Lackadaisy Explained

Lackadaisy
Author:Tracy J. Butler
Website:https://lackadaisy.com
Status:Unknown
First:July 19, 2006
Altnames:Lackadaisy Cats
Genre:Comedy
Dark comedy
Crime
Alternative history
Mystery
Thriller

Lackadaisy (also known as Lackadaisy Cats) is a webcomic created by American artist Tracy J. Butler. Set in a Prohibition-era St. Louis with a population of anthropomorphic cats,[1] the plot chronicles the fortunes of the Lackadaisy speakeasy after its founder is murdered. The comic mixes elements of comedy, crime and mystery. It won multiple Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards in 2007 and 2008, and in April 2011 it was nominated for the Eisner Award for "Best Digital Comic".[2] [3]

The style of the comic is highly detailed, with elegantly attired[4] cartoon characters that resemble styles from animated films of Walt Disney and Don Bluth.[5] [6] The earlier strips are sepia-toned, resembling aged photographs of the 1920s era, while more recent pages can be seen fully colored, often in shades of deep blue. Launched by Butler in July 2006, the comic updates on an irregular basis, with the most recent update published in 2020.[7]

A short film adaptation of the same name was released on YouTube on March 29, 2023.

Setting

When prohibition grips the United States in 1920, Atlas May sets his eatery, the Little Daisy Café, as the front for a successful speakeasy called the Lackadaisy. Situated at the mouth of a network of limestone caves, the speakeasy can only be accessed from the Café by those showing a pin in the shape of a Clubs card suit.[8] [9] With easy access to illegal alcohol and a steady clientele, business burgeons, and the Lackadaisy becomes a premier establishment.[10] [11]

In 1926, however, Atlas is mysteriously killed, and management of the Little Daisy and the Lackadaisy falls to his widow Mitzi. Patronage at the Lackadaisy gradually falls off, bringing it to the brink of collapse, with only a handful of its original crew remaining and doing their best to keep the business alive.[12] [13] There is a band that plays at the club, and one of the members is a rumrunner, which brings the characters into conflict with others who distill their own whiskey and moonshine.[14]

Characters

Lackadaisy features a wide cast of characters, most of whom are workers for either Lackadaisy or Marigold, two rivaling alcohol smuggling rings.

The protagonists are Roark "Rocky" Rickaby, a sporadic and cunning violinist who works for Lackadaisy as a bootlegger; Calvin "Freckle" McMurray, a nervous and awkward, yet secretly violent young man and Rocky’s cousin; Mitzi May, Atlas' widow who is currently in charge of the Lackadaisy speakeasy; and Ivy Pepper, an energetic, cheerful worker at the Little Daisy Cafè who later on develops a romantic relationship with Freckle. The antagonists consist of Mordecai Heller, a cold and curt trigger-man for Marigold, as well as Serafine Savoy and Nicodème "Nico" Savoy, two siblings from New Orleans who work with Mordecai and speak in a mix of Cajun, Creole and French.[15]

Viktor Vasko, Asa Sweet, Atlas May, Dorian "Zib" Zibowski, Sedgewick "Wick" Sable and Nina McMurray are also notable characters.

Production

Butler creates the comic by pencil sketching original images, then scanning and adjusting them with software such as Photoshop, where the panels are then assembled. Lighting is then added in grey tones, sharpening where needed, and dialogue and sound effects are added in a separate layer. The sepia tones are added in the final pass.[6] Some of the feline characters are based on Butler's own pets, Ivy and Calvin.[16]

Artist biography

American cartoonist Tracy J. Butler was born in 1980 in Springfield, Massachusetts. In high school, she would doodle and create characters while sitting in class.[17] [18] She studied biology for a year at Our Lady of the Elms College in Massachusetts, before returning to her art. She created a website with some of her work, which led to a job offer from Simutronics, a Missouri game development company. Butler performed illustration and graphic design work before moving into 3D character design and animation. After living in St. Louis for some time, she purchased a 100-year-old house, and began researching its history, as well as that of the local neighborhood, and ultimately the history of St. Louis itself.[19] Combined with her interest in jazz music, and the characters she had designed in school (loosely based on her own pet cats), this led to her creating Lackadaisy in July 2006. Butler also credits being promoted to a more managerial role in her job pushing her to seek a creative outlet again through the comic. An Italian print version was released in 2008, and an English version in 2009.[6]

