Nathan W. Pyle
{{short description|American writer and cartoonist}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
Nathan W. Pyle (born 1982) is an American cartoonist and writer living in New York City. He is the creator of the popular webcomic Strange Planet, which depicts a planet of blue beings discussing banal human experiences in technical language. He has had multiple books reach The New York Times Best Seller list.
Background and first books
Pyle was born in 1982.{{Cite web|last=Pyle|first=Nathan W.|date=February 6, 2015|title=My 9 Greatest Memories As A Cincinnati Reds Fan|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/nathanwpyle/my-9-greatest-memories-as-a-cincinnati-reds-fan|access-date=|website=BuzzFeed|language=en|archive-date=June 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623080510/https://www.buzzfeed.com/nathanwpyle/my-9-greatest-memories-as-a-cincinnati-reds-fan|url-status=live}} He grew up in Kettering, Ohio, and graduated from Dayton Christian High School.{{Cite web|last=Short|first=Sharon|date=May 26, 2020|title=Artist behind popular Instagram cartoon has Kettering roots: 'It's an amazing thing, to grow up in Ohio'|url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/lifestyles/artist-behind-popular-instagram-cartoon-has-kettering-roots-amazing-thing-grow-ohio/fmwEsFr7PSIxxQnAXj4cMN/|access-date=2020-12-02|website=dayton-daily-news|language=English|archive-date=June 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611135828/https://www.daytondailynews.com/lifestyles/artist-behind-popular-instagram-cartoon-has-kettering-roots-amazing-thing-grow-ohio/fmwEsFr7PSIxxQnAXj4cMN/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Florence |first1=Russell |title=15 entertainers with Dayton ties to watch in 2022 |url=https://www.dayton.com/what-to-know/15-entertainers-with-dayton-ties-to-watch-in-2022/KDMYZAWTTRAANEWYEHZS2SSDCE/ |website=Dayton.com |language=English}} He studied theology in college and taught high school theology for two years before moving to New York in 2008 to pursue creative work.{{cite web |last1=Cooperstein |first1=Paige |title=27 GIFs That Explain How To Survive In New York City |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-survive-nyc-2014-4 |website=Business Insider |date=April 17, 2014 |access-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-date=June 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607152609/https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-survive-nyc-2014-4 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Lorraine |title=Meet the artist behind that viral GIF guide to NYC |url=https://www.dailydot.com/culture/nathan-pyle-new-york-gif-guide-interview/ |website=The Daily Dot |language=en |date=March 28, 2013 |access-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623061408/https://www.dailydot.com/culture/nathan-pyle-new-york-gif-guide-interview/ |url-status=live }}
He worked in television production and also posted T-shirt designs to Threadless, with one of his designs appearing on the TV show Community. His work gained wide attention in 2013 when he posted a series of animated gifs to the website Reddit describing his observations of life in New York City. The animations went viral, attracting the attention of BuzzFeed, which offered him a job, and HarperCollins, which in 2014 published his comics in book form in NYC Basic Tips and Etiquette.{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Dami |title=Nathan Pyle's Strange Planet holds up a mirror to weird human behavior |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/1/18280819/nathan-pyle-strange-planet-comic-instagram-interview |website=The Verge |date=April 1, 2019 |access-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604082901/https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/1/18280819/nathan-pyle-strange-planet-comic-instagram-interview |url-status=live }} This book made The New York Times Best Seller's Travel list.{{Cite news|title=Travel Books – Best Sellers – Books – Sept. 7, 2014 – The New York Times|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2014/09/07/travel/|access-date=2020-12-03|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=October 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014112129/https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2014/09/07/travel/|url-status=live}} Pyle also published the book 99 Stories I Could Tell: A Doodlebook To Help You Create in 2018. He married in 2018.
