Scenes 4. Zoom Rockman on comic book culture and political satire
Jan 25, 2022
Zoom Rockman, a political cartoonist and the youngest artist in The Beano's history, shares insights from his vibrant career. He delves into his childhood loves of comics and chillies, recounts self-publishing at school, and his remarkable rise to The Beano. Zoom discusses the evolution of comics in the digital age and his shift to political satire at Private Eye, highlighting the balance of humor and truth. Plus, he reflects on the magic of puppetry, the importance of tangible art, and his passion for reviving ancient Chinese shadow puppetry.
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Early Comics Discovery Sparks Career
- Zoom Rockman discovered comics at eight after finding a box of Beano comics at a car boot sale and began drawing his own characters.
- He self-published a comic and sold it at school and his local newsagent, kickstarting his creative career.
From Museum Workshops To The Beano
- Being visible at the Cartoon Museum and on BBC News led Mike Stirling at The Beano to invite Zoom to contribute.
- He became The Beano's youngest artist at age 12 with a monthly strip called Skanky Pigeon.
Relatable Content Versus Personal Passion
- Social media comics trend toward instantly relatable content that encourages quick engagement.
- Zoom resisted that pressure and chose to focus on the content he genuinely cares about instead.
