471
Hello again..! i do the webcomic "Subnormality," as well as a column at Cracked.com, and also a new book that is like a where's waldo book but with jesus instead of waldo which i am sure you will not have any questions about. ASK ME THINGS.
Hi, if you don't know me, make the webcomics, you probably read this one but there are some longer ones like this one and also this one here that are nice too. I write things for Cracked as well, on the topics of this and some other stuff and whatever else. NOW YOU KNOW ME and can ask me anything!!
(ALSO: thanks to the overly good people at Random House there is a book out today (and thurs. in the UK) that was drawn by me (HERE IS INFO-- there's a preview on amazon too)! "Finding Jesus" is a Where's Waldo-kind of thing (the title is the joke) except with amusing cultural references and also you find jesus instead of an eccentrically-dressed man with glasses, and it is fun and amusing and you will see it in a store and point and laugh because wtf but you will then hopefully like the art too at least.)
THANK YOU GUYS for tolerating my presence, it means a lot to me, and in return i'm here for however long it takes to get to literally all of your questions. Let's talk about anything-- webcomics, video games, rock music, Rampart, whatever.
CURRENT STATUS: THANK YOU EVERYONE for the questions, it's been amazing to talk with you guys..! I'll check back sporadically on Wednesday for any late questions, otherwise take care y'all and i'll see you later...
WinstonRowntree48 karma
At first it was intentional, i remember like 12 years ago thinking that there're not enough actually interesting characters in comic strips who are also women, so i wanted to be different at least. It probably goes deeper than that though. This is the most paraphrased thing in history, but there's an Ursula LeGuin quote from her letters to James Tiptree Jr. about how her psyche wouldn't give her any female characters for some reason, and i just have the opposite situation maybe. Which just sort of happened.
Mr_CrashSite27 karma
Hi, before my question I would just like to say thank you for the comics, I zealously push them on everyone I meet, one of those rare things that I think can make people better simply by reading. I even got a print shipped to me here in England, and while it is pain to find a frame for it, I am very happy with it.
Anyway, what I want to ask you is that do you see any contradiction in the way you present certain characters as complicated individuals, who's actions can only be understood in context, or not understood even by themselves, but still should be accepted, and the way you present other groups as uncomplicatedly bad or wrong, who should be shunned? As this (very long) article talks about, it is very easy to forgive those who you do not believe have done anything wrong in the first place, actual forgiveness is for those who you hate and disagree with. To be fair you sometimes do present people who we would normally look down upon, like in this comic. But there are examples such as this one, which is older and this one, where your out-group (which is similar to mine) is portrayed as one dimensionally bad.
WinstonRowntree35 karma
Thanks! And cheers for buying a print, i know the international shippings costs aren't fun...
And thanks for asking that, you're 100% right to do so. I completely used to be the kind of person who would demonize my enemies (like in the comics you link to or that one early comic about george w bush), and i'm still like that in a few areas. All i can say is a) i do not stand by a lot of my old views, and b) i actively work on challenging my own views. That's been one of the goals of my work to be honest-- i've tried to become a better person by examining myself over the years and trying to challenge the areas where i've written off entire viewpoints due to prejudice (conservatives, etc.).
I know i am sure not there yet, i still have prejudices to work on that's for sure, but definitely do not take my entire archives as A Big List Of My Current Opinions-- take it hopefully as an evolving viewpoint. There is nothing i respect more than open-mindedness and people who listen and people who are non-ideological (Dan Carlin is a hero of mine), and that's the place i definitely aspire to go. I dislike who i used to be, at least, so there's some progress there hopefully...
Ayatollah_Bahloni6 karma
The Trolls offering was perfect, by the way. It's past the AMA period but I just thought I'd leave a comment in passing; I have long been an enjoyer and disseminator of your work, and stand in awe of the way you can analyze human interactions and internal feelings. You may not alway be right, but you're always interesting and thought-provoking. Thanks for your work.
Jpot9 karma
I'm a huge fan of Subnormality as well, and I think this is a great question. The very same thing has stood out to me a few times before. It was definitely more common in his older, more politically charged comix, but the "trolls" one you pointed out is a solid recent example. I, for one, am thrilled that the newer comix are more apolitical.
PropaneToad22 karma
Hi Winston, thanks for the heads-up on Facebook, would have missed this otherwise.
My question is regarding Subnormality - specifically, do you see a general ending in sight? Over the past couple of years the lives of the major characters - the Sphynx, PHG, even Ethel to a certain extent - have seen improvement, which is excellent and (I certainly hope) mirroring of real life. I'm just wondering if it's going to continue like this indefinitely in the future or if there's a general "finale" type of deal somewhere on the horizon.
WinstonRowntree31 karma
I actually have written most of the final comic, but don't take that to mean that the end is nigh in any way-- i just know what the last comic happens to be. I don't WANT it to ever end, but the characters do have arcs to them that i couldn't see myself going beyond. It's a comic about people who are looking for things, and when they start finding them then i might have to leave it at that. But i have no idea when that might be. And the sci-fi stuff will continue indefinitely, under the banner of Subnormality or otherwise.
The one other reason i would eventually end the comic is because i have a graphic novel i really, really want to do, and i in no way have time to do it right now. It's weird and esoteric like the rest of my stuff though, so i'd need a major financial cushion for when it inevitably sells 17 copies...
WinstonRowntree17 karma
I'd love to do that too actually! I've always wanted to redraw the entire thing, and hopefully will get to at some point.
WinstonRowntree13 karma
Well, that's subjective, i can't convince you that you actually in fact like it. There are literally more columnists than ever, so there's that at least.... All i can do is make the best columns i can, and i shall continue to do so. And if things are clickbait-ish, which i don't know if they even are, it's because it is a big internet and there is a lot of competition, and it is The Fuck hard to make money in the arts/media. We tend to assume people are in things for the money, but often we are in things for ANY money at all. It's hard out there, period. And i believe i am working for one of the sites that is getting it right at least, that's all i can say.
BorivojFilip13 karma
Hello, I'm the guy who translated Subnormality to Czech, since I had a lot of work I only got to issue 32, but I plan to come back to it when I have more time. http://subnormalita.ic.cz/
There's one question, that' been bugging my mind for a very long time. Looking at the characters it's not hard to notice that most long-standing characters are female, male characters tend to be more throwaway. Also the girls have incomparably deeper and more complicated personalities, they seem real and lifelike, most guys tend to be more flat and their personalities more stereotypical. Love stories are usually told from her perspective. My question is, are you a woman in real life, or are you a guy, who just has more emapthy in his soul for female characters?
WinstonRowntree10 karma
Hey, how's it going?! And thanks again for the translation efforts..!
And yeah, it's complicated. It's a combination of wanting to specifically write interesting female characters and wanting to write realistic characters that also aren't exactly like me (i'm a guy, though i'm not exactly He-Man over here). I don't know, i'm cool with it, whatever the reasons. I do worry that it means that i have more empathy for women, i mean i should keep an eye on that, but i sure hope it doesn't. It's people i have empathy for, and it's Characters i'm trying to write, in the end, as opposed to Female Characters.
bigangry12 karma
Winston! I'm such a huge fan of SUBNORMALITY, and I've been reading since pretty damn near the beginning, and I've been preaching the word to all my friends and acquaintances since, as well. Congratulations on the book, too!
