Jason Yungbluth, Mad Magazine artist and creator of Deep Fried and Clarissa has just given birth to an equally hilarious creation, a full bound volume of Weapon Brown. As the product of one of 2013’s most successful Kickstarter campaigns, Weapon Brown is an epic parody if you will… But no, it’s more than that…. It’s a tale of a man trying to survive in a wasteland of a future, with his dog and his deadly robotic arm. That man is “wishy washy” Chuck Brown with his dog “Snoop.”

Yungbluth’s creation Weapon Brown: Blockhead’s War is littered with the dregs of a dead civilization and the Sunday morning funnies. It is an addictive and compelling read. Graphic Policy caught up with Jason recently for the following Q&A.

“But if I say you’re a dead man, then your future is crossed out asshole.”

-Chuck (Blockhead’s War)

Graphic Policy: There is some very crisp and salty dialogue in Weapon Brown. I am assuming that you weren’t channeling Charles Schultz. Where does the post-apocalyptic Charlie Brown get his voice? Any influences?

Jason Yungbluth: For crisp and salty one-liners, nothing inspires like Nabisco Premium brand saltine crackers. Chomp down on a sleeve of those and the dialogue just trips off your parched tongue!

Chuck is a little bit of Bruce Willis, a little bit of Michael Ironside. I tried not to make Chuck’s machismo too over the top, even though he is cast in the roll of the ultimate bruiser. He simply talks the talk because he’s walked the walk his entire life. I imagine he’s actually a nice guy if you aren’t fucking with him. But of course, everyone fucks with him.

GP: Without giving too much away were there any surprises in the story for yourself as an artist when making Weapon Brown?

JY: I suppose the biggest surprise were the few pages I genuinely liked, where my style seemed to finally snap into place. Most of the book was experimental in one way or another, a lot of on-the-job learning for this more “realistic” style of cartooning. I’m glad that what I was subconsciously aiming for managed to emerge here and there.

GP: What was the most interesting thing about the process of making Weapon Brown as an artist or as a publisher? What did you take away from it that maybe you did not know beforehand?

JY: I enjoyed taking Weapon Brown beyond the gritty cliches that the book itself is shamelessly based off of and developing real situations and people that I was invested in. The writing was a lot of fun, especially when the characters took over.

GP: Have you gotten any cease and desist letters? Has there been any copyright complaints? Any contact at all from the artist of the strips that you parity?

JY: Nope! I did my homework and learned as much about the fuzzy grey line of “parody” as I could. I made sure I tap danced on that line but not over it. Still, I’ve described the book as “a lawsuit on every page!”

GP: There is a rumor that Deep Fried is coming back. Is there a date for release?

JY: Deep Fried has been growing in its gremlin cocoon for a few years now, and is nearly ready to burst free. Deep Fried will return to become the regular comic feature at Whatisdeepfried.com once the Weapon Brown web strip wraps. It will begin anew before the end of the year.

GP: Where did you get the inspiration for Deep Fried? Are the characters people you know?

JY: Deep Fried is autobiographical in a psychological way, and so I use it as a conduit for all sorts of personal depravity and anti-social attitudes. On the other hand, I also use it to express my misgivings at my own shortcomings. For instance, I’ve decided to let Squints, my airhead/stoner character, cave in and join the corporate agenda. It’s a reflection on my inability to convince myself that my own efforts at being transgressive actually mean anything. (Squints, incidentally, is the only character based on a real person).

GP: Clarissa has gained a lot of momentum on her own, inspiring short films etc. there is something sick and twisted about “the American dream” which Clarissa exposes. Was that on purpose, or just a happy accident?

JY: Clarissa began as a poke in the eye at that sort of 50s era American idyll, but I quickly realized that the 50s are long over, both in time and as an idea of what America is. Most people take Clarissa’s stories on the level that I present them at, which is directly dealing with her abuse by her father. I do maintain an atmosphere of disquiet about the grotesque nature of our society, but it is principally to serve the story and not the other way around. For instance, in Clarissa’s newest story, “Take Me To Work Day”, we learn that Clarissa’s father works at a company that manufactures artificial flavors and colors, which I think says it all about both Clarissa’s home life and the country.

GP: Are you considering another Kickstarter campaign for future projects or have you found other means to finance your new ideas?

JY: I have the feeling that Kickstarter is the only thing holding up our economy at this point. I am planning a new Kickstarter to launch my next mini-comic, which will include the first printing of the above mentioned Clarissa story. I also think that this small scale offering will be a good way to reintroduce Deep Fried‘s style of humor to the world. I want to poison society in small doses so that when the collapse finally comes, no one can trace it back to me!

GP: Your website www.whatisdeepfried.com is more than just comics there is also some political commentary and social commentary as well. So let’s play a little free association… I say “2016 presidential election” you say….

JY: A country more divided than ever, and me loving every fucking minute of it.

GP: What is the best or most interesting conspiracy theory that you have heard recently?

JY: The Jews founded the Nazi party. Gotta love those kooks!

 

www.whatisdeepfried.com has everything a netizen such as yourself needs to pass the time including but not limited to your own personal copy of Weapon Brown, Deep Fried, Clarissa and or associated retail items!!!