The Wake

If only comics could save the world. We would be laughing our way to a higher moral existence and Dan Piraro, creator of the nationally syndicated comic “Bizarro,” would be our savior. We may not be there yet, but little by little, Piraro contributes to change with the help of his tongue-in-cheek mischief and humor.

The University of Minnesota saw this first hand when Piraro came to speak Thursday, April 14, at Willey Hall. “An Evening With Dan Piraro: Bizarro, Cartoons, and Compassion” was sponsored by Compassionate Action for Animals, a local group devoted to educating university students, faculty, and staff about vegetarian and vegan lifestyles and the prevention of animal cruelty.

Piraro himself is a vegan and often uses his comic to comment on animal rights, consumerism, the environment, politics, and the nuances of postmodern life. Through his droll illustrations Piraro’s vision of the world is revealed for our entertainment and delight. “Cartooning basically reflects the way a person sees the world,” Piraro said in an interview with The Wake. “I love being able to come up with something that expresses my political views.”

But Piraro was not always able to be so expressive and creative. He began his career as a commercial illustrator drawing ads and coupons, which he disliked immensely. In desperation he turned to comics to make a living in the creative arts. Piraro was never a huge comic fan, “I wasn’t the kind of kid that sat in my room and read comics,” but he did love the one-panel magazine cartoons. These illustrations influenced Piraro, and after doing some industry research he began drawing his own. Eventually Piraro’s work caught the eye of an editor at Chronicle Features, a syndication company, and his cartoons began to appear in more and more newspapers. Today more than 200 newspapers across the nation publish “Bizarro.”

Piraro’s success stems from his hard work, as he both writes and draws his cartoons—most cartoonists just draw. Working from his home in Brooklyn, New York, Piraro wakes up each morning, drinks a cup of coffee, and spends the first hour of the day working on jokes. At the end of each week he gathers the seven best ideas and draws them for publication. As a testament to his daily creativity Piraro won the National Cartoonists Society’s “Best Cartoon Panel” for four consecutive years (1999-2002).

The range of material and viewpoints Piraro deals with is also impressive, creating a forum for daily life. “I have always enjoyed looking at things differently, throwing out tradition, and reexamining the way we think and the way we do things,” Piraro said. This ideal informs his cartoons, his personal life, and his other creative ventures. Piraro experiments with the fine arts by painting his own versions of religious icons. He also has a standup show and enjoys performing for crowds. All these mediums intersect in the issues they deal with. Piraro’s favorite topics include politics and animal rights, and he is passionate about both.

Five years ago, Piraro really began examining animal rights and consumerism. He had always been sympathetic to animals and believed hunting and wearing fur was wrong. Then he met Ashley Smith, who would become his wife. Smith described the horrors of factory farms to Piraro, and after learning more about them he realized he also could not condone using animals for food. Piraro became a vegan to stop supporting animal cruelty. “I am not going to subsidize killing for pleasure. That’s morally wrong,” Piraro says.

“Bizarro” often reveals Piraro’s convictions by poking fun at consumerism. For example, a cartoon for Thanksgiving depicts two pilgrims debating the flavor of their turkey. One pilgrim suggests adding more growth hormone and antibiotics for a better taste. This kind of commentary reflects Piraro’s darker sense of humor and his subtle misanthropy. So does his favorite saying: “Humans are not the only species on the earth, we just act like it.” Piraro says that “with intelligence does not necessarily come wisdom,” and he blames all the problems in this world on the arrogance of human beings.

This grim outlook fuels his sense of humor and cartoons, but he does have hope. “Any kind of artistic expression can make people think. The hope is that if you make people laugh about something they might think about it,” Piraro said. Perhaps comics can change the world because with each laugh comes a recognition of something larger.

For more laughs and insights visit Piraro’s website at www.bizarro.com.