Fleen: The Awkward Christmas Dinner Of Our Obligation To Existence » Being A Discussion On Life’s Changing Priorities

Editor’s note: As we discussed last week, we have an interview with Dresden Codak creator Aaron Diaz; he discusses his decision to quit his job and become a full-time webcomicker, merchandise, and what it’s like leaping into the unknown. And we would be remiss not to note that in celebration of his impending lifestyle change, Diaz is running six days of guest strips starting today, and a brand-new episode of Dresden Codak on Sunday.

Fleen: What kind of job are you leaving?

Diaz: I do animations for training software for an airplane manufacturer. It’s possibly the most average and unremarkable job I’ve ever had.

Fleen: You promised comics every week — does that mean a full-bore Dresden Codak every week, or perhaps something less ambitious?

Diaz: I’m shooting for a full comic every week. The biggest cause for delay with previous updates is that I’m only really ever able to work on the comic on weekends. Freeing up my week should help move things along.

Fleen: I understand that you’ve recently been able to speed up your work thanks to the magic of Cintiq. What made you take the leap and invest in that very serious tool?

Diaz: I’ve been wanting to get a Cintiq for a while now, and after my shirts first went up for sale I had some extra money to throw around. Getting something that would increase my work output seemed like a solid investment.

Fleen: Does leaving the rent job shift any of your plans forward?

Diaz: If sales remain stable I’ll continue to make a little more than I do at my regular day job, so I still plan to move out to Portland next year. Even if it fluctuates a little bit I still have some side commission jobs that should help supplement my finances.

Fleen: Now that you rely on your readers for things like rent and food, is there a particular level of nutrition that you’re hoping to maintain? Are your tastes modest, or will you be looking to purchase the premium cat chow?

Diaz: It helps to be used to a very low standard of living. I don’t usually eat any meat or expensive things; a few canned vegetables can keep me going for weeks. In general, as long I have an internet connection and running water, I’ll manage.

Fleen: Any hope of Action Hats, Hob plushes, or other, less print-and-t-shirt stuff in the store?

Diaz: I’ve been talking to a couple companies about producing some high end toys and plush dolls, but nothing official yet. It seems like only a couple of months after his first appearance, Tiny Carl Jung has been demanded by readers to take a plush form. A couple people have actually made their own felt Carl dolls, with a wireframe skeleton and everything.

Fleen: Finish this sentence: Leaving my day job and making comics my job makes me feel …

Diaz: Like a Highlander after cutting off another Highlander‘s head.

Fleen: Assuming comics doesn’t work out, how does the Latin Hearthrob career path look?

Diaz: I’d dedicate more time into making movies, probably. The only way I’d ever quit comics was if I somehow just became absolutely sick of doing it. Even if it stopped making money, I’d still draw comics until my hands quit working.

Fleen thanks Aaron Diaz for his time and wishes him success in measure with his devotion to craft. If you have further questions for him regarding life in webcomics, small avatars of psychoanalytic personages, or what the least average and unremarkable job he’s ever had might be, feel free to visit the comment section below.

I am so excited for Aaron. It’s great that he’s doing this full time, but a lot of it is also selfish excitement of more Dresden Codak.

Man that box of Dots is going to be worth millions one day!

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