Thursday, December 29, 2005
Stuck Rubber Baby
10 years after its release, I finally read Howard Cruse's magnum opus Stuck Rubber Baby. Only once in a while does art affect me so strongly. The book has such soul, its characters are so engaging and human, the storytelling is impeccable, the whole thing is so moving...I can't find the words to praise it sufficiently. Please read it.
Cruse also wrote a "making-of" the graphic novel, the Long and Winding Stuck Rubber Road. His descriptions of forming a committed relationship with the Muse are spot-on:
My "muse" was charging me up with creative inspiration; my practical side was screaming, "Are you crazy? Do you realize how long it would take you to draw all those pages? You’re already in debt and you have almost no money coming in. How could you support yourself?" link
....
I suddenly recognized the feelings I’ve been having the last day or so. They are a possible storyline emerging from my subconscious. They come with a rush of adrenaline that feels like the best kind of high, but they also come with a throbbing sense of dread.
"It’s like when you feel that you may be falling in love," I told Eddie this morning. "There’s tremendous exhilaration, but the implications are scary.
"I could end up committing myself to a long-term relationship here. But how do I know it’s really love? Maybe it’s infatuation. Next week it could abruptly cool off. (Or worse yet, what if I cool off a week after a contract is signed…?) There’s a point when you’re thinking about entering into a new relationship when you know you can turn back and not take the risk. Backing off may be the smartest thing you can do, since sometimes loving feelings are 100% illusion and wishful thinking.
"On the other hand, backing off can become a very bad habit. Sometimes it is love. Sometimes you have to trust your feelings and just jump off that cliff into the unknown."
That’s where my head is today. I’m scared at the way my impulse to create has shifted into overdrive. A few days ago I had a vague idea of the possible seeds of a story. Since then all sorts of intriguing characters, subplots, and dramatic moments have begun piling into my head. link
I can relate. Because the Universe is capricious and cruel, Howard Cruse continues to struggle without the financial compensation he so richly deserves. His story doesn't give me any hope for my own financial future. But he made an awesome work of art. If Sita turns out anywhere near as good, I'll be more than satisified.
Comments:
I know what you mean. I have always thought SRB was an incredible read, which is why I use it in a variety of my college classes - Currently, Introduction to Sociology. The only problem is getting enough copies!
As I said in my Email - if Howard Cruse, who's a freakin' genius, isn't making money in comics, I dunno why I'm trying. Thanks for plugging Stuck Rubber Baby. I read it about once a year & am never bored by revisting it.
Post a Comment
<< Home
