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© Free Lunch Studios
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Free Lunch has six active physical and digital titles: Bigger, Only in Whispers, Beyond the Kuiper Belt, Chip N Fish, My 24 Hour Books, Junk Food.
Matt obtained an Associate Degree in Visual Fine Arts, (with a touch of Graphic Design) at Tunxis Community College in Farmington, CT. He has been interested in comic books since the third grade. He’s a big Conan … [the Barbarian] …fan and he loves comics that are unapologetic about their content. Matt was kind enough to sit down with me and talk about his career and Free Lunch.
Derek Egerton: How did the studio come into being?
Matt Ryan: Years ago, we used to distribute Bigger mini comics to try to get gigs [and] show our work. We used to be in Simsbury, CT. Same business model but nowhere near as successful. I didn't have the business experience or resources I do now.
DE: Were you trying to fill a void?
MR: Definitely wanted to make a creative, educational and friendly business environment for fans, businesses and families that believe/love comics and cartoons.
DE: Why Free Lunch?
MR: Every class we teach in the medium of comics on the weekends...[we provide] free lunch for the students! Yes, it's awesome.
DE: How do advertise your services?
MR: We go to local comic shows and events as well as use the Patch.com sites when we update our weekly strips. We have a variety of blogs and Facebook pages along with www.freelunchcomics.com.
DE: What inspired you to teach?
MR: I love sharing my passion with kids of all ages! Today, I was teaching how to draw zombies and we were taking turns acting like them! Brainnnssss!
DE: Who were your mentors?
MR: I learned SOO much from my first boss out of college, Mark Lewis. Great guy, great work ethic, great sense of humor. Love the guy.
DE: Would you share a success story of one of your students?
MR: I have a few gems I'm very proud of. I love seeing the progress of students. My favorite moment was awarding an arts scholarship to one of my students while I was president of the Granby Artists Association. She's our intern currently and I was able to get her an exclusive meeting with a claymation superhero (which happens to be her major).
DE: How do you determine what is going to become a comic?
MR: We have done team and singular efforts. I feel like we each have something to contribute to make a complete vision...sometimes I get the bug to do some world building, so if time allows...I'll try to squeeze something out during my free time. (Ha!)
DE: How do you determine the success of a release?
MR: By the reaction of the reader. My favorite thing is to watch someone read Junk Food strips...the payoff is so quick! They get the joke-they laugh! I love it. The books...it takes longer. I love being harassed by people who read one issue and can't wait for the next...I keep good secrets!
DE: You lamented that ten years ago the comic industry changed to a specialty market. What did you mean by that? Do you think comics books are becoming a lost medium?
MR: No. I believe it's changing. You used to be able to get comic books anywhere. Those days are gone. The way you get comics anywhere now is through the web. It's a very exciting time.
DE: You told me watching Twin Peaks is a rite of passage for your interns. Why?
MR: Perfect excuse to watch it again! We love that stuff! It's funny, weird and scary. Not too many shows like that.
DE: If you weren’t working at Free Lunch what would you be doing?
MR: Planning my escape.
Follow the Free Lunch blog at freelunchstudios.blogspot.com. Like their Facebook pages here.
And don’t forget to check out my 10-part short The Devil You Know, featuring artwork by Matt Ryan starting July 24th, 2013.
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