Wes Molebash of the very popular (but now defunct) “You’ll Have That” joins me and Tall Tale Features’ very own Brock Heasley of “Superfogey’s” fame in a wide ranging chat about comics, art, writing, divorce and faith. Wes’ new strip, “Max vs. Max” has just begun its run on the web, and already it’s hitting its stride. Wes is an open, honest, and interesting guy, and he, Brock and I tackle the tough issue of portraying an artist’s faith in God and religion in their work; the joys and pitfalls of that, the advantages and disadvantages. Being a man of little faith, it was a fascinating discussion, and Wes and Brock are thoughtful and rational ambassadors of their faiths.
You might notice this show is a little longer than most…don’t forget to stay tuned through the end, because I have an interview with Tom Dell’Aringa of “Marooned” and Steve Ogden of “Moon Town.” They’ve formed their own publishing house called Wishtales, and we discuss why they’ve jumped into that world and what it means for them and other artists!
Episode 62 – Wes Molebash: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Thanks for the speedy interview, Tom. We feel honored to be mentioned on the great Tall Tale Radio! (Nice use of that tune at the end, too… clever monkey.)
Nice hearing from Brock and Wes, as well. Good fellas, both. Nice podcast all in all.
Keep up the great work!
Og! Anytime, brutha…always a pleasure to talk to you wacky creative types. I have high hopes for WishTales, as I’m sure you do!
A thoroughly enjoyable episode. It was fascinating to hear Brock
s and Wes’ opinions of faith and how it fits in their art. I’m non-religious myself, and I make no secret of it, but I have no problem reading a faith opinion in someone’s art.
I reckon religion is a hot-button issue cos those who are the most extreme are also the most vocal, despite them usually being a paltry minority. I’m thankful to know folks such as yourself which put the right face to people of faith. I find your explanations of your relationship with God refreshing, enlightening, and it gives me a point to connect with you.
I am now a fan of Max vs Max, even tho I’ve never heard of it before. Cheers, guys!
Paul C
Forgive me for posting twice here, but I can cite X-Men as a comic which occasionally deals with issues of faith, without overtly pushing a particular religious agenda: there are Christian (Nigh-Crawler), Jewish (Kitty Pride), Atheist (Mystique, possibly Wolverine), characters, who profess their faith in various ways, and it weaves a rich tapestry which gives an appreciation of the diversity of humanity.
Oh – check this site out: http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/comic_book_religion.html
And rock on, folks!
Paul C
A very good interview, you did a good job of keeping it entertaining the entire time; a rare thing in webcomic-dom. Kudos to you sir
Flawed…great comments! Glad you liked the interview. I think Wes has a great sense of humor and timing, and if you go through his archive on “You’ll Have That” I think you’ll really enjoy it. And I’m pretty much a godless heathen myself, and I truly appreciate the thoughtfulness and candor which both Brock and Wes use when talking about their faith. Brock and I can disagree on several key points of life, but generally, we’re on the same page and the fact that we can really talk about our differences in an intelligent and calm manner has really forged our friendship.
Evandiaz! Glad you’re enjoying it too…thanks for the kudos. I think the key is to be prepared with some good questions, do your homework on your guests, and keep things moving. Sometimes it’s like herding cats, but when you get a natural flow like Wes, Brock and I did, it’s a piece of cake! I hope you guys will go back through the archives and check out some really interesting artists out there!
As a cartoonist who has just started a webcomic about Jesus(talk about walking the line!) this was a timely podcast. Great work as always!
Wow, great episode! All sort of fun stuff to listen to here.
Very interesting discussion about religion. It’s such a strange thing that religion is such a taboo subject in our society when faith is so ubiquitous to the human condition.
I was disappointed that you didn’t ask Wes more about his change in art style. Besides the less angular style, it also looks more sketchy to me (which may be partially due to the lack of gray tones). I’d love to hear more about what went into this decision.
Nice discussion with Tom and Steve as well. I agree with Steve about the ridiculousness of publishers using POD instead of offset printing. (I have a sneaking feeling I know who the publisher was). Doesn’t that counteract the whole point of having a publisher?
Brayo! Thanks for the comment…what’s the URL of your comic? I can always check out a comic with Jesus.
Glad you’re enjoying the show!
Tony! Always good to see you. It is interesting about the hair trigger religion seems to have…like we said on the show, I think it’s just one of those things that is supposed to represent ultimate “truth” to you…so I can see why people are a little defensive when you might look at them and say “really? an invisible man in the sky?” But honestly, why people can’t do more like Wes and Brock and do the “agree to disagree” thing, but still have respect for one another is beyond me.
And I hope that what Steve and Tom are doing takes off for them…both because I think they’re great guys, but also because I love their approach and concept. It’s the Age of the Independent Publisher, and it’s great to see them taking their shot.
You can find the comic at the the following address: http://www.askyeshuaonline.com. Jesus as a prodigious 12 year old psychiatrist , enjoy! Looking forward to the next podcast!
Great show! I appreciate Wes’s honesty about his life and how it affects his work and vice versa. IT was also interesting to hear 2 people speak so frankly and earnestly about their faith. Tom, you are always raising the bar.