elizacutsfans

Eliza Cuts: Besides the fact that you are an amazing dancer, you also have an amazing comic. In a totally self-plugging way, tell me about it.
Jon Rivera: I am, and I do. Heartbreak is an autobiographical account of two cartoonists, Nick DeStefano and myself, and their tragic adventures in the world of dating. Nick and I both write and draw our own stories, and it's just a very fun and real look at the problems faced by many people who are trying to find the love of their lives…Or at least a date.
Eliza Cuts: How do you find enough to write about all of the time? And are these actual things that happen to you or do you embellish?
Jon Rivera: All of the stories are true. Of course, real life doesn't really move in a conveniently paced manner so certain things always have to be moved around when you are adapting a true story. In terms of our book, there were a few scenes that were shifted around or combined for pacing reasons. But all of the major moment, all of the "shock" moments...those were all real. Terrifyingly real.
Eliza Cuts: Is it difficult telling the world tales of your adventures?
Jon Rivera: It is sometimes. At first, Heartbreak stemmed from an intense desire to let people know how I was feeling after a really bad breakup. Later, when it was time to work on the actual books, it became something that I thought other people could relate to. But to do that, you have to be really, really honest, and not be afraid to cast yourself in an unflattering light. So yeah, sometimes it's difficult spending hundreds of hours working on a book about how much of an idiot you are.
Eliza Cuts: Is it weird to think that some of the girls in the comic might actually read stories about themselves?
Jon Rivera: Yeah, that's one of my biggest fears. I think Nick has actually heard back from some of his girls...and he's still friends with some of them. I, on the other hand have not, and the day that happens I'll probably be really embarrassed. I just hope none of them comes to a signing with a gun.
Eliza Cuts: What if you fell in love... would you run out of material if a relationship actually worked out?
Jon Rivera: Most of the girls in my Heartbreak stories are girls that I had crushes on. I've never really delved into any of my actual relationships. Anyone who's been in a long-term relationship knows that even though the problems of being single and dating are over. There's a whole new set waiting for you at the end of the rainbow. But I also think that for right now, I've kind of said what I had to say with this book. Any more Heartbreak stories from me would start to feel redundant after a while, one of the things I love most about these stories is that most of them deal with more issues than just the incident with the girl. Addressing other things I was feeling or going though at the time.
Eliza Cuts: Do you see it as a form of therapy for you?
Jon Rivera: Initially, it was really great therapy. As the series went on, I found that I took most of my pleasure out of hearing that people related to this stuff. It's comforting to both the artist and the reader when you know that you're not the only one who's gone though stuff like this. At least I think so.
Eliza Cuts: I know its huge to have people you know react to your work but do you ever get contacted by people you don’t know on a personal level?
Jon Rivera: Yes! It's weird. Sometimes you feel like some kind of relationship counselor. It's cool though, that people feel they can open up to a stranger like that. But I guess since you've seen a ton of my personal embarrassing moments, it's kind of a fair trade... I've heard some really cool stories, though, from other people. Nick and I have discussed that if this series were to continue, the next book would either be us telling other peoples stories...or other artists telling their own.
Eliza Cuts: Do you ever feel like you put to much of yourself out there?
Jon Rivera: That's a pretty good question. I'm not sure, I'm naturally kind of an open guy...willing to tell an embarrassing story if I think it's good for a laugh. There are stories that I cut from Heartbreak that I felt were too personal or would hurt people I care about and I'm very glad that I made those decisions. So there is a lot of me out there, but not too much! You have to draw a line at some point between your life and your art, if you feel like your art will negatively affect it. At least, I believe so. But everyone has their own levels of comfort with that kind of thing.
Eliza Cuts: Anyone off of the top of your head that can’t seem to draw that line?
Jon Rivera: Hmmmm... I'm not sure. You could say that an artist like Robert Crumb gets VERY personal with his work. But if that's what he's comfortable with then good for him. It's probably why I'm a fan of his. Like I said before, it's up to the artist to find their own level of comfort with what they share with the world.
Eliza Cuts: Is there anyone you wish would share more, anyone you are curious about?
Jon Rivera: Wow, that's pretty interesting. Well there are guys like Dan Clowes, Adrien Tomine, and Craig Thompson who do a lot of personal work, and I would love to see more of that. Because I think they know HOW to tell a story about their lives. I think with the proper storytelling techniques you can make a mundane everyday occurrence (like dating) something special. I can't say there are too many artists that I know of who I'm so interested in personally that I'm dying to find out what they eat for breakfast or what their love life is like. But if they're willing to tell it to me through their art, I can't say I wouldn't be intrigued… Oh except for Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes... when is that movie coming out!? Maybe a trilogy about Anna Nicole Smith and a companion concept album. How amazing would that be?
Eliza Cuts: Amazing. So how do people get your comic so they can find out the perfect amount of info about you?
Jon Rivera: Right now the book is available on Lulu.com. We will also be in the May issue of Previews which is a catalogue from which comic book shops order their stock of books that will ship in July. We're still a small book, so if you want your local comic book shop to order some copies, you're going to have to tell them! We're on page 298 of the catalogue....do it.........DO IT NOW!
Eliza Cuts: Does the internet help you guys out? How about the ‘space? Do you back it or are you over it?
Jon Rivera: We'd be dead without the internet. The internet gives a voice to people who don't have the money to run huge advertising campaigns. It also provides cartoonists with the movie gossip and pornography they need to get through the day. Myspace...I mean, it's got it's ups and downs. One of the big ups is that I constantly get emails from beautiful women who "love to party" are "moving to my area and want sexy friends" or would like to give me a free Target gift card. It's been really good to us though. Myspace recently opened a MySpace Comics page, and it's been instrumental in getting our name out there. We've also met some really great people on there like Kristie who runs our fansite The Heartbroken and of course all of the support we've gotten from MCR fans.