David wraps up
bishely writes:
Would you ever move away from football, to more general social commentary (ignoring for the moment the fact that your ‘football’ strips are obviously stuffed full of social commentary - just think politics at the moment is so ripe for satire, and I’m sure you’d do a belting job of it)?
Thanks. I do try to squeeze a bit of that into the cartoons - sometimes a bit too much, some might argue. I am conscious of the fact that, as I live overseas, I don't want to come across as someone preaching from abroad, like some sort of cartooning Rupert Murdoch.
Also, I reckon it's fair to say that The Guardian is pretty well stocked for political cartoonists, I'm not sure I'd want to go up against the gods of the profession!
RaylanCrowder writes:
Hey David. Big fan here, your cartoons are probably the main reason I come to The Guardia. Do you follow/cover any sports other than football?
Cheers,
I do a weekly cartoon on Australia's sporting history, looking at a different story each week (coming up this week: Speed Skating!). I would like to do some more work on other sports in the future, but there are only so many hours in the day.
MrGarethE posts:
DAVID! The Steve McClaren pic with the snake in the background, was that a nod to Athletico Mince?
Indeed it is. That podcast has become one of the highlights of my week.
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HuwArmstrong1 writes:
Looking forward to the book, David. Can you tell us what to expect?
Cheers Huw.
The book covers the entire history of football in, I think, 91 cartoons. All new stuff, but there are a few characters that people might recognise. Before anyone asks, yes, Janet makes an appearance. Each cartoon is accompanied by some text too, so it's almost like a proper book!
Kieran Holden posts:
Would you say the guy that sat next to you in Sociology was one of the biggest hinderences in your career?
SonnyDay asks:
If you had the opportunity to spend the night with any football manager, who would you choose? I’d probably go for Chris Coleman.
I think Ossie Ardiles would be pleasant company. Perhaps a nice dinner with Ossie, before racing off to catch last orders at a Wetherspoons with, I dunno, Chris Hughton.
jameswalsh writes:
Bit of a random one, but are you a Half Man Half Biscuit fan? Your ability to mix obscure and entirely non-obscure reference points in the same strip reminds me of the songs of Wirral’s finest, and I can give no higher compliment. Are you more like Lou Barlow or Ken Barlow?
I have to admit, I've only just started exploring their back catalogue, after Spotify suggested I might like their record 'National Shite Day' (I sometimes wonder if Spotify knows me better than members of my own family).
Lou. Definitely Lou. Okay, Ken.
BenBrann gets technical:
How do you manage to publish a relevant comic so quick, often the day after a game? Do you take notes during the match, and then go straight to inkin’? Or is it simply the time difference that plays into your hands?
Hi Ben, yes, the time difference definitely works in my favour, though it's rare that I watch an entire game all the way through. Most of my cartoons are about what happens off the field anyway, so it's not always necessary to see all the action, thankfully.
Bob Priestley wonders:
Will Tactics Bear ever make a return?
That largely depends on whether Harry Kane continues to take corners for England.
Jonathan Fisher, another of the Guardian’s finest, inquires:
Have you ever watched Swindon Town on a sneaky stream from Australia? As much as I love my team, Bristol Rovers, it’s unescapable how bad the football is sometimes when you’re watching via the same medium you watch Messi, Suarez, Ronaldo et al rip it up.
Swindon usually get a couple of games a season on satellite TV here. I wait in hope for their own dedicated channel (actually, I don't, as then I would be duty bound to watch all their games).
Tom Meadowcroft asks:
Hi David, big fan. What was your favourite ground to visit with Swindon away?
I lived in London for 11 years, so always enjoyed going to Griffin Park, as it was like a home game. Also, a pub on each corner (in those days), what's not to love?
HenleyRegatta looks ahead:
Will you be doing anything for the Rio Olympics? There must be some great cartoon potential there.
Cheers, yes I'll be doing one a week during The Olympics. You're right, it has a lot of potential. They already killed a leopard, for God's sake.
bobdobelina writes:
It’s a boring question but what type of pens do you use?
I like this question. I use Staedler pigment liners for the outside bits and Copic Toner pens for the shading. I definitely need to learn how to make these cartoons digitally, as I'd be able to work a lot faster.
