John Callahan (cartoonist)
Encyclopedia
John Michael Callahan was a cartoonist, artist, and musician noted for dealing with macabre subjects and physical disabilities.
in an auto accident at 21.
The accident happened in Callahan's car after a day of drinking alcoholic beverages. His car was being driven by a man with whom he was bar hopping
.
Following his accident, he became a cartoonist, drawing by clutching a pen between both hands. His visual artistic style was simplistic and often rough, although still legible. It has been likened to that of William Steig
, James Thurber
, Richard Condie
, and Ben Wicks
.
Callahan's cartoons dealt with subjects often considered taboo. His black humor may be exemplified by the title of his "quasi-memoir", Will the Real John Callahan Please Stand Up?. The subject matter and treatment of his cartoons shares something with the work of Charles Addams
, Gahan Wilson
, and especially Charles Rodrigues, although it is much more aggressive than even the Playboy
cartoons by these cartoonists.
Callahan scoffed at the reactions of critics who labeled his work politically incorrect, while he delighted in the positive reactions he received from fans with disabilities. “My only compass for whether I’ve gone too far is the reaction I get from people in wheelchairs, or with hooks for hands,” Callahan said. “Like me, they are fed up with people who presume to speak for the disabled. All the pity and the patronizing. That’s what is truly detestable.”
Two animated cartoon series have been based on Callahan's cartoons: Pelswick
, a children's show on Nickelodeon
; and Quads
, a Canadian-Australian co-production, which retains the violence, joie de vivre, and political incorrectness of his cartoons. The main character, who "walked out of a bar and into a car," as the theme song relates, is a quadriplegic who won a large settlement from the rich driver who ran over him, and lives in a mansion with his buxom girlfriend, gay
Australian physical therapist, and a cast of fellow handicapees. Their outrageous adventures infuriate the neighbours, which include an angry nun, the milquetoast millionaire who originally ran over the main character, and his domineering, Joan Rivers
esque wife.
A proposed biographical movie, with Robin Williams
in the title role, was in the planning stages in 2000 but was never produced.
Friends said Callahan realized that his cartooning was a form of counseling, which led to him pursuing a master's degree in counseling at Portland State University
. However, his deteriorating health prevented him from finishing his first term.
Callahan died on July 24, 2010, following surgery for chronic bed sores, although his brother stated the causes of his death were complications of quadriplegia and respiratory problems.
Callahan was also a songwriter. He released his first CD in 2006. The Independent
of London calls his songs "Beautiful, but dark". He wrote all the music and lyrics himself and was backed up by many notable musicians. A Dutch film crew recorded the studio sessions in which Callahan played a simplified piano version of "Roll Away The Day". The album is produced by blues musician Terry Robb, with a special cameo appearance by Tom Waits
.
.
Accident and career
Callahan became a quadriplegicQuadriplegia
Tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia, is paralysis caused by illness or injury to a human that results in the partial or total loss of use of all their limbs and torso; paraplegia is similar but does not affect the arms...
in an auto accident at 21.
The accident happened in Callahan's car after a day of drinking alcoholic beverages. His car was being driven by a man with whom he was bar hopping
Bar Hopping
Bar Hopping is a 2002 comedy film directed by Steve Cohen starring Tom Arnold, Linda Favila, Nicole Sullivan, John Henson, Anson Downes, Romy Windsor, Scott Baio and Kevin Nealon....
.
Following his accident, he became a cartoonist, drawing by clutching a pen between both hands. His visual artistic style was simplistic and often rough, although still legible. It has been likened to that of William Steig
William Steig
William Steig was a prolific American cartoonist, sculptor and, later in life, an author of popular children's literature...
, James Thurber
James Thurber
James Grover Thurber was an American author, cartoonist and celebrated wit. Thurber was best known for his cartoons and short stories published in The New Yorker magazine.-Life:...
, Richard Condie
Richard Condie
Richard Condie, RCA is a Canadian animator, film maker and musician living and working in Winnipeg, Manitoba.-Education and career:...
, and Ben Wicks
Ben Wicks
Ben Wicks, CM was a British-born Canadian cartoonist, illustrator, journalist and author.Wicks was a Cockney born into a poor, working class family in London's East End near London Bridge. He learned to play the saxophone in the British Army and toured Europe in a band with author Leonard Bigg...
.
