AC's Exclusive Interview with Nicholas Gurewitch, Author of the Comic Strip Perry Bible Fellowship

Comic strips are a medium typically filled with lame jokes and kid-friendly gags of unbearable sweetness. In fact, before reading any further, go grab your local newspaper and read a page or two of the Peanuts and Marmaduke strips you fondly remember from your childhood.

Not funny, are they? 

The comic strips found in most newspapers have become so safe that it's pretty shocking to see a comic that steps out of the mold to try something innovative or even remotely controversial.

Nicholas Gurewitch's The Perry Bible Fellowship (or The PBF) is one such strip, with a demented streak reminiscent of Gary Larson's The Far Side (although the humor is treated completely differently) and a constantly changing artistic style. It has gained a significant and loyal fan base, simply because it's funny and engaging--definitely not your average comic. And Nicholas Gurewitch isn't your average writer or artist.

Nicholas took some time to speak with AC about the deliciously twisted world of The PBF.

Associated Content: First off, the art in The Perry Bible Fellowship's amazing and noticeably eclectic. What inspires you artistically?

Nicholas Gurewitch: I think the eclecticism goes hand in hand with trying to catch people off guard. It's more of a comedic inspiration than an artistic one.

AC: You've got a PBF book on the way. Is it going to be all new material or are you including older stuff?

NG: It'll simply be most of the comics- old and new.

AC: When can we buy it?

NG: This September I'm told.

AC:There are undeniably a lot of comics like the PBF that wouldn't exist--or at least wouldn't be as profitable--if it wasn't for Internet exposure. Is there a particular website that made the PBF successful?

NG: Eh, I'm not sure. If there was one, I didn't get a memo about it.

AC: Your comics often juxtapose classic images of childhood innocence with the bizarre and morbid--like Atlantis, you sick bastard. Uh, what the hell happened to you as a kid?