HongKongBlue adds:
Mr. Squires (I feel a more formal approach is for the best at this stage of our relationship), do you have any other type of job thingymagig or...do you just cartoon for a living?
Mr HongKongBlue,
The cartoon thing has been my primary source of income for almost a year now. It's pretty much a dream come true. I don't know how sustainable it is in the long term, but I'm about the right age for a midlife crisis, so it's all good for now.
Sincerely,
Mr Squires
HongKongBlue panics:
I have so many questions and so little time...and now I’m late and all these *uckers are before me in the ‘question to answers’....arrrr schakkkkksssss. Anyhow here goes the big Q.....What’s your favourite cheese?
cyberdav writes:
Hi David. Much of your work is similar in style to the Viz comics, ( Billy the fish, Roger Mellie etc). Have you ever worked on Viz, or did the 1980’s early editions inspire you to become a cartoonist?
It was definitely an influence. I still remember discovering Viz for the first time at the age of 15. I got thrown out of the school library because I was laughing too loudly at a Finbar Saunders strip. I immediately set about drawing cartoons for the entertainment of my friends. If any of them still exist, it would almost certainly end my employment with The Guardian.
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Manttel asks:
Which comic do you think is the best you have done?
It's very rare that I'm happy with a cartoon. I sometimes need to force my hand to click send. Strangely, those are usually the ones that get the most positive reaction. Conversely, the weeks where I submit a cartoon confidently and sit back in my chair, congratulating myself on a good job, are the ones that disappear into the air like a Branco free kick.
The one I enjoyed drawing last season was the cartoon that looked at the history of sulking in football (not because it featured the first appearance of Janet). I can't really explain why, but I was happy with the the writing and the execution. Okay, it was because it included Gunnersaurus Rex.
Our very own DanLucas inquires:
What’s your favourite episode of The Simpsons? You can have a top 10 if you like.
Bart sells his soul
Steamed Hams
Clown School
Bonestorm
The Chilli Cook Off
... hang on, this needs serious thought.
Zendegi Leonard writes:
Now that Damien De Bohun has escaped from Reptilie Island...I mean FFA headquarters, has there been any communication between yourself and him over a potential illustrated tell all book?
I would be staggered if he knew who I was, or was aware of the cartoons. I'm not confident that anyone escapes Reptile Island either, so he may well be hunkered down behind a large rock, avoiding the snapping swoops of a pterodactyl.
mrwicksy wants details:
Hi David. Few of the basics really. How long roughly does it take you to draw each strip? Seeing as you’ve got such a short deadline at times between the chosen subject and it appearing online. Second; how often have events derailed a planned strip such that you’ve had to bin it and do another one Thirdly, if you could be drawn by anyone else in the world, who would it be? Finally: who do you hope never slips from the public eye so you can draw them forever? Favourite panels are both recent, by the way; Giroud and his enormous arse, and World Cup Willie all fine in his burning house. And the whole Stevie G leaving tour of course. Thanks for all the great work.
Each one takes between 7-12 hours, depending on the complexity and how late I stayed up the night before.
Events do occasionally derail the planning, yes. Most recently, I had drawn half a cartoon for the Euros based on the premise that the Remain campaign would win the EU referendum. On the plus side, scrapping that halfway through the day did mean that I didn't get as far as drawing the panel that depicted Farage, Gove and Johnson as Russian hoolies in short shorts and MMA gloves.
If I could be drawn by anyone in the world, it would be Jose Mourinho - it seems only fair.
I hope Roy Hodgson never slips from the public eye and that a strange twist of circumstance (perhaps along the lines of the plot of King Ralph) sees his reinstated as England manager.
RudiEdsall writes:
Hi David,
How hard was it getting to grips with the sporting and political landscape in Australia? For example, I’ve noticed you’ve done some AFL stuff (presumably commissioned), do you have any appetite for the sport at all?
The political stuff was relatively easy, as it was something I became interested in as soon as I moved to Australia. It was also an important element of my old job to be engaged with the political scene.
