Sweatshop

by Peter Bagge, Stephen DeStefano, Johnny Ryan

This situational comedy graphic novel is about a newspaper strip "sweatshop" of aspiring cartoonists who are attempting to make it big like their boss, but on their own terms. Mel Bowling is the unhappy, out-of-touch creator of a very bad, daily newspaper comic strip called Freddy Ferret (a cross between Dilbert and Garfield ). He spends most of his time listening to Rush Limbaugh and coming up with horrible catchphrases to merchandise, while his “sweatshop” cast of studio assistants grind out all the hard work. Sweatshop is a hilarious situational comedy from acclaimed author Peter Bagge ( Buddy Does Seattle, Woman The Margaret Sanger Story ) that ingeniously incorporates the visual styles of cartoonist guest stars like Stephen DeStefano ( Popeye ) and Johnny Ryan ( Prison Pit ) to give voice to Bowling’s colorful cast of misfit, aspiring cartoonists (plus a cameo by Neil Gaiman!), all attempting to make it big like their boss, but on their own terms. Originally published as a six-issue series by DC Comics in 2003 that was never collected, this is one of the best and most undervalued works of one of the key voices of his generation. Full color

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

152 pages, Paperback

First published February 10, 2015

About the author

Peter Bagge is an American cartoonist known for his irreverent, kinetic style and his incisive, black-humored portrayals of middle-class American youth. He first gained recognition with Neat Stuff, which introduced characters such as Buddy Bradley, Girly-Girl, and The Bradleys, and followed it with Hate, his best-known work, which ran through the 1990s and later as annuals. Bagge’s comics often exaggerate the frustrations, absurdities, and reduced expectations of ordinary life, combining influences from Warner Brothers cartoons, underground comix, and classic cartoonists like Bob Clampett, Tex Avery, and Robert Crumb. Beyond satire and fiction, Bagge has produced fact-based comics journalism, biographies, and historical comics, contributing to outlets such as suck.com, MAD Magazine, toonlet, Discover, and Reason. His biographical works include Woman Rebel, about Margaret Sanger, Fire!!, on Zora Neale Hurston, and Credo, on Rose Wilder Lane. Bagge has collaborated with major publishers including Fantagraphics, DC Comics, Dark Horse, and Marvel, producing works such as Yeah!, Sweatshop, Apocalypse Nerd, Other Lives, and Reset. He has also worked in animation, creating Flash cartoons and animated commercials, and has been active as a musician in bands such as The Action Suits and Can You Imagine. Bagge’s signature art style is elastic, energetic, and exaggerated, capturing movement and comic expression in a way that amplifies both humor and social commentary. His personal politics are libertarian, frequently reflected in his comics and essays, and he has been a longtime contributor to Reason magazine. Bagge’s work combines biting satire, historical insight, and a relentless visual inventiveness, making him a central figure in American alternative comics for over four decades.

Reviews

[Matthew Pennell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, not great. Almost feels like a return to the characterisations that made Hate such a great series - Carrie in particular feels like a retread of Lisa Leavenworth - but the storylines are much less compelling and the lack of a remotely sympathetic protagonist doesn't help. Not all that surprising that it was cancelled after such a short run. I still love the Bagge art style, though.

[Nicholas Ball · Rating 3 out of 5]

A real mixed bag. I didn't particularly like the main character design or art style... But then again the (brief) narratives and minicomics draw by the cast had their own styles and some great art. Likewise too, some of the dialogue and story devices fell flat, but every now and then I found some small conversation or pieces that I found unique and interesting. I would read issue three again, but I couldn't find a thing I liked at all in issue six. A 50/50 score is the fairest review I can leave.

[Javier Muñoz · Rating 3 out of 5]

En principio suena bien la premisa, un estudio donde Mel Bowling, el creador de las tiras cómicas de Freddie el Hurón, tiene varios empleados no demasiado talentosos trabajando en su personaje... este es un trasfondo que puede dar mucho juego gracias al conocimiento del mundillo que supuestamente debe tener Bagge, pero en realidad cuando aborda el tema de los cómics, los aficionados, las convenciones y la industria en general abusa demasiado de los típicos clichés que quizá a los turistas les harán gracia, pero a los verdaderos fans del medio lo normal es que les chirríen bastante.

En todo caso Bagge consigue buenas historias, disfrutables y entretenidas cuando se centra en los personajes del estudio de Mel Bowling, aún siendo muy arquetípicos, la verdad es que sabe sacarles partido y tiene momentos interesantes, divertidos, incluso alguna viñeta nos puede sacar una carcajada a traición.

[Derek Royal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Peter Bagge's work, but I had never read his short-lived Sweatshop series. The stories here definitely have a Bagge feel to then, like Hate set in a cartoonist's world. The humor, the scenarios, the dialogue, the at times frantic style are all familiar, and not in a hackneyed way. It would have been great for DC to have published this for longer than 6 issues. I wonder if, today, some place like Image might not be the kind of place for this to get a better chance at life. This isn't Bagge's greatest work, but it's up there with some of his most fun work.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another funny outing by alt-cartoonist Peter Bagge. This time he satirizes the daily comic strip industry itself with a behind-the-times cranky bland cartoonist and his stable of aspiring young associates that do all the real work of getting the strip out while harboring their own ambitions. They run the gamut from the shy nerd to the sarcastic blowhard to the earnest do-gooder plus the old man’s sister as the office manager and his rival cartoonist who always seems to win whatever competition they are in whether it be work or play.

[Julesreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giving it five stars not bc it’s so amazing, but bc this got cancelled after 6 issues and Bagge said he could’ve done this forever and had stories ready and I believe it would’ve been great in the long run. It’s certainly funny and richer than meets the eye. I really enjoyed it especially before bed.

[Lewistron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lol very sexist, misogynistic, satirical and a bit insensitive. Love the art and chaos of it all.

[Mark Schlatter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a much tamer Bagge creation than much of his work (especially compared to Hate!) as it was originally published in comic book form for DC. The focus is a old-timey syndicated cartoonist and his "sweatshop" of underlings who actually do all the work on the strip. Bagge takes swipes at whole swathes of the industry here, including alternative comics, awards programs, and the huge conventions. It's just as snarky as you might expect, but the subject material isn't as shocking. Bagge doesn't do all the artwork, so I found it fascinating to see other artists (e.g., Johnny Ryan, Stephen DeStefano) mimic or adapt his style.

[Jeff Buddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sometimes think that Peter Bagge is making great literature, he's just not aware that it's great literature. To him, they're just stories. But, fer goddsake Pete, you're a master when it come to creating a character and you do it with drama and humor and sympathy and a panache that few novelists can approach. I know that "Sweatshop" was a bid for bucks, but you did it with proper punk rock perseverance. I loved it. Readers should know that the narrative arc remained unfinished so this is a moment in time, not a complete thought.