February 15, 2020

Jarad Greene ’17 is releasing his debut graphic novel Scullion: A Dishwasher’s Guide to Mistaken Identity with Oni Press. “As quirky and fresh as a D&D campaign with your best friends.” – Ashley Poston, author of Geekerella.

Scullion was Jarad’s MFA thesis project at The Center for Cartoon Studies. He recently gave the following interview with Angela Boyle ’16.

How long did it take to create Scullion?

I can trace the initial idea for Scullion back to Summer 2015, right before I started at CCS. I finished my thesis version of the Scullion in May 2017, got an offer on it under a year later in late March 2018, with contract negotiations lasting through October. I turned in the final book at the end of August 2019 and it’s now available for pre-order, releasing July 7, 2020! Whew! Long time, ha-ha.

What was the most difficult part of this book?

Doing all the final colors was definitely the hardest part. I didn’t expect it to be; I’ve been a coloring assistant on many other books, but there’s something about having to decisively say, “this page is done” and move on to the next that was more challenging than I anticipated. And I’m someone who enjoys digital coloring! But 160 full-color pages under deadline are bound to cause a little stress. I was able to hire flatters, but it was more work than I realized. It’s pretty labor-intensive.

How did you connect with Oni Press / Lion Forge?

My original editor, Hazel Newlevant, had asked me to pitch something to Lion Forge. I had worked with Hazel as a coloring intern at Lion Forge and as a flatter on their self-published book Sugar Town, so they knew my comics and work ethic. Lion Forge’s interest in Scullion coincided with me meeting my literary agent, Kelly Sonnack, who finalized the deal. Lion Forge later merged with Oni Press, so that’s the name you’ll see on the spine.

Did working with a publisher change your process?

Not particularly. There were certain things I had to wait for approval on, such as adding a 4-page scene and getting the green light to make the book when my final thumbnail draft was okay-ed. Also, working on the cover with my other editor, Amanda Meadows, was very collaborative between myself, my agent, and the editorial and marketing teams. I know this can be a contentious part of the process for some cartoonists working with publishers, but I didn’t find that to be the case.

How did you balance your work, life, and completing Scullion?

I kept to a schedule as best I could. I work for CCS from 9–2, as an administrative and development coordinator which gives my weeks a nice structure. I drew most of the book digitally in the Procreate app on my iPad, which allowed me to work at different cafes and libraries in the area and get out of my apartment. Being around other people in the dark winter months in Vermont was better than being alone in my room for hours on end. Inking traditionally and digital coloring kept me tied to my desk. But I took plenty of breaks, cooked dinner for myself almost every night, went running, swimming, and had other Vermont adventures during the warmer months. It wasn’t always balanced, but I did my best. I asked for an extension when I needed it and got an additional month at the end.

What are you working on now? 

I’m working on another middle-grade book that will hopefully be announced sometime this year! Stay tuned!

You can follow Jarad online @jaradgreene: Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook.

Pre-order Scullion now!