My question is, how did the evolution of the comic from one-off gag strips to giant walls of beautiful art and text happen? Was there a point where you started getting comfortable enough with your art and vision to make the change?
WinstonRowntree8 karma
Thanks! I'm just glad you feel the comix have evolved..! And it wasn't really a single point, it's more just a case of always wanting to go further in some way-- not wanting to repeat myself in terms of format, always wanting to evolve and become better. Not always in a good way, i should add! It sure wouldn't kill me to make some shorter comix, i just have some mental barriers in that regard, fear of treading water etc. Proving i can do something and then immediately moving on. It's not always for the best.
lukenhiumur11 karma
I just want to say you are without a doubt my favorite cartoonist(webcomicist? Essay-writer-with-picture-ist?). Every day that a new subnormality comes out is a good day.
My question is, a lot of your comics cover some very mature topics like feeling lost in life and depression. Do these themes come from struggles in you own life? As someone who struggles with depressive tendencies your comics really hit home.
WinstonRowntree7 karma
Pictureist! That is awesome, i'm totally stealing that one... And thanks!
And yeah, 100% the themes in the comic start with stuff from my own life. I don't get, like, serious clinical depression, but i do get super down on myself at at times (particularly in August for some reason, i mean this year that month was just a total write-off mentally), and in general i always use the comix to work out whatever issues i need to work out. Glad if it helps anyone else out too, that's for sure.
VoxVocisCausa10 karma
I was going to ask whether the angst portrayed by many of the characters in your comics was a projection of yourself or just an observation of the world around you....I guess this kinda answers that. :)
WinstonRowntree9 karma
Oh, the characters are all half me and half something Else. My goal is create stuff that hopefully says something about what it's like to be a human being, so oneself has to become raw material to be divided up into characters and then examined.
Dr_Wolfenstein7 karma
What's your opinion on webcomics and digital comics today? Are we nearing a period similar to the 80s black & white craze?
Also, what's your regular process while making an "episode" of Subnormality"? Do you do everything yourself?
Thank you.
WinstonRowntree17 karma
I'd actually like to ask you guys about webcomics: how do y'all feel about the webcomics scene right now? Do you feel like it's diminished, or does it still feel the same as 10 years ago? I'm honestly really curious about this...
Oh, and my regular process is documented here, but yeah i definitely do everything myself!
ccnproute8 karma
I think webcomics are in bad shape.
Not only are there so many competing webcomics, but there are far more entertainment options on the internet compared to 10 years ago. Web comics are having the same problem as web print - faster internet speeds mean everything is moving over to video (youtube, etc.)
All the good web comics still updating are the ones that came to maturity years ago. The really interesting new web comics are either buried under the noise or are abandoned because the creators can never afford make that jump to going full time. What you end up with is a bunch of new web comics that are pseudo-pornography because that's the only thing that gets clicks.
WinstonRowntree6 karma
Yeah, that's a really good point about video actually... I keep wondering why it seems like so much fewer comix are emerging, but of course so many people are making video stuff now. Hadn't even considered that, but it's so true...
mavericknm4 karma
agreed. There's a ton of information overload and while I'm sure the gold is out there, it's difficult to find and consume.
were it not for WR, I wouldn't have read this gem. http://www.webcomicsnation.com/thorsby/destiny/series.php?view=archive&chapter=24643
WinstonRowntree4 karma
ha, that's awesome, i'm seriously glad i could introduce that comic to someone!
paperstarships6 karma
First of all, you're AMAZING - I adore your work! You've gotta know that. Here's my question: Is there any topic you've wanted to cover in your comics that you just couldn't find a way to portray through the medium?
I guess I'm wondering if you ever get stuck trying to find ways to describe things that are clear in your head, but hard to put into comic form. How do you combat that feeling? Is it easy for you to come up with these comics filled with gorgeous ideas, or do you ever struggle to get an idea down as a comic? You're obviously excellent at tackling ideas and emotions that can be pretty abstract to describe, and still you find ways to transmit those feelings to your readers through your art and narratives.
Sorry, that ended up being more than I intended to ask. Thank you for taking the time to do this. :)
WinstonRowntree8 karma
Thanks, and that's a really good question....
It is definitely NOT easy, i'll say that. Most of the longer comix are ideas that started in one way and then needed to gradually evolve over a couple of years until they made more sense. And the "Watching" comic in particular is something that is basically an extended metaphor for me not knowing how to process something and looking for something to say about it. It basically represents about eight months of struggling with an experience-- not even a first-hand experience, just something i felt extremely strongly about but couldn't articulate at all. So i had to keep watching until i did...
So yeah, it's 100% not easy, sometimes you just have to wait until an older you finds some way to articulate what you're trying to say. Teamwork!
dalr3th1n5 karma
I recently discovered Subnormality and it quickly became my favorite webcomic! Your work is very poignant yet funny. As for a question, uh, is Winston Rowntree your real name? If not, what is?
WinstonRowntree9 karma
Thanks! And no, it's just a pen name. My real name is Chris somethingorother, i forget now...
sousaman5 karma
Hi, just wanted to say thank you for all of the amazing hard work that you do. What I love about your comics (love the layout of the mind one) is that they always give me this feeling that I can't really define, but it's like a warm and fuzzy feeling. Maybe new perspective or some stuff like that. My question is, do you feel your work being influenced or guided by a sort of Canadian "feel", or is that just my perspective? Also, what have you been really digging music-wise recently? Thanks!
WinstonRowntree7 karma
Thanks! I just want to make stuff that makes anyone feel anything, so i'm glad if it did that. And my work will inevitably i guess reflect Canada-- subnormality is basically set in an alternate-reality version of toronto. The pink-haired-brown-haired-girl talks like i remember a couple people i was friends with as a kid talked (in my saskatchewan youth), saying "hey" instead of "eh," that kind of thing. It's definitely a Canadian comic, anyway.
As for music, right now i love the Black Angels, and Eagles of Death Metal, and Metric, and 90s Sheryl Crow, and as always QOTSA, and also the new arcade fire album which i hated at first but now love.
girabbitwastaken5 karma
Dear Winston, You mentioned video games in the opening and no one has asked about them. 1) What have you been playing lately? 2) What are you looking forward to playing? 3) Did you really pick Doug instead of Karley?
WinstonRowntree7 karma
1) i've just been replaying Deus Ex: Human Revolution for the 4000th time because i love it and literally think it is perfect (even though it isn't). I think it's far and away my favorite game ever, i'm just so taken in the with the atmosphere and the detail and the convincing vision of a near future that i find compelling. Next best thing to time travel.
2) I look forward to Alien: Isolation (when it goes on sale, anyway...) because Alien is basically my favorite movie. And i look forward to the inevitable Serious Sam 4. And of course the third Witcher game, which is one of the few games that is basically guaranteed to be good (i mean it is, right?).
3) Yeah, but i didn't realize i was choosing who would live and who would die... Ironically, i ended up liking him more than some of the characters.
Riptide6515 karma
You 200th comic, Anomalies stands as one of my favorite comics ever. The plot is surreal and it's written incredibly well. Have you ever visualized it in a cinematic medium, like short film?
WinstonRowntree4 karma
I haven't, but someone else has-- i've actually sold the film rights to it (though that in no way means you should expect a film sometime soon).
RingoC5 karma
Dear W. Rowntree,
First, my copy of Finding Jesus literally just arrived. So thank you for that! It's gorgeous and I can't wait to spend some time with it looking for easter eggs.
