I think I am a cartoon

I have always loved escaping into fictional stories. They are a means to get away from life, which hasn't been easy for me since junior high, and put myself into not only another world but into the shoes of a character from another universe. They can also inspire me or help me act on things I believe in.

I mostly read comic books because they are visual, and the way I think is in generalizations, concepts, and images- I seldom think linguistically. In the last five or six years, the only non-comics I've read are the Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Children of the Lamp, Eragon, and Twilight (yes, I admit it) series. These worlds (Twilight, not so much) are interesting and are much more fun to reside in than mine. Apart from those series, all of the stories I read are visual. It's a lot easier for me to immerse myself in a world that I can see. I like diving deep into the character's minds, and not having to worry about imagining the world allows me to focus further on exploring their personalities. I still believe it's important to read non-comics, however, to stretch the imagination and generate ideas.

In the comics I read, I observe the characters I identify with most and often use their behavior as an excuse to act a certain way. Though I want and even strive to be unique, it is still good not to feel completely alone. For example, in a series called Lackadaisy, there is a crazy character named Rocky who always maintains a positive and jovial attitude even though on the inside he is often miserable and doesn't feel like he fits in anywhere. He sometimes jokes at inappropriate moments and makes people nervous with his awkward weirdness. I love using him as an excuse to randomly bite desks or give a creepy smile on purpose to make people laugh. One of the purposes of my life, I believe, is to entertain people (whether through art, writing, or my persona). Rocky is a great source of inspiration for this.

In another comic series called So, You're a Cartoonist, the main character (who is a parody of the writer/artist) faces the hardships of being a starving cartoonist. This includes everything from tight finances to people who assume just because you can do one form of art you can do it all (including fix-it projects like painting walls) to having obnoxious clients who want you to do art for them but are never satisfied with what you come up with. The author, even though he is an atheist, also slams the objectification of women in the comic and video game industries, which gives me hope for the world as well. This alternate personality allows me to recognize and speak up for issues I believe in.

Dealing with concepts has always been my strongest suit while reality has always been my bottom function, which is why I can connect so closely with fictional cartoon characters emotionally. They exist elsewhere, and people in their own world judge them, but i can observe and root for them from the outside. Characters from the story obviously can't judge me personally because they're fictional, so I feel safe. As long as characters help me connect with and understand myself, I will continue reading comics and books forever.

 

Rocky (left) @ lackadaisycats.com

Tom Preston @ syacartoonist.com