Awards

In 2007, Lackadaisy won every award for which it was nominated in the Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards, including "Outstanding Newcomer" and "Outstanding Artist". In 2008, Lackadaisy won five Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards, including "Outstanding Artist", "Black and White Art", and "Website Design".[20]

In 2009, the art of Lackadaisy was used on the cover of the Turkish magazine Photoshop.[21] In 2011, Lackadaisy was nominated for an Eisner Award in the category of "Best Digital Comic", but lost to The Abominable Charles Christopher by Karl Kerschl.[2] [22] [23] [24]

Collected editions

In 2008, the first hardcopy volume for the Lackadaisy comic was released in Italy by ReNoir Comics, .[25] [26] [27] [28] An English version was released in 2009,, published by Iron Circus Comics.[29] The second hardcopy volume for the Lackadaisy was released in English on August 13, 2024 by Iron Circus Comics [30]

Legacy

The art style of Lackadaisy has been cited as an influence on other webcomics, such as Zebra Girl by Joe England,[31] and received a mention in the Girl Genius webcomic by Phil Foglio.[32]

Short film adaptation

See main article: Lackadaisy (film). In March 2020, it was announced that Iron Circus Comics was planning the production of an animated short film based on the webcomic, set to be directed by animator Fable Siegel. The project was crowdfunded through a Kickstarter campaign.[33] The 27-minute short film was released on March 29, 2023, on YouTube.[34]

