Dash Shaw is an uncanny force in the comic book art world, using multimedia for his process and expanding his definition of comics from webcomics and the page to animation. Fantagraphics will be releasing his latest work, New School, this month. Dash was able to talk to us in the middle of his book tour after returning from MoCCA (Museum of Comic & Cartoon Art) Arts Fest this weekend, where he was featured as a special guest. Dash signs books and screens animation at Hub Comics this weekend on Saturday at 7pm.

DIGBOSTON: Dash, thanks for taking the time. How was this weekend for you?

DASH SHAW: Great. We had 3 New Stories and New Jobs.

“Yes, very qualified” — New Jobs - Dash Shaw

Your comic book work is not easy to define to a reader who hasn’t read it, but your fingerprints are unique. Do you consider your work to be more fine art than illustration?

I make comics. I don’t have any interest in showing work in galleries. I didn’t grow up looking at art in galleries. I looked at drawings in books. There are super talented other cartoonists who are also interested in showing in galleries, but I’m not. I don’t even like the term “art comics” because it implies that the art is more important than the story.

[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.COM]