The adult-coloring book is a bona fide, if curious, fad. That leaves it open to inspired reinterpretation, such as The Last Coloring Book, by Jimmy Angelina and Wyatt Doyle. Whether someone actually chooses to pick up a box of crayons and go at it, thats up to them, said Angelina. Whatever they do with it, I hope they have fun!
LEO: Why create an adult coloring book together?
Jimmy Angelina: The idea was Wyatts. Wed been discussing a collaboration for a bit, and his idea of merging our mutual love of movies with a slightly satirical take on adult coloring books seemed like a perfect fit. We put a lot of love of movies and off-beat humor into it, so I hope that anybody who grabs a copy will enjoy it in that spirit and have a good time with it.
Wyatt Doyle: We were attracted to the idea of creating a book that may, or may not, be what its cover claims it is, and our tastes run to art that resists easy classification. So it was important that there be more to The Last Coloring Book than meets the eye. Its an adult coloring book. Its a satire of adult coloring books. Its a portrait gallery. Its a checklist. Its a self-help book. Its a conversation. Its an autobiography. To swipe from Alejandro Jodorowsky: If youre great, The Last Coloring Book is a great book; if youre limited, its a coloring book.
You obviously have a love of film. The images in the book are stills from 1970s movies, like The Man Who Would Be King and The Last Detail. Why these characters?
JA: Ill let Wyatt speak to that, as all the editorial choices were his. However, I know were coming from pretty much the same place, as far as the kinds of movies that we love and enjoy are concerned, so I was more than happy with all the choices that were made. As for 70s movies, Im a big fan. Thats a decade in which movies seemed much more unbound by convention and strict box office concerns than at other periods (with abundant exceptions, of course!).
WD: Since childrens coloring books focus on scenes and subjects children find entertaining, our adult coloring book does the same for adults. Where Hello Kitty might provide a cupcake party to be colored, we offer a selection of characters in crisis, in many cases coming to terms with the wreckage theyve made of their lives.
Please explain why its titled The Last Coloring Book.
JA: A straight-up pun on The Last Detail and also a joking allusion to its being the last coloring book youll ever need.
WD: Theres no single answer to that, and theres no wrong answer, either. Its a title thats open to many different interpretations, and all of them are correct. Like so much about the book, if you think youve figured out what it means, youre right.
Are there any future collaborations planned?
JA: Yes. More than one, hopefully.
WD: I look forward to them, whatever they may be. I dont care if Jimmy wants to do a connect-the-dots book, Im in. Support independent artists and publishers.
The Last Coloring Book
To purchase it, visit newtexture.com