Winsor McCay Early Works' Publisher Mark Thompson: Q&A

Posted: Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Posted By: Tim O'Shea

Checker Book Publishing Group is in the midst of releasing a comprehensive compilation of rare and previously uncollected works of cartooning and animation pioneer Winsor McCay that will comprise 11 volumes. With the first two volumes already published, Winsor McCay: Early Works, Vol. III is set to be released in April 2004. SBC provided a detailed list of the volumes and their respective contents in mid-January. In mid-December 2003, however, the release of the first volume (or more exactly, its cover) generated a bit of concern. After reading Heidi MacDonald’s The Beat! at the PULSE regarding the cover image for Winsor McCay: Early Works, Vol. I, SBC contacted Checker to see the reasoning behind the cover. That initial correspondence with Checker’s publisher, Mark Thompson, prompted me to want to learn more about the project. So, with the help of Checker’s Assistant Publisher Paul Dubuc, SBC was able to conduct the following Q&A with Thompson. My thanks to Dubuc and Thompson for their respective time and efforts.

Tim O’Shea: How did Checker garner the McCay project?

Mark Thompson: The material is so rare that we were kinda shocked as we discovered more sources. I came across a collection up at the cartoon library at Ohio State while we were researching Milton Caniff. The more I looked into it the more I discovered just how lucky we might get. The source material and the large stockpile of cartoons he did prior to Little Nemo made for a potential of several volumes. Since this material has been collected VERY sparingly we were thrilled to be the publisher that undertook this critical reclaiming of a part of comics history that might have been lost to the ages.

TO: What were some of the biggest challenges of re-mastering some of McCay's earlier work and arranging this volume in general?

MT: Well , initially it was the travel time. We went to numerous places East of the Mississippi and found items here and items there. Like pieces of a puzzle it just came together.

TO: This is only the first of 11 volumes. How will the material be broken down among the volumes, and is there a publishing schedule for all the volumes?

MT: Well we start with modest chronological goals, 1903, 1904, 1905 etc. then we hope readers will give us some wiggle room as we discover rare pieces that we slot for an edition simply because it is the next upcoming edition. Occasionally days are missing or specific pieces are unusable so we skip them. We hope the content as a whole shows his development in the particular time frame rather than fulfill a completist’s goal from volume to volume. When we are finished however we intend to have the collections as a whole be the complete and definitive resource to his career prior to and outside Nemo.

TO: Of all the McCay material, is there a phase you would consider to be a favorite of yours and if so, why?

MT: Probably Dream of the Rare Bit Fiend period. This is where Warhol got his career from and the concept of animation was conceived. Not to mention being the forerunner of today's comic book.

TO: How hard is it to strike a balance between addressing modern-day standards/concerns (such as racial sensitivities) while maintaining the artistic integrity of the original work?

MT: Very difficult. As we have stated in the past, we hope everyone understands that this was just a factor of the times. The detractors of the first volume I think were in agreement that the material should be published. We simply have to be careful as to our presentation and focus of the material, as well as include warnings.

TO: To people that may not be familiar with McCay's work, what would you tell them to convince them they need to check out this volume?

MT: Any student of comic book art, general art, or animation needs to start with McCay. Any fan of art, comics, cartooning , or animation deserves to do themselves a service and read the books.

TO: What else is on the horizon for Checker in 2004?

MT: Well we just announced Star Trek, and are sending Dick Tracy to press as we speak. We continue to get requests from fans, which is fantastic.

Got some comments on this item?
Have your say at the Silver Bulletins forum.