A few questions...
What's your process like now? Was it different for the book than it is for your other comics?
Any plans to revisit Captain Estar at any point?
I still have a copy of your GW Bush comic here somewhere. Also, for some reason, I just thought of your Mr. Brooks binder - do you still have that kicking around?
You should come out and visit sometime. That's not a question, I know.
WinstonRowntree5 karma
Ha, right on-- glad canada post managed to actually deliver it, and only like a week after i mailed it too... Answers:
-it was different for the book-- unlike my usual overthinkingness i tried to be really improvisational and just go with whatever i was thinking. To quickly come up with a concept and then kind of illustrate any ideas in real time, as opposed to my usual scriptedness. That's the best part about working on such different things, you get to work in different ways and thus not get sick of working in any one particular way.
-This is the comic he's referring to, for anyone wondering. I would love to revisit it, to be honest. I'd like to redraw the entire thing because i still like it, but that's not something i'll have time to do for a while. I did revisit the character briefly in a submission to Heavy Metal magazine once, but i never heard back. I should post that story on my site or something, as stupid as it is.
-Ha, awesome. And yeah, i definitely do still have the Mr. Brooks binder... (For anyone wondering, my one friend and i made dozens of these comics about our one teacher in high school, him getting dismembered and otherwise killed in amusing ways. It was an angry youth, apparently..)
-Nevertheless, my answer is "totally!" That'd be awesome.
WhiskeysFault4 karma
I love your comics!
Did you ever try to reign in the verbosity of your comics before realizing that people still liked them with a lot of text?
Is there any particular reason you chose the sphinx as a character? Were other mythological creatures considered for the role?
WinstonRowntree8 karma
Thanks!!
-not really to be honest, i'm just super-grateful that people for some reason like to read them despite all the WORDS. I just like writing, and i like getting the absolute bloody most into the physical space as possible, and if you can't do what you like in your own comic then there is no point to having a comic.
-no, her being a recurring character was completely unplanned actually. I just made that Oedipus comic and she like instantly manifested as this character that i found amusing/interesting so then i looked for excuses to use her again. She's super hard to write though, otherwise you'd see her more.
My-Birthday4 karma
I missed you last time so I just want to take the chance to say thank you. Your subnormality updates make my day.
I guess there should be a question.
How often do people think that you are female just based off your comics?
WinstonRowntree4 karma
Thanks-- the kind words make my day for sure! And yeah, i definitely do get people who assume i'm female, but it's not something i go out of my way to correct people about or anything. I don't think it should matter.
Ficalos4 karma
Winston! I just wanted to let you know that your webcomic is one of my favorite pieces of media ever. I came upon it 2 or 3 years ago (I think the first strip I saw was Monstrous Discrepancies) and was hooked.
For my first read through of Subnormality I treated it as some kind of religious experience; I would only read one or two a night after I came back from a party or whatever, in those moments of calm and introspection. To me, Subnormality is one of those things that's almost so good you don't want to share it with people, you know? It's like a personal treasure. I proceeded to share it with people anyway because I realize that's no way for an artist to survive!
Thank you.
A question: Do you ever feel like by using so many WORDS in your comix you are somehow missing the point of a largely visual medium like a comic? Do you find yourself as a visual artist using all those words as a crutch? Treating them as just pretty backgrounds instead of a way of telling a story or communicating an idea in themselves?
Also, there are a ton of great webcomics out there right now. Any recommendations for stuff that Subnormality fans might like?
WinstonRowntree6 karma
Thanks, i'm really glad you've enjoyed the comix so much!
An answer: i don't know if it is a primarily visual medium to be honest, i think it's a medium that's unique in how it combines the visual and non-visual and thus there's a huge spectrum of what you can do in terms of balancing the two. I've certainly made comix with no words to them, but that's just one option-- there's no one right way to do it. And i personally like to get as much information into one comic as possible-- that's just my personal preference, and that's why i love a medium that enables me to make that choice.
As for webcomic recommendations, yeah, i'll definitely list a few that i always enjoy reading:
Valvet4 karma
Hi Winston! You're awesome, thanks again for setting up that large format custom printing of the "Weird" poster for me like two years ago, it's still my favorite poster and I love it when people stop and read it.
Your comics are a lot more understanding about the human condition than most others I've read. Why do you think this is? The most notable difference with your comic is the length and verbosity, but that seems like a really simple answer. Have you studied psychology or something?
What music have you been listening to recently?
What do you think will be the world-common language in the future? I think English will hold that title until it changes into another language, simply because of inertia; everyone speaks it as a second language already, it's easy-ish to learn, and it's fairly resilient to mistakes while remaining clear so you don't need a high level to communicate.
Lastly, what's you favorite branch of science? There's a lot of choices, but I'm sure there's one that comes to mind first.
Thanks!
WinstonRowntree7 karma
Thanks again, i'm just glad you like it!
-if they're insightful it's probably just because of the sheer amount of time i spend thinking about this stuff, that's all. I definitely do more observing of society than participating in it, anyway.
-lately i've been listening to mostly recent-ish rock, QOTSA, eagles of death metal, black angels, that sort of thing. All my bands had albums out last year, so this year has been kind of a downer in terms of new stuff.
-i am in no way qualified to speculate on that, but it's a really interesting question and one i hadn't really considered before. And one i should think about, especially in terms of sci-fi...
-oh, biology for sure! The innerworkings of we animals are endlessly fascinating, i reckon.
DrMcAutopsy3 karma
How do you feel about having the longest webcomics I've ever seen? Many of them are just well-illistrated books
WinstonRowntree3 karma
I feel pretty good about it, actually. To be this esoteric and still have an audience is the best feeling ever, basically.
laughably-serene3 karma
I just wanted to say that I love your work. Many are so thought provoking and leave me thinking for days afterward. My question is: Do you typically visit reddit? Are there any websites that you visit regularly?
WinstonRowntree4 karma
Thanks! And yeah, i generally read it pretty often, although it's the smaller subreddits that are the place to be (AND THIS ONE). I also visit Digg a lot, it has a good format, even though a lot of the stories are completely frivolous and stupid. Found a lot of interesting stuff through there though.
rjmkx53 karma
I love your Captain Estar comic! Are you planning to continuing it or have a brief of Estar in Subnormality?
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Thanks! And i have ALWAYS wanted to use Estar in a subnormality comic, i mean for the past 7 years i've wanted to do that, but the right story has never emerged. Still working on it though, i miss drawing Shirley Estar, she's so wonderfully horrible.
BeefyMoDaddy3 karma
Howdy Winston!
Holy hell man, I'm a huge fan. Your comics are truly beautiful, both visually and narratively. The stories, the emotions, the plots that come to a deep and satisfying conclusion, and the plots that just end up with more questions because the whole point was to just vocalize frustration and observations, they're all wonderful and I also zealously push them on everyone I know. Fucking beautiful work my man.
I don't know if I have a question. I forget, do you have a place where I can buy things, posters? I want to.
I forget the name of one character you had that was really, really dark and angry, I think she is the friend of the pink-haired girl, but she may be someone else. Either way, I really love her, she embodies so much negativity haha
WinstonRowntree5 karma
Thanks, yo!! Totally appreciate it... the feedback means everything to me. And yeah, that's Ethel you're thinking of, aka the part of me that is darker than the other parts.
Oh, and yeah, posters you can find here, no pressure though, the kind words are worth more than anything.
