I met Jaime in 2018 at SOL-CON and CXC in Columbus, OH. We officially met in the Target while we were getting snacks for CXC the next day. I have known of Jaime for years because of mutual friends, but 2018 was the first time we met.
I was immediately drawn to his story telling ability as well as his stories. Especially since a lot of his story overlaps with my own. He comes from the generation, my generation often looked to for guidance when continuing on the legacy and spirit of DIY culture. I could listen to him talk about his life and career all day. In fact you can do just that with his Daily Vlog.
The thing I love about Jaime is how he continues to grow, his ability to create memorable moments within a small amount of panels and his love for not just comics, but also music.
Buy Comics from Jaime Crespo
LAST SLICE 2011
THROB 2012
INTERVIEW WITH JAIME CRESPO 2020
What has life been like for the past few years? How are you doing?
J: Life has been a bit surreal and even trying at times the past 6+ years. In that space of time I went through a divorce, cancer and then moving from a community I was a part of for almost 27 years (all by choice EXCEPT the cancer). However, life is still rolling along. Life seems to do that.
Are you from the Bay Area or did you move here?
J: No. I am not originally from the bay area.
If not, where are you from originally?
J: I was born in Sacramento, CA. about 70 miles from the bay. Though, I moved a bit as a kid and lived in SF when I was about 4 years old and moved back up to Sacramento in the middle of grade school. Spent most of my summers in East L.A. About two years after high school I moved to SF and have been living in some part of the bay area ever since.
When did you start making comics?
J: I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. I drew on everything as a small kid. I did comic strips on old paper grocery bags my mom would cut open for me to do so. I then drew for a school paper at the end of elementary school. I continued to draw through junior high and high school. I also drew comics with friends and such. My first “paid” comic was a really bad one-panel that I did for an alternative paper in my hometown when I was barely out of high school. I did a few more for them then a few other publications, paid very little but I was a “professional” none-the-less.
How has your progression of your cartooning and educational career impacted your life?
J: I’m not totally sure what that question means but the progression of my cartooning has been probably like most people who draw comix. As in, the art form and those who create it are very instrumental in my progression as a writer/cartoonist as I always glean something (intentional or not) or just get inspiration from work that has come before me, as in influences as well as cartoonists that are friends/peers.
Being published (self published or published by someone else) has been a pretty big education in itself.
How have you grown since your earlier comics?
J: I feel that I have grown tremendously over the years in my comix. From structure and writing and all that goes with it.
What are some of your most memorable moments of your career so far?
J: Having had a friendship and almost a mentorship, if you will with the late, great Harvey Pekar. He helped me immensely…more than can be said here.
I suppose the most recent is the renaissance we’re in the midst of with all of these great creators of color! I am absolutely enjoying reading and seeing all of you younger cartoonists out there and what you are producing! From gender issues to more voices from the POC artists…it’s all great! As a cartoonist of color I always felt pretty alone out there for a few decades. Now I don’t.
What is different about The Bay Area comics scene compared to other places you have been?
J: I’ve always noticed that the Bay Area seems to have a slight edge with the diversity of content and artists in the comic scene. Not that there isn’t diversity in other places but just the concentration of diversity here in the Bay has ALWAYS been tantamount. All the different voices that are out here and that are heard is amazing! Keep in mind, it wasn’t all that long ago that the San Francisco Bay Area was considered GLOBALLY as the absolute place for bohemia, freethinking and artistic and personal freedom. The Latino Comics Expo sprang from San Francisco! People from the bay area created both Sol-Con and the Latinx Comic Arts Festival! Sadly, since the beginning of the Dot Bomb phenomena (the tech industry) moving in it has help to destroy that tradition and culture here in the Bay Area, especially in San Francisco.
Any comics recommendations?
J: Now you’re putting me on the spot. For current works, anything by Breena Nunez, Dustin Garcia, Lawrence Lindell, Daniel Parada, Tyler Cohen, Liz Mayorga, John Porcellino, Hyena Hell, Carrie McNinch, Rafael Navarro, Rhode Montijo, Crystal Gonzales, Janelle Hessig, Javier Hernandez, J.m. Hunter, John Jennings, Jiba Molei Anderson, Ho Che Anderson, Max Clotfleter and Mark Campos to name a few off of the top of my head.
As for older stuff or more “established” comix…anything by Jim Woodring, Lynda Berry, Robert Armstrong, Carol Tyler, Justin Green, Steve Lafler, Ernie Bushmiller, George Harriman, Harvey Kurtzman, Basil Woolverton, The Hernandez Brothers, Edward Gorey, Gilbert Shelton, Mary Fleener, Dave Sheridan, Phoebe Glockner, Kaz, Mark Zingerelli and yes, even R. Crumb.
As for publications…go back and find the anthologies, ‘Arcade,’ ‘RAW,’ ‘Weirdo’ and any of the Ripoff Press stuff and of course MAD Magazine.
Any cartoon/tv shows or movie recommendations?
J: Ha! Loads! Cartoons; Old Warner brothers including Merry Melodies, old Disney (per-1960’s), Original Gumby (1950’s to early 1960’s), Clutch Cargo (just for the weirdness), Speed Racer, the original Bullwinkle & Rocky, Early Pink Panther cartoons.
Newer stuff you’re probably up on more than myself but I enjoy the first 10 seasons of The Simpsons, Rick & Morty, Regular Show and of course, Adventure Time.
What influences your work?
J: Other cartoonists but also cultural things around me. Music is an enormous influence as are everything from railroad boxcar art, old school Cholo placas, painters and sculptors, skateboarding and surfing, novels, orange crate/fruit crate labels, sci-fi movies, stories and art and countless other things.
What do you want to do in comics in the next 5 years?
J: Hopefully have two or three graphic novels published as well as a bunch of comic books published as well.
What are you working on now?
J: A graphic novel about my time living/working in a Tenderloin hotel in the mid-1980’s, the next issue of my comic book, Tortilla and a load of illustration gigs.
What does your work represent to you?
J: Hopefully showing anyone out there that you can do this to and that your opinion and perspective is every bit as important as anything else that comes down the pike!
Jaimes Comic for the BAYlies (2019)
Thank you so much to Jaime for doing this interview. It’s important for me as someone who is here right now to not only archive and document comics history, but to shine light on what has been and still is here. Jaime is the living embodiment of that.
Please check out his work
Peace and Love
-Lawrence