‘The Regulars’ will appear weekly in The New York Blade. Though the strip is based in New York, its themes and characters will resonate with a large audience, says creator Karl Hampe.
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Friday, November 02, 2007
Karl Hampe, the creator of comic strip “The Regulars” is a part-time litigation consultant with a snarky take on politics and an elitist take on pop culture. He spends a lot of time in cafes. Hampe describes the star of his strip, which debuts this week, as a “part-time attorney-burnout/part-time café owner. The love child of Ben Brantley and Oscar the Grouch.” Both the star of “The Regulars” and its creator are openly gay New Yorkers. Both wear glasses and drink decaf. Both are named Karl.
Clearly, Hampe’s real life inspires his art. “I’d like to think I’m a bit more multidimensional [than the strip’s Karl],” Hampe jokes when the similarities are pointed out. “And in real life, I’ve had a partner for eight years. In the strip, Karl’s single.”
The Regulars will appear weekly on The Blade’s comics page and can be viewed on theregularscomic.com. Politics, prejudice, gay pride and pop culture will be recurring themes in the strip, Hampe says. “A lot of strips by gay and lesbian cartoonists end up having a political bend,” he says. “Ethan Green, Chelsea Boys, Dykes to Watch Out for all have a sense of being in a society where you’re gay. Sometimes that’s fun, sometimes it’s crazy.”
The strips on this page set up the scenario and introduces the main players. In addition to Karl, they include:
Maynard Hell-sea hottie with an encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture and sixth sense for who is cruising who. He co-manages the café.
Jeffrey sales manager at a trendy boutique in the Meatpacking District.
Stephanie a professor of social work at NYU.
Martin fiftysomething music director for Broadway to off-off Broadway shows.
Wally New York newbie who works at an investment bank and is active in every LGBT advocacy group.
Dick ghost/activist who died of HIV complications.
Angel wise-beyond-his-10-
years kid who does his homework at the café.
Although Hampe doesn’t disclose whether the strip’s café is real, he hints at the (fictional?) location in one of this week’s installments.
Hampe says we’ll get to know the characters better in upcoming months. Plus there’s “a relationship with an age difference, and we find out what God thinks about ‘Designing Women’ reruns.” Sounds like something to talk about over coffee.
“The Regulars” comic launch party, 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 8, at Rapture Café 7 Books, 200 Ave. A, town 12th & 13th sets, free. The strip will appear weekly in The New York Blade; visit theregularscomic.com.
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