''Strange Planet'' series
Pyle launched his webcomic Strange Planet in February 2019. It follows a planet of blue beings without gender or race who have human traditions and behaviors but discuss them in highly technical terminology, such as saying "I crave star damage" instead of "I want to get a sun tan."{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-11-06|title=Nathan Pyle On The Genesis And Ethos Of His Comic, 'Strange Planet'|url=https://nowthisnews.com/videos/pop/nathan-pyle-on-the-genesis-and-ethos-of-his-comic-strange-planet|access-date=2019-11-07|website=NowThis News|archive-date=November 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107051047/https://nowthisnews.com/videos/pop/nathan-pyle-on-the-genesis-and-ethos-of-his-comic-strange-planet|url-status=live}} The beings are big eyed, bright blue creatures, often called aliens,{{Cite web|last=Dawson|first=Mackenzie|date=2019-11-16|title=Author Nathan Pyle reveals earthlings through the eyes of an alien|url=https://nypost.com/2019/11/16/author-nathan-pyle-reveals-earthlings-through-the-eyes-of-an-alien/|access-date=2020-12-02|website=New York Post|language=en-US|archive-date=April 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418161947/https://nypost.com/2019/11/16/author-nathan-pyle-reveals-earthlings-through-the-eyes-of-an-alien/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title='Imagine Pleasant Nonsense' With 'Strange Planet' Creator Nathan Pyle|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/12/15/787618154/imagine-pleasant-nonsense-with-strange-planet-creator-nathan-pyle|access-date=2020-12-02|website=NPR.org|date=December 15, 2019|language=en|last1=Metzger|first1=Liz|archive-date=October 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016060903/https://www.npr.org/2019/12/15/787618154/imagine-pleasant-nonsense-with-strange-planet-creator-nathan-pyle|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|last=Lang|first=Cady|date=March 15, 2019|title=Nathan Pyle's Strange Planet Is Comic Relief for Instagram|url=https://time.com/5552655/nathan-pyle-strange-planet/|access-date=2020-12-02|magazine=Time|archive-date=February 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228103215/https://time.com/5552655/nathan-pyle-strange-planet/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2020-04-19|title=Look at Human Life Through Alien Eyes in Nathan W. Pyle's Comic Sequel 'Stranger Planet'|url=https://www.nerdsandbeyond.com/2020/04/19/look-at-human-life-through-alien-eyes-in-nathan-w-pyles-comic-sequel-stranger-planet/|access-date=2020-12-02|website=Nerds and Beyond|language=en|archive-date=December 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214173554/https://www.nerdsandbeyond.com/2020/04/19/look-at-human-life-through-alien-eyes-in-nathan-w-pyles-comic-sequel-stranger-planet/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Schlichenmeyer|first=Terri|date=November 26, 2020|title=Booksgiving: Season's readings for the holidays, part 4|url=https://www.telegraphherald.com/news/features/article_f75a5b0b-5aef-54ad-9353-a7a0f7b077da.html|access-date=2020-12-02|website=TelegraphHerald.com|language=en|archive-date=December 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202113348/https://www.telegraphherald.com/news/features/article_f75a5b0b-5aef-54ad-9353-a7a0f7b077da.html|url-status=live}} though Pyle does not use the term 'alien', saying that the comics take place on their home planet and the readers are the visitors.{{cite web |last1=Pyle |first1=Nathan W. |title=Nathan responds to some comments [Video file] |url=https://www.facebook.com/nathanwpyle2/videos/2553154304775255/ |website=Facebook |access-date=21 September 2021 |date=5 December 2019 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921213858/https://www.facebook.com/nathanwpyle2/videos/2553154304775255/ |url-status=live }} Pyle says that he was inspired to create the series after he and his wife, preparing to host guests, began hiding their possessions to make their small apartment appear as clean as possible. Pyle says that the comic looks at the wonderful complexity humans have created.
