The Grind

An interview with Aaron McGruder, the cartoonist for "Boondocks" talking to the Onion's AV Club about cartooning. Illustrating the difficulty of week-to-week, or in his case, day-to-day creativity.


"AVC: Are you still finding it satisfying as a creative outlet?

AM: Yeah, I think so. I think, ultimately, the problem with something like this is that you actually have so many more opportunities to say something than you actually have things worth saying. And then, as an artist who doesn't want to do bad work, gosh, how do you fill up all that space when you really don't have anything actually worthwhile to say? And that's what makes the job tough, because the fans get mad—"That's not funny," or "You've been sucking for several months now." And you go, "It's not my fault! I'm trying." When there's things worth talking about is when it gets fun again, and when the news is slow, or when there's just so many other responsibilities bearing down on me that I don't have the time to do it right, that's when it gets frustrating. As an artist, you just don't wanna put bad work out. So when you have to do it seven days a week, you're just gonna have some bad days and bad weeks and bad months and bad years. If I could just pick and choose which days I did it, that'd be great. [Laughs.]"

Stink of Success

This is kind of a switch-up from last week. Mostly, it’s about the fleeting nature of “cool” and the importance of personal hygiene. Moreover, unicorns and dolphins are a vital component of home décor. If you don’t learn anything else from the strip, please take that home with you.

Unicorns . . . Dolphins . . . Important.

P.S. - [Dragons or sad clowns can be substituted at your discretion, but only as far as they enhance the natural beauty of the unicorns and/or dolphins].

YSL #203 -Week of November 27, 2005 

Best of YSL #14- Week of November 24, 2005 

Octopus

Here is a riff on my tendency to lapse into the obscure, that and I wanted to draw someone with an octopus head.

Oh, the wife and I are preparing the annual Christmas card featuring original art by yours truly. Please get me your address if you would like a personally addressed copy.

YSL #202- Week of November 20, 2005 

Best of YSL #13 - Week of November 22, 2005 

All Action

Action! Action!! Action!!!! That’s what the new YSL is about! Whooooo! Whooooo! Whoo.

I think you get the picture. Action.

YSL #201 - Week of November 12, 2005 

Best of YSL #15, Week of November 15, 2005 

Strip Number Two-Hundred

I think the strip says it all . . . Thanks to everyone for their support over the last four years.

(I would type a long remembrance of times past, but I’m off to celebrate my birthday in style.)

-Lee

YSL #200- Week of November 6th, 2005 

Best of YSL #11, Week of November 8, 2005