So you'll probably remember that this time last week, we took a moment out to look at Julia Wertz's The Fart Party, which is one of the most truly original and witty webcomics around. I got in touch with Julia to let her know that her work was great, and begged and pleaded with her for an interview. Julia reluctantly agreed...
BBPC: Julia - firstly, thanks for taking a little time out for this interview, it's truly much appreciated...! I guess the first question that springs to mind is - what inspired you to create The Fart Party?
JW: I just wanted to have a way to document my life without keeping a real diary. I found it was much easier to capture small, seemingly insignificant moments in comics form rather than writing. Plus it's much funnier that way. Comics like "the shitler" would be total crap in writing form, the image is 99% of the story.
BBPC: So has it been plain sailing with The Fart Party and your other ventures? Or have there been a few hiccups along the way? (there certainly have been a few hurdles with Biff Bam Pow Comics!)
JW: My whole life has been one giant hiccup since then. Nothing is plain sailing once you start putting your life out there for people to read. The Fart Party has actually probably gone the smoothest, but books like "I Saw You…" (the anthology of missed connections comics I'm editing) had been nothing but a long, drawn out nightmare. That's why I'm kind of glad I still have to wait tables or work in coffee shops for cash, because it keeps me grounded.
BBPC: I had a look around The Fart Party website, and was pretty intrigued about your love / hate relationship with New York - what was the original idea behind the big move? Is it getting better for you?
JW: I was just tired of my old life in SF (although now I really miss it) I was antsy and wanted to go somewhere else. I was going to go to Portland but it seemed too much like settling down and going to Brooklyn seemed more intriguing. There are definitely things I hate about New York, but I can't deny that it's an incredibly interesting place. People watching here is amazing and there's always something waiting around the corner to blow you fucking mind. Some days the constant activity really wears me out, but I'm not ready to settle down yet so I think it's a perfect time for me to be here.
BBPC: Has moving up to New York opened any doors for you?
JW: Well, yes and no. I've done some freelancing for magazines like Vice and the New York Press, but after I did that, I realized I could have done it from San Francisco. So it's opened doors in the way that I would have never even considered doing those things before, but since they were right in my face in NY, I was motivated to actually do them.
BBPC: Irritatingly (on my part), I'm guessing that you're not going to be 'crossing the pond' anytime soon for an appearance at any of the UK conventions - but I'm sure you'll be popping up at a US con in the near future...! Where's your next appearance going to be, and will there be anything special for people to look out for (apart from your original artwork)?
JW: I'll be at MoCCA in New York, Heroes Con in North Carolina and SPX in Baltimore this year. I'm so disorganized that I don't know what I'll have at those tables that is new, but hopefully something? Maybe I'll start selling pieces of my dignity for $25 cents a pop.
BBPC: You're probably getting used to the good press coming to you from your work on The Fart Party (as some people may already know that you've received some great reviews at Bookgasm, New York Entertainment, Gutter Geek and Biff Bam Pow Comics) - but what about the first review you received? Was it good - and what did you think of it?
JW: The first review I got was actually from the Onion and it was really good. I was so happy about it and when I went to pick up a copy, my friend Matt Berneir was with me and I said "now I can show my mom I'm legit!" and he said "now you can be all "look mom, I made it into a fake newspaper!"
BBPC: Julia, thanks again for the interview - are there any last words you'd like to add? Maybe a few pointers about how people across the pond can get their hands on your art and / or comics?
JW: The only thing I can suggest is to go to comic book stores and ask the owner to order it wholesale from Atomic Books. They can contact Rachel Whang at Rachel@atomicbooks.com. It would help out me and Atomic Books. If they want artwork, I have some available at fartparty.org/store or contact me at juliawertz@hotmail.com
BBPC: It's truly been great - let us know if anything new is happening with you and / or The Fart Party!
Remember to checkout Julia's work over at The Fart Party website, and then drop her a note of love and appreciation on her MySpace page!
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