The webcomic quickly gained a large following on Instagram; it had 250,000 followers within 3 weeks,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/four-panel-webcomics/|title=Why 4-Panel Comics Now Dominate Our Screens|last1=Rubin|first1=Peter|date=February 26, 2019|magazine=Wired|access-date=March 5, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043141/https://www.wired.com/story/four-panel-webcomics/|url-status=live}} and by May had over 2 million followers.{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/books/2019/05/01/nathan-pyle-strange-planet-book-announcement/|title=Exclusive: Nathan W. Pyle's beloved 'Strange Planet' comics get book deal|last=Canfield|first=David|date=May 1, 2019|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|language=en|access-date=|archive-date=May 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504074542/https://ew.com/books/2019/05/01/nathan-pyle-strange-planet-book-announcement/|url-status=live}} As of December 2020 it had 6 million followers. A book version, also called Strange Planet, was released in November 2019 and entered multiple bestseller lists including a number one spot on a New York Times bestseller list and the Publishers Weekly bestseller list for hardcover fiction.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/bestselling-books-for-the-week-that-ended-dec/article_2d199899-f624-5a00-b5d7-2b5c0d0ae2ed.html|title=Bestselling books for the week that ended Dec. 1|website=stltoday.com|date=December 7, 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10|archive-date=December 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210155053/https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/bestselling-books-for-the-week-that-ended-dec/article_2d199899-f624-5a00-b5d7-2b5c0d0ae2ed.html|url-status=live}} A second book, Stranger Planet, was released in 2020.{{Cite web|title=Stranger Planet|url=https://www.harpercollins.com/products/stranger-planet-nathan-w-pyle|access-date=2020-12-03|website=HarperCollins|language=en|archive-date=December 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220174705/https://www.harpercollins.com/products/stranger-planet-nathan-w-pyle|url-status=live}}
In an article on The Verge, writer Dami Lee said, "It's clear why Strange Planet resonates with people... everybody can project themselves onto them. They navigate universal situations, shedding light on human behavior that no one understands the reason behind... Scientists couldn't engineer a more shareable webcomic if they tried." The comic's "amusing alien outsider" trope has been compared to that of 3rd Rock from the Sun and Coneheads, and has been described as a modern rendering of the 1907 science-fiction newspaper strip Mr. Skygack, from Mars.{{cite news|last1=Media|first1=ReFrame|date=26 January 2021|title=The Alien Parables of Strange Planet|language=en|work=Think Christian|url=https://thinkchristian.net/the-alien-parables-of-strange-planet|access-date=26 January 2021|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126065658/https://thinkchristian.net/the-alien-parables-of-strange-planet|url-status=live}}
Hasbro has produced a card game based on the comic called Sweet Existence, with illustrations by Pyle.{{Cite web|last=Fallon|first=Sean|date=July 14, 2020|title=Obtain Sweet Disks In the Strange Planet Comics Card Game|url=https://comicbook.com/gear/news/obtain-sweet-disks-in-the-strange-planet-comics-card-game/|access-date=2020-12-02|website=Gear|language=en|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810060629/https://comicbook.com/gear/news/obtain-sweet-disks-in-the-strange-planet-comics-card-game/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Sweet Existence: A Strange Planet Card Game|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/316927/sweet-existence-strange-planet-card-game|access-date=2020-12-02|website=BoardGameGeek|language=en-US|archive-date=April 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421035617/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/316927/sweet-existence-strange-planet-card-game|url-status=live}} In June 2021, it was announced that Apple TV+ had given the production a series order to an animated television adaptation of the comics. The series was released on August 9, 2023.{{cite web|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|date=July 6, 2023|title=Nathan W. Pyle's 'Strange Planet' Sets Apple TV+ Premiere in August|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/07/nathan-w-pyles-strange-planet-sets-apple-tv-premiere-in-august/|access-date=July 6, 2023|website=Animation Magazine|archive-date=July 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230706174353/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/07/nathan-w-pyles-strange-planet-sets-apple-tv-premiere-in-august/|url-status=live}} The series was produced by ShadowMachine with Dan Harmon and Pyle as executive producers.