Today, we’re thrilled to introduce Tom Zilis, a freelance graphic designer and cartoonist from Richmond Hill, Georgia, and his new comic series. His satirical strips offer a clever look at the everyday struggles and triumphs of life filled with humor and wit. Tom shared more about the recurring themes in his work, I like using my characters to represent common themes and experiences that many of us go through, especially how we feel about fitting into the world. I like to think my comics have a purpose in addressing the universal experiences we all share. All of my characters and situations are loosely inspired by people I know. One of my favorites is Gus’s daughter Molly, who is loosely based on my daughter and an exaggerated version of our relationship when I was helping raise her.
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We had the chance to ask Tom Zilis about what inspired him to create his comic strip. He shared, I’ve been a fan of comics in every form for as long as I can remember and I’ve been creating them for just as long. My inspiration came from many sources, including the daily comics in newspapers, iconic cartoonists’ comic books like MAD Magazine, and Hanna-Barbera animated cartoons. When I was 9 years old, I submitted an idea for a cartoon and received a personal and encouraging letter from William Hanna. My dad, who was an art director at Leo Burnett for 28 years, helped create iconic characters like Charlie the Tuna for Starkist, Tony the Tiger for Kellogg’s, and the Keebler Cookie elves. But mostly, creating cartoons gave me an outlet to express myself and my feelings. In a way, it’s therapeutic. So, thank you all for being a part of my therapy.
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Also Read:
- Nellies Nest Comics: 20 Quirky Strips You’ll Love Scrolling Through
- When Rival Dragons Become Cat-Sitters – A Hilarious Twist from Part Time Dragons
- Got Dreams? – A Heartfelt Comic About Life’s Journey
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When asked about his favorite comic storyline one he particularly enjoyed creating Zilis shared. The comics I truly enjoy making are the ones that either humorously make a point or showcase clever joke construction. One of my recent favorites took place at a funeral and focused on the cause of the deceased’s death. It’s dark humor but I enjoyed the challenge of writing and editing the setup and punchline to fit within the four-frame format.
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Finally, Tom opened up about the comic artists whose work he particularly admires. There have been and continue to be many comics and comedians I look up to. I’ve always been a fan of the work by Walt Kelly (Pogo) Gary Larson (The Far Side) Bill Watterson Calvin and Hobbes and Garry Trudeau Doonesbury. I also admire Bryan Lee O’Malley (Scott Pilgrim), Richard Stark and Darwyn Cooke’s Parker series, and Jakamon and Matz’s The Killer series. As for comedians, Richard Pryor, Monty Python, Dana Gould, George Carlin, Steve Martin, and Martin Mull are among my favorites. There are so many more including many online cartoonists and new comedians who inspire me. It would be an endless list.
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