Interview with Reason Cartoonist Peter Bagge

Peter Bagge is the preeminent libertarian cartoonist. An intelligent, anti-authoritarian streak runs throughout his canon, especially in his hit comic book from the 1990s, HATE, a hilarious and politically incorrect series focusing on the semi-autobiographical slacker-misanthrope Buddy Bradley. Bagge frequently contributes his own brand of "cartoon journalism" to the pages of Reason magazine where he also serves as a Contributing Editor.

Bagge discusses how he came to define his libertarian political worldview at a young age, and laments his frustration at being an artist who's political views are frequently mischaracterized as "right wing" by other artists, simply for failing to be in lock-step with the rest of the predominantly progressive-left art world.

He also discusses a recent Reason assignment which took him within the walls of a women's prison, and how the experience led him to question his own preconceived notions about the drug war and involuntary incarceration for drug users.

His funny, outrageous and often introspective anthology of Reason cartoon journalism, "Everyone is Stupid Except Me (And Other Astute Observations)" is available from Fantagraphics.

Shot by Alexander Manning. Interview by Nick Gillespie. Edited by Anthony L. Fisher.

About 5 minutes.

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Reason magazine
• cartoons
• comics
• libertarian
• prison
• drug war
• peter
• bagge
• hate
• buddy bradley

[njudahchronicles]

I've been buying his comics since 1989 and hope to do so for another 20 years. Dude is awesome.

[KayCris1128]

Ron Paul y'all, lets see some real change.

[Renfro1982]

Great video! BTW is that Joe Sacco on Pete's left at 2:19?

[trueorbetter]

Hell, I'm all for freedom. And I agree with a lot of points Bagge made in this interview.  Not all of them, though. I do object to the Libertarian Party, which believes in deëmphasizing federal spending on infrastructure, as well as wrecking our social safety programs.

Besides, Pete: I remember your calling yourself a right-winger back in the 1990s. I imagine a lot of people remember that. I sure do. Anyway, thanks for Hate--and thanks for printing my letter way back when!

[Hippyjonnycomics]

Peter Bagge one of inspirations for my own comics.

Thank you mr Bagge!

[IsaacBaranoff]

Peter Bagge is awesome. A huge influence on my art style, one of the funniest cartoonists ever AND, like me, he's a libertarian. Great guy. Go read his comics now!

[dlstb]

@liOVERLOADil BULLSHIT! you stated "and I'm sure you would have no problem ripping apart the constitution and bill of rights to fit the whims of your interpretation of holy-texts". You directly imply that I would disavow my oath plain and simple. And if you cannot understand how I am pro- not killing innocent children before they are even born while I feel that it is entirely justifiable to kill a person who is not innocent and violates others rights to life and liberty you are a lost fool.

[liOVERLOADil]

@dlstb I would also be "remiss" if I didn't mention that I gave that very same oath three times in the last decade, and that the oath that I gave, the defense of our country, has NOTHING to do what what we are talking about. So... you are pro-life, are you also pro-execution?

[dlstb]

@liOVERLOADil I would be remiss if I didn't mention that while you claim that I would rip apart the Constitution I have actually taken a solemn oath to defend it from all enemies foreign and domestic. I am also a member of the Oathkeepers and I intend on fully keeping the oath that I have made. I'll reiterate the fact that people like you practice a warped sense of Libertarianism in which a person is allowed to renig on any commitment or contract they make, including parenthood.

[dlstb]

@liOVERLOADil Also, there is an extremely large gap between the killing of an innocent life for no other reason than it may inconvenience you and the killing of an adult human being who has shown through his/her own action that they are willing, able, and have violated the RIGHTS of other human beings in such a profound and terrifying way that the continuation of his/her life will undoubtedly lead to the further violation of another person's right to live. Cross that line and I'll pull the trig