An Interview With Jerome Cabanatan

Jerome Cabanatan interview by Anthony Andujar Jr 11/22/22

Interviewer: Anthony Andujar Jr

Interviewee: Jerome Cabanatan
Q1. How did your journey into the world of comics begin?

JC: Comics and cartoons have been in my life for as long as I can remember. But as far as sparking something inside… I remember my Lolo coming to visit me in Canada from the Philippines with a suitcase full of my brother’s old comics. John Byrne and Dave Cockrum run X-Men, Shang Chi, Daredevils and I distinctly remember having a few issues of Man from Atlantis.

Q2. You’ve worked on a ton of zines and was one of the catalysts that led to the creation of Image Grand Design/ Disaster. How did that project come about?

JC: Short answer, covid boredom! After listening to the Kayfabe episode spitballing Image Grand Design, I decided to grab a sketchbook from the dollar store and make a page playing off the pitch and seeing if people wanted to join in on a fun zine to pass the time. Over 300 pages later, we created something beautiful together and I met a bunch of really cool artists and people that fed my soul when I really needed it.

Q3. Life and art often inform one another, and given that You’re a martial arts instructor, those experiences seem to inform your art in everything that you do. Is that how your project TKO Troop 44 came into being?

JC: Troop 44 started as a poster for the After School program of the same name I started when I finished fighting competitively. Then I used the characters to demonstrate some curriculum with some coloring sheets. But as curious as kids are, they started asking questions like “What are their names?”, “Why don’t they have noses?”, “Do they have enemies?” and I needed to make some answers. So I wrapped a football movie around some lessons and after a couple years of chipping at it, I had a couple of graphic novels that I printed at the print shop 2 doors down from the gym. Fun Fact: the protagonists of Troop 44, Vaughan and Clair, are named to honor the school I competed for, Young Choung Taekwondo Academy. Located at 44 Vaughan Road on the corner of Vaughan Road and St. Clair in Toronto.

Q4. When you worked on TKO Troop 44 and The Adventures of Team Brain, how did that inform your work on your current project Tree vs Fox? 

JC: All three projects were uniquely their own, but they all gave me reps.

Tree vs Fox is in the same universe and uses the main rivalry of Troop 44 to showcase the fights in my head but the process was completely different. I drew Troop 44 with my finger on a trackpad in Illustrator and tried to write a full story in order. Nothing was drawn or written in order for TVF, I started by drawing fight “spots” and I fit them into a story as I went along. I drew the first and last pages at the end of the project. So outside of using the characters, they are completely their own thing.

Team Brain is a whole other beast. I collaborated with an author, Tara Gratto,  that worked with neuroscientists and child psychologists to collect scientific information about the workings of the brain BEFORE a tantrum. I was tasked with making the information cool. The process required a lot of meetings and revisions, which may not have helped with TVF directly, but it made me want to RUN back to it at times. It was a great collaboration with a good friend and former training partner.

Q5. What is Tree vs Fox about? 

JC: As far as plot goes, when their match from the All-City Troop Fight Championships (as seen in Troop44)  goes viral and creates controversy, Vaughan the Tree Kid and Burad the young fox are drawn together by their fighting spirit to prove their supporters right and their haters wrong.

As for the theme, it’s about being more than what you think you are. Being more than what others think you are. Building strength through challenges. And iron sharpening iron.

Q6. What were the challenges that came with producing your current project, Tree vs Fox?

JC: Knowing when to stop. As it’s a big fight, I can go on forever. So I gave myself a sentimental target of 44 pages, no more no less. Having the constraints and limitations made sure I didn’t just flounder. Also, like with any project of mine, promo is tough. I spend so much time trying to build my Jack Kirby muscles that I forget that the Stan Lee muscles need a pump too.

Q7. Given that you write, illustrate, color, and letter the book, what is your favorite part of the process and least favorite part of the process, and how do you overcome that? 

JC: Layouts and thumbs (thumbnails) are my favorite. That’s where my writing is, it’s all there. Least favorite is probably a tie between the dialogue and coloring. But I overcame it with my fear of not finishing it. I can be the best artist or writer in the world but if it’s not finished, I’m just a dreamer. Finished is better than perfect.

Q8. Tree vs Fox currently has a Kickstarter for it, what’s it like navigating Kickstarter as the platform to fund your project? 

JC: I’ll tell you when I figure it out! I could have probably made the book without crowdfunding but the brand recognition from kickstarter as a platform is invaluable. It gets more eyes than without one. It is a new job in itself but if I want this comic thing to work out, this is a skill I need to develop.

Q9. Having worked on Tree vs Fox, what did you learn from producing this project compared to previous projects?

JC: I learned that I’m more than what I thought. I’m an improving cartoonist, I’m getting more comfortable at promo and I even have a handle on distribution and shipping. What a time to be an indie cartoonist!

Q10. Where can readers follow your projects and support your work?

 Q10. Where can readers follow your projects and support your work?

JC: I’m active on IG @jroamcab and the CKRS but if you want up-to-date WIPs and have real comics sent to you every few months hit me up on patreon.com/jroamcab , I update every Wednesday and patrons have been watching Tree vs Fox being created all year!