Just attended the on-stage interview with Charles Burns, conducted by two nincompoops. Why is it that, when French interviewers talk to American cartoonists, they always – always – have to spend precious time talking about superheroes, even when it’s completely irrelevant to the artist’s work? And why is it that they always – always – have to spend more time trying to extract the names of European cartoonists that may or may not have been influential to the artist? And why is it, when somebody – in this case Burns – has said they like Tintin, they always – always – have to spend ages discussing it? How about getting into the meat of the matter? Burns is a thoughtful and perfectly articulate guy – how about asking him some more questions about, say…Black Hole?
Photo: Matthias Wivel