Lalaithion423 karma
Which of your comics is your favorite, and why? Also least favorite, and why?
My favorite is the Maturity Climb, which I have hanging as a poster above my bed. I don't really have a least favorite, I guess, but it's often surprising to me what authors dislike about parts of their work.
WinstonRowntree5 karma
Thanks for buying a poster, hugely appreciate that you liked the comic that much! My favorite comic is probably the one with the multiple ethels, i just like how it turned out. I'm not saying it's the best one, just the one i never have disliked.
I don't like to say which ones i hate because someone out there will love that one and i don't want to imply that they're wrong to like it (like the time that dave grohl said he hated the song "Lounge Act," which is literally my favorite Nirvana song). I will say the one i hate most that nobody else possibly likes is the george w bush one where the people who voted for him are microscopically stupid-- that's 100% the kind of writing that i want to leave in the past. I am not that guy anymore.
seekrytte3 karma
Winston! First, you're great. Thank you for all you do and all the work that you pour into Subnormality. A friend gave me your comics at exactly the perfect time in my transitioning life and they've helped pull me out of some dark times by reminding me that I'm not the only person with difficult words echoing around in my brain. I do have a couple questions for you: could you touch a little on your inspiration for Choose Your Own Adventure and A Saturday Evening in the Future? Also, on the topic of asking you anything I do have a fairly serious question for you: If one day you woke up and suddenly realized you were a donut, would you eat yourself? The type of donut is up to you, other people could eat you, and you can eat yourself out of existence.
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Thanks! My work has pulled me out of some dark periods as well, so i'm massively honored if it's been of use to anyone else as well-- like, seriously. And here are some answers:
-Choose Your Own Adventure was inspired by a dream i had-- i used to play wayyyyyy too much Doom/Doom II/Final Doom/every WAD ever, and i had this one dream about being in a Doom-like environment, silent and creepy with a single teleporter in a big room, and then going through the teleporter led to some sort of indescribable megaHell that was terrifying in only the way dreams can be. So i tried to translate that imagery into some sort of comic-- tried to find some meaning in the premise. A couple of the comics originated directly from dreams-- "The Last Stand" was another one. Oh, and Captain Estar Goes to Heaven...
-shit, i can't remember which comic A Saturday Evening In The Future is..! Damn me and my vague titles... remind me which one it is and i'll totally answer
-no i would not eat myself! I try to stay away from sugary desserts these days
seekrytte3 karma
It's the one with the stairs and gradually finding yourself in a place/doing things you didn't forsee yourself doing! Also your titles are my favorite part! Also as a purple haired individual Down At the Job Interview seriously hit home.
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Oh, right, that one! Yeah, that was inspired by the book "Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me)" by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson-- it talks about how we gradually go from one place to another, and it had a huge effect on me and i definitely recommend it to everyone because it explains a LOT about society. Very highly recommended.
Mcmindflayer3 karma
I am a great fan of your comic who pushes it on everyone I know. Though, while I am fine with the large text comics that contain insights, I feel the more powerful comics you have are the ones that are sparser on words like this one or this one (My all time favorite is this one even though it doesn't 100% fit what I just said about your comics, but the ending is sooo good.)
Anyway, my question: have you ever considered doing a Patreon or something similar, where people could, if they so chose, pay you per comic released or something? Kind of as a thank you for your work.
WinstonRowntree4 karma
Thanks! And YES, i definitely am considering Patreon and will probably sign up at some point. The longer comix take so long now that it's financially kind of suicidal to work on them, so i will probably turn to Patreon if i feel it's 100% fair for the readers.
classicalalpha3 karma
Hi Winston! I just want to thank you for your thoughtful and creative work. Since I found your comix they have continually provided uplifting moments during my bad days. I love what you have done and can't wait to see what else you have in store. Anyways, (sorry to prattle but as a young female I feel like your characters have a big impact on me) do you have any words for someone going through university and feeling lost in all of it? I enjoy my program but I feel like I'm going nowhere. Thank you again for being here today!
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Thanks, and yeah i totally have words.... I'll just say that i've been exactly where you are now, at that age in that place feeling like i'm going nowhere, so it's definitely common and more importantly it's definitely not an impediment to finding somewhere to go. I tell everyone who asks that i got where i am after years of being directionless and not believing that success was ever meant for me, because frankly you CAN'T see what's coming. That's such an important lesson that i learned: everything good in my life is stuff that i never saw coming. All you can do is hang in there until it does come. All you can do is make sure than an older you will have the chance to get what they want.
Sorry, this is getting a bit abstract suddenly... I know how you feel, that's what i want to convey. Just be patient. It took me a good while before i realized that comics was what i wanted to spend my time on-- things never happen like they should, or in the most efficient way, that's all. It's just easy to feel like you should know where you're going all the time, but you can't always. Sometimes we're just holding down the fort until an older you arrives with the orders, at which point the patience we've learned will come in very handy.
You'll be okay, in other words.
nebulousmenace3 karma
Hi! Moderately large fan. You and the Sphynx ruined Jeopardy for me.
Your dialogue tends towards -I don't want to say "lack of realism" because that implies you're trying for realism, while in the last comic you're running a dialogue between the pink haired girl and the entire world. Have you ever tried, more, Elmore Leonard type of dialogue ? (I know, he said "If I had more time, it would have been shorter" and you don't do that.)
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Ha, that's a great quote... Good question, and maybe i'll have to try that eventually if even i get sick of the current dialogue style. The thing is it's often me compromising between format and length-- doing long stories in a compressed format because it's either that or they never get told.
Been_Worse3 karma
Hey Winston, big fan of you're work on Subnormality and Abnormality. One thing that I see pop-up through all your work is aviation. As a professional pilot myself it makes me like your work even more. It also makes me curious if you're a pilot yourself, because you seem to know a lot about aviation and the industry itself. So I guess my question is if you're a pilot or if not, where's your knowledge and interest in aviation come from?
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Thanks! And no i'm in no way a pilot or involved in aviation, it's just a subject that i find really interesting for a variety of reasons so i've watched a whole lot of tv shows about it and read a few books as well. I'm hugely impressed with aviation, basically-- it's just kind of a testament to how good people can be at things, i think, and thus how safe an industry can be, and it pisses me off to no end how the media always refer to it as a "miracle" when anyone or everyone survives a commercial plane crash.
Oh, and i've always liked warplanes and stuff since i was a kid-- not war, just the vehicles. There's a definitely some of that in "Finding Jesus" as well-- i basically had to set one of the scenes in an aircraft museum...
Pseudomanifold3 karma
First of all: Your comics are just awesome—I have the Atheist Apocalypse as a poster and consider it to be one of my most prized possessions.
Since your comics seem to use so many different topics: What are your main sources of inspiration? I am asking because the comics range from beautifully-crafted, somewhat haunting tales to the utterly bizarre. How do you manage to cover this spectrum so convincingly?
Also, another question because I feel lucky: Do the characters represent people you know? Or parts of yourself? Or different versions of you? I so hope that the sphinx is an author avatar or based on someone you know :-)
Thank you so much for doing this!
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Thank you, it means a lot!
My inspiration is just working with material that makes me Feel something in some way-- whether it's an issue i feel strongly about, or some personal thing i need to work out via my work, or just a premise for a story that i think is awesome and cannot go to waste for fear of offending the god of Art. My inspiration is always just something i feel strongly about in some way.
