Spittoon’s CUE (China Urban Expression) comic book has been out since July and we’re really happy to hear a lot of the great feedback we’ve been getting!
In our first issue of CUE there’s everything from a Baijiu-soaked noir China Bond hallucination to a dimension shifting kuai di driver.
As part of a series of interviews with our artists, we speak to them about their work and inspiration. Behold–contributing writer (CUE’s Managing Editor) Michael Marshall and artist (CUE’s Art Editor) Brendan McCumstie!
Why kuai di?
Why not?
Actually, the character is an important cornerstone for the story. He represents the invisible yet ubiquitous side of the city. In the western cities it could be argued the invisible citizens are the single elderly–passed by and ignored by the majority. In Beijing it is the humble delivery driver. The working poor.
On any corner at any given time of day they are present. People barely give them a glance, yet rely on them heavily for daily existence. The kuai di drivers despite often not actually being native to Beijing have experience and knowledge of this city that is varied yet extensive. They are the one consistent element that interact with all levels of society from the richest to the lowest rung.
It’s not our intent to begin an advocacy group for the kuai di drivers by any means, but there is certainly a humanist tone to the comic. We didn’t necessarily set out to create this underlying current, but it became implicit in the development of the story.
We can all empathize with the character because there’s a little kuai di in all of us. Searching for something or somewhere without really understanding where that place is.
Why read the story?
This story hopefully allows readers to gain a small insight into the people they share and experience this city with. From the dual perspectives of the protagonist in the story and of the writer/artist too.
In comparison to the other stories contained within the first fabulous edition of CUE, we chose to portray the story of kuai di in a more traditional comic book style and pacing. The reasons being numerous, aesthetic obviously, but also as an opportunity to expose those who are not associated with comics to perhaps find an avenue to try them while also allowing the experienced comics readers an opportunity to appreciate different styles and approaches within the other four included stories in the compilation.
What will happen in future installments of the kuai di story?
Your guess is as good as ours. Buy the next issue and find out.
Why does he have white hair?
We ran out of ink so we weren’t able to colour it. At least that’s our side of the story. The kuai di guy tells us it’s a condition called canities subita, and he literally woke up one morning with it. It could of course also be because he is as dead as his hair follicles.
And what about you guys?
We are both local raconteurs . . . wait . . . raccoon toes . . . no no no . . . rickshaw tours . . . um . . . One of us is an artist and the other is a local entertainment promoter. We’ll leave it to you to work out which is which.
Now get yourself a copy of our first-ever NEW comic book!
Buy it here from our Weidian store in either Chinese or English. (Or just get both because versions cuz they’re cool.)