Rick Parker on DRAFTED

In his latest graphic novel DRAFTED, readers can see how math did cartoonist Rick Parker absolutely no favors in trying to stay out of the military during the height of the Vietnam War. 

The 256-page book, which is the first of Parker's career that he has written AND illustrated, covers that three year period of his time in the U.S. Army in autobiographical detail both funny and heartbreaking. After being honorably discharged, the cartoonist would eventually get a job at Marvel Comics as a letterer for such titles as G.I. Joe and the Spider-Man line for most of the 1980's. 

In 1994 he took on full cartooning duties for the BEAVIS & BUTTHEAD series for Marvel, producing 28 issues of humor in that particular vein until the title was unceremoniously cancelled in 1996. Later work ranged from books at Papercutz and work at the Morgan Stanley bank creative services department, among other spots in between. 

Today Greg is talking with cartoonist Rick Parker about his book DRAFTED, the career leading up to it, and hopefully a little bit about what’s coming up next. Fingers crossed there will be no math.

[This episode is number 816 in a series.] 

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CHAPTERS

00:00 - Preamble

01:37 - When did you start thinking about the book? 

08:38 - When did you start working on it officially? 

13:38 - How did you go about researching the book?

16:39 - How much work does Rick Parker the writer do before Rick Parker the artist starts working?

30:26 - What did your time in the Army reveal to you about yourself?

41:20 - How did DRAFTED get from your drawing table to Abrams?

45:01 - What is the editor’s role in a project like this?

49:34 - What’s on your drawing table right now?

52:37 - Comics can be a lonely job and a communal job at the same time. Talk about maintaining industry connections over the length of your career.

54:46 - Outro