As for the characters, they're basically all half me and then half something else-- i aspire to accurately reflect my experience as a human being, so i become raw material in that. I kind of split myself into a bunch of different characters and then embellish on them, it lets one examine the various aspects of one's psyche i reckon, and then hopefully there are some universal truths in the personal ones you write about.
Cheers!
67thou3 karma
Floor Plan for the Mind is one of the greatest things ever. I spent hours and hours pouring over that image. It was great, well thought out, and ridiculously interesting!!!
I don't have a good question. But i'll ask something anyway.
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the worst thing in the universe; Where would you rate those inflamed taste bud's that form on the tip of your tongue and remind you of their awful presence every-time you speak/eat/swallow/smile/exist?
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Thanks! And on a scale of 1 to 10, i'd say... 15! I hate it more than anything when i burn my tongue...
jaerick3 karma
Your comic often addresses really heavy themes like grief, loss, and major depression. Your comic The Inner Dark struck me especially - it's really alienating to be depressed around people who aren't, and to try to explain what depression feels like and how it completely takes over your life.
I'm definitely deep in the throes of my depression at the time of this writing. I used to write and draw all the time, but lately I feel no spark or enjoyment in creative work, just this complete anhedonic blah, and it ultimately just becomes something I make myself feel bad about for even trying. I remember you saying that your comics are something you often write just to feel better yourself. Do you have any advice for making the creative process therapeutic, rather than just another thing that the monster screams at you about?
WinstonRowntree4 karma
Hi, sorry you're in such a place, i know it sucks. And yeah, my work has definitely been something that's helped me out. Basically i've just tried to find the positives, to examine that which sucks and say yeah, but at least this part is good, just tried to use the work as kind of a structured way to be forced to examine ideas and also to be forced to create something regularly-- which gives you a way to move on, like oh i just felt like shit all summer, i can't even write a sentence properly, so i'll bring it back with the next comic, i'll write my way out. It helps to section things, maybe? One comic won't be successful, so i'll try and do better with the next one, and moreover talk out my issues in the comic as well.
It's hard to explain why it's helpful maybe, but it definitely is. At minimum you're turning the shit you've been handed into something, you're making something out of it, so you win in that way. Like that Inner Dark comic was basically a verbatim transcript of my inner monologue as i was lying in bed one night, so i attempted to at least get something out of it. Turn shit into, uh, shitade. It's something at least. It gives you a purpose, and that's vital.
Edit: shit, i forgot to add, it lets you hear back from others as well and you find out you're not alone-- that's been SUCH a huge thing with my work, i mean i'm just so grateful for everyone who's read my stuff and then said "hey, me too!" And i'm grateful to any other artist who creates stuff as well.
BrowncoatDoctor3 karma
Hi Winston, I just wanted to say thank you so much for the work you do. You seem to have such a deep connection to those emotions/thoughts/feelings that a lot of people hate to admit that they have, and it's so insanely refreshing to be able to realize that I'm not unique in feeling them.
I found Subnormality at the perfect time, when I was going through some not-so-perfect things in my life, and I've wanted to thank you for a while. You've helped me (and many others, I'm certain) break out of that nasty echo chamber in my brain and get to a better place.
I feel like I should say a lot more, but that's about all I've got in me right now. Your work is amazing, and I'm going to keep showing it to everyone I know!
As for my question, who would you describe as your biggest influence?
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Thank you, knowing that my work has been of use to someone in any way is what guarantees there will be more comix to come..! Seriously appreciate the kind words.
And as to your question, bill watterson is unquestionably my biggest influence-- he almost singlehandedly showed what the comic strip can be capable of if you actually put effort into it, i mean he had a lot of artistic principles that you don't often see, and he's basically the reason that i do what i do. He showed what comics can do, and what they can mean to people-- how they can't be contained by a few square panels.
PrinceAuryn3 karma
I don't have any examples right now, because there are too many, but many a time has there been when I'm feeling down, and reading one, or more, of your comics has made me feel better.
I guess it's just nice to know people go through the same things, you know?
WinstonRowntree3 karma
That's how i feel about the various feedback i get, so thanks, because it means a lot!
fuckpoops3 karma
Hi WR! Hopefully you're still kicking around here long enough to answer my questions, but first off THANK YOU for the obscene amount of amazing shit you churn out. (Ok, that sentence sounded less like a compliment than I hoped)
I just started writing questions but I was just typing gibberish so I guess I just really wanted to say thanks for the comix. Also isn't it kind of cool that there's like a silent, secret, interconnected network of strangers across the planet who transmit and store your artwork and might not necessarily tell anyone about it and maybe nobody else even knows that they like it but they do and it is quietly and slowly growing with gradually more and more individuals beginning to walk around outside with your comics in their head, sharing ideas and ways of viewing the world? I mean, from the outside it might not even look like anybody's running a business! A few posters shipped here, a few T shirts there, but there's no banner on your house saying that it's the home of this whole ideology. Then suddenly BAM ten percent of the world is thinking god, that reminds me of PHG without ever even communicating it to each other.
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Thanks, and that's a really nice picture you paint-- it is definitely cool, and i am honored you feel that way. That's all an artist can aspire to-- to live in people's heads a little bit, in a positive fashion. To create something that wouldn't be there otherwise.
ilumachine3 karma
I've had my "question" or response up for a while, but I can't seem to write down exactly what I want to say or ask. I guess I've been reading subnormality for years now, which is weird because I never stick to much ever so it's been a very comforting force in my life. You always seem to post exactly what I need to read, but I guess your comics are all about being human and how much that sucks/rules sometimes and how weird everything can be. So thanks for the years of reminding me that all of my feelings are human and valid and okay despite how weird I feel sometimes. I just wanna thank you and hope you have been having a good day or week or something. Also I am required to ask a question, so uhm, what's your favorite color?
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Thanks for sticking with the comix-- that means everything to me, and i'm honored you feel that strongly. I hope you're having a good week too, and as for favorite color, i think some sort of pale yellow is maybe my choice.
LeVentNoir2 karma
Do you ever go "Crap" when you see the ratio of text : art when you lay it out?
Which subnormality character do you hate the most? Which one is most worthy of a happy ending?
How do you come up with the crazy details in the background?
Which single subnormal comic is your favourite?
WinstonRowntree2 karma
- Ha, yup, basically every time... Living in denial is a big help, otherwise i'd be too daunted and get nothing done (and i'm being serious here, it actually is useful to pretend like things will be less work than they obviously are).
- I don't think i could ever work with characters i hated, for better or for worse-- that would last for about three seconds. Well, i guess i love to hate the neo-nazi time travelers, if that counts (i have one more comic about them i keep wanting to do, where they get their final comeuppance. It's only half-written though). And i hope they all get happy endings to be honest..! I can control that at least, at least i think i can...
- Just a manic desire to fill blank space with something, anything. Background jokes are the hardest to write, actually! They actually say just that on some of the Simpsons DVD commentaries, it's why they stopped doing the funny tombstones at the beginning of the halloween episodes. Backgrounds jokes are deceptively simple things...
