If you've dropped by Nathan Cooper's In the Sticks this week, you might have noticed a bit of a political bent. A solitary occurrence, perhaps? Not at all. The political slant of this week's installments is just the beginning, as Cooper plans to bring a conservative perspective to the strip.
We interviewed Cooper to get the skinny on this big change.
GoComics: What made you decide to inject politics into In the Sticks?
Nathan Cooper: I think we all need an injection of something from time to time.
GC: You’ve described the viewpoint of the strip as “conservative.” What more can you tell us about the particular politics of the strip?
NC: I'll put it this way; I've polled the strip's characters and a majority of them wish they could have been the one shot in the face by Dick Cheney while duck hunting.
GC: Do you think people from both sides of the conservative-liberal split will be able to enjoy the strip?
NC: The strip should give anybody with knowledge of politics and current events something to laugh about and Cosmo the blue jay does speaks up for the liberal viewpoint. I would like to concede one point to Democrats - somebody needs to start spell-checking the Tea Partiers' protest signs.
GC: Would you describe yourself as politically active?
NC: I like to jog while listening to Rush Limbaugh. Does that count?
GC: Did you ever consider editorial cartooning?
NC: Political cartooning is for supremely talented professionals who can concisely and quickly sum up current events. So no, I haven't.
GC: How would you compare your approach with In the Sticks to Garry Trudeau’s politically charged (and left-leaning) Doonesbury?
NC: I just hope I have that kind of full-bodied longevity. Obviously, I'm talking about Garry's hair.
GC: Will any real-life politicians be appearing in the strip?
NC: Nice try, but we all know there are no real life politicians. They're all robots manufactured by the Boeing Corporation. Don't tell anybody.
GC: Let's do some word association.
NC: Okay.
GC: Ronald Reagan.
NC: Jelly beans.
GC: Sarah Palin.
NC: Future President?
GC: Al Gore.
NC: Invented Internet and time machines.
GC: Jimmy Carter.
NC: Peanut farmer.
GC: Hillary Clinton.
NC: Rodham? Darn near killed 'em.
GC: Tiger Woods.
NC: John Edward's role model.
GC: John McCain.
NC: What could have been.
GC: Tea Party.
>NC: Obama's worst nightmare.
GC: John Edwards.
NC: Hide your wives.
GC: Obamacare.
NC: Uh oh.
GC: Nancy Pelosi.
NC: I call her "Scary Eyes."
GC: Alec Baldwin.
NC: My chest hair's role model.
GC: Rush Limbaugh.
NC: Never plays the songs I request on his radio show.
GC: Name three political figuresyou wouldn’t mind playing golf with.
NC: Alive or dead - Richard Nixon, because I know he would look the other way if I took an extra mulligan; Dan Quayle, but I'm not riding in the cart if he's driving; Howard Dean, just to hear him yell "fore."
