Interview: Justin Gradin Talks Pageant from Fantagraphics

I had a chance to chat with Justin Gradin, the multidisciplinary artist behind the graphic novel Mystic Debris, about his new graphic novel, Pageant! The absurdist story comes from Fantagraphics Books and releases May 13! Check out our conversation and a preview of Pageant below.

Justin Gradin’s sophomore graphic novel combines keen verbal and visual wit with a host of memorable characters to create an anarchic, absurdist comedy about lonely souls and the lonely soulless.

Ponce Melee is a lonely clock-puncher working for Twin Labs in the cloning dept. When he uses a strand of hair to clone a companion; it’s successful, but she immediately leaves him for greener pastures. So, he clones another potential companion. And that one leaves. And again. And again. Soon, multiple clones begin causing confusion and havoc around town. Meanwhile, one of the errant clones makes a pact with the devil that goes awry and strands Satan in town, forcing him to get a job.

Justin Gradin’s sophomore graphic novel (after 2023’s Mystic Debris) combines keen verbal and visual wit with a host of memorable characters — Mandrake the Soda Jerk, private investigator Butterfly Latté, pop superstar Attilla the Hunny, and many more—to create an anarchic, absurdist comedy about lonely souls and the lonely soulless. Gradin’s work has echoes of Gary Panter, Gary Leib, Marc Bell, and Mark Beyer (and even some other cartoonists who may or may not be named Gary or Mark) while remaining a singular, sui generis voice in contemporary comics.

How did you land on the name Pageant?

There was a commercial I saw. The ad was for a pill that made lines in your nose disappear. People who have crow's feet from doing too much cocaine were featured in a wide variety of ages, etc. The cocaine created unwanted lines, but it is a line itself. You are ingesting a line. This ingestion is an absorption and surfaces as a line. The lines reminded me of my neighbor who works as a supermarket cashier and deals with lines all the time. Her little daughter, Mugsee, is a trained parakeet trainer and won an award for a puppeteering routine she had done when she was eleven seconds old. She was crowned Li'l Miss Nano-Supreme in a Las Vegas parking lot pageant.

What are the challenges of doing a graphic novel versus other mediums, such as performance art and other fields?

The challenges come from your cupboards and bed and TV and fridge and sunshine and bars and lethargy and mirrors and attitudes, etc. The challenges are the same.

The nice thing about a graphic novel is you know how it'll pull on the purse strings.

Who is Ponce Lee? Was there a character whom you were most excited to bring to the page in the story? There are a lot of wild ideas.

I'm not really sure who he is. He came out of a drawing session at a bar with studio friends. He's got zig-zag lines on his backside because I wanted him to represent his mind, which is always working fast.

I was originally excited about the clones, but later was really excited about the Devil. The Devil is the catalyst for the clone's desire. But, as I went, the fly became the most exciting thing for me.

What does this story say about loneliness, and how do you balance that theme with a more absurd, comedic style and story?

I think it is a comment on everyone's situation behind their eyelids. eyelashes can be like metal bars but less forgiving. I think, in the end, the book is really about want: wanting love, wanting money, and wanting fame. I think that combo is sad. So sad that it is funny. So it was easy to go in one ear and come out the other.

Who are the artists that inspire you? I love Mike Kelley, Raymond Pettibone, Marnie Webber, Paul McCarthy, Kathy Acker, Richard Brautigan, Richard Meltzer, Mark Beyer, Ernie Bushmiller, Art Clokey, David Lynch, Sandra Lee, & Chef Boyardee.

What was it like working with Fantagraphics on this book? What are you most proud of?

Working with Fantagraphics is like drinking from a firehose. I am most proud that they have continued to publish me.