Even though firefighting is a team sport , Combs remains a solo act in his field , one that most people in the fire world know . His witty , satirical , impactful and at times gut-wrenching cartoons are timeless . When asked where he gets his ideas from , he explains , “ People are people and the same people are everywhere , with the same egos and the same problems . The same people who will do anything are right there , alongside the people who will sit back and do nothing .”
If you ’ re wondering where Combs gets those ideas , it isn ’ t from other people – because he never takes their suggestions . His creative pool is completely his own and always has been . He has a formula that works
for him and it ’ s one that ’ s been proven again and again by the success of his cartoons . His ability to read the room is uncanny .
THERE ’ S NO SHORTAGE OF TOPICS AND ANGLES , AND COMBS HAS DRAWN ABOUT EVERYTHING – AT LEAST ONCE .
“