Callahan's cartoons dealt with subjects often considered taboo. His black humor may be exemplified by the title of his "quasi-memoir", Will the Real John Callahan Please Stand Up?. The subject matter and treatment of his cartoons shares something with the work of Charles Addams
Charles Addams
Charles "Chas" Samuel Addams was an American cartoonist known for his particularly black humor and macabre characters...
, Gahan Wilson
Gahan Wilson
Gahan Wilson is an American author, cartoonist and illustrator known for his cartoons depicting horror-fantasy situations...
, and especially Charles Rodrigues, although it is much more aggressive than even the Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
cartoons by these cartoonists.
Callahan scoffed at the reactions of critics who labeled his work politically incorrect, while he delighted in the positive reactions he received from fans with disabilities. “My only compass for whether I’ve gone too far is the reaction I get from people in wheelchairs, or with hooks for hands,” Callahan said. “Like me, they are fed up with people who presume to speak for the disabled. All the pity and the patronizing. That’s what is truly detestable.”
Two animated cartoon series have been based on Callahan's cartoons: Pelswick
Pelswick
Pelswick is an animated television series produced by Nelvana for CBC Television in Canada and the Nickelodeon cable channel in the United States. The series is about a teenage boy who uses a wheelchair, emphasized how he lived a normal life and was based on the books created by John Callahan. It...
, a children's show on Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
; and Quads
John Callahan's Quads!
John Callahan's Quads! is a Canada-Australia co-production cartoon, based upon work of John Callahan. The show aired on Canada's Teletoon, on Australia's SBS, and in Latin America on Adult Swim...
, a Canadian-Australian co-production, which retains the violence, joie de vivre, and political incorrectness of his cartoons. The main character, who "walked out of a bar and into a car," as the theme song relates, is a quadriplegic who won a large settlement from the rich driver who ran over him, and lives in a mansion with his buxom girlfriend, gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
Australian physical therapist, and a cast of fellow handicapees. Their outrageous adventures infuriate the neighbours, which include an angry nun, the milquetoast millionaire who originally ran over the main character, and his domineering, Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
esque wife.
A proposed biographical movie, with Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
in the title role, was in the planning stages in 2000 but was never produced.
Friends said Callahan realized that his cartooning was a form of counseling, which led to him pursuing a master's degree in counseling at Portland State University
Portland State University
Portland State University is a public state urban university located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1946, it has the largest overall enrollment of any university in the state of Oregon, including undergraduate and graduate students. It is also the only public university in...
. However, his deteriorating health prevented him from finishing his first term.
Callahan died on July 24, 2010, following surgery for chronic bed sores, although his brother stated the causes of his death were complications of quadriplegia and respiratory problems.
Other careers
John Callahan worked on nudes and a portrait project, shown in several galleries throughout its progression.Callahan was also a songwriter. He released his first CD in 2006. The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
of London calls his songs "Beautiful, but dark". He wrote all the music and lyrics himself and was backed up by many notable musicians. A Dutch film crew recorded the studio sessions in which Callahan played a simplified piano version of "Roll Away The Day". The album is produced by blues musician Terry Robb, with a special cameo appearance by Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
.
Personal life
John Callahan was adopted as an infant, and had five siblings. At age 8, he was molested by a female teacher. He began drinking at the age of fourteen. “I used the alcohol to hide the pain of the abuse,” Callahan has said. After the car accident that caused his spinal cord injury, he went through extensive rehabilitation. At the age of 27, he gave up drinking alcohol. He made his home in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
Death
He died on July 24, 2010 after a year of complications following surgery. He was 59 years old.Trivia
In 2005 Dutch film maker Simone de Vries made a documentary on Callahan, 'Raak me waar ik voelen kan' ('Touch me someplace I can feel').Works
John Callahan's books include:- The Best of Callahan
- Digesting the Child Within and Other Cartoons to Live By
- Do Not Disturb Any Further
- Do What He Says! He's Crazy!!!
- Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot: The Autobiography of a Dangerous Man
- Freaks of Nature
- Get Down!! : Dog Cartoons
- I Think I was an Alcoholic
- The King of Things and the Cranberry Clown (a children's book quite unlike the adult-oriented cartoons in his cartoon collections)
- Levels of Insanity : Cartoons by Callahan
- The Night, They Say, Was Made for Love : Plus, My Sexual Scrapbook
- What Kind of God Would Allow a Thing Like This to Happen?!!
- Will the Real John Callahan Please Stand Up? Lurid Revelations, Shocking Rejections, Irate Letters, With an Introduction by Robin Williams