I'm trying to learn what I can about the sporting history of Australia and the cartoons I've been drawing for Guardian Australia have been a great help. I've worked closely with the sports team (Mike Hytner, Paul Connolly, Russell Jackson, Richard Parkin) who have been great in pointing me in the direction of stories or characters that have cartoon potential.
JRMcGrath has a question about football in Australia:
Who offers the greater comic potential? Damien de Bohun; David Gallop; Kevin Muscat; or Josep Gombau?
Probably Kevin Muscat, I'd say. It's only a matter of time before the top of his head erupts like Krakatoa and spews molten lava all over the Docklands Stadium. Then you'll see those seagulls shift.
gusthenormal posts:
Have enjoyed your work on here, David. Who were your influences in graphic art/comics growing up? Whose cartoons etc. do you always look out for currently?
To be honest, I didn't really get into cartoons or comics until much later in life and even now I probably wouldn't describe myself as a huge fan. However, the work of Jacque Tardi is a huge influence, stylistically and I always look forward to an update on Kate Beaton's 'Hark, A Vagrant' website.
Smough asks:
Hi David. Can you go one cartoon without inserting virtue signalling leftist politics?
I’m too old to change now, so it’s unlikely.
As I understand it, even the MARXIST BRAINWASHING PC ELITE haven’t made the reading of my cartoons compulsory (YET), so there are probably other options. I would suggest ‘The Daily Male’ cartoons of Barney Farmer.
garylandrews writes:
How easy is it to get inspiration for the A League cartoons versus the Premier League cartoons?
There was so much happening in both leagues last season that it was a goldmine of material. There's an element of chaos that surrounds the A-League that I enjoy. I'm not sure that a lot of the issues that came to a head last season have been successfully resolved, so I expect I'll be busy again come October.
Whose character is Janet based on?
Janet is an amalgamation of a number of former colleagues, both male and female.
Haroldo Burtoni posts:
Hi David, big fan! Your cartoons are so impeccably drawn and idiosyncratic in its style not to mention straight to the core, downright funny stuff. I was wondering how you came about drawing for the Guardian. Was it through your blog or through twitter etc? Had it been a life of rejection of submissions to various publications before you hit the big time?From a struggling cartoonist in the game of persistance. Cheers.
Thanks Haroldo,
I think it probably came from Twitter. During the last World Cup, I was putting up a drawing a day and that really helped to grow the number of people who were seeing my work. I think it coincided with the Twitter update whereby images started showing in timelines. Most people despised it at first, but it was great for illustrators.
After the World Cup, I continued into the new season, regularly tweeting images in an attempt to keep the interest up. For whatever reason, someone at The Guardian liked my stuff and I was invited to provide a weekly cartoon for them.
Keep plugging away though; I was doing this for years before I got the break. Hopefully you won't have to wait so long.
yashi2612 enquires:
Which football player makes you laugh most?
I enjoy the pantomime villains, so when Costa is doing his thing, it makes me laugh. His performance against Arsenal last season was sublime. He should have been wearing a cape.
ID6440291 asks:
Long time reader, many time commenter and tweeter.
Who have you had the most trouble drawing? Is there anyone who has no distinguishable features or does someone just keep on looking like someone else?
Mourinho gives me a bit of a headache, it's true. I think it might be because he usually has one of three fixed expressions: scowl, sarcastic smile, shouting. Trying to draw that face expressing a range of emotions is a challenge, I'm hoping he starts wearing a balaclava next season, perhaps as a protest against an imagined slight.
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laudrupmessiluvkind writes:
Dear David
Is it fair to say that your picture of a Sky journalist getting a large purple dildo inserted into his earhole on Transfer Deadline Day gave you your big break at the Guardian as the timing seems to indicate? If not, what did?
Hah, I'm sure it contributed to the decision, yes. I for one miss those excruciating outside broadcasts on deadline day, although I imagine they would now mostly feature people shouting *that* thing.
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DiscoBusquets asks:
Hi David, what do you think of fans of yours who don’t watch The Simpsons? Could we still be friends?
Of course! The human relationships that last longest are the ones where one person works tirelessly to change the other one, so we could start our friendship by you watching every episode at least a dozen times (even the weird-looking first season).
