The Xcentrikz - Interactive Comic

Interview with Silas Jackson and Ash Jackson

On their unique webcomic creation...

October 7, 2009

Here's a fun comic with a unique premise - about the Homeschooled lifestyle! It's great!! Ash and Silas, two brothers who were also homeschooled in real life, write about the wacky adventures of their cool characters. Hope you check it out and enjoy the interview...

The Xcentrikz Team: Hello Ash! Talking about your comic will be extra nifty, so thanks. We always like to share our comic's viewers with other great sites. So, could you pitch something cool about Homeschooled? What makes it super cool?

Ash: Homeschooled is so great because it’s so entertaining! I always loved drawing, ever since I could hold a pencil. I used to just draw whatever random things I wanted, but once I turned 18, I realized I needed a job, and I figured why not tried to make it something I enjoy? I started working as a freelance artist drawing comics, so I was learning about drawing and the comic biz at the same time. Fast forward 8 years later, and I'm still poor, and still just as confused about the biz, but I'm a little better a drawing, so I'll take it as a victory.

Si: I think one thing which sets this comic apart is its basic premise. Here we have a bunch of homeschooled characters who aren’t just a bunch of cliché images! The humor doesn’t draw from any kind of stigma about homeschooling, but still manages to poke fun at the lifestyle.

THE XCENTRIKZ: That's really cool, how you guys view the sense of humor. You're pretty talented and the premise of your comic is unique and fun. How did you get started in doing comics? What’s it been like to hone your skills over the years?

Ash: I’ve always been into comics, but I’ve also always been into video games, so a good part of my influence comes from them. Hopefully having things like Final Fantasy and Super Mario Bros. as inspiration, as well as what I’ve read in various comics, can continue to give me a unique way of designing comics.

THE XCENTRIKZ: Anything in particular that got your imagination going, in the beginning of Homeschooled? Were you or friends homeschooled when you were younger?

Ash: All of my brothers and I were homeschooled, as were some of our friends. I also really liked comics when I was younger, and so did all of the other homeschooled gang. I used to draw little comics about all of us too, until one day my father saw that the website www.presurfer.com was looking for a new weekly strip. At that point, I had already drawn a lot of Homeschooled comics, and I figured it would be a good chance to get other people to see them if I posted them online.

THE XCENTRIKZ: Cool. So what inspires the characters? Are any of them inspired by real people? Are any of them similar to you in real life?

Ash: Yeah, all but about 3 of the cast members are based on people we really know.
A lot of the time their behavior in the comics is similar to how they really act. I guess it pays to have wacky friends!

Si: You could say they’re similar, but really, the characters are basically exaggerated caricatures of our personalities.

THE XCENTRIKZ: What’s something that really challenges you in doing the comic?

Ash: There aren't really too many challenges, as Homeschooled started out as just something I did for fun, and it continues to be that.

THE XCENTRIKZ: That's good to know! In your opinion, what’s one of the coolest things about Homeschooled?

Si: The writing, definitely.

Ash: Really? I would have said the art.

Si: I’m sure you would have.

THE XCENTRIKZ: How has it been promoting the comic to new viewers? How do you think it got as popular as it is today?

Ash: Well, it started out only on The Presurfer, but after so many years, we built up enough comics that it seemed like it needed its own site. Plus, the real life Rob'o kept demanding I create one. Hopefully, all the viewers from The Presurfer will continue to check it out, and we’ll also continue to promote it at all the comic cons that I attend.

THE XCENTRIKZ: How about some fun personal questions… If you could go back in time to change something in your life, what might it be?

Ash: That time I threw up in Andrew’s back yard.

Si: Honestly? Nothing.

THE XCENTRIKZ: Stranded on a desert island! What three totally nifty items would you want to have?

Ash: Paper, a pencil, and an underwater tram system that could quickly get me back and forth to/from the mainland.

Si: A drink, a miniature umbrella, and a hammock. There’s nothing like being stranded every now and again to help you unwind...

THE XCENTRIKZ: Tell us, what’s a busy day in the life of YOU like?

Ash: Most days are pretty busy. I try to have 4-7 comic projects at any given time, so it’s easy to have a 9-10 hour work day of drawing and coloring and still have lots to do the next day.

Si: I do Yoga and teach Tae Kwon Do, and find time for art, writing, music, and moving thousands of pounds of firewood (winter’s coming, after all). I also have an album out, called “A Blank Book Library,” which is available in most online stores.

THE XCENTRIKZ: Thanks, alright... QUIZ! What’s your favorite… Food? Music? Relaxation Spot? Friend? Entertainment?

Ash: I really like Chinese food, but I don't know if I'd want it all the time. I like all music, including folk, rock, pop, and the Storm Eagle theme from the video game Mega Man X. Does walking my dog count as a sport? My friends all have their charm from time to time. For entertainment, I like watching movies.

Si: Indian food, World music, yoga studio, the one I’m with, movies. Funny thing, if you scramble the order of those answers they’re still true.

THE XCENTRIKZ: Ha ha. What’s one of the weirdest things that’s happened to you doing comics?

Ash: Nothing too odd happens while I'm working on comics, but my grandfather once got in a fist fight with my uncle at his 80th birthday party, true story.

THE XCENTRIKZ: How do you feel about life as a web-comic creator? The pros, the cons, the costs of time and resources. What makes it worth it to you, at the end of the day?

Ash: Be it web or print comics, I enjoy drawing/making them, so until I get tired of that, it'll always be worth it.

THE XCENTRIKZ: What do you think of your reader base?

Ash: I think they're great, even the hate mail is usually entertaining.

Si: *Salutes* You guys are alright...

THE XCENTRIKZ: Anything else to share with your fans out there? How about a clue as to what’ll happen next in Homeschooled?

Ash: Whatever strange thing Andrew or Rob'o do next in real life!

THE XCENTRIKZ: Any special people you’d like to give a shout out to, in thanks for their help?

Ash: I’d like to thank my girlfriend, friends and family for supporting my less than lucrative profession, the 1950s for existing, Rob'o for telling me to make the Homeschooled website, and Chino for knowing HOW to make the Homeschooled website.

Si: I’d like to thank everyone who has read and enjoyed the comic! Even everyone who has read the comic and has not enjoyed it, as well as those who have enjoyed not reading it.

THE XCENTRIKZ: Thanks again for the cool interview on Homeschooled. Keep up the nifty work, guys. Go read HOMESCHOOLED now folks – Enjoy it, it's fun!

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