Interview with Brian Anderson, Creator of Sophie: Jurassic Bark and Frankenstein's Hound

Thanks for joining us at Smack Dab, Brian! Tell us all about the whirlwind world of Sophie and her puptastic adventures!

 Thanks for having me! Sophie, my real-life furball, is the mastermind behind the whole operation. These graphic novels are her journey from "only child" to wrestling with a new human brother, adopted cat chaos, and a revolving door of foster pups. She tackles it all with sass and imagination, of course. Think of it as a real-life documentary with a healthy dose of Sophie's wild fantasies thrown in.

Animals are basically built-in comedians, right? You gotta narrate their inner monologues! Do your foster pups get the same treatment?

Absolutely! Each furry friend gets their own unique voice and personality, even the fosters. Sophie was a mashup of Peppermint Patty and Ripley from Aliens. The cats have thick accents, some German, some Swedish, it depends on their mood. Every character is based on a real animal, which helps bring their cartoon versions to life. Let's just say, I've had some pretty interesting foster pups, and their quirks always find a way into the story.

Calling all aspiring comic creators! What's your golden nugget of advice?

Read a ton and draw and write even more! Stash a notebook in your pocket – you never know when inspiration will strike and then vanish like a phantom treat. Perfect for those endless waiting rooms or car rides, too. I even started wearing cargo pants (not my favorite look, but hey, gotta do what you gotta do!) just to have that notebook handy.

 Character first, story later, or vice versa? What's your creative process?

Definitely characters first! They're the heart of the whole story. I spend a lot of time getting to know them before mapping out the plot. Back in the "Dog Eat Doug" days, I wrote and tossed out hundreds of comics before I really nailed the characters. Those were usually the easy jokes, before the characters truly came alive. Same goes for novels. I wrote the first book of "The Conjurers" without understanding the main characters, which meant a whole lot of rewriting. Comics allow your characters to evolve over time, but I like to spend a good chunk of time drawing and letting them develop before diving into the story.

"Frankenstein's Hound" features a world-domination plot by cats. Sounds about right! Humor can be a fickle beast, though. Do you have any secret techniques for conjuring up laughs?

That notebook comes in handy again! Funny lines and twists rarely appear on command (much like some dogs I know). But when you step away from the drawing table, your brain keeps working on the problem in the background. So, the solution might pounce on you at the most unexpected times. I also steal a trick from comedians: I come up with a premise and then workshop it until it makes me laugh. Same goes for the heartwarming moments!

Balancing realism and fantasy – is it a juggling act, or does it flow naturally?

It all came naturally. My inner child is stuck at around ten years old, so daydreaming is basically a superpower. It also makes it more relatable for young readers. They can imagine themselves on adventures with my characters, or be inspired to create even wilder ones.

Family is a big theme in Sophie's world – adoption, sibling rivalry, and the joys of family life. What sparked this focus?

Another natural element! When I created the newspaper strip, Sophie was my only fur-ever friend, so I invented Doug. A few years later, my son arrived, and the strip became a documentary of our lives. All the toys, furniture and situations in Sophie and Doug's world came straight from our world.

I came to graphic novels later in life, thanks to my brother. You're a big advocate for using comics to boost literacy. Tell us more!

Absolutely! When parents ask how to get their kids reading, I say let them explore everything! Eventually, they'll stumble upon a character or genre they love. Boom! Instant reader. Comics are especially great for younger kids. The pictures help them connect with the characters faster and can be more engaging than a book that starts slow or doesn't match their reading style.

Let's face it, screens rule the world these days. But how many kids, after watching a superhero movie, would love to keep the story going by reading the comics? Comics are the perfect gateway drug to reading! They used to be looked down on, but thankfully things have changed a lot since I was a kid. I've even gotten numerous letters from teachers who used the comic strips in the classroom as a teaching aide. First off, that melted my heart, but secondly, it confirmed that if you make reading fun early, you'll get more readers later.

What's next? Surely Sophie will be going on additional adventures!

Yes indeed! We have a lot planned. Some of it I can't let out of the bag yet, although, let's just say, you may be hearing Sophie's voice in a different medium soon.

Where can we find you?

Usually curled up with several dogs and cats. Oh, you mean online? You can find me at www.brianandersonwriter.com (which is the same as www.dogeatdoug.com) and @dogeatdougcomics on IG.