Interviews - Dakota McFadzean

On this episode of The Comics Alternative Interviews, Derek talks with Dakota McFadzean about the release of the latest issue of Irene -- co-edited with Andy Warner and DW -- as well as his own comics output. They begin by focusing on the eclectic comics and art anthology, now in its fifth issue, the genesis of the publication, and how co-editing Irene has helped define his career after having graduated from The Center for Cartoon Studies. Derek asks Dakota about the challenges of overseeing a graphic compilation and how his own work has seen similar inclusion in such anthologies as The Hic Hoc Illustrated Journal of Humor, Lies Grown-Ups Told Me, and the prestigious Best American Comics 2012. But the heart of the conversation is devoted to Dakota's own prolific output, especially his daily online strip, The Dailies, and last year's impressive collection, Other Stories and the Horse You Rode in On (Conundrum Press). Derek asks Dakota about the fantastical and even surreal quality of his stories, his penchant for childhood narratives, and the iconic prevalence of faces and masks in many of his comics (of which Dakota isn't immediately aware). Stories such as "Standing Water," "Ghost Rabbit," and "Unkindness" -- all collected in Other Stories -- are excellent introductions to Dakota's unique style, as is the more realistic narrative Hollow in the Hollows (One Percent Press) that came out earlier this year. Indeed, the latter is one of Dakota's most developed stories, and the two discuss the demands of writing more sustained and longer-form narratives as well as the artist's plans for this kind of storytelling. Dakota also talks about his upcoming book from Conundrum, Don't Get Eaten by Anything, a collection of the strips that make up The Dailies. This s definitely an artist to keep track of, and if you're not familiar with Dakota McFadzean's work, you should definitely check out The Dailies as well as has book through Conundrum Press.