- Right now it's the one with the multiple ethels, i like how it turned out, even though it's literally just talking heads and all the heads are the same person.
nervouspizza2 karma
oh my god oh my god okay, first time caller, long time listener (i may have stolen that from the comments section on one of your comics). and i just want to thank you so freaking much. so freaking much. for your comics -just what you do. they have this freakishly huge formative impact on my life, a positive one! ((I mean THE LINE???? FUCKIN BLEW 13 YEAR OLD ME AWAY/STILL DOES.))) okay. i think i'm done the incoherent freak out.
wait, no i'm not done. i also want to thank you for accurately portraying toronto???? like race/public transportation-wise. like as a person of colour i find it especially REFRESHING and REALISTIC.
ookay actual question... do you think there's any hope? for like society? i'm still a teenager so i think in absolutes like that but like im also a millennial so can you blame me if i think/feel like everything is going to shit? (i honestly didnt mean to be such a downer but its the only question i can think of worth asking)
sidenote: i feel like if you got a dollar for every "hey, you write lady characters who are complete human beings and have their own narratives, whats up with that?" question/comment you would be financially stable enough to write that graphic novel.
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Ha, thanks so much, the kind words mean pretty much everything to me (really glad if i've done justice to toronto as well! That means a lot too). And as to your question, i don't know, but i do know that it at least Always feels like that, it always seems like society is going to shit no matter what era it is. So maybe it actually is, but i suspect that as horrible as things are for a lot of people in a lot of places, things actually were worse in the past (because the one thing you notice when you read about history is how horrible things were compared to now, in almost every way). The biggest worry of course is the environment. I don't know what will happen, but i wish i did.
Wheatandbarkey2 karma
Who is a writer/artist you enjoyed when you were younger who isn't to your taste anymore? Why?
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Oh wow, that's a good question... I guess just a lot of 90s music that i don't really listen to anymore-- stuff like Oasis and Nirvana that were a huge part of my life that i look back on fondly (Cobain was a big influence on me), but aren't really my thing anymore. Probably a lot of superhero comics too-- Batman, Gen 13, The Darkness-- i loved that stuff when i was in high school.
imaginician2 karma
Do you like watching animation? Are there animated versions of your work?
Thanks for making your really thoughtful comics.
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Thanks! And i am forever impressed with animation, though there are no animated versions of my work.
centralservices2 karma
I'm a huge fan. Your characters inspire me all the time. Ethel in particular makes me want to be able to write a character I can dig into that much.
My main question: Can you think of a name for my new cat? She looks like this: kitten
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Thanks, i'm honored! As for the cat (congrats, by the way!), i'm terrible at names-- just think of a name that sounds good when you angrily yell it, as we all know the kind of amusingly destructive things that cats can get up to...
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Thanks! And yeah, i enjoy collaborations when i'm just the artist and don't have to do any of the writing because that is definitely like a vacation to me. Working with Dan O'Brien on his Presidents stuff has been literally The Best Thing Ever, for instance. I need to have my own comic where i'm in control of everything, but i love to collaborate alongside that-- doing a really good job of someone else's vision is something i find to be hugely rewarding. I like to please others.
mavericknm2 karma
Long time fan. Please keep doing what you do from the bottom of my heart.
Favourite cheap eat in Toronto? Mandatory opinion question about Toronto's Election. Have you considered moving towns? Why or why not?
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Thanks, i appreciate the kind words endlessly! Answers:
-favourite cheap food in toronto is probably just any sushi place-- i guess it's not THAT cheap, but it's under ten bucks for a roll, and i love them and they look so great visually as well.
-i didn't vote for Tory, but i have no objection to him being the mayor-- he's a centrist, and seems willing to listen to views other than his own, and for that i say hurrah indeed. I just want a mayor who's an adult and who doesn't hate everyone who's not like him, so job done and i'm very much looking forward to the next four years.
-i have a good deal on my apartment, but if i ever lose it i might have to move to Hamilton or something because this city is just getting too expensive. Which is scandalous, frankly.
StopBoringMe2 karma
Hi Winston,
I've started reading your comics some years ago. Lost them out of sight like 5-6 years ago. Stumbled again on them one year ago. Remembered how much I like them. Ordered a print. Framed that and continued to read. Follow you on Facebook.
A question that has always been bugging me: There is a great level of detail in your drawings relating to a certain kind of rock music. Details that I feel only someone who played in a band knows. For example the effect pedals (RAT eg.) seen one comic. Other are more general, like e.g. specific Nirvana shirts which were very popular in the 90ties.
Ah, ok, question: Did you ever play in a band? Guitar? Punk Rock? Alt Rock? Or just a very keen observer?
And I guess you were born late 70ties, early 80ties? Around my own d.o.b.?
Big question: Are you boy or a girl?
Final one: How may questions may I ask?
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Thanks man, i'm honored by the ongoing support..! Answers ahoy:
-it's a combination of being obsessed with music and wanting to put in authentic details, basically. A combination of research and wanting to be realistic. Plus my sisters's a musician, so that helps too.
-I myself have zero musical talent unfortunately.
-born in 1980!
-yes!
-as many as you want!
fizzixtrix2 karma
You sounds amazing and I admire your mind! I know that's not a question for you, but, hey, praise and compliments can't hurt, right?
dedalus222 karma
So I didn't really have a question, but I do want to pop my head in and join the chorus of people saying 'thankyou for your comics'. They're fucking insightful, and quite awesome.
Anyway, now that I'm writing this two questions came to mind.
Firstly, is there any future possibility of Zanadu being turned into a movie? Because I'd watch the shit out of that.
Also, as a broad question, how do you get inspiration for your stories?
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Thanks, eh!
-you never know! I did sell the film rights to one of the comix, but selling the rights and a movie getting made are two radically different things, i mean it's tough out there.
-inspiration is honestly just anything that i personally feel strongly about and can't stop thinking about. Personal issues i need to work out via my comix, or stories that i've had in my head for years that i want to get out of my head, or even just little scenes that i think of and then keep thinking of and then need to expand into something more, like the sphynx giving the pink-haired girl a christmas present and her being unbelievably happy about it. Stuff that i HAVE to work on because i can't stop thinking about it, because i feel strongly about it.
jesssforrest2 karma
Hi Winston, thanks for doing this ama!
I've been a fan for a long time, subnormality remains one of my main sources of procrastination. I love your art style, and it's amazing to see how it's changed over the years. How do you stay motivated to create such in-depth comics? And is there somewhere/something you can rely for inspiration when coming up with new ideas?
I'll be checking out the book as soon as I can from the UK!
WinstonRowntree5 karma
Thanks, i'm honored for the support! And motivation comes from an ongoing need to explore various ideas and issues via my work, i mean it's hugely therapeutic and has made me a better person i think. Motivation also comes from just wanting to do right by the medium as well, wanting to make the best comix i can to show that this medium can be as good as any other in terms of human expression. That's a battle that will probably never end, so the inspiration will always be there. Aim high, hopefully land somewhere decent-ish...
FinnSolomon2 karma
Hey Winston, I love your work, been reading your comics for years. I just want to thank you for all the amazing art and stories you've created.
I love all your modern day characters (Sphinxie, PHG, Ethel, Justine), but I also absolutely love your sci-fi themed comics (the one with two clones in the future, the traumatised soldier in the sex shop, the Jesus analogue). I'd like to ask, which do you prefer making, comics set in the here and now, or your sci-fi works?
