AstroNerdBoy Presents

Rick Detorie, creator of One Big Happy  

"Why you decided to be a cartoonist?"    I never actually decided to "become" a cartoonist.  I majored in graphic design and illustration in college, and got a job later in advertising as an art director.  At that time I decided to try to sell cartoons (on the side) to magazines.  I took a course at UCLA taught by Eric Teitlebaum called "How To Market and Sell Your Cartoons".  My first sale was to the Saturday Evening Post. Eight years later, one-third of my income was generated by my graphic design work, one-third was from cartoon sales to magazines (and related adult humor books, like "No Good Men", "The Official Cat Dictionary", "No Good Lawyers", and others), and one-third came from my work with Bagdasarian Productions, where I drew Alvin and The Chipmunks for a wide variety of merchandising products, from record album covers to Burger King Meal Packs.

I guess I always was a cartoonist.  I drew all the time, and my drawings looked like cartoons.  I never really considered it possible to make a living at it.

"What did you do to get published/syndicated?"   I sent out my first batch of "One Big Happy" samples in June 1987.  I was offered a contract by Creators Syndicate in May 1988.  The strip was launched Sept 11, 1988.

"Once you achieved your goal of syndication, how did your life as a cartoonist change?"    At first, doing the comic strip was just like doing another freelance job.  I had to do other work, because the strip was launched in 25 newspapers, which translated into a monthly income of about $1,200.  Gradually, the strip was picked up by more papers, and my income increased.  By Year Seven of the strip, I was able to live comfortably off the strip alone, and stopped doing
all those other jobs.

My life has changed now that, instead of doing monthly billing and waiting for my clients' checks to roll in,  I receive a steady royalty check.  Also, I only work about three days a week now.

Where do you get your ideas and inspiration for "One Big Happy" from?  Not much of it comes from inspiration.  I sit quietly, away from all distractions, and think up the gags.  I usually start with a situation, (Library story hour, mealtime,  school playground), and let the characters do their thing(s).

Of the cast of characters you've created for "One Big Happy", which one is your favorite? Why?  I like whoever the readers like.  If I get mail one day, and someone says "I really like Grandpa and Ruthie on their walks," I'll immediately become inspired to write more strips about those two characters.  Whem I'm feeling particularly indignant about something, I'll do some cartoons on Ruthie, because she's always so indignant.

You now have three "One Big Happy" books published, all of which I own! Will you continue to have books of strips published?  I hope to do a new One Big Happy collection each year, published in November. 

Editors Note:   You to can be proud owner of One Big Happy books too by CLICKING HERE!  *grin*

Do you think a weekly publication containing nothing but comic strips would do well?  There are several publications that carry nothing but daily newspaper strips, but they don't seem to sell very well.

What is your favorite comic strip(s)?  "Peanuts" was a favorite strip, as was "Far Side" and "Calvin & Hobbes."  Nothing, unfortunately, that's current.

"What's the one piece of advice you'd give to someone trying to get a foot in the door?"  My advice: persevere.  I was determined to get syndicated.  I developed One Big Happy and sent it all the syndicates.  As I waited for the rejection letters to arrive, I developed my second strip, and mailed it out to the syndicates who rejected the first strip idea.  By the time they were sending back rejections on the second strip, I had readied my third strip idea.  All the syndicates had already rejected my first idea, and Rick Newcombe at Creators Syndicate was reading my third submission when he remembered "One Big Happy", and asked me to do about 30 more dailies.  I did, and it's then that he offered me a contract.

"Anything else you'd like to say?"   If you're doing a newspaper comic strip, remember who the audience is: people of all ages, from kids to the elderly.  In fact, more older people read daily newspapers than kids under 25.  Your strip will have to be G-Rated. None of these newspaper editors want anything daring or controversial.  If you're going to be daring or "edgy," do it within the G-rating guidelines. It's restrictive and difficult, but not impossible.  You're playing by their rules.  Think of it as a challenge.  After you get your foot in the door, then try pushing the envelope a little.
 

Thanks Rick!

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Copyright 1998-Present AstroNerdBoy Enterprises.   All rights reserved.   One Big Happy is copyrighted by Creators Syndicate.   No copyright infringment is intended upon the aboved listed comic strip.