Renowned comics creator Jimmy Gownley shares his adventures as he grows from an eager-to-please boy into a teenage comic book artist. This is the real-life story of how the DUMBEST idea ever became the BEST thing that ever happened to him.
As I read this book, I got so overwhelmed that I had to keep putting the book down to calm myself.
After reading Jimmy Gownley’s life story, ‘Amelia Rules’ makes much more sense. It’s kind of like he poured his whole self into the characters. Or maybe not like that. The way his stories and drawings are, they are just too amazing to explain in mere words.
As part of Jimmy Gownley’s job, he speaks at schools, libraries, and conventions around the country. If I had seen one of his speeches as a kid, I would have been inspired.
I love the idea of making a graphic novel based on your life experiences. I wish I could do that, but I don’t think my life story would be that entertaining. I did get hit by a golf cart in high school. That’s pretty strange. I’m hoping to put that experience in one of my comics someday.
As a cartoonist myself, this story really got to me, and reading Jimmy Gownley’s origin story made me think about my origin story. I always loved drawing as a little kid (mostly stick figures), but I started to take off when I discovered Calvin and Hobbes. It was in 5thgrade that I decided I wanted to be a cartoonist. I started by drawing my own spoof of ‘Calvin and Hobbes,’ which I called ‘Halle and Carrie.’ Halle was a human girl, and Carrie was a kangaroo (I have no idea why a kangaroo). I had to start somewhere. And my origin story is still in progress. I’ve just finished writing my own children’s book featuring my own characters. It was a long stressful journey, but I did it. Here’s what the front cover is going to look like.
I’ve already started drawing a sequel which will probably be published next year if I’m lucky.
For all the artists out there reading this, keep drawing. Even if you start off drawing stick figures, that’s a good start. You can only get better.
This week’s Weird but True Fact about Comics
Artist Charles M. Schulz created nearly 18,000 “Peanuts” comic strips.