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Thanks! And i love doing both of course, though maybe the self-contained nature of the sci-fi stuff makes it slightly more appealing to me-- the stuff where you don't need any existing knowledge of the characters to read it, and thus more people can enjoy it. I have a couple more decent sci-fi ideas in the pipeline and i can't wait to get them out (one is pretty dark, but hopefully still enjoyable...)
yeahoksurewhatever2 karma
In this cartoon the 2000s singer is the mutant hybrid of brendnan canning and Kevin drew, right? I have enjoyed their music before but it always bothered me how lyrics worth relating to or remembering isnt valued by artists and fans of what's known as indie rock, so thanks for acknowledging that and being generally incredible.
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Ha, naw, it's just a random dude to be honest, any resemblance is honestly unintentional. And yeah, there is kind of a lyrics problem in a lot of indie rock. I mean i love the New Pornographers, i seriously do, but listening to their songs can be like watching a movie with the wrong subtitles sometimes.
Wheatandbarkey2 karma
Do you have (set in the past) historical fiction Subnormality stories you are working on at the moment? When and where are/would they be set?
WinstonRowntree2 karma
No, i don't actually-- you'd think i would though based on my interest in history. I guess i prefer to focus on the present for whatever reason-- it's less research at least...
Tirax2 karma
Hey Winston,
I just wanted to say that I like your work, so thanks!
Furthermore, what do you still want to do with your work in the near/far future?
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Thanks! And i want to keep on doing crazy, longer stuff, especially more sci-fi stuff, because i love the self-contained stories. And then graphic novels eventually.... but not for a while.
Cubics_Rube2 karma
Love your work. People who say comics shouldn't be too wordy don't know what they miss out.
My questions:
- (Might be something I haven't seen answered, but) how old are you? :)
- What are your favourite game titles (old and recent), and what do you play regularly if you have the time?
- Probably the first time I seen your commission work, and I'm a bit surprised it's a religious themed book especially after the "Atheist Apocalypse" comic. Was this "just a job"?
- Do you follow internet personalities like: Nostalgia Critic, AVGN, CinemaSins, Tales of Mere Existence, any of the popular gaming channels, etc.
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Thanks! My answers:
-34!
-three favorite games are Deus Ex: HR, the first STALKER, and then Dark Souls (which i quit playing because i played it too much). I like games because of atmosphere, that sense of being somewhere Else. There's no one game i play regularly, lately i've been kind of playing 4-hour indie games over the weekend, that kind of thing
-oh, it's not religious themed in any way, believe me-- it's just a play on words extended to book length. It's completely about the drawings, as opposed to jesus or whatever, though fans of jesus will presumably enjoy it as well!
-oh yeah, there are a bunch of youtubers i watch all the time. CinemaSins for sure, and also Matthewmatosis and Super Bunnyhop and Errant Signal and similar such dudes-- there's some really good criticism out there actually.
wysilv2 karma
What's the best album you've listened to recently? I don't know how much it matters, mostly I just want to say thank you for creating such an amazing body of work. I am always so excited to see a new post of yours in my RSS feed. I find so much of the time that your art either says what I had thought, but in a better/more interesting/clearer way, or opens my mind to a new viewpoint that I truly appreciate.
Thanks.
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Thanks! And i think the newest Daft Punk album is the recent album that i'm most impressed with. I love detailed stuff that obviously took a lot of time and effort, and it clearly did.
beancounter28852 karma
What has been up with the "social justice" things on Cracked lately?
WinstonRowntree0 karma
i think a lot of people just wish there was more justice in society-- i know i do.
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Not bad! I like the fall/autumn/whatever, it's a good time. And i've got a lot of work to do, which is always good to be able to say!
maelmark2 karma
I love your artwork and here is something that I've always wanted to know. Where do you get your inspiration for your comics? They almost always hit me where it hurts and I love that.
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Thanks, glad you've enjoyed the comix! Inspiration just comes from anything i feel strongly about in daily life-- an idea, or a story, or just some kind of issue i'm personally dealing with that i want to explore by poring over it for however many weeks it takes to turn it into a comic. My inspiration is always just a desire to make something that makes me Feel something.
Lutetian2 karma
Hi, WR.
First of, I want to thank you for your incredibly deep and engrossing stories like Zanadu, Anomalies, Watching. And I think, that now you are participating (and still observing) in our society far more than every one of us. Your comics with all these look-what-I-found-in-your-mind things unite people from all over the world (for instance, I am from Russia).
Well, I have a couple questions for you.
-I love your plots about time-travelling. Will we see more? Have you ever thought to place a Sphinx there?
-Do you like movies? I've found a huge amount of references to them (Citizen Kane, Dr. Strangelove, Star Wars...). Do you have favourite films/actors/directors? (Also want to add, I am really into movies, but I've never seen something, where such an interesting manner of narration was used, or such a carefully described characters were shown).
-You mentioned Putin at least in three comics of yours. Why him? And does policy bothers you? As I see from your comics, you imagine it as something that turned to be a stupid brutal way of suppression of human natural rights, but in a same time you are really into it. You've represented Bush as the worst man after Hitler, Thatcher and Reagan as the demons of the Western history, Brezhnev is forced to continue arms race in hell. What do you think about present world leaders e.g. Putin, Obama, etc? Do you follow situtaions occuring nowadays with Ukraine or ISIS?
And finally. You know, there is a proverb in Russia: "brevity - the sister of talent". Seems not.
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Thank you, and i'm glad you've enjoyed the comix! On to some answers...
-maybe! I think i want to give the time travel a rest for now though, i may have used it too often. But i'm sure i'll revisit it again at some point...
-I don't watch as many movies as i used to, but i of course love good movies and should probably watch more... In terms of favorite movies, i love a diverse range of things, including "Alien" and Happy Go Lucky" and i've always really liked Luc Besson's movies for whatever reason. I need to watch more movies though, i should probably have a bigger list of favorites than i do.
-Don't take too much from my depictions of world leaders in old comics, most of it was just for the sake of jokes (though i'm certainly no conservative), and i try to be a whole lot less dismissive of other views these days. In terms of Putin though i'm just specifically horrified by the atmosphere he seems to have created in which so many journalists have been silenced or outright murdered-- Politkovskaya and others. It is a coward who attempts to silence dissenting voices, and if Putin is to any extent involved in such things as some people suggest he might be then he deserves no respect, to put it mildly. A real leader welcomes criticism, and we have few such leaders in any country, that's my opinion at least. The Prime Minister of Canada is a coward in this way, i mean it's really disappointing how much he seems to love making people swear oaths of silence and so on. And I try to keep up with the various situations in Ukraine and with ISIS, but i have nothing intelligent to say about either one-- i just don't know enough to be able to talk about them.
-well, i already have a sister, so i had no need for a second one..!
DasGanon2 karma
Hello!
I love your comics, especially the "outside observer"/"Comparison ones". I think it was the Sophie Scholl one that introduced me to subnormality (and was well timed, since I'm reasonably sure I had watched Downfall that week)
Since, I'm required to have a question, here's one not many people think about: What kind of effort does it take to actually host, and prepare a webcomic? Like domains, hosting, bandwidth, emails, etc?
Thanks!
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Thanks for the kind words! Hosting is negligible, to be honest-- i think i pay like ten bucks a month to host the site, and always have. The bandwidth isn't limited, so the actual hosting of the site has never been any kind of money pit or anything. Which certainly makes my job easier.
SpanishMarsupial2 karma
Where do you find or how do you think of the material within your comics? I've been reading since back in 08 and some of the content in your comics really hits close to the heart, or it blows my mind, or it just makes me stop and think for way longer than I usually would. I guess what I want to say is how do you think of this? And how do you make it sound so coherent?