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/dan-harmon-nathan-pyle-adapting-comic-strange-planet-animated-series-apple-1234780238/|title=Dan Harmon & Nathan Pyle Adapting Comic 'Strange Planet' As Animated Series Greenlit At Apple|date=June 23, 2021|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|author=Peter White|access-date=June 23, 2021|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624000929/https://deadline.com/2021/06/dan-harmon-nathan-pyle-adapting-comic-strange-planet-animated-series-apple-1234780238/|url-status=live}}
Political views
In April 2019, a Twitter post by Pyle from 2017 resurfaced regarding the pro-life rally March For Life. According to some reporters, Pyle's tweet expressed support for, or defended, March For Life. The tweet caused many{{who|date=July 2023}} fans to turn against Strange Planet and its creator, in a controversy described by at least one outlet as an example of the Milkshake Duck phenomenon.{{cite web | url=https://twitter.com/nathanwpyle/status/825066260153167873 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20190408170624/https://twitter.com/nathanwpyle/status/825066260153167873 | url-status=dead | archive-date=8 April 2019 | title=Pyle's archived tweet regarding abortion rights | access-date=8 April 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Tiffany |title=The internet's favorite new comic strip has been ruined by this old anti-abortion tweet |url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/strange-planet-nathan-pyle-anti-abortion-tweet/ |website=The Daily Dot |language=en |date=8 April 2019 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-date=November 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108045746/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/strange-planet-nathan-pyle-anti-abortion-tweet/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/nathan-pyle-abortion-controversy-strange-planet-comic-twitter-tweet-alien-1392353|title=The artist behind the 'Strange Planet' webcomic sparks controversy with pro-life tweet|last=Asarch|first=Steven|date=April 10, 2019|website=Newsweek|language=en|access-date=|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223151927/https://www.newsweek.com/nathan-pyle-abortion-controversy-strange-planet-comic-twitter-tweet-alien-1392353|url-status=live}}
Pyle released a statement shortly afterwards which did not mention abortion, but said that he and his wife "have private beliefs as they pertain to our Christian faith. We believe separation of church and state is crucial to our nation flourishing." He also stated they voted for the Democratic Party, and were "troubled by what the Republican Party has become and [did] not want to be associated with it."{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/strange-planet-nathan-pyle-christian-beliefs-tweet/|title='Strange Planet' comics artist responds to abortion controversy|last=|first=|date=April 9, 2019|website=The Daily Dot|language=en|access-date=2019-06-23|archive-date=August 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824015651/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/strange-planet-nathan-pyle-christian-beliefs-tweet/|url-status=live}}{{Cite tweet|user=nathanwpyle|last=Pyle|first=Nathan W.|date=April 10, 2019|title=[screenshot of text: My wife Taylor and I have private beliefs as they pertain to our Christian faith. We also believe separation of church and state is crucial to our nation flourishing. Our votes go to the Democratic Party. Additionally we are troubled by what the Republican Party has become and do not want to be associated with it.]|number=1115684701069611008|access-date=2020-12-02|website=Twitter|language=en-US}}
Bibliography
- NYC Basic Tips and Etiquette (2014, William Morrow Paperbacks)
- 99 Stories I Could Tell: A Doodlebook To Help You Create (2018, Morrow Gift)
- Strange Planet (2019)
- Stranger Planet (2020)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.buzzfeed.com/nathanwpyle Archive at Buzzfeed]
- [https://www.harpercollins.com/author/cr-107568/nathan-w-pyle/ Official page at Harper Collins]
- [https://blog.ted.com/a-youth-reporter-finds-out-why-its-important-to-be-nice-in-new-york-city/ Interview for TED]
- {{Twitter|nathanwpyle|name=Nathan W. Pyle}}
- {{Instagram|nathanwpyle|name=Nathan W. Pyle}}
- {{Instagram|nathanwpylestrangeplanet|name=Strange Planet}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:American science fiction artists
Category:American comics artists
Category:American comics writers
Category:American webcomic creators