Understanding Scott McCloud cont.

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“How’s the family holding up?” I asked.

“Oh, they’re great!” Scott said. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that there are few things of grand importance in the life of this award-winning writer and artist — comics, and his family. One gets the clear impression that the 50 State Tour would never have left the driveway if he had to leave Ivy, Sky, and Winter back home in Newbury Park, California.

“We’ve met dozens of wonderful people along the way,” he said.

“Now you had a little back-and-forth with Winter,” I said.

“About knitting?” Apparently, Winter is now a big fan of that ancient craft.

“No.” I replied. “You had used the word ‘cartoons’ and Winter schooled you on its definition.”

“Oh yeah,” said Scott. “We were just engaging in a little McCloudian Theory.”

“She’s incredibly bright and articulate, especially for — how old is she?”

“Eleven. Sky, my oldest, is thirteen. They’re both curious, smart kids,” he said.

“Now, you’ve had a chance to see the campus and even sit in on a class or two.”

“It’s not the first time I’ve visited SCAD.”

In 1994, shortly after the publication of Understanding Comics, Scott sat on a panel along with Mike Mignola (Hellboy), Dave Sim (Cerebus), and the late Will Eisner.

“What do you think of the Sequential Art major today?” I asked.

“I’m very impressed,” said Scott. “It’s certainly thriving. It’s great to see such dramatic growth some twelve years later….”

“So I’m walking out of Trustees Theatre with my wife, Julie. I hit the street and we witness these up-and-coming Sequential Artists debating the answers to some though-provoking questions, and it occurred to me, especially after having read your books, that this seems to be your intent — not only to inform, but also to encourage discussion, dialogue and even debate. Is that a reasonable observation?”

“Oh, yeah,” said Scott. “I never intended to settle the argument, but to stimulate the discussion.”

He even said as much in Understanding Comics. Page 23, I believe….

“That debate encouraged me to work on Making Comics — and people are still arguing about the first two books.”

“The way in which you frame the argument has caused some, like James Gurney (of Dinotopia fame), to compare you to Marshall McLuhan.” I said.

“He wasn’t the first. I think Wired beat him to it.”

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