Chris Onstad is the writer and illustrator of the popular webcomic ‘Achewood’ which TIME Magazine named the #1 graphic novel of 2007. His work has since gone on to win back-to-back Ignatz Awards and earn praise from The New York Times, The New Yorker, and humorist Dave Barry. He has two books with Dark Horse Comics – ‘The Great Outdoor Fight’ and ‘Worst Song, Played on Ugliest Guitar’ with ‘A Home For Scared People’ set to be released this fall.

How did you get started working in the industry?

Chris: I played around in the Internet technology industry after college, back when blue Miatas roamed the earth and Silicon Valley geeks carried La Costeña burritos in both hands. When the bubble burst in 2001-2002, and Excite shares went from sixty bucks to a picture of a clown with his pockets turned out, I got the pinch.  I’d been doing Achewood for a few months, and decided to make a serious go of it.  Being a cartoonist is way harder than having a job. It almost made me die three times.

What are you doing instead of going to Comic-Con this year?

Chris: I have never been to Comic-Con. I’ve toured the continent doing signings and such, and while I truly love meeting readers who enjoy my work, it’s the kind of thing I’ll probably do once and look back upon fondly.  Celebrity treatment fucks up your head and is very unhealthy.  Anyhow, I think we’re making yard hamburgers with friends. That’s all I ever wanted to do anyway.

What’s the most important aspect of the industry that you feel goes unnoticed in the mainstream coverage of comics?

Chris: There is an incredible amount of intelligence and talent in comics.  Real, mature, intellectually sophisticated people. And there is a familial aspect to it. We do things to help each other, though we are not related. We all wander forth with our craft and accept fellow wanderers. We all have question marks floating above our heads. It’s how we can tell one another.

What is your favorite Dark Horse comic?

Chris: Perry Bible Fellowship. Nick’s an uncompromised free spirit who barely understands the world as we see it.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

Chris: I wanted to use the word “dong” in this answer, but I couldn’t come up with anything along those lines. I guess my superpower would be to care about going mountain biking? No. That would be insincere. If I had a superpower, it would be to have the metabolism I had in high school, when I ran cross-country and could eat three fennel sausages a day.

Interview by Aaron Colter