first few Opus' up to the point where he left Antartica. The first were frigging insane in what he was doing with coloring.

Yeah I know!

I remember the first Opus comic had so much ink and color that it made the page a little soggy.

Ryuko · Post by **Ryuko** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 4:45 am

GUH. And that guy's getting PAID.

Bekka · Post by **Bekka** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 5:45 am

I won't comment on the drawing because they're looking for an artist (I didn't find it particularly offensive anyway, I've seen so many shitty webcomics that I'm anasthesized, I guess - besides I'm no artist myself so who am I to judge).

But the script isn't half bad. It's hit and miss, often it's miss because he doesn't have a good sense of comic pacing, but it has ideas that could be used to make very good one liners. One of his strips, rewritten in much shorter format with all the useless and unfunny extra text cut off, would be:

GUY: What? Did you just say that you love me?
GIRL: Yeah, I've decided to lower my expectations.

It's a decent punchline, come on!

Glarryg · Post by **Glarryg** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 5:54 am

Funny. When you first mentioned a comic with bad art, I thought to myself: "Oh, you mean like Dilbert?" Then I realized: "Wait a minute; Scott Adams. What a COINCIDENCE." I took the link; rkolter is right. It does look like Adams draws it.

Intended slopiness/ugliness in animation bugs me, too. There was a time when all the stuff on Nickelodeon looked like the "Rugrats." Adult Swim's Flash Animation Theater is getting a little played out, too.

Glarryg

Steverules · Post by **Steverules** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:49 am

Funny will always carry bad art. Part of the appeal of Dilbert was the simplistic style. Great art cannot carry bad writing though. This would be a sweet gig, especially for the exposure. Scott Adams if trying to help this guy and if a good artist joins the fray Scott would push the strip. For those of you that are interested, you could do it for a couple of years, reap some massive exposure and some cash. Great springboard.
And, damn, Jason, now you're doing Todd-oops Chris and Penguin? I swear there are more than one of you. Either that or you've got an army of trained monkeys that do your bidding.

BOMC · Post by **BOMC** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:09 am

I really wanted to apply for this, until I read the comic... and I just can't see myself drawing something daily if I don't find it funny.

Ah well, back to my own comics...

Jeffy · Post by **Jeffy** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:43 am

yeahduff wrote:
bustertheclown wrote:I think it's probably the height of irony that it's Scott Adams, of all people, who would put out a call for an artist to a strip that's being held back by its art. Still, worth checking out, I suppose.

...and after looking at the work, Scott's right. He should be ashamed of himself, by the way. He's the one who has done this to comics. Before him, people at least had to look like they were trying.

EDIT (after reading some of that Unfit archive):

...HONESTLY! How in the hell do some of these people actually get PAID to do this work? Here I am, scrapping away for years, doing underpaid shit work and developing a difinitive style, and THESE clowns get syndication deals!? That's IT! I quit!

(metaphorically...kinda)
Part of me shares your frustration. I just look at the crap on Adult Swim and I just.... guh. Meanwhile, well drawn, well animated stuff written with wit and intelligence like Mission Hill dies an quiet anonymous death. But another part of me feels that every comic only needs what fits it best. I haven't read this thing being discussed, but I think bad drawin has a place on the funny pages, though yeah, it's really annoying if that's all there is.

I found a lot of the stuff on Adult Swim more amusing because it IS poorly drawn and animated