Adam@Home turns 40!

Congratulations to creator Rob Harrell on the 40th anniversary of Adam@Home. Originally created by Brian Basset, the strip made its debut on June 25, 1984. Basset wrote and illustrated the strip for its first 25 years before Rob Harrell took over. Harrell has been the creator for the last 15 years. Check it out on GoComics. They both took some time to participate in a Q&A in honor of the anniversary. Get to know them and the history of the strip a little better by reading the interview below.

Q: What do you think it is about Adam@Home that has made it so popular with readers – and editors – for so long?

BB: For one thing, Adam@Home (to make a bad pun) hits home. Especially now more than ever in our post-pandemic world where so many people have transitioned to working from home. All the credit for that goes to Rob Harrell, who I think has done a masterful job after taking over. He has really given the strip his voice, not mine. This is so critical in the success of any comic strip.

RH: I think Adam@Home reflects so many people’s lives. One of the best things a strip can do is get a laugh of recognition – the “Oh that feels like something that would happen to us” laugh. I think the characters and the situations have kept up with modern life and work in a really fun way.

Q: What was it like taking over a strip that had already been running for 25 years?

RH: It was rough at first! Brian had created something that readers loved –his humor, his characters, and his art style. It was something that would be hard to imitate, so the idea was to let some of my own style and humor ooze in. I think trying to copy his exact style would have been really hard and potentially impossible.

Q: What was your favorite part about creating this strip and these characters for 25 years?

BB: My favorite part was the opportunity I got on a daily basis to explore and expand my humor and art. Comic strips are a funny business that creators should take seriously. I owe everything, and still do with my current strip Red and Rover, to my readers. I may not always hit one out of the park, but I can strive for a solid base hit. I keep a framed quote by Joe DiMaggio in my studio. When asked by a reporter why he went all out running the bases or going after fly balls, his response was “There could be some kid seeing me for the very first time — I owe him my best.”

Q: What was your favorite part about creating this strip and these characters for 15 years?

RH: I’ve loved bringing out the differences – especially in the kids. Clayton’s love of all things scary and monster-y. Katy’s love of Christmas and her…zest? Sharp tongue? I’ve also loved playing with Laura becoming a writer, as well, and how that has affected things in the house.

Q: Do you have a favorite strip that you created? If yes, what one?

BB: I’m sure there is one, but I simply can’t recall one at this time.

RH: It’s hard to pick a specific one, but all of the Halloween stuff is kind of based on me as a kid. Building clay monsters, haunted houses. So, any time I get to let his imagination off the leash it’s a good time.

Q: What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received about Adam@Home?

RH: I got a really touching email from a woman who said her whole family has read it for years. They cut them out and put them on the fridge, send them to each other, quote it. It’s been an ongoing thing for years and years in their family. I think that’s what every cartoonist hopes for.

Q: If you launched Adam@Home today, what would you do differently?

BB: Adam@Home was the first strip I ever did. I went into both developing and producing Adam@Home in the early years not fully realizing just how much of a written artform comic strips are. I was a political cartoonist at the time where the art was the big picture so-to-speak and dialogue was kept to a minimum, sometimes with none at all.

RH: Ha. Well… I might have practiced Brian’s style more – that or just come out of the box with something more in my style. I tried to sort of split the difference at first, and some of those first strips… well, I’d redraw them if I had the chance!

Q: What is one thing readers don’t know about Adam@Home?

BB: I had submitted a comic strip before Adam@Home called “The Backyard” which was about a small potatoes gardener and his daily struggles with plants, pests and animals. Eventually, the outdoor plants became houseplants and the main character, Nimrod Fenner, became Adam Newman.  I might add that gardening is one of my absolute passions. When I’m not behind the drawing board I can be found out in my garden. In the summer months I write the majority of Red and Rover from my garden. When I was recovering from pancreatic cancer a couple years back, it was my garden which helped me on my road to recovery, and still does today. As of my last scan I am cancer free!

RH: I could tell you, but then of course I’d have to…. You know. It would get messy.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add about the strip, or about your life as a cartoonist?

BB: Cartooning has been a wonderful career. It has allowed me to challenge myself, entertain millions and make life-long friends. With no plans to retire anytime soon, I still follow my own personal creed every single day — that I have yet to do my best work.

RH: I’d just like to thank Brian for creating such a solid, relatable cast of characters – and then trusting me to “play in his sandbox, so to speak. It’s been a really fun ride, and given that my life dream was to do a comic strip, I’m just so thankful to everyone who’s helped make that dream a reality!

Q: How has your experience been working with Andrews McMeel?

RH: Absolutely amazing. Andrew’s McMeel made me feel like family from day one when I started my strip Big Top, and that has continued since I started on Adam. From the top down, they support and trust their talent.