the Grey Otter meets the Queer Press Grant
Added 2023-06-26 19:03:49 +0000 UTCFirst Page | Previous Page | More Grey Otter
In 2005, Prism Comics began giving out it's annual Queer Press Grant, and Steve Lozier and I applied with an all ages treatment of the Grey Otter. There were a total of 4 applicants that first year, and though we didn't win, it was hard to be upset about it because I liked and respected each of the other applicants and was happy that they won. It was that way each time I applied... by the time I won in 2015, I had applied 4 times, I believe. The 2005 winner was Steve MacIsaac, with Shirtlifter.
Anyway, Steve (Lozier) and I went on a writer's retreat! This secluded mobile home in the mountain woods near San Diego. I can't remember if it was a day or two, but Steve worked out a story that featured a group of queer teens to hang the introduction of the Grey Otter on. Included above is a bio sketch of the Otter and his alter-ego, now a life guard, and the first page of the story. I still like the drawing/inking of it, and the color palette, but damn that mouse coloring looks like mouse coloring.
This ended up not going anywhere... Steve and my partnership as writer/artist fell apart over this. Steve is a great, creative guy, but at this time (hopefully not any longer) he was a meth user. And so would disappear for days on end and then recover for half a week and then maybe be good to go for a day or two before it happened again. It was during one of these times that I got tired of waiting on a story from him, and came up with an outline and backstory that I really liked, and when we next came together we butted heads over it, and then went our separate ways. I still think of this as the true story of the Otter (the one I came up with, of cours). I learned a lesson too; when working with another on a project, the roles have to be laid out plainly and we need to stay in each other's respective lane. And do not partner with people who aren't dependable.
Maybe someday I will revisit the Grey Otter, maybe someday I will develop that story further. I have a few other things I did with Steve that I may post here, as well.
One more G.O. post to go!
