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Laughs Abound For Laurel & Hardy

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One of the most iconic comedy acts of all-time is back in the spotlight as American Mythology is bringing Laurel & Hardy’s beloved slapstick shenanigans back to their legion of fans with the release of a new comic book in April 2019. 

PREVIEWSworld talked to writers S.A. Check and Jordan Gershowitz, as well as artist Jorge Pacheco, who worked on the last Laurel & Hardy book 30 years ago. 

Laurel & Hardy #1 (FEB191367) is now available to pre-order at comic shops through the February PREVIEWS catalog. 


PREVIEWSworld: Laurel & Hardy were mainstays of comedy in the 20th century. But, what makes their comedy and their story relevant in 2019?

Jordan Gershowitz: It’s really simple, you don’t have comedy today without Laurel & Hardy. You don’t have Abbott and Costello, you don’t have Belushi & Aykroyd, and you don’t have Ferrell & Reilly. The one thing I take away from every Laurel & Hardy sketch is how well Stan Laurel was able to subvert the audience’s expectations through his writing. He was a true genius, leading an audience to believe things were zigging and then all of a sudden, they zag. It’s that unexcepted occurrence that makes audiences burst into laughter and it’s really the basis of modern comedy. Go ahead a watch some of their sketches and then watch your favorite sit-com, you’ll see what I mean. Seriously, go check it out. We’ll wait…

Jorge Pacheco L&H are truly timeless. They will be relevant long into the future as long as humanity can laugh. However, I think the greatest thing about L&H that will make them relevant for all time is the love of friendship and the love two men have for each other.  Through all their crazy antics and situations, and even the anger they sometimes have for each other, at the end of the day, they are the best of friends.

S.A. Check: I think all you have to do is look at the two answers above me, because that’s how I started out my own response.  Stan & Ollie are friends, first and foremost.  It’s a universal theme that can apply to any setting, plot, or theme.  The magic is in the chemistry developed between two friends who were just trying to get by.  Maybe they didn’t always agree, and each had their own approach to life, but they worked together whether it was moving a piano, selling Christmas trees, or opening an electronics store.  That’s what kept fans captivated for the decades they performed, and has kept them around long after. 

PW: Jorge Pacheco drew Laurel & Hardy comics 30 years ago. How important was it to get him on board this time around?

JG: This book would not be what it is without Jorge’s amazing artwork. Whenever you write for such influential characters, there is always a sense of excitement and anxiety. However, having Jorge on the team immediately made me feel at ease. I knew his artwork and experience with the characters would help establish the tone our creative team was going for. The guy is just a master when it comes to comedy in comics. How could you not want someone who’s drawn for Laurel & Hardy, Bugs Bunny, Tom & Jerry, and Garfield?!

SC: Have you seen any of the art for this book?!  Jorge is just knocking every panel out of the park for this series.  His panels and art style are just so kinetic.  They are a perfect fit to help us bring the slapstick fun of Laurel & Hardy back to comics.  The attention and love of the characters is evident with each panel, and when he’s done illustrating a story, it’s a better story for it.  As a writer, to be able to submit a story and think to yourself, ‘I can’t wait to see what Jorge does with this’ is a great feeling to have, and he does not disappoint. 

PW: How do you capture the tone of Laurel & Hardy in a comic book?

SC: There’s two parts to every story.  First, you figure out a situation to put them in, and that’s one of the real joys with L&H.  It doesn’t have to be anything over the top or ridiculous.  It can be something as simple as changing a flat tire, or doing some work in the back yard.  Second, you focus on the characters.  Specifically, how you think they’d interact with each other, and how they’d react to the given scenario.  You start to look at the world through Laurel & Hardy tinted glasses, because the way you or I would approach something, isn’t always, or usually, how the Boys would tackle it.  And that’s what makes writing these stories so much fun. 

JG: Cross your fingers and pray to the comics Gods. In all seriousness, S.A. and I had a lot of conversations about this very question. Laurel & Hardy are the masters of physical comedy, which is very fluid. You crack up when you see a hammer fly into the air, because you anticipate the effects of it coming down. While you don’t obviously have the luxury of moving images in comics, we knew strong storytelling would allow us to elicit the same response from readers (because it always starts with a great story). With that in mind, we really focused on the essence of what makes Laurel & Hardy, well, Laurel & Hardy. I believe we really captured the spirit of these characters; their friendship, their optimism, and their drive to better their lives (often with disastrous and hilarious results). As I mentioned, Jorge deserves a ton of credit for the amazing artwork, which makes you feel like it’s unfolding in real time. As for the writing, we really stressed the visual nature, which even allowed us to heighten the stories further than what would been able to be filmed in the 1930s. All in all, this is the classic Laurel & Hardy that you know and love – great premises, fun set pieces, and two characters who truly love each other (even if they don’t always show it).

JP: Hopefully, I captured the zaniness and chaos of the comedic duo by keeping the reader "jumping" from panel to panel and also by visually showing lots of facial expressions.

