ROK Comics Creator Interview: Rich Diesslin

Rich Diesslin is the creator and cartoonist of the KNOTS or Not (or KNOTS) scouting cartoons and a cartoonist for the London’s Times Cartoons. He is the author and cartoonist of The Cartoon Gospel of John, ACTA Publications, and The Cartoon Ten Commandments. He is the cartoonist of A Journey Through Christian Theology, published by Fortress Press, and companion A Journey Through Christian Theology Color Cartoons CD.

Questions compiled by David Hailwood

How did you discover Rok Comics?

I believe my first contact was a message sent to me on myspace [It was - ROK Comics has a MySpace page - Ed]. That took me to the web site and thought that it sounded like a really good idea.

How do you feel about Digital comics over Print based comics?

I create in Photoshop, so the digital part doesn’t bother me at all. ROK seems like an opportunity to see what the new media will bring. I still prefer to read things on paper, but the way the newspaper industry is headed leaves little to be desired for cartoonists.

What’s your greatest achievement in the comics field?

I’ve had several books published and am just now starting to get more active networking with other creators. Quite a lot of my cartoons are available on merchandise now, which is helping to provide some income. Also, it was a really great feeling to be a finalist in the ROK Comics cartoon contest last year.

What projects (both Rok Comics and non Rok Comics related) are you working on at the moment?

I’m currently working on Out-to-Lunch and Religious Light. Both are fun looks at life in general, with the latter having a religious slant to it.

What advice would you offer to new cartoonists?

Love what you do, do what you love. Don’t give up your day job (unless you can )!

What’s your favourite comics related website?

Other than ROK Comics, I find The Daily Cartoonist blog is very good for keeping up with cartooning in the United States.

Where else has your work appeared?

Books, local newspapers, magazines, greeting cards and my web site (www.the-cartoonist.com).

Where/when did you get your first comics break?

In 1990 my first book, The Cartoon Gospel, was published by a small press. Since then, I’ve had two other books published by mainline publishers as well as my freelance work.

What comics are you reading at the moment (both web and print based)?

Not too surprisingly I like Pearls Before Swine, Zits, Baby Blues, Brewster Rockit, SpeedBump, Dilbert, Agnes, among others.

Whose work do you most admire in the comics field and why?

Bill Watterson (creator of Calvin and Hobbes), Dave Coverly (SpeedBump), Scott Adams (Dilbert), Stephan Pastis (Pearls Before Swine), Tony Cochran (Agnes), and more … mostly because they are (were) just consistently funny.