20 Questions with Jeph Jacques

Questionable Content, a webcomic updated daily from Monday to Friday, is the brainchild of Jeph Jacques. Jacques tackles serious topics from relationships and artificial intelligence to sitcom-style humour and, of recent, the introduction of an openly transgender character. He talks to Vision about how he handles a varied cast, his earliest memories and his webcomic inspiration.

1. Why is your comic called “Questionable Content”?

It just seemed like an easy-to-remember title!

2. What was this inspired by?

I think it was inspired by the comic Something*Positive in that it’s a bit of a joke about the content of the strip. There’s not actually that much questionable content in QC!

3. Which character in Questionable Content do you most identify with?

All of them are different aspects of my personality, so I identify with all of them to some extent. Marten is probably the closest to me in terms of personality but I definitely put a lot of my own neuroses into Hannelore, for example.

4. How would you describe your drawing style?

“Improving”

5. If you weren’t drawing and writing for Questionable Content, what would you be doing?

Hopefully drawing something else, but honestly I’d probably be stuck in some awful dead-end job or worse.

6. How far ahead do you plan the comic?

I have specific plot points in mind pretty far in advance, but the day to day comics are generally written as I go along. Sometimes I’ll have an idea for a general story arc (“Marten and Hannelore go to space”) and then that will dictate the next couple weeks or months’ worth of strips.

7. With such a varied cast, how do you develop and assert each character’s unique individuality?

Each character scratches a specific itch when it comes to the kind of writing I want to do. They all occupy different roles and react differently to given situations so it’s usually not too hard to differentiate them when I’m writing.

8. Will there ever be an animated version of Questionable Content?

If someone offered it to me, sure! But it’s not something I have the time to pursue on my own right now.

9. What’s the weirdest gift you’ve ever received from a fan?

A couple weeks ago I got an email from a fan who mentioned that she was an artisanal baker, and I jokingly replied that she should mail me some bread, and she did! It was really good bread.

10. Describe yourself in three words.

Big weird dude

11. What is your earliest memory?

My grandfather putting together my first big-wheel when I was a super-little kid. Or being excited that I was finally tall enough to reach the light switches in my parents’ house. Not sure which came first.

12. Are you a morning or a night person?

Ahahahahahahaha, definitely not a morning person. Unless you count waking up at 11pm and working until 9am as being a “morning person.”

13. What was your favourite cartoon when you were a child?

Old Looney Tunes cartoons were always my favourite, but I watched basically anything I could if it was animated. I didn’t even get interested in live-action TV or movies until I was like 15.

14. What’s your biggest achievement? 

I’d say the comic is probably my biggest achievement! It’s been my full-time job for nearly a decade and allows me to live a pretty comfortable lifestyle. I’m very fortunate.

15. What’s the best advice you’ve received?

I’d say “do what you love” although I’m not sure if it really counts, because I am terrible at doing anything I don’t enjoy doing in the first place.

16. Who is the best video game sidekick?

Garrus from Mass Effect, OBVIOUSLY #teamGarrus

17. What is your favourite joke?

butts

18. What is the worst job you could have?

Anything where I had to answer to someone else. I’ve always had a problem with authority, but years of self-employment have rendered me totally unemployable in a conventional sense.

19. If you were stranded on a tropical island, what 2 items would you want with you?

Frank Herbert’s Dune and a bottle of sunscreen.

20. If you could buy a yacht, what would you name it?

The Colossal Mistake