I mean it this time.

JB3 was the very first cartoonist that I bought art from. I had never really thought of doing that before, but Joseph's friend had posted about his upcoming tooth surgery and that people should pony up and help the guy out. It was the first time I had really looked at comics as art… like the kind of art you would put on a wall. Until then I had just seen pretty blips on the screen.

I got some incredibleprints from JB3 and some extra stuff thrown in, including a surreal ink wash on a postcard. Totally awesome. The whole experience changed the way that I felt about webcomics, because from that day forward I hated them.

Ha! Fooled you… here's the Q & A.

STUMBLEBUM STUDIOS - Where did you go to school and what did you study?

JOSEPH BERGIN III - I went to the Art Institute of Seattle which is basically like the fast food chain of art schools, but it's all I thought I could afford without any help. I took 'computer animation' with a focus on traditional animation. The idea was that I'd take all of the drawing classes and learn how to draw really fast, thereby helping me produce a shit load of comics. Well, I draw slower than I ever did, questioning everything I do. I've spent the last 3 years trying to undo what 2.5 years of art school did to me.

SS - How did you get into cartooning?

JB3 - Uncle Terry. I learned about drawing from my Uncle Terry. He was a really great artist and lived with my parents when he had a hernia. All he did was draw. He was a good teacher too. Though he only drew superhero stuff. I really got into cartooning when I was in high school. I had a couple friends that were amazing artists. Acid had a lot to do with getting into drawing cartoons too. My first cartoon breakthrough was a character called 'Capt. Sushiman' I drew while on acid. I pretty much never drew anything but cartoons after that.

SS - Who are your main influences?

JB3 - Jack Kirby was huge for me as a kid. Then Sam Keith, I even have one of my drawings on the back cover of the Maxx---I can't remember the number, but it's the Origin of Mr. Gone story. Nowadays my main influences are too various to admit openly. I had no idea there were so many talented mofos out there, it's making me feel bad. I have to work harder.

SS - What is the process like for creating one of your comics?

JB3 - Have you ever pulled a fingernail off with a pair of pliers? It's kinda like that. It's getting better I guess. I really never know what I am going to do each day. I haven't found my 'voice' or my 'process' yet. I figure all that will eventually just click. Perhaps I need to rethink that assumption too.

SS - Tell everyone that bowling story, that's hilarious.

JB3 - A bowling company hired me to do some work for them a few years ago. It was a rogue Australian that wasn't supposed to be using the money to pay me. So I was unofficially working for them on his own pet project. It was crazy---since it was secret I was given so much freedom. I couldn't work for more than 30 hours a week (so not to alert the payroll) but I made good money, this is when I started the first Fistman story and went to Europe for 3 months.

SS - If the Crown Commission was to get into a mud wrestling competition with Found Hat Press who would win?

JB3 - Found Hat would win---I'm afraid they are a lot sexier than we are. I'm thinking of defecting (they have a girl on their team!)

SS - How's yer teeth?

JB3 - Fucked. Don't ask.

SS - What's your current projects, and whaddya got for sale?

JB3 - Current projects: I'm working with Jason Rodriguez on a project that I'm not too sure how much I am allowed to speak of, so I won't. But I think I can say that I'm working with Ande Parks on it, which pleases me greatly.
I have a 2 page comic coming out in Bwana Spoons' Pencil Fight #3 sometime soon.
Fistman #3 is on the plate as well. 'Fistman Fights Foes' will be the hard-core action finale of the Fistman series...then I'll move on to drawing humans I think. Humans are harder.
I'm working on my 'Say Uncle' book---a bunch of different stories and for the first time trying to make a full effort. Not just coaxing myself into doing something. It will never be finished. And lastly I'm doing a book with Robin Bougie that has been in the works for sometime now, been derailed a few times but we won't stop fighting! Look for that one sometime in 2017.
Fistman #1 and #2 are selling good--not many left. Death FAQ 28 pager is also done and up for sale at www.sayunclecomics.com/shop.htm

Check out more of Joseph Bergin III's stuff at
www.sayunclecomic.com

And as always check out Dave's mindless pap at http://www.culturalvoid.net