I met Shannon Wheeler about four years ago. I was wearing khakis, my shirt was tucked in, and I carried my resume in a special little folder which, by all practical accounts, cost more than the ride over on the Tri-Met. He seemed nice, if not a bit aloof, and I was eager to get in on his magazine thing. I introduced myself, and he reared up suddenly with a swift blow to my face. I was devastated. I couldn’t understand what was happening. Someone else in the room - I can’t remember who - informed me that laying a pimp hand on visitors was “just his way” and that he didn’t mean anything by it. I quieted my raging sacks of testosterone and begged him to let me be a part of his life. He reluctantly agreed, then urinated on my recently-polished-for-this-very-occasion shoes. I had to pay him ten dollars for the privilege, but I will never forget it. That was one of the most important days of my life, a lesson I will keep with me always.

Since that fateful meeting, I have come to understand that Shannon is one of the trailblazers in DIY comics; a self publisher, he has set his magazine aside (hopefully only for a little while) and focused his brilliance on an OPERA (!) based on his most well known creation: Too Much Coffee Man. What follows is an interview with Shannon, where he discusses his philosophy, TMCM, and a bunch of scattered topics from my scattershot brain.

All right, let’s start with some quotes. Tell me what you think, and if you still agree with these bursts of Shannon Wheeler wisdom… “Send me a photo and a $100, and I’ll give you a line in a comic. Open to anyone.”

The $100 offer is still out there. I’m still open to it. It’s $200 for a speaking role.

“Your consumption is your politics.”

"Consumption is politics." People smarter than myself made the observation. I was trying to whittle the thought down to something consumable by the public. Yep. The older I get, the more I think it’s true.

“We should worship talent, not fame.”

I’ve amended my “talent/fame” thought. “Fame is context, not content.” Both my statements are simply my knee jerk reaction to our culture’s worship of notoriety.

“I hate things that are trendy. It’s fashionable to hate trends. I guess that means I hate myself.”

“I hate myself…” I was damn proud of this one. I thought it was especially good since most trendy people really do hate themselves.

“The chemicals are part of the identity.”

Chemicals? I don’t even remember this one….

After reading some of your previous interviews, the subject of the strip/comic becoming a full-fledged magazine seemed to come up quite often. One line of thought was that the size of your fan base might be affected because of it. Now that you’re on the other side of the magazine, what are your thoughts on the experience?

I think I lost some comic book readers. I also gained some fans in other corners of our culture.

Will we ever see the magazine again?

I’d say the jury is still out. I’d love to do the magazine again. I need someone who could take over the reigns. I was spending way too much time solving problems. I want to make more comic books… or operas or something.

Do you feel the onslaught of comic book movies will help or hurt artists and writers in the long run?

It’s sad when people are doing comics as a steppingstone for movies. It’s like musicians writing sound track songs. Comics are just starting to come into their own. It’s sad when they play lapdog to movies. It’s even worse when people give more respect to comics that are optioned or are made into movies, than to comics that are simply good.

How important are webcomics in the modern era?

Seems like webcomics are building up some steam. More power to ‘em.

What’s it like being called a genius? I’ve also seen you described as nervous and fidgety. Is there a correlation?

I get self-conscious which translates to nerves and fidgetiness. It’s horrible to be called a genius. Thank god it doesn’t happen too often.

How about some extended word association… Bruce Wayne or Peter Parker or Tony Stark?

Batmobile. Mary Jane. Stark Enterprise.

Will Eisner or Charles Shultz or Max Fleischer?

Spirit. Snoopy. Clown.

Austin or Berkley or Portland (and why)?

Upstart. Strong will. Rainy. (my kids’ names, and my current home)

Roland Emmerich or Paul Verhoeven or Brett Ratner?

Starship Troopers.

Jesus or Jim Jones or L. Ron Hubbard (and why)?

Parking lot. (I saw Jim Jones when I was a kid – I have a strong memory of the parking lot.)

George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan or Richard Nixon?

Looks like a monkey. Acted with a monkey. Looks like a dick.

Monday or Thursday or Sunday?

Pain. Sunday is my deadline/work day.

Do you feel there is a general consensus among most art forms to achieve the big three: movie, merchandise, and endorsement? And how did your previous experience trying to put together a weekly series of TMCM, influence your decision to turn to the world of opera?

A consensus among art forms to achieve movie, merch, and endorsement…. It all boils down to people. When I did a commercial for Converse Tennis Shoes (years back), jokingly some people would accuse me of selling out. They’d immediately say that they’d sell out too if they were given the chance. The funny thing was that I believed them. I believed that they’d sell out. I didn’t sell out – which is why I’m not more successful. When the scripts for the TMCM cartoon started to suck I started fighting, and I think that’s what helped kill it. It’s such an individual thing… I like merch. I like wearing t-shirts, and I like coffee mugs. People always say that I should do something with Starbucks… obviously I haven’t done that.

Finally, give us the lowdown on the Too Much Coffee Man opera: What is it about? When can we see it? And where the hell do we buy tickets?

We open on Sept 22nd at the Brunish Hall. We should have tickets on sale sometime early next month… I’m not sure yet where/how to buy tickets. I really need to get on top of that.