Anyways. You're amazing and I hope you keep at it for as long as possible. Definitely will check out the book!
Cheers!
WinstonRowntree5 karma
Thanks, that means a lot! The material is usually just something in my life that i notice that i feel strongly about. I want to make stuff where i Feel something while making it, where i HAVE to make it because i compulsively think about it, or because i have to work out a personal issue, or because i hate my views on a subject and want to challenge them, or because i want to challenge someone else's views. It generally always starts with something i can't stop thinking about though-- an idea i MUST explore.
thisisgettingbad2 karma
HI! I'm such a big fan and I absolutely love how refreshingly unique Subnormality is. My favorite one was the comic with the machine that printed out a photo from the future; the ending killed me (in a good way!).
Oh gosh, I have so many questions, but I guess what I want to know is... what's your favorite song right now?
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Thanks, i'm really glad you've enjoyed the comix! I'm actually pretty happy with that photo comic too-- i was having a ton of creative difficulties in the preceding months and managed to comic my way out of them somehow.
Favorite song RIGHT NOW... i dunno, i think maybe Touch off the newest Daft Punk album. It starts with some creepy guy going on about touching people and is STILL somehow the best song ever. I love that album a lot, it's impressive as fuck.
WinstonRowntree5 karma
Thanks!! Music in general is one of my big inspirations... Anything i like that is also super-well-made. One thing stuck in my mind is this old interview with Trent Rezor about him making his albums in the early 90s, how much work it was because it was still the age of not using computers for everything, like just crazy amounts of work but he still did it. And still could be spontaneous, like he talks about how his one keyboard got left in the rain and still worked but sounded really fucked-up so he kept using it. That's one lesson i always remember, just to play it as it lays artistically, to never completely stick to the script because otherwise you'll miss out on unique sounds.
Kaynato2 karma
Do you consciously critique certain cultural elements with each work, i.e. aiming for specific themes, or do you let things flow along naturally?
In another way, do you consider framing more important than natural progression, or vice versa - where do you think a healthy balance lies, and how is it for you?
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Sometimes, though i leave that more for my Cracked stuff these days. Subnormality is more a case of me trying to find some kind of meaning in issues that i feel strongly about, and/or trying to tell a good (sci-fi) story. I don't consider any method more or less important-- just whatever lets you talk about what's important to you. The creative process needs to be as subjective as art itself is, i reckon.
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Ha, no, i had to google that one. That is amazing that they had their own video game...
Debord_to_Death2 karma
Hey Winston! Thank you for doing this ama; your work is an inspiration to me, both as a young artist and a person. It transcends, through characterization, bold line work and wonky little details that never stop spilling, into something greater than a "strip". The nights I've spent with your creations have been long, but never wasted.
Would you ever consider publishing a book of some sort, that collected Subnormality into print form in some capacity? I realize that some of the comics are meant for the web format first and foremost, but it'd be great to have a physical collection of your art to show friends or just explore on lazy Sundays sans electricity.
WinstonRowntree3 karma
Thanks, the kind words mean pretty much everything! Seriously-- that is why i do what i do, because there are people who tell me they like it.
And yeah, i know, a normal person would have put out a book by now, my priority is just that people get to read the work so as long as i'm paying the rent otherwise then i'm content in that way. I probably will have to do it eventually. I at least want to do a collection of all the sci-fi comics, i feel like that would be a decent project. I have a couple more in the pipeline that, when added to the existing ones, would make for a decent book. Maybe? Hopefully.
ProudToDrown2 karma
Hey Winston, thanks for doing Subnormality for so long. What's your favourite band and are you a fan of 90s alternative?
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Thanks for reading! Favorite band is Nine Inch Nails actually, they're one of the few 90s acts i still listen to-- i'm more a fan of 2000s alternative these days, QOTSA, Black Angels, stuff like that. For me, few artists have maintained the level of quality that Reznor has-- dude has high standards, and it shows.
alkxx1 karma
Hi, first of all, a fucking love your Work, its amazing.
-How was the transition to make relatively short Webcomics to others with " so many fucking words" ?
-Have you thought about editing a compilation book?
-And finally, your webcomics muchso contain social criticism , and since you have mentioned videogames... What do you think of " GamerGate "?
PS: Sorry if I made any misspellings, English is not my native language (I'm from Spain;))
WinstonRowntree2 karma
Thanks! Seriously. And in response:
-gradually! That's the only way it could happen. Boiling-frog style. Suddenly the scripts are 6000 words and you have no idea how you got there...
-yup, but the time is something i don't have unfortunately. People getting to read the work is my priority, so as long as that's possible i'm happy. But i will have to do one eventually...
-i'm sure you can guess how i feel about gamergate. My thing is, like, i get it, i get what it's like to be young and hate everything and think that successful people don't deserve what they have, like that 100% used to be me, so i'm always willing to be partially understanding that that mindset exists to some degree and not just write people off. But at the same time, i never wanted to hurt anyone or drive them from their homes, and i never, ever, EVER, EVER hated women. So you can't say it's just angry kids that are doing this. Whatever it is it's a sinister little minority that goes beyond angry youth, and the internet gives them a voice, and they also seem to gravitate to things i like, such as games and comics, and that really pisses me off. I dunno, it's one of those things that's just hard to think about because it's too depressing.
Let's talk about the positives i guess-- anita sarkeesian makes some great videos that focus on the exact right thing, ie: tropes. It's when something becomes a pattern that it becomes a problem, and that's the point she's been making, and she does some great work, and anyone who can't disagree with her work without flying into a defensive fury needs to examine themselves thoroughly. Not that you need me to tell you that.
WinstonRowntree2 karma
i think that the comix are a pretty thorough record of what i am in the dark, to be honest. It's basically the dramatization of the inside of my head...
clamp_stamp1 karma
Hi Winston :) Just liked to say that I am a major fan of yours and I feel your comic is truly unique (in a good way, obviously). I think I may have to start rereading them all again. I have a couple questions for you:
(1) When you were just starting out, did you ever share your work with people and ask them to critique it? I know you sent it into newspapers and what not but I was wondering if you ever had friends or fellow artists critique your work? I'm trying to write fiction stories more now and I would like some input but I am nervous about putting myself out there in that sense.
(2) A less serious question: Will we ever find out the name of the pink-haired girl?
WinstonRowntree1 karma
Thanks!
1) naw, not really. I'm generally also too nervous of people's reactions, even though feedback i've gotten has totally improved stuff i've worked on, so maybe i shouldn't be.
2) people have figured it out before actually, though i won't say how... If enough people do figure it out i'd just use her name in a comic, but i doubt that'll happen anytime soon
caiocaio-1 karma
You've frequently attacked content sharing sites with threats of lawsuits in hilariously demeaning and grandiose language, even ones that provide linkbacks and praise your work, saying you "hardly need the publicity". How do you show your face on Reddit?
Followup: Isn't it presumptuous to assume all hockey players are giant bigots?
Followup: I started reading your comics years ago, and assumed you were an angsty and pretentious 16 year old. Many years later, and I can't help but think you are an angsty and pretentious 15 year old. Have you discovered the miracle cure for aging?
Followup: oh oh oh what's your favourite band!!!!
Forscyvus39 karma
I've noticed most (all?) of your heavily-explored recurring characters are women. Is that intentional or did it just sort of happen?
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