Chronicle Books: Hi Hector, or should I say, Dave?

Dave Cooper/Hector Mumbly: Dave? Oh, you mean Dave Cooper? Yes, it's a common misconception that we're the same person. Dave is a great friend and a gifted protégé, but we're not the same person! Ha, ha.

CB: Uhm, exactly who is Hector Mumbly, and what does Dave Cooper have to do with him?

DC/HM: Hector is me, I'm a children's book author and illustrator. Dave Cooper was a student of mine who makes weird comics and paintings. Stuff for grown-ups ONLY, if you know what I mean. People often get our work mixed up; they think that Hector is just a pen name that Dave came up with. But in fact our styles are just very similar because we worked together for such a long time. Dave was always much more ambitious than I am, so it makes sense that he made a name for himself much earlier. But with his encouragement, I finally struck out and started coming up with some book ideas of my own. And now I'm so excited to finally have my first book released, Bagel's Lucky Hat!

CB: Dave, you are well known in the underground comics world as Dave Cooper. Some descriptions of your earliest and award-winning graphic novels have phrases like "twisted fable," "wonderfully disjointed," and "bizarre travelogue" used to describe them. Clearly your earlier work has been very edgy, and for mature adult audiences. How has your creative journey led you down the path to creating this completely sweet and zany picture book starring two unique friends, Bagel (the dog) and Becky (the cat)?

DC/HM: I'm not Dave! He's wonderful at what he does, but it's not my cup of tea at all. I've always been drawn to more innocent imagery and storytelling.

CB: Oh, okay. Hector. Bagel's Lucky Hat is an interesting example of a "storytelling" tale, which teachers will especially love. The story is genuinely funny and has the sort of humor that will tickle the funny bone of both children and parents. How did you come up with this story?

DC/HM: This being my first children's book I really wanted it to be chock-full of interesting characters and weird settings and contraptions, and also nice comfy, familiar things too. So in cramming all those elements together I ended up with the framework for the story.

CB: Can fans of your graphic novels expect to see a similar artistic style in Bagel's Lucky Hat? Will you tell us a little bit about your artistic process?

DC/HM: By graphic novels, I presume you're still referring to the idea that I'm responsible for the work of Dave Cooper? Well, I can see where the misconception comes from, but really! Dave's and my style evolved at the same time, both of us lifting ideas and methods from each other. The style I use is very much like Dave's pen and ink work. First I make a load of preparatory sketches in pencil and then make a tighter drawing in pencil too. For the final drawing, I use a good ol' fashioned ink nib and a bottle of ink on fine drawing paper. Then I scan the drawings and color them digitally. For a single page, the inking takes about a day and the coloring about a week.

CB: I understand that in addition to graphic novels, you have also worked in animation?

DC/HM: I helped Dave out on some of the design work that he did for the program Futurama. [Editor's note: Futurama is an Emmy Award-winning animated television series created by Matt Groening of The Simpsons fame.] Most of the work Dave's done in animation I helped with to some extent. Our drawing styles are so similar.

CB: There are so many wonderful details and certainly lots of action in your illustrations in Bagel's Lucky Hat . . .

DC/HM: Thanks! That's one of my favorite parts of making the artwork. I try to make the drawing work on a very basic level for clarity, but then fill up the rest of the page with rich, fun-to-look-at details so that it will continue to be interesting for multiple readings. I remember when I was little I used to love just poring over the drawings in kids' books, not even reading the story, but drinking it in like an art book. I think it's great when a children's book can work that way, as long as it's not at the expense of story.

CB: Can't you just see Becky and Bagel starring in an animated short film?

DC/HM: That has certainly crossed my mind. I don't want to put the cart ahead of the horse, but it's hard not to dream of other projects that Bagel and Becky might like to be in. I was thinking that a TV show would be fun too.

CB: Definitely! Who are you favorite children's books illustrators, or especially favorite children's books?

DC/HM: I love William Steig. Tomi Ungerer is one of the best. For contemporaries, I love, love, love Olof Landstrom. And J.otto Seibold. Maurice Sendak of course.

CB: Would you like to create more books for children?

DC/HM: More than anything. I feel like I have a million ideas percolating. I just hope I can get them all out.

CB: We're still not sure if Hector's telling the truth about him not being Dave Cooper, so just to be safe we're going to put Dave's biography here too. Just keep in mind that Dave's work is pretty risqué. Not for kids at all!

Dave Cooper was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1967. He now lives in Ottawa with his wife, Julie, and their two children. Dave made his name in underground comix and animation in the '90s but has focused on oil painting since the turn of the century. In 2005 he had two sold-out solo shows in Los Angeles and New York. His next major show will be at Billy Shire Fine Arts in Los Angeles in February 2008. Bagel's Lucky Hat is his first book for children.