Bob Fingerman examines ups and downs of creative minds in 'Printopia'

Word Balloons #1270: 'Minimum Wage' author has graphic novel and art book now available

One of comics’ acclaimed chroniclers of the 1990s has returned with his first original graphic novel in a decade. Bob Fingerman’s “Printopia” examines print shop employee Darla, her creative struggles, and those of the eclectic customers of the shop.

Bob Fingerman was discovered originally by Harvey Kurtzman; he worked for Mad and Cracked; and his comic “Minimum Wage” was for me right up there with “Hate” and “Eightball” with capturing the feeling of a certain subculture in the 1990s with deft humor.

I talked to Bob Fingerman for an interview in the May 28 Comic Shop News, where he discussed Printopia and other works.

MP: Tell me about your new graphic novel, Printopia.

BF: It’s set at the titular print shop, Printopia, and the cavalcade of eccentrics who come there to bring their vision to the world. Sword-and-sorcery, cozy mysteries, underground comix, and more. Each of them is egged on by an imaginary friend – their muse. It’s a comedy, but I think it has something to say about the creative mind and its ups and downs.

MP: Did you have particular inspirations for the characters?

BF: They mostly come from my own pesky muse: my very unquiet brain.

MP: Many people came to know you from “Minimum Wage,” featuring young people finding their way in NYC in the 1990s. How would you compare that work to your more recent?

BF: Both are character-driven. Like Rob in Minimum Wage, the main character in Printopia, Darla, is young and wrestling with her own creativity and self-doubt. Even with all the odder elements, it’s pretty grounded. I think there’s a lot to relate to.

MP: Tell me about the art book “That’s Some Business You’re In.” (I believe I heard on the Dana Gould Podcast Hour that the title was based on something your father said?)

BF: That’s an artbook/career memoir covering the 40 years I’ve been at this professionally, from my roots working for Harvey Kurtzman, the creator of MAD, to actually getting to work for MAD nearly four decades later. And everything in between. It’s full of art and anecdotes.

MP: You’ve done quite a bit of work with RiffTrax, including the cover for a recent novel. How did that come together, and what do you like about the work?

BF: I loved MST3K, so years later, when Mike, Kevin and Bill started RiffTrax I was an instant fan. During Covid lockdown I reached out to them, because of a podcast Mike Nelson does with one of the writers, Conor Lastowka (372 Pages We’ll Never Get Back), suggesting doing a segment with them. A friendship blossomed and I became part of their art squad. Very nifty!

MP: What do you think about the current state of satire and humor in the comic book and graphic novel field?

BF: I don’t see much around. Satire is a rare thing, generally. But some folks are still making funny. I love Noah Van Sciver’s stuff.

MP: Is there anything else you’d like to tell me about?

BF: If people want more info and art, my Insta is bobfingerman. TSBYI can be gotten from zoop.gg

Matthew Price, matthew@matthewlprice.com, has written about the comics industry for over two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, Oklahoma.