Meet Charlie Shoup of Glassell Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlie Shoup.

Hi Charlie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hello, my name is Charlie Shoup. I’ve had a lot of creative identities (and identity crises) during the last fifteen years of my life in Los Angeles. I’ve been a stand up comic, a TV writer, an illustrator, an animator, production grunt, and a professional complainer. But all these experiences seemed to perfectly combine Voltron-style when I picked up making comic strips. So I gave up on steady income and quit my job. Now I’m a full-time cartoonist and a dead proud one.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Los Angeles has always been the backdrop to the weird twists and turns of my life. Having my jokes stolen by a famous comedian at the Comedy Store, getting chewed out by angry Hollywood producers, and learning to draw hands. But they say comedy is just tragedy plus time. I’ll keep you posted on that one. 

But the same city that knocked me around has also become my perfect office. I constantly need different spaces to find inspiration and focus. Most mornings, I take to the train and settle in some place new. And Mark, you have been very nice, so I’ll tell you my secret spots (all free to use). 

1) The fifth floor seating pods at the Westin Bonaventure. You will get a sneaking suspicion that you’re not allowed to be there. The trick is to ignore that feeling completely. (This is also where I’m writing to you from)

2) The LA River bank in Frogtown. Outside La Colombe, someone graciously installed a wooden box to act as a bench.

3) LA Central Library. Grab a handful of inspiration from the bottomless pit of human knowledge and expression. Then find a quiet corner and magic will happen. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My pride and joy is my independent comic strip called “Wicks” which I write and illustrate. It’s a workplace comedy that takes place in the underworld (Think “Parks and Rec” but in Hell.) If you’ve ever wondered if your boss is Satan in a poor disguise, it may be for you.

What sets me apart from others? I bet most people would have posted their first comic to see if people even liked it before quitting their job. But I’m spunky that way.

You can read it on Instagram @wickscomic.

How do you define success?
Once at a friend’s house, I had found some small stones in the garden and drew cartoon faces on them to give to their five-year-old daughter. They were little rock buddies that we called Locas Rocas (Crazy Rocks). When her mother wanted to see for herself, the daughter yelled, “Don’t touch them! They’re mine!”. As she was carted off for a time-out, I thought to myself, “That’s the greatest thing anyone has said about my work.” 

After the launch of my comic strip, I started to experience this sort of feedback on a more regular basis. At first, it was friends, aunts, uncles, parents, and childhood neighbors. But slowly, people I’ve never met chimed in. Some excerpts below:

“Accurate representation of rodent chaos.” A comment on my rat characters who are a bunch of lazy bums. It’s from one of my favorite followers who is an actual expert on rats and mice. 

“lol FREE MY BOY TUNA!” In response to Tuna (one of the aforementioned rats) getting thrown in jail.”

“I’ve just stumbled on gold bra” In response to Tuna getting blown up by a bottle rocket. 

“I always enjoy seeing your comics” & “Never fail to make me laugh dude, love your comics.” These are from Ari and Shaw, two of my most loyal fans. Had to give them a shout out. 

“Those two talking tampons are pretty funny”. For the record, the mentioned characters are not meant to look like tampons but I know when to accept a compliment. 

Success to me has been seeing someone connect with my characters. Whether it’s rocks in the garden or my rats exploding, it touches me every time.  

Pricing:

• N/A. All of my comics are free to read online.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @wickscomic

Image Credits
Ann Gutierrez