Today’s comic, “Working For The Uncle!” by Max Clotfelter, is about working at Uncle Ben’s.
This comic was originally published in As You Were, Vol. 5: This Job Sucks, featuring 44 new comics about crappy jobs.
Interview with Max Clotfelter by Natalye Childress for Silver Sprocket
Why did you choose the job you share in the comic?
The Uncle Ben’s story seemed to fit well in a two-page comic, which is all I had time to draw. I wanted to do a comic about the time I was a human fire alarm at a hotel for five months, but that would have taken eight pages to explain!
What is the BEST job you’ve had?
I’m almost 40 and I’ve never had a “serious” job that pays real well and provides me with benefits and enough money to save for retirement. I guess I sometimes dream about that kinda job. But I’m totally unambitious, so I keep spinning my wheels doing go-nowhere slacker jobs.
What is the value or purpose in making art?
Drawing is just the thing I naturally like to do. And if I can use that impulse to connect with people or make someone laugh, then I think it serves a decent purpose in my life. It does consume a lot of time though, so my commitment to drawing and making weirdo unmarketable comix has certainly taken energy away from my life that I could have redirected into doing something more “normal” like getting a real job, having money, starting a family, and living a square existence.
Do you think artists have a social responsibility?
Hmmmm, not any more than the social responsibility everyone has.
What are you working on now?
I just finished a poster for Debacle Fest, which is a fantastic annual experimental music festival in Seattle that I’ve been attending for about seven years in a row. Since I’m not a musician, it was nice to be able to contribute something to an event that has meant so much to me over the years.
If someone liked your comic in As You Were, what would you recommend they check out next?
Please look me up on here and buy some of my zines.
For more from Max Clotfelter, check out his website.
This comic was originally published in As You Were, Vol. 5: This Job Sucks, featuring 44 new comics about crappy jobs.
