Robert “Grug” Forrest

You probably have read Robert Forrest's comics for a while now and you have no idea who he is. Even though his comics are often autobiographical and show the most intimate moments in his life. Even though I could hold up a drawing of the guy's wiener and most people would recognize who's wiener it was.

Most people don't know who Robert Forrest is, cause he tells them his name is Ed Grug, and his live journal is set up under the name Ted Prior.

That's right, this week's Suckerpunch Spotlight is on the cartoonist from Perth, Australia - Robert Forrest.

Here's the Q & A.

STUMBLEBUM STUDIOS - You live in Australia, is it hard to draw upside down? Also is there a large comic drawing community in Australia?

ROBERT FOREST - 1a) We have special chairs for artists, architects and the like, that hold you upside down, otherwise you guys would have to stand on your heads to read our work. The reason I got so fast at drawing is because you have to work fast before all of the blood rushes to your head.

1b) Huge, but there is no real industry here, and a huge percentage of the readers are creators themselves. It's very insular. Here is an incomplete list of Australian creators:


SS - This may be hard to tell but, are there any newspaper comics or comic books in Australia that we don't have in the states?

RF - Uh, I dunno, but you probably wouldn't miss them. Do you have Ginger Meggs? *shudder* You, however, have a heck of a lot that we don't have.

SS - You are a musician and a web cartoonist, are you allergic to money or you just don't like it?

RF - Money is overrated. Staying just barely afloat and having a good time seems perfectly fine to me right now.

SS - Some of your comics are cut from your real life, with real people in them. Have you had any negative reactions from people being in your comic?

RF - Uh, no, not really. If I did I would certainly chronicle those too. I just try to be honest and who can really complain then?

SS - Have you ever put something in your comics that you wish you wouldn't have?

RF - Nope. When I am feeling a bit embarrassed or self conscious about something I just force myself to post it and then once it's done, it's done. No regrets,
those are for chumps.

SS - I already know the story, but just for the record, please explain what your real name is and where you got all the other names from.

RF - OK, my real name is Robert Craig Forrest. The Robert is my dad's and my dad's dad's name, so yes, I am the third. The Craig is my granddad on my mum's side's name.

In high school I got the nickname Grug, after an Australian children's book character. The "Edward J the third" part got tacked on when I started doing stand-up comedy, and I was performing as a part of a trio of really bad poets. Despite how it sound we were very funny. And you will never know otherwise.

SS - You once had a goal of being in a different band for every letter of the alphabet so that you could be in every slot at the record store. Will you give me some of the bands you've been in and what kind of music they were?

RF - Ape Shall Not Kill Ape (Rock - two rehearsals, one show)
Colonel Sanders Project, The ("new jazz" - No Rehearsals One Show, a band comp which we didn't lose)

Edward J Grug and the Chris Fuller Experience ("cover" band, we mutilated songs - Lots of recording sessions, one cassette released, a new one maybe in the works for December)

Fascist Fair Go Party, The (Ok, this was an existing band that I joined, so it doesn't count as one of the alphabet bands, but whatever. "Comedy" band - were
together for 7 years, played a lot, one album recorded.)

Forty Bullets For Stupid (Rock - one rehearsal one recording)

God Fearing Republicans, The (Country - Lots of rehearsals, six shows, got to the state finals of the National Campus Band Competition)

Possession Is Nine Tenths Of Satan's Law (in the works... stay tuned!)

Spastic Ooze Monkey (Improv Rock - One cassette released)

Check out more of Robert Forrest AKA Ed Grug AKA Ted Prior's comics at: http://www.livejournal.com/users/tedprior/