This FAQ addresses some common questions concerning the Unions in general, the comic strip itself, and specific characters. If you have a question you wish to add, and if the history page does not already mention it, please write me at unions@lava.net.
Why is "the Unions" a comic strip instead of a comic book?
Simple - because I like comic strips, not comic books. It's always been that way. Although I strongly prefer the serial format instead of the typical stand-alone, one-punchline-a-day format, I do use the latter occasionally, and the comic book medium does not allow for it. Comic strips are inherently more flexible and concise.
I have always frowned upon comic books because while some may have slick and colorful graphics, I find the storytelling content woefully lacking in most instances, and I feel this aspect of the comic strip is more important than the graphics. Pretty pictures alone cannot do the trick. I particularly feel this way towards the "graphic novels" which came into vogue several years ago - just more of a bad thing.
I do buy and read comic books - the Simpsons titles by Bongo Comics, the Ren & Stimpy titles by Marvel, and absolutely nothing else. If they had terrible literary qualities, believe me, I would not waste money on them, though admittedly R&S could use some improvement. As a general fact, however, they do capture some of the quality of the original TV shows, so they serve as the exceptions to the rule.
When I refer to Unions titles as comic books, I in fact mean comic strip anthologies, but those familiar with the strip do not find this label confusing or misleading.
Why don't you draw the comic strip in color?
Ideally, that would be perfect, but how many weekday strips do you see published in color? Those which are were not colored by the cartoonist himself or anyone remotely connected to him, but by someone on the given newspaper's staff under the guise that this particular strip needs color. The Dallas Times Herald did this to their entire comics page - and now it's dead.
I should at least do the Sunday strip in color, naturally, but considering I do not even have the time to do the strip, period, I cannot afford any time on that luxury (and the greatly increased costs incurred in reproducing color). However, if anyone wishes to volunteer their labor as a colorist and have a color laser copier at one's disposal, I am open to offers...
Why is the strip always four panels long?
I adored "Peanuts" as a youth, and of all the strips which influenced the development of "the Unions," it had by far the most impact. I found Charles Schulz' sudden decision to drop a format he made golden over 35 years reprehensible. Nobody says a strip MUST be four panels long, and newer strips more often than not avoid this convention, but proportionally, both in terms of size and length, it remains ideal. This is the medium's version of the golden section in architecture. While the panels need not be a given size or proportion, any other number means you're just not trying hard enough. Those who reject it say it imposes an unnecessary limit on your ideas, but that's hogwash.
Schulz did it initially as a key selling point United Features Syndicate could push on prospective newspapers; the four panels could easily be arranged in any format to fit the available space - horizontal, vertical, rectangle, etc. You cannot make a rectangle with two or three panels. As for those who occasionally do a single long panel, it reeks of "Family Circus" and "Dennis the Menace," not "Far Side" or "Bizarro."
The Sunday strips, on the other hand, do not impose any kind of formatting restriction, so those come in however many panels a given day needs, the minimum number being six.
Where are the strips and books published?
The strips were published at one time in student newspapers, but for the most part, everything was and is self-published, meaning I (with some assistance from copy store personnel) do all the copying, printing, coloring, assembly, laminating, and binding in bringing a single copy of a book into existence. They are published strictly on a by-demand basis, meaning that when and only when someone requests one do I do it; there is no in-house stock awaiting shipment.
Do you work for Union 76?
First of all, the company has been called Unocal Corporation since 1985. Second, the answer is no, not in the payroll sense. Nor has any member of my family, immediate or otherwise, ever worked for any oil company in any capacity.
Are the Unions humans, animals, or what?
All Unions characters are 99% human, 1% whatever, except for those like David and Jacques, who obviously are 100% human. The "whatever" means either animal or unknown, depending on the character. In other words, Rover is NOT a dog, and Red Cat is NOT a cat. And don't call them mutants, either.
How do the Unions reproduce?
They just do, OK? Come on, this is not science fiction. There is no biological answer to that question.
What race(s) and religion(s) are the Unions?
Mostly Caucasian, if anything at all; they follow no particular religion. The Unions are above squabbling over all that nonsense. That's another reason why they're called the Unions.
Why do you always draw eyes as vertical slits?
They look better that way, of course. Even on the humans.
How does Union see, eat, or talk?
Look very, very hard, and you'll see abstract eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Besides, most of the other Unions do not have visible noses or ears, so people shouldn't be harping so much on Union's face in particular. It's just like Beetle Bailey having no eyes or mouth, Dilbert and Dogbert having no mouths, Little Orphan Annie having no pupils, etc.
How can over race in multiple events around the world in a single day, when some of these races take place simultaneously?
The same way Santa Claus can deliver all those presents in a single night. That's why he's a superhero.
When it comes to Rover, the races do not actually overlap, as the promoters and sanctioning bodies know full well that if they start the race without him, they'd have a riot on their hands. As far as potential travel delays because of weather, that doesn't matter. They'll postpone the race if they have to. He's that big.
Jeff Gordon moved from California to Indiana because the state would not allow him to race, even at the amateur level, until he turned 16. So how was Rover able to make his professional racing debut in the 1981 Long Beach Grand Prix - at the age of 13?
Union and Rover sued the state for age discrimination when they threatened not to grant him a work permit. They successfully argued that his amateur record proved his competence. As far as racing in the amateur ranks to begin with, Rover just did it anyway - and how could they stop him? Money and influence helped as well, but being right doesn't hurt, either.
Gordon and his stepdad had neither money or influence. Should he have been allowed to race? Just because he's good now doesn't mean he was good then.
Is Fan Stupid retarded? If so, are you not making fun of the mentally disabled? If not, wouldn't there be retarded people who would in fact have even lower IQ's than him?
Fan is not retarded, just stupid beyond belief. As far as the Guinness record goes, I always state this applies to "fully-developed" humans, meaning no mental retardation or illness, and no babies or fetuses, either.
Why does Damson have three eyes?
The better to see you with, my child. This feature may have helped him develop his sardonic wit and keen knack for satire.