Larry Leadhead Chat

Wargamers are a strange lot---to say the least! And of wargamers, those who ply their trade with miniatures are the strangest! What a delightfully bizarre psyche they possess! Combining the eccentricity of artists, along with the demanding accuracy of fanatical historians, miniature wargamers are a distinct breed, one set apart from mere mortal gamers. Add when you add the combustible element of face-to-face gaming hubris, well…you can expect things to happen that would be unthinkable in any other hobby. Funny things….

Strike that: very funny things.

And the best example of this unfortunately rare form of wargaming mirth can be found in the delightful Larry Leadhead comic strip. The brainchild of Eric Hotz and Doug Hamm, Larry Leadhead has served to fill a void in the world of wargaming by providing the necessarily self-deprecating humor that brings some gaiety into a hobby that can be taken all too seriously at times. And when that void was filled, wargamers responded with enthusiasm, creating a Leadhead fan-base that extends around the globe (some twenty-six nations at this time), and spawning a fast-selling book.

Larry Leadhead has become as much of an indispensable component to the miniatures community as, well, lead or paint!Therefore, it was a great pleasure for this author to have a chance to sit down and correspond with the big man himself, Mr. Larry Leadhead:

XG: How did the idea of a comic strip for miniature wargaming come about?

LL: One evening, when Doug [Hamm] had just finished painting some World War 2 figures and was looking at them, his wife asked ‘what are they?’ He responded, ‘a light machine gun.’ She shook her head in mock exasperation and replied, ‘A light machine gun? What, does it kill a third less people?’ Well, Doug thought that was funny, loved to read the newspaper cartoons and thought he could draw...but really cannot!

XG: Speaking about artistic ability, was there an artistic inspiration for the comic strip (by that, I mean was it influenced artistically or otherwise by another strip such as Peanuts or Garfield, or some other source)?

LL: Doug (because he could not draw) would use appropriate Beetle Bailey and Hagar the Horrible characters to trace for his cartoon. Larry always wears a kepi (his cap) as he was originally a Hagar tracing but Doug needed to replace Hagar's horned helmet and the cap could be put into the correct angle to suit the tracing. (Please note the originals are safely stored, in a locked bank vault buried under eight tons of concrete.)

Eric [Hotz] approached Doug one club meeting and asked if he could help with the illustrating his cartoon. Doug knew Eric for a long time and knew his good character and his exceptional talent as an artist. With collaborations, the quality of [the] person is as important as all other factors. Doug admires a fellow who says ‘I really think your humor is very good. Your cartoons are funny, but Doug......you just cannot ****ing draw!!’

We decided the newspaper cartoon format is one universally known and familiar so we have continued with this style. Perhaps not all that flexible, but identifiable.

While the cartoon has been around since 1996, it was not until Eric began to do the illustration work and create the website in the year 2000, that “Larry Leadhead” has taken its form today.

XG: Larry Leadhead has developed a world-wide following. Are you surprised by this popularity? Does this suggest that wargaming is the universal language?

LL: We have readers from all points of the world: Australia, Poland, Canada, South Africa, Singapore, USA, France, UK and Argentina to name but a few countries. See our website for the rankings of the countries (we can determine the origin of our visitors --but not their actual location, of course...only the FBI and Interpol can do that!).

And yes, we have had emails from many individuals around the world stating: "We have members just like that in our club!"

Universal language? If, the player, regardless of language spoken says, "Oh bugger not another bloody 1!!" after rolling for morale, then yes, there is a universal language of wargaming....

XG: Do you have a favorite Larry Leadhead comic strip? If so, which one and why?

LL: One day we needed to select a few cartoons so we sat down looking through ones we had done a few years before. We laughed at all of them; some more than others perhaps but WE thought them funny which is what counts. No, we have no favorites. We are but pleased that others think our humor is funny(ish).

XG: Many Larry Leadhead strips are inspired by the experiences of actual gamers. What is the process by which a funny gaming anecdote is transformed into a fully realized comic?

LL: When Doug first started creating "Larry Leadhead," he would bring out a note book to games and conventions and was able to quote a few “live-wires” and humorous club members who unwittingly contribute to the idea pool. As the reader may notice in their own experience, comments are often made during the normal banter around the tabletop are funny at the time but are then usually forgotten by the end of the game. We merely note these comments for later use.

XG: What does the future hold for Larry and his friends?

LL: If you are questioning what new armies are they going to collect? Probably all by the end --they ARE wargamers of course! But as a comic strip? Hmm, I guess we continue to produce them (we have over 700 done now with a book published--see the Website www.larryleadhead.org for details--wink,wink.) Wargaming knows no lack of self-effacing humor!

XG: What do you think the future holds for miniature wargaming in general?

LL: Eric and Doug having each been in the hobby for over thirty years, and every time we hear it will go down hill, it only gets better, with more ranges, new sculptures, and better looking games. It was thought computers would wipe it out, yet it continues stronger than ever. Historical players were bemoaning the 'graying' of the hobby with its players, yet the kids of Warhammer see the great looking games of historical game next to them at the convention and think to join. The old boys see the fun games of the sci-fi people, the fantasy players, and see no difference between an ork and an ancient highlander! They/we are all playing with miniatures and if we all continue to put in effort into what we consider to be an excellent pastime, it will not fade. (oh my, where are the tissues, our eyes are tearing...)

XG: Is there anything you would like to tell your legions of fans?

LL: Doug and Eric continue to do the cartoons for fun. The response from their internet readers from literally around the world has been nothing but positive. We would like to end with a note from reader David Williams who wrote, ‘You have a gentle sense of humor even though you know you could be cutting and bitterly satirical if you were of a mind. I thank you for that, especially since I saw myself in several of your strips. It is nice to have you pat me on the shoulder and say, “We understand. We’re there too.” Rather than, “You jerk, get a life!”’