After a second campaign with an original goal of $125,000 raised over $2 million, Iron Circus Animation announced they would also produce a five-episode season.[35]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Perspectives of Tracy J. Butler. September 2, 2008. September 5, 2008. The Escapist. Keave, Vincent. October 9, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121009192244/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_165/5188-The-Perspectives-of-Tracy-J-Butler. dead.
  2. Web site: The 2011 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees . . April 2011 . May 14, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110513193750/http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_11nom.php . May 13, 2011 .
  3. News: 2011 Eisner Award Nominations Announced. https://web.archive.org/web/20110414055826/http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/04/08/2011-eisner-award-nominations-announced. dead. April 14, 2011. April 8, 2011. May 14, 2011. MTV.
  4. 27 graphic novels for Women's History Month. Cornog, Martha. March 24, 2010. May 27, 2011. Library Journal.
  5. News: Interview: The brains behind Lackadaisy . March 2, 2009 . August 21, 2009 . . 186 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090614120726/http://www.netmag.co.uk/zine/home/the-brains-behind-lackadaisy . June 14, 2009 .
  6. News: Cats, Gats, and all that Jazz: an interview with Tracy Butler. Manley, Mike. Mike Manley (artist). Draw!. 27 - 41. Spring 2011. 1. 20. TwoMorrows Publishing.
  7. Web site: Lackadaisy Archive. Butler . Tracy J.. LackadaisyCats.com. January 6, 2023.
  8. Web site: Webcomics you should be reading: Lackadaisy. June 7, 2010. Byram, Kaylee. ComicMix. May 16, 2011.
  9. Web site: Lackadaisy: Smart and Beautiful!. January 21, 2010. May 27, 2011. The Pullbox.
  10. Web site: Renoir Comics: Essential Reading. March 23, 2009. May 28, 2011. Comicus. Italian. Redazione Comicus. https://web.archive.org/web/20110728051859/http://www.comicus.it/news/item/45171-renoir-comics-essential-reading. July 28, 2011. dead. mdy-all.
  11. News: Comics Kitten Speaks Easy: Tracy J. Butler. January 14, 2008. June 1, 2011. Sequential Tart. Gil, Jo.
  12. Web site: El Santo.
    1. 16: Lackadaisy
    . The Webcomic Overlook. October 18, 2007. May 16, 2011. May 31, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110531005623/http://webcomicoverlook.com/2007/10/18/the-webcomic-overlook-16-lackadaisy/. dead.
  13. Web site: Lackadaisy, review by Larry Cruz. Cruz, Larry. May 30, 2008. Comic Fencing. May 16, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110223032456/http://comicfencing.com/2008/05/30/lackadaisy-review-by-larry-cruz/. February 23, 2011. dead. mdy-all.
  14. News: Riverfront Times. June 9–15, 2011. Levitt, Aimee. Comic Genius. 6. 35. 23.
  15. Web site: Lackadaisy . 2023-04-07 . Lackadaisy . en.
  16. News: Web Comic Lackadaisy Brings Feline Funnies. Kerman, Byron. St. Louis Magazine. August 2011. July 26, 2011.
  17. Web site: Tracy Butler, the Artist . foxprints.com . July 25, 2008 . Butler, Tracy . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080725001215/http://www.foxprints.com/tracy/bio . July 25, 2008 .
  18. Web site: Comics Tracy J Butler. webartnews.com. May 19, 2011. Russian. November 3, 2007. Yevstratov, Alexei. https://web.archive.org/web/20110902031929/http://webartnews.com/?p=128. September 2, 2011. dead. mdy-all.
  19. Web site: Soltes . John . 2023-08-23 . INTERVIEW: 'Lackadaisy,' thanks to the fans, isn't going anywhere . 2024-02-17 . Hollywood Soapbox . en-US.
  20. Web site: 2008 Winners List . Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards . March 8, 2008 . March 11, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090310200607/http://www.ccawards.com/2008finalists.html . March 10, 2009 .
  21. Web site: Lackadaisy art on the cover of the Turkish Photoshop magazine. August 2009. September 19, 2010. Photoshop Magazin. December 13, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101213060314/http://www.photoshopmagazin.com/dergi/2009/08/. dead.
  22. Web site: The Webcomic Overlook 2011 Eisner round-up. Webcomic Overlook. June 7, 2011. El Santo. June 10, 2011. June 10, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110610105309/http://webcomicoverlook.com/2011/06/07/the-webcomic-overlook-2011-eisner-round-up/. dead.
  23. News: 'Dapper Men' leads 2011 Eisner nominees. Geddes, John. USA Today. April 8, 2011. May 28, 2011.
  24. News: Tracy Butler: St. Charles Artist Nominated for Comics' Highest Honor. Levitt, Aimee. June 2, 2011. Riverfront Times. June 2, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120328174729/http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2011/06/tracy_butler_lackadaisy_comic.php. March 28, 2012. dead.
  25. Web site: Lackadaisy Paperback . March 24, 2008 . Butler . Tracy . Tracy J. Butler . March 21, 2008 . Lackadaisy .
  26. News: Antonini, Maria Chiara. Fumetti. Top Girl. Italian. 62. March 2008. September 19, 2010. https://archive.today/20120714093024/http://lackadaisy.foxprints.com/topgirl_lackadaisy.jpg. July 14, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
  27. Web site: Tracy Butler: Lackadaisy. March 23, 2009. May 27, 2011. Comicus. Italian. https://web.archive.org/web/20110728051839/http://www.comicus.it/interviste/item/46340-tracy-butler-lackadaisy. July 28, 2011. dead. mdy-all.
  28. Web site: Per chi e'interessato al Web Comics: "Lackadaisy" di T.J. Butler. video. Booksweb.tv. 2008. May 27, 2011. Italian. https://web.archive.org/web/20110911011730/http://www.booksweb.tv/content/show/ContentId/1996. September 11, 2011. dead. mdy-all.
  29. Book: Lackadaisy: Volume 1 . May 21, 2024 . amazon. 16 April 2024 . Iron Circus Comics . 978-1-63899-103-8 .
  30. Book: Butler, Tracy . Lackadaisy: Volume 2 . 2024-08-13 . Iron Circus Comics . 978-1-63899-127-4 . English.
  31. Web site: Joe England news. England, Joe. April 8, 2007. keenspot.com. September 19, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20090621014659/http://zebragirl.keenspot.com/news.html. June 21, 2009.
  32. Web site: Girl Genius Online Comics. March 21, 2007. Foglio, Phil. Girl Genius. September 19, 2010.
  33. Web site: Iron Circus Comics Moves Into Animation With 'Lackadaisy'. The Hollywood Reporter. McMillan. Graeme. March 16, 2020 . March 16, 2020.
  34. Web site: Alexa. Lauren. Watch: Fan Favorite Webcomic 'Lackadaisy' is Now an Animated Short. Animation World Network. April 3, 2023. April 12, 2023.
  35. Web site: Lang . Jamie . 2023-08-25 . 'Lackadaisy' Wraps Crowdfunding Campaign With More Than $2M Raised . 2024-02-17 . Cartoon Brew . en-US.