The Fabler

Back in May 2010 when I posted an interview with Ethan Rilly about his 2008 minicomic Pope Hats, I described it as simultaneously surreal and very familiar. The comic, which saw wider distribution via publisher AdHouse Books in 2009, introduced us to roommates Frances and Vickie. Vickie is an alcoholic party girl, and Frances is ostensibly your average, down-to-earth type just looking to eke out a living in the world. Except of course for her numerous idiosyncratic behaviors – like, for instance, maintaining an ongoing dialogue with a fictional ghost named Sarsgaard.

At the time of my interview with Ethan, he was working on a graphic novel follow up to his well-received debut effort.

Now, nearly a year and a half later, Pope Hats #2 is available for purchase. It may not be voluminous in nature or feature talking ghosts, but what we are given is presented with purposeful sincerity and a unique sort of human empathy. Art-wise, solid, confident linework and memorable cityscape imagery establish a visually backdrop against which Ethan’s characters casually live out their lives.

Ethan was kind enough to field a few more interview questions for The Fabler, ranging in topic from his decisions involving Pope Hats and thoughts on having Chester Brown moderate the book launch, to his own current comic book picks and preferences.