LeicesterBangs posts:
David,
When I read that you’re a Swindon Town fan, my mind went back to the Play Off final of 1993. Were you at Wembley that day? Did you laugh when your player dived to get Swindon the winning penalty? When you looked at the top of the Premier League / the lower-middle bit of the League One table at the end of last season, did you laugh then, David? Did you? Did you? ‘Cause I did. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Only joking. Here’s my serious question. Was that Play Off final the most memorable / remarkable match you’ve ever seen as a Swindon fan?
Love the cartoons.
A Leicester fan objecting to another team’s striker diving. Interesting.
Hah, I was very much there, yes. Sad to say, but it was one of the best days of my life. I was 18, had been to nearly every game that season, and football was the most important thing in my life. I travelled down with a coach-load of my best friends. It was probably the last time everyone was together before they all went off to university or work, soon after.
It's the most memorable match for that reason, but the most remarkable was a few weeks before, when I was at St Andrews to see Swindon come back from 4-1 down with 20 minutes left, to win 6-4.
I still blame that promotion campaign for completely bombing my A-Levels, but it was a minor sacrifice.
Chalkie never dived, by the way.
LordXenu asks:
How much work in hours per week do you do?
One cartoon strip takes me a day. Depending on the complexity, it can take between 7-12 hours. While I was working on the book, I was putting in 6 or 7 days a week.
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vickramindie asks:
Hi David,
Thanks for helping me to remember how absurd the world of football actually is weekly! I just wondered how the conversation went with the parents. “Mum, Dad, I’m going to draw cartoons to draw cartoons to earn my crust in life.” Seems like a tough sell or did you just sort of end up doing it professionally by accident?
Big Fan,
Andrew.
Cheers Andrew,
I was lucky that I went through the education system before the introduction of tuition fees and there was less pressure (at least in my family) to pursue subjects that would guarantee a job outcome. If I was 18 now, I doubt I would have studied illustration and probably wouldn't have gone to university at all. I'm also lucky to have two parents who have always been very supportive. They got that drawing was the thing I was best at (or least bad at) and allowed me to focus on that.
It's only been in the last year that I've been able to go full-time though, so now it's more about having an understanding partner.
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gilbertratchet asks:
I really love your work. I particularly appreciate the dual Australian/English aspects. When I lived in Sydney, I found some Australians quite prickly about any criticism at all from a ‘pom’. I also remember ‘The Footy Show’ being a thing, I’m hoping both of these have changed since I left.
So my question is, do you change your approach when doing Australian strips compared to English ones?
Thank you. Sadly, 'The Footy Show' is still a thing, but it's easily avoided.
Football in Australia is constantly attacked by other sports and media outlets. Its fans are understandably sensitive to criticism, so I approach it slightly differently. I also had to put in a few years to hopefully show readers that I understand the local game and football culture, as an outsider.
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isconspiracy16 asks:
Hi David. What’s your take on Sam Allardyce potentially managing England? And another thing, how’s Janet?
If he is anything like his parody Twitter account, then he will be a roaring success.
Janet is enjoying a short holiday in Southern Europe, where she is remarking to the other coach travellers about the number of beggars on the streets and pointing out that that's why she voted Leave.
Bishop_Basher posts:
Hello David. Like (almost) everyone else on here, I am a huge fan of your work. Do you draw your strips, as a strip, or is each frame individually created? Ever thought of branching out from sport? There are one or two (million) celebrities that sorely need a good ‘graphical’ kicking.
Cheers Bishop Basher.
I usually write a loose script to start off with and than plan out how the images and text will fit on the page with a very rough sketch. Then I get to work, starting with the panels that I know I definitely like, leaving the trickier ones till last.
I've done a few non-sport cartoons in the past, but it would be nice to branch out occasionally. If something really inspires me, I'll usually find a way of cramming a reference to it in my football cartoons anyway. I think most of my Euro 2016 cartoons were really about the Brexit, for example.
DonaldDuxbury writes:
Mr Squires. If you were approached by Marvel, to draw a cartoon based on a football-themed superhero and you did not agree with the project, but they offered a heap load of cash … something hideous, like ‘The Magic Sponge, the adventures of a crime-fighting physio, nursing Jermaine Pennant’s groin by day, trying to stop him getting behind a wheel by night’. Would you do it ? I’d like to think you would take the Alan Moore approach myself.
