In a time when libertarians sought for more meaningful entertainment and positive ways to engage the culture around them, one person stepped forward with a unique comic series that explores what it truly means to be free! It’s the Voluntaryist Comic – an epic story of a superhuman hero who finds himself pitted against dastardly foes, giant monsters and timely super-villains almost ripped from the headlines of today! According to the Voluntaryist “About” page, “the purpose of this comic is to give a sense of what is going on in America and, in addition, to offer the reader inspiration that something can be done to stop the coming dystopian future. It also promotes voluntaryist values in the narrative. (If you don’t know what that is, simply google the ‘Non-aggression principle.’) The idea for the comic was created by Voluntaryist fanatic and costumer Jamie S., whose passion for liberty is only matched by his passion for dressing in spandex super-suits. He began the long process of creating the series while trudging through his studies in school.”
Thanks for talking with us! To start with, how would you explain your involvement in the various libertarian/voluntaryist communities?
I’ve been involved with liberty crowds since 2008, helping to promote the Libertarian party for election season. Since that time, I’ve moved on from mainstream politics and have been more passionate about ethical philosophy. I’ve produced videos, written articles, shot pictures, and created comics preaching the principles of liberty. What motivates me the most is seeing people have that “ah-HA!” moment when they realize that goods and services should not be provided at the barrel of a gun.
Yes, absolutely! As a fellow artist, I can completely relate to this. So what was it that you would say helped raise awareness of libertarian issues in your own life?
I don’t think that my parents necessarily pushed my views toward liberty in a direct way, but they were both avid educators who valued freedom and autonomy in learning. I think I gained some sense about the value of individualism and self-direction from that upbringing psychology.
The most artful articulation of Voluntaryist principles I think comes from Zander Mars’ Beyond the Government-Haunted World: A Comic Guide to Voluntaryism, Free Markets, and the Non-Aggression Principle (as seen here). His book is a type of comic-styled treatise on the philosophy of voluntaryism. It’s extraordinarily accessible. Pretty much anyone aged 13 or older could read it and readily grasp what it means to live by the non-aggression principle.
Very cool. Do you have any unique experiences so far through working in the libertarian/voluntaryist community?
Meeting Pasha Roberts when he was on tour for the Silver Circle film was an important development in my comic building process. Pasha created a pro-liberty, anti-Federal reserve comic book (as seen here) and animated film that focused on a group of rebels taking on banksters to free the monetary system. Speaking to him about his work helped me to hone my own production skills to reach the libertarian community.
What might your goal be for the future working in this area?
I plan to take the Voluntaryist comic to Marvel and D.C. heights with animated films. I know it’s ambitious, but I think that if I continue to do speak on the government’s misdeeds as the world awakens to the problems of government, there will be a great demand for Voluntaryist-styled entertainment. There’s too much mainstream media that won’t touch on meaningful ethical discourses. People are tired of it and crave some intellectually meaty storytelling.
Any recommendations on how people can get involved as positive ambassadors for libertarianism/voluntaryism in their own communities?
Do whatever you already do well and add a touch of liberty. Whether that’s working on cars, sewing, mathematics, or cleaning pools, there’s always an opportunity to integrate the message of liberty in your work. Even something as simple as a “how-to” video with a link to the Mises Institute in the description can wake people up to truly voluntary living.
Where can readers find out more about what you do?
Readers can check out more at our HQ Website volcomic.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/volcomics.
And last of all – do you have a favorite piece of libertarian art that you’ve created or relates to you in a personal way? (Note: we always think it’s fun to end our interviews by asking those individuals we’ve chatted with if they’d mind sharing a cool piece of artwork. This can be anything from a simple sketch to a piece of music or poetry that they’ve created, or even a favorite graphic that relates to them personally in some way.) Voluntaryist replied with, “I don’t draw the art for the comic, so it probably wouldn’t be that impressive. LOL. But I did attach the cover image for the latest comic campaign (as seen at left)! Thanks again Lewis for your kind thoughts and help!”
Also, don’t forget to take a look at our libertarian artists page for more great artist interviews and artwork from a variety of different artists in our community! You can also check out Libertopia’s own artwork page here, or download our 60 page art ebook at Libertopia: Collection One!
Source: Libertopia Cartoon