TALKING CHUGWORTH ACADEMY WITH DAVE CHEUNG

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

Last November, Seven Seas Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based publisher originally dedicated to publication of Original English Language (OEL) manga, announced that it was expanding its publishing line to include three fan-favorite webcomics; Inverloch, Earthsong and Chugworth Academy.

Created by Dave Cheung, Chugworth Academy follows the day to day lives of four young friends as they experience every strange situation the world can throw at them. The graphic novel colelction is due out this week.

However, Chugworth Academy is targeted at an older age group of readers.

From the website: “This website and comic is unsuitable for young children or those who straddle a particularly high moral horse. It sometimes contains themes such as comedy violence and mild sexual references as well as the liberal use of curse words. As such, if you are offended by such things, do me a favour and don't enter this website so you can just bitch about it to me afterwards. If, however, you are a liberally minded person who enjoys inane humour, cartoon teenagers doing stupid things and cheese, then click on enter and enjoy the comic.”

Newsarama.com enrolled into the Academy to experience what’s it like to be a teen with raging hormones again…

Newsarama: So, Chugworth Academy started out as a hentai (porn manga) in 2000?

Dave Cheung: Not really. I had a hentai site in order to bring in business for
commissions. A couple of the characters semi-originated from there.



NRAMA: The version that we see on the current Chugworth Academy website as well as the one that'll be published by Seven Seas first went online in 2003. Just how difficult was it for you to get as much attention that it's garnered since then? I mean, if hentai couldn't "work," why would a toned down version appeal to online readers then?

DC: To be honest, I didn't even try. The main reason it went to its current format is because:

(a) I was bored of drawing porn all the bloody time. (There are only so many ways you can draw people having sex).

(b) I felt the characters had enough potential to be "promoted" from such an existence.

NRAMA: How is the webcomic doing these days?

DC: It's doing very well, thanks.

NRAMA: What are your thoughts on webcomics going to print?

DC: It's a good thing. As much as someone likes reading a comic online,
having a paper version is always a lot more enjoyable to read.

NRAMA: Chugworth Academy will see its first print edition available to readers at this weekend’s Anime Expo. At what point did it get pick up by Seven Seas? Did you approach them or did they come to you with an offer that you couldn't possibly refuse?

DC: It got picked up last autumn. They approached me, and we worked things out from there.



NRAMA: TOKYOPOP's been holding their Rising Stars of Manga contests and there're other Original English Language (OEL) manga publishers out there as well. Did you pitch Chugworth Academy to any of these publishers before signing the Seven Seas contract?

DC: Working for TOKYOPOP is somewhat akin to working in an Indonesian
Sweat Shop, or so I hear. Anyway, various people who I shall not name have approached me before, but their offers were nothing short of a joke.

NRAMA: Now, it's since been announced that you were allowed to retain the rights to your creation, although that wasn't the initial deal, correct? What led to this new arrangement then?

DC: The initial deal only applied to Inverloch and Earthsong. They knew from the start that I wouldn't sign anything that was anything less
that full rights retention.

NRAMA: Chugworth Academy follows the day to day lives of four young friends as they experience every strange situation the world can throw at them. What situations have they found themselves in?

DC: Read the comic and find out.

NRAMA: Fair enough.

And, uh, sex plays a big part in these characters' lives?

DC: Only two or three of them.

NRAMA: Who do you base the main cast (Sally Richards, Kiyoshi Masamune, Elice Matthews and Chloe Winsdale) on?

DC: No one whatsoever. Boring, but true.



NRAMA: You're co-writing Chugworth Academy with Jamal Joseph Jr. How did this partnership form in the first place?

DC: We were friends for years anyway, and he was bored.

NRAMA: Where do things go from here? What could you tease about upcoming webstrips?

DC: I can tell you that Chugworth will end in May 2008. Other than that, nothing really.

NRAMA: Finally, what do you hope to achieve with Chugworth Academy?

DC: Being able to live on the bread line would be nice.

Read the webcomics at www.chugworth.com.

Seven Seas’ official website is located at gomanga.com.

Related article:
FROM WEB TO PRINT: SARAH ELLERTON ON INVERLOCH

FROM WEB TO PRINT: CRYSTAL YATES ON EARTHSONG

[NightRiver]

I like his style, so ill pick this up.

[alschroeder]

Long been a fan, and a fellow webcomic maker.
Congrats!---Al

[Tazwert]

Way to go, Dave!

keep up the good work!!

[Merdle]

man, i've read some of the comic and love the artwork.

but, this man gives one boring interview, lol

[ETS]

Wow, guy learns to draw little manga characters and thinks he's a comedian.

[Tenma]

I see Dave's inherent assholiness manages to show up loudly and proudly even in an official interview.

Aside from that, smart move keeping the rights, and it's a good looking comic, if not a particularly funny one.

[Frankfurt]

Reading his answers is already annoying enough. Why would anyone try this comic after such a cocky, arsehole-ish interview?

Plus, he's another american trying to draw manga and failing terribly.

Only positive in this: pointing out how much Tokyopop sucks.

[Tenma]

Originally Posted by Frankfurt

Reading his answers is already annoying enough. Why would anyone try this comic after such a cocky, arsehole-ish interview?

Plus, he's another american trying to draw manga and failing terribly.

Dave is from the UK.

Definitely agree with the first sentiment though...

[samfish]

I'm admittedly not a fan of the comic, but Dave is totally a stand up guy. Very nice. I hope he sees success with the move.