Hold up, how much are they offering?
I think if anyone approached me to do some work, it would be because they’ve seen my cartoons and are familiar with my style. I’m fairly confident that most of the people who read my stuff are football fans, rather than comic fans, so it’s probably unlikely that I’ll be hired to work on the next Spider-Man reboot (sorry, Pauline, your on-off relationship with Peter Parker will have to wait).
StuartRG posts:
David, as others have said, your cartoons are really superb. Can I ask two questions?
1) Has anyone you’ve ever drawn in the Guardian strips ever contacted you asking to buy the original?
2) When you drew the young Sid Fishes (getting his reply from Howard Kendall), did you keep the original? (It would make a lovely gift for him). Thanks
Sounds like three …
Thanks Stuart. Very occasionally people get in touch. The Howard Kendall cartoon is one example, as a member of his family contacted me and asked if I wouldn't mind sending them the original. Luckily, it was one of the cartoons that wasn't covered in correction fluid and ink smudges, so I was very happy to do that.
Badonde writes:
Hello David, from Mexico. Q: advice on career as a writer, it’s the one thing i’m good at.
I'm probably the worst person to ask, but some advice that someone gave me was to make sure that you work for at least an hour a day (if you have a full time job in an unrelated field). I went years without drawing and it really set me back.
franhunny writes:
I don’t think there is that much time between the last game on Monday and your cartoon coming up on Tuesday, so what makes you decide which match (or maximum two matches) to focus on? Are you watching and rewatching TV scenes from the weekend’s action once you have decided which game mainly to cover?
The time difference works to my advantage a bit, as I can work on the cartoon while everyone in the UK is tucked up in bed. I've usually decided upon the subject of the cartoon by Monday morning and will only hold off on drawing it if there is a game of significance that night.
For the Euros, it was a challenge to watch all of the games and draw the cartoons. The matches were kicking off at 11pm, 2am and 5am, Sydney time. I had to record the games and watch some of them on double speed. It actually improved my enjoyment of the tournament, seeing them all run around like Benny Hill. England were still slow though, even on x6 speed.
FrankyValet muses:
Hi David, hope you can help me. If a hen-and-a-half could lay an egg-and-a-half in a day-and-a-half, how long would it take a monkey with a wooden leg to kick all the seeds out of a dill pickle?
With the right motivation, I think that monkey would destroy that pickle in under a minute, wooden leg or not.
386sx25 writes:
Going back to your Bullshit Rodeo cartoons, what do you think is the most egregious real-life example of it today?
Thank you. There's a lot to pick from. The condition of Leeds and Newcastle stands out for me, but there are doubtless examples throughout the Football League that I'm not aware of.
Oh and Barcelona's recent #WeAreAllLeoMessi campaign was straight off the Rodeo.
trickymf asks:
Who are your comedic influences and who are your artistic influences?
Comedic influences: obviously The Simpsons. Not just because of the references, but the structure and timing of some of the jokes. Then you have the standard British staples of The Day Today, Partridge, Reeves and Mortimer, Father Ted, Blackadder etc. One of the things I miss about living in the UK is how seriously people take comedy.
My cartoon influences are Kate Beaton, Viz, all the fanzines I collected and read as a teenager, HTFC World, Jacque Tardi, Joe Sacco. Bloody loads of them.
LeftPegger asks:
David, have any of the subjects of your drawings ever contacted you to complain or praise your work? If so, how did you handle it? PS: do you read the comments below your pieces and get a big head?
No one has ever contacted me to complain, but a couple of people have been in touch to ask if they could purchase the original artwork. The cartoons that go up online don’t always bear much resemblance to the original drawings though, as I use design software to clean up the mistakes and typos (yes, I know some still get through).
Honestly, I rarely read the comments, although I’m grateful if someone takes the time to reads a cartoon and goes to the trouble of commenting on it. When I started out doing the Guardian cartoons I was so overawed about them reaching such a large audience that I became certain that everyone would hate them. I decided then not to read the comments and validate my insecurities.
hellasbutnotleast asks:
Which new manager of the Premier League are you the most looking forward to draw every week?
