In the corner of a dining room in an unassuming home in San Diego, you will find the world headquarters of Grunt 1B Comics Studio.
Creator Chad Cavanaugh works diligently over his drafting table, surrounded by numerous vintage collection Star Wars action figures and The Walking Dead action figures.
“It’s my little sanctuary amid the chaos of our house,” said Cavanaugh. “I look up at them and it reminds me that I need to approach every day with the same childlike enthusiasm I had as a 10 year old, believing that I would one day fly an X-Wing fighter for the Rebellion against the Empire.”
In his little 2’ x 3’ work area he creates the worlds found in The Map, and his newest comic, Bedlam in Troubletown.
Right now he introduces a new issue every 2-3 months but is working towards the goal of releasing every month.
While there are certainly challenges to wearing so many hats at Grunt 1B Comics Studio, there are also unique advantages to being an independent comic creator. “I’m the editor as well so I have nobody to answer to as it pertains to the story and the artwork,” Cavanaugh said. “Which means I have to take a hardline look at everything I do to make sure I’m putting out the best possible product.”
Cavanaugh approaches everything he does in life with enthusiasm and determination. In fact, he was once a Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider when he was in the United States Army.
When he got out of the military he dove right into the life of a musician – something he pursued until he started Grunt 1B Comics Studio. Everything leading up to this venture prepared him for being an Independent Comic Creator.
“It’s exhausting and rewarding and exciting,” Cavanaugh said of the challenges of wearing so many hats. “I think having been a Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has prepared me to handle any challenge that can be thrown my way. When you know you have to do everything, you learn to be efficient with your time.
Especially since my main job is my three daughters, being the taxi service for the family and all other household duties of a stay at home dad.”
In fact you are just as likely to see Cavanaugh and his “girls” (his wife and three daughters) at the San Diego Zoo as you are to find them all at a local Comic convention. They embody the family who plays together, stays together.
“If I do local shows, I have all of them wear their BLAM shirts and walk around,” Cavanaugh says of his little family. “It makes people wonder ‘what the heck is this BLAM and how do I get it in my life?’
My girls, for the most part, are too busy doing their own things to notice what I’m doing. My wife is my biggest fan and one of my favorite things is having her with me at comic conventions.”
When it comes to marketing Grunt 1B Comics, Cavanaugh cherishes the chance to get out of the studio to meet the fans, face to face.
“Meeting these people who are excited to discover independent comics is such a great time!” Cavanaugh exclaimed. “It’s fun to give them the gist of my series’ and see them get excited.
Many times, people will buy only the first issue, to make sure they want to read along, which is totally understandable. They’re not ready to commit to four, five or six issues of a series they’ve never heard of when they’re at a convention with thousands of other things to explore.
23