PW: What makes you a fan of the comedy duo?

JP: I became a fan at a very early age and what I enjoyed as a child, I still enjoy now as an adult.  Of course, the slapstick and goofiness, which as a child hooked me to the duo, but as an adult the subtlety of the friendship and the kindness between them.  I think the greatest flaw in today's movies whether it being a comedy or drama is the kindness shown by the pair.  L&H excelled in showing kindness towards each other.  Finally, as most of their shorts and movies were filmed in black and white, it set a tone that color films can never capture. 

SC: They make me laugh.  Simple as that.  I can sit down and watch a movie or skit and get seamlessly lost in their comedy for a few wonderful moments.  You don’t need to know anything about them going into it.  If it’s your first experience watching Stan & Ollie, or your one hundredth, it’s still funny, and you never feel like you’ve missed out on something by not watching the last season, or episodes leading up to it.  It’s not political, or edgy, or controversial.  It’s just plain fun in its purest sense.  It’s two different, but likeable guys, trying to figure the world out one adventure at a time.

JG: Whether it’s their influence on comedy or their on-screen friendship, there’s so much to love about Laurel & Hardy. However, for me, what makes me a fan is the memories I have watching them with my family. Sunday morning were often spent watching old comedy routines with my dad and we would watch hours of The Three Stooges, The Marx Brothers, and Laurel & Hardy. When American Mythology asked if I was interested in being a part of this launch, the 10-year-old in me was jumping for joy. I’ve had the opportunity to write for a number of classic characters such as Tom & Jerry, Wacky Races, Sesame Street, and Danger Mouse, but my family had the biggest smile on their faces when I told them about this project. It’s an honor to create new stories for this iconic duo and the fact that it’s come full-circle from my childhood is that much more meaningful. Here’s hoping this series will make current fans smile with nostalgia and inspire new fans to get into comedy just as Laurel & Hardy did for me.

PW: What’s your favorite Laurel & Hardy skit? Did any of your favorite acts make it into the comic?

SC: One of my favorites will always be Busy Bodies, probably because I just watched it again the other day for the thousandth time.  One of the best things about their comedy is they could do it with or without words – and it was just as funny either way!  How many performers today could say the same?  I just love the way everything in the skit builds and then they take it one step farther (Spoiler Alert!) by cutting the car in half.  You just never knew what to expect, but you were never disappointed.  I think I tried to dribble in bits and pieces from different shorts into the comics, but more just a flash here and there than hoping fans will catch them.  

JG: The Music Box is without a doubt my favorite Laurel & Hardy skit. Released in 1932, I find myself watching it at least once a week when I need some inspiration for a scene with physical comedy. As a guy who grew up near the “Rocky steps,” the historic staircase from The Music Box is a must-visit for any fans of the comedic duo (or fans of comedy in general). As for whether this sketch influenced my story in issue #1, well, you’re just going to have to read and find out!

JP: I think the duo dancing in "Way out West".  It may be their most iconic and famous scene? It has a certain warmth to it and it still puts a smile on your face.

PW: The Stan & Ollie movie has hit theaters and has been very well received by critics. What does your comic touch on about the duo that the movie may not? Why should a fan of the movie pick up the comic?

JG: First off, Stan & Ollie is fantastic and everyone should absolutely go see as it. While the movie focuses on their later years, I believe our comic focuses on the height of the duo’s success. By doing this, it allows us to explore all of the silly antics these two get into and really see the humor that stems out of their friendship. For anyone that saw the movie and said, “Wow, this movie was great and I want find more of their shenanigans to laugh at,” then this comic is for you! And if you didn’t see the movie or say that very specific line of dialogue I just wrote, then this comic is for you too!

JP: First off, the film was just wonderful!  John C. Reilly & Steve Coogan truly caught the humor and friendship I believe the duo had not to mention the love they had for each other.  My wife who is only a casual L&H fan had tears in her eyes at the end of the film.  (BTW, I did too;)  It was the best film I've seen in many years.  I hope I/we (S.A.Check & Jordan Gershowitz) caught the humor and slapstick of the movies, but most of all I hope we captured the friendship and love two people can have for each other. 

SC: They came out with a new movie?  What?  I’m kidding!  It’s not surprising the movie has endeared itself to so many fans and critics alike.  It brought us all a reminder of the joy these two performers brought to generations.  I think Stan & Ollie are always kept as a fond memory for most people, and the movie gave us a collective nudge to bring those memories back to the forefront and smile.  We’re hoping the comics have a similar effect, and they reach out to not just comic book fans, but fans of Laurel & Hardy all over the world.  American Mythology has a strong history of bringing classic and universally loved icons back to fans, and we’re not slowing down.  Comics are a unique medium that gives fans of these legacy characters something special.  We can stay true to who they were, but present them in new stories to help celebrate everything we loved about them in the first place.  If we can capture a sliver of that magic along the way?  Well, then we’ve all done something worthwhile in my opinion.   

 

 

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