Frank Cho – April 2013

 

Frank ChoFrank Cho tells all….

“Uncle Frank, tell us about your background”

Well, I grew up in Beltsville, Maryland (Between Laurel and College Park), Right by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and BARC (Beltsville Agricultural Research Center). In fact, I married the daughter of one of the senior scientists at BARC.

I attended High Point High School (1986-1990), then Prince Georges County College (1990-1993). I transferred to University of Maryland School of Nursing in downtown Baltimore. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1996. Why nursing, you say? Simple. To meet women, and I look good in white. While attending University of Maryland Nursing School, I drew a daily comic strip, UNIVERSITY2 (pronounced University Squared) for the student newspaper at the University of Maryland main campus in College Park. This college strip eventually put me on the road to syndication.

LIBERTY MEADOWS was created in Baltimore, Maryland while I was finishing up my last semester of nursing school (In an interesting twist, LIBERTY MEADOWS was picked up by the Washington Post, but not by the Baltimore Sun newspaper). The strip is now in 30 newspapers, 5 countries and numerous websites.

Frank, darling, why won’t you answer my e-mail?

Very good question. Due to the sheer volume of e-mail and fan letters, it’s physically impossible for me to answer the e-mail. Don’t take it to heart, if you don’t get a personal reply from me. I DO read all the e-mail that I receive, so keep those letters coming, folks!

“Do you like pie?”

Yes.

I read you lift weights for fun. How much can you bench press?

My personal best bench press is 300 pounds. That was about 7 years ago when I was training for Judo (when you’re short and wear glasses, you have to learn to defend yourself at an early age). In a recent local weightlifting tournament, I benched 285 pounds.

Hey Monkey Boy, did you go to an art school?

No, I went to special school. Just kidding. No, I never went to an art school. I taught myself how to draw and paint through many years of practice.

“Uncle Frank, do you own a wiener dog in real life?”

Yup. My wife and I have a little black long haired wiener dog named Truman. He’s almost 2 years old and hyper as a baby chimp on “speed”. Those of you who live in the Columbia, Maryland area, you probably see me walking the little cuss every afternoon. As we speak, Truman and I are in a constant power struggle for authority…and DAMN IT, he’s winning!

I currently reside in Columbia, Maryland with my lovely new wife, Cari, and less lovely long haired wiener dog named Truman.

You often comment about your short stature in your strips. Exactly, how tall are you in real life?

I’m 5’5″ tall and weigh 145 pounds (average height and weight of an American woman. Sad but true).

What’s your favorite color, Uncle Frank?

Green.

What kind of beer you drink?

I don’t drink anymore, on account I get very mean and sleepy. Two beers and I’m out like a light. Yeah, I’m a cheap date.

What’s your favorite monkey (or ape)?

Your mom! HA! No. No. I kid you. My favorite primates have to be chimps because they’re so damn wacky and the perfect caricatures of humans. Also they fling their own poop which is so funny on many levels.

What’s your favorite food?

Sushi. Mmmmmmm. Bait.

Can I have your baby, Frank?

No, my wife got dibs on that.

To read more of Uncle Frank’s Q-and-A, visit his site. Or ask him your own questions on Facebook or Twitter.