I'm very pleased with how the timing of today's interview worked out. He is the creator of the post-9/11 comic strip "Get Your War On," and this is one that I have been enjoying especially most lately. If you're a fan of the comic, good news: the final, definitive collection of GWYO comics is being published next week by Soft Skull Press. In addition to GYWO, he is also the author of the comic strips My New Fighting Technique is Unstoppable, My New Filing Technique is Unstoppable, and Adventures of Confessions of Saint Augustine Bear plus he blogs regularly at the Huffington Post.

How did you decide what to include in the new book?
I just went through all the years of comics and picked the ones that didn't totally suck.

What are some of your favorite cartoons, political/alternative or otherwise?
Favorite cartoons: Pogo, Peanuts, Krazy Kat, Tales Designed to Thrizzle, Paper Rad, Edward Gorey, Tom Tomorrow, Matt Bors

How did you come to decide to animate Get Your War On? How was the transition?
I was approached by the people at 23/6, who asked if I'd be willing to animate it. I said I had always thought it would be funny to animate the comic really, really well, since it's so static and boring. They suggested rotoscoping, and that intrigued me so we went ahead with the project. The experience has been great because it's collaborative, whereas cartooning is very lonely and depressing. I like working with the producers, the actors, the recording engineer, et al. I also like the writing process because it's a little different than writing the comic. The scripts are longer and less focussed than the typical GYWO comic strip so it's fun.

Which parts of the campaign is giving you the most fodder these days?
I guess I get fodder from McCain and what an idiot he is and yet people still think he's a maverick even though basically he's an idiot. That's good fodder because of the fact that he's such an idiot.

What's the earliest cartoon that you ever created that you still have?
I'm sure my parents have some early, pre-literate works that foreshadow some of the characteristics of my later work: the coupling of anal-expulsive expression with banal imagery; the obsession with language and the subversion of meaning; the interrogation of masculinity as it's constructed within the post-industrial society.

What were some of the most fascinating facts you checked for Maxim while you worked there?
Once I spoke to ex-weapons inspector Scott Ritter when I was fact-checking a (pre-9/11) scare piece about Uday and Qusay Hussein. That was weird. I mostly checked prices of belt buckles and fancy watches and whatnot. Then I went to Martha Stewart Weddings and basically did the same thing, except for women.

Is Get Your War On definitely going to end when Bush leaves office? What comes next?
I will definitely end the comic strip. I would love to keep making the animations, but I'm not sure what will happen with those after the election. I am working on a book proposal and hope to have it bought by January so I have some money to live on. Also, my friend and I are writing a silly screenplay for kicks but maybe that will pay a million bucks. That would be really great.

Of the various charities you decided to donate the money from the first book to, how did you decide on landmines? Did you consider any others?
It was the land mine/cluster bomb situation in Afghanistan that kind of inspired me to start GYWO, so it made sense to donate the book royalties to an organization that worked in that area. Initially I considered giving the money to a 9/11 fund, or the Red Cross, but doing something related to Afghanistan seemed more appropriate.

Do your fans ever encourage you to get into politics? What do you tell them?
Once after a reading during the Q&A time, someone said, "You should run for office." I was like, "LOL, get me out of here."

I read that a lot of your work was created to combat the boredom of your day job. Have you found that your work or inspiration have shifted at all since the "stuff I do when I'm bored" transitioned more into "stuff I'm known for" and you're more in demand?
The big difference is now I have deadlines and making cartoons is more like a regular job. And like any job I've ever had, all I want to do is quit. So that's why I'm retiring with President Bush.

What are your favorite news sources?
BEST NEWS SOURCE: talkingpointsmemo.com. You can read my detailed analysis here.

Were you politically inclined when you were at Oberlin?
Well, Oberlin is a pretty leftwing place and I was there at the height of the "P.C." phenomenon which as you know, almost brought academia to its knees because the blacks and the lesbians refused to learn how to spell correctly or memorize Greek mottos with sufficient ardor. So the whole environment was so politicized, I didn't really feel like I had to do anything other than just walk around in the quad and that would be my political engagement with the world. Although I did wear a pink ribbon on my backpack. Can't remember what the ribbon was for, but I think it had to do with not wanting gays to get AIDS(?).

I read that your dad was a librarian: are your parents fans of the cartoon? (Those two things are not connected really but I thought that was interesting and wanted to mention it).
My dad was the art librarian at UNC for 30 years. When I made my first book ("My New Fighting Technique is Unstoppable"), I gave a copy to my brother for Christmas and told him not to let our parents see it. I knew they wouldn't like the profanity. But they snuck a look and were scandalized. When I started GYWO I kept it from my parents because I didn't want to upset them (they were already worried enough after 9/11). But eventually the comic was getting so much attention, I felt like I should bring them into the loop. So we had a top-level debriefing in which I warned them about the content and tone of the comic. They're even more anti-Bush than me (they are Episcopalians who believe all that stuff in the Bible about helping poor people and not killing them), so I think they appreciate the ideals of the comic, if not the profanity.

Who was your favorite president?
Abraham Lincoln and FDR.

What are some of your methods of going out and getting ideas for the strip or blog when they're not coming to you?
LOL, I love that you wrote "going out and getting ideas," like I ever leave my house, or am ever NOT just stationed in front of my computer hitting refresh on talkingpointsmemo.com. If I don't have an idea for a cartoon, I just hit refresh harder and harder, faster and faster, with more and more ferocity, until something happens . . . like John McCain losing his mind and nominating some dumb lady from Alaska to be his VP.

Which of your recent comics seem to have attracted the most attention?
The 23/6 videos have been pretty popular. Also, my hot new blog is generating loads of buzz and energy in my mind!!! Especially FRIDAY FACE-OFFS, my weekly music contest which leaves me feeling very happy and excited about life.

If Fred Bassett turned rabid and attacked the Lockhorns, who would come out alive?
I don't know, but I'm sure the Lockhorns would complain about it.

How does it feel to be the 220th person interviewed for Zulkey.com?
It feels great! Congratulations on all your interviews.