Yehudi Mercado is an artist and writer, whose first indie comic series, Buffalo Speedway, tells the tale of pizza delivery boys in Texas delivering pizza on that fateful day in 1994 when everyone was glued to their televisions watching the saga of OJ Simpson unfold. Years ago, Yehudi and I worked together on some hilarious math CD-ROMs for kids, so I first knew him as a kid friendly artist. Now he's following the mature comedy of Buffalo Speedway with an awesome series for kids, Pantalones, TX.
Pantalones, TX has a Dukes of Hazzard vibe about it that I find hilarious. All of Yehudi's work reminds me of the shows that I loved as a kid – the shows feminist adult me can hardly believe I watched. Yehudi answered some of my questions about his current work, rodeos, vegetable attacks, and mash-ups.
GM: Your first series, Buffalo Speedway, is a rather racy look at the lives of pizza delivery boys on the busiest day of pizza delivery. What prompted the switch to a series for kids?
YM: Buffalo Speedway began as a screenplay so it was always meant to be an R-rated comedy and I wanted the graphic novel to stay true to that tone, but it started to bother me that I didn’t have a book that kids could read. Especially at conventions, it just felt wrong to turn away a potential reader. I would say that Pantalones, TX isn’t just for kids.
GM: When I read your comics, I’m reminded of things like Cannonball Run and Dukes of Hazzard and cartoons of my childhood. What are some of your biggest influences?
YM: I love car chases. I think growing up in a time when most of the tv shows on the air were mainly about a cool guy and a car is to blame. Knight Rider, Dukes of Hazzard, Spencer for Hire, Automan, Speed Racer as well as films like Smokey and the Bandit, Hooper, Cannonball Run, and The Road Warrior all colored my world. My mother hated that I loved Dukes of Hazzard, which might of contributed to my obsession.
GM: Pantalones, TX is almost shocking in today’s climate of kid’s media, chock full of explosions, guns, and running from the law. How much do you think about what is or isn’t OK to show kids? Is there a line you won’t cross?
YM: I don’t think it’s shocking in today’s cartoon climate. Shows like Adventure Time and Regular Show are a return to the good old days of fun cartoons. I did purposefully envision Pantalones, TX as the anti-safety pad cartoon. I see my nieces and nephews growing up in a sheltered and sanitized environment, they don’t play outdoors at all. When I was a kid we shot fireworks at each other while playing in a bayou. I’m not saying that’s the right thing to do, but there should be a balance.
As far as guns, I’m careful not to have any of the kid characters holding guns. There’s an image of Annie Oakley shooting a gun, because that’s what she’s famous for and there’s an image of the paranoid town weirdo holding an Elmer Fudd-style shotgun, but never fires it. I want to make sure guns are never glamorized or fetishized.
I do consciously have all my characters question authority. I was sent to detention for various things like wearing a tuxedo to school and “jiving.” So I think kids should have a healthy amount of skepticism when it comes to the dubious decisions of adults.
GM: Two of the oddest characters in Pantalones, TX are a giant chicken and a pig boy. Is there an origin story to these characters?
YM: The giant chicken was all about re-writing the tall tales and legends we’ve all taken as commonplace. A Giant Blue Ox seems normal now, because we grew up hearing it over and over. And Pig Boy started as a sketch that I thought was funny. I also like the idea of having a kid character that’s not “normal” to outsiders, but whose friends treat as absolutely normal.
GM: There’s a theory in Part 2 that if people become vegetarians, the vegetables will develop a taste for all that uneaten meat and will eventually overtake humankind. Can we look forward to these murderous vegetables in future comics? And, is this how vegetarians are treated in Texas?
YM: Yes you will see the eventual rise of the ruffage. It’s like the underlying threat to Pantalones, notice how Gengo County has all that corn growing. And yes that is how vegetarians are treated in Texas. I was a vegetarian for a couple of years in high school and finally broke down and ate a full rack of ribs. I still struggle with the idea of eating meat. I think the world would be a better place if we were all vegetarians, but steak is so darn delicious.
GM: What are the qualities of a good rodeo?
YM: I don’t like all the animal hurting in the name of entertainment, but I do like the chuck wagon races. The first rodeo I went to featured Donny & Marie and a monkey riding a dog so it’s pretty hard to top that.
GM: Who came first, Baby T the character or Baby T the real life dog?
YM: Baby T the real life dog came first. The original pitch had a Javelina (a wild pig) as the pet sidekick. When I got Baby T, his formal name is Texas, I thought it was perfect to have him be Chico’s co-pilot.
GM: Every since your Game of Thrones of Muppets I’ve been anticipating more of your mash-ups with glee, and you’ve been working them into your various comic con appearances. Tell us more about them, and which ones are your favorites.
YM: Yeah I had this idea to offer mash-ups of chance at conventions. So I have people pick two properties, either Marvel, DC, Adventure Time or Muppets and roll two dice to determine the combination. People seem to really like making a game out of it. I keep waiting for someone to roll a Lumpy Space Princess Hulk. I would do that one for free.
GM: Where can people find you and your comics? Any upcoming cons?
YM: Go to www.SuperMercadoStore.com that’s where you can get all my stuff. I have a bunch of conventions coming up. C2E2 in Chicago, Phoenix Comic Con, Dallas Comic Con, Heroes Con in North Carolina and San Diego Comic Con.
GM: Any word on upcoming SuperMercado Comics?
YM: Red5 is publishing my Queen Esther biblical book Throne of Secrets. And I’m working on an animated short for Pantalones, TX called Ghost Town & Down where Chico and Sheriff Cornwallis must form an unholy alliance and prevent Pantalones from turning into a ghost town.
