And now it’s time for more Sketch Comedy by Jackson Ferrell (Facebook, Twitter, Google+).
I mentioned before that one thing I always liked about Sketch Comedy was the breaking of the fourth wall, but I feel like he goes beyond that. There is no fourth wall here. The Jackson in the comics is also the author of the comics but still a character that the true author has created. Try wrapping your brain around that.
The best part about this technique is that the other characters act as a voice of reason in the midst of chaos. If this was an ancient Greek play, the other characters would be the chorus. Filling in the gaps, functioning as the voice of the audience. It often leads to very funny, cathartic moments (like in the comic below).
In Sketch Comedy, Jackson Ferrell goes beyond what I used to do with The Underfold. There really is no wall. No boundary. But somehow, he manages to really make it work. It’s hilarious, occasionally poignant, and always weird. I love it.
Appeal
Interview Part 2:
Q. Where do you get inspiration for your comics?
Where don’t I get inspiration for my comics? I feel like there’s this whole world outside myself where anything can inspire a comic if I look at it the right way. Sometimes I use my comic to share a funny story or something that happened to me, or to comment on music or media or video games. Sometimes I use my characters to tell stories. Sometimes I make references to other webcomics. It’s all a matter of getting outside yourself and exploring the world, and sharing your findings in the space of four frames.
At least, that’s how it’s supposed to go. You know how you go into a barbershop, and there you are in the mirrors, infinitely reflected as far as the eye can see? Sometimes it’s like that with Sketch Comedy. The metacomic thing feeds on itself until it turns into one giant incestuous mishmash.
Q. Are you a writer or an artist first? And how does that affect your process?
Chronologically, I’m a writer first; I always start with a written script. That’s not necessarily a good thing, though! I could probably stand to be more visual in my approach. Still, I do try to form a clear mental image of each panel’s composition and staging as I write. I tighten up my concept in the penciling and inking phases.
One advantage of the strip format is that I can skip the thumbnailing. #lazycartoonist