If Sean Dyche counts, then Sean Dyche. I feel I didn't quite capitalise on his presence in the Premier League when Burnley were last there. And yeah, obviously Conte.
Eatthemeek writes:
Hi David. Have you got any advice for capturing likenesses? I find it impressive that you can represent people so accurately with such simple lines.
What I’ve learned today is that I can’t draw Mourinho, so you might be asking the wrong man! I’m not great at caricatures, to be honest (bit of a drawback, that), but I always start with the eyes and nose and work my way out from there. I honestly wish I could create more lifelike images, but as Big Sam is about to find out, you can only work with the tools at your disposal.
wiakywbfatw asks:
1) What’s the one reference in your cartoons here that you’re most proud of making?
2) What references (if any) have you made that we didn’t pick up on BTL?
1. Roy Hodgson as Supa Hot Fire, mostly because of the positive reaction it got.
2. Ah, I don’t dip BTL very often I’m afraid, but it seems that every week I need to explain at least one panel to someone on Twitter. It’s something I’m trying to work on, to make them a bit more accessible.
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Jozef Brodala asks:
What was the first football-related thing you ever drew?
I can't remember the exact first, but I when I was a kid I used to fill notebooks with drawings of kits and badges and stadiums.
The first 'comedic' football thing I drew, I do remember. It was in primary school and our class was tasked with drawing a fantasy football team. My design was for a team called The Berlin Burners and featured Hitler goose-stepping in a volley from distance. I only remember it because of my teacher's reaction. She was unimpressed. An early exposure to the critique of the comments section.
Akhil Gulati asks:
I know that you must have been told this more times than you would like to count, but here it goes anyway: love your work. Look up for it every week. The thing about your art that never ceases to amaze me is how effortlessly you blend in vague references to almost anything and everything into your artwork (my personal favourite is the Amazing Leicester frame in a cartoon about Nigel Pearson). I have to go through every frame at least twice to ensure that I don’t miss anything. So my question to you is, how do you do that? How can you mesh such seemingly disparate ideas to produce such hilarious and witty results? And thanks to the Guardian for giving me the opportunity to ask something that has been gnawing at my insides for quite a while now.
Thanks Akhil, I think the cartoons probably reflect the way that I watch football. My short attention span means that my mind will often drift and focus on things off the pitch, like the advertising boards or the design of the dugouts.
I've always enjoyed adding in those small details and have to admit that I sometimes use it as a tool to allow my procrastination. If I'm stuck for an idea, I'll often work extra hard on drawing all the details in, say, the Luton Town third strip, rather than getting down to the task in hand. Working to tighter deadlines has also taught me some discipline, as I no longer have the luxury of spending two weeks poring over a single panel.
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Who has been your favourite person to draw? I’ve got a soft spot for the running Euro worker and Grease era Hodgson.
I’m going to miss Roy Hodgson, but also Louis Van Gaal, who combined an interesting face with an unpredictable personality. His nose is a complex riddle that I don’t feel I ever quite mastered. I’m also probably the only person in the world who misses Sepp Blatter and longs for his return to international football administration.
Hello folks,
Thanks for all the questions. I'm going to start working my way through them now. A cursory glance shows that none of you have asked my what my favourite Pokemon is, which tells me you're my kind of people. Okay, here goes...
(PS. My favourite Pokemon is the one that looks like most like former Coventry City striker, Terry Gibson)
Morning. We’ll be posting a selection of David’s replies above the line, but he should be down below right about now.
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Post your questions for David Squires
David has been drawing cartoons for the Guardian since November 2014, but you probably will have seen his work before that on The Sunshine Room website.
A Swindon Town fan, he currently lives in Australia, having moved from England in 2009, and you’ll now also find his cartoons every week on Guardian Australia. He also has a book coming out later this year – The Illustrated History of Football.
David is joining us to answer your questions on a live webchat, starting at 10am BST on Tuesday 19 July – post your questions for him in the comments below.
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Thanks so much for all your questions and comments. Sorry I haven't had time to answer them all, but I'll pop back in tomorrow to answer any that haven't been covered elsewhere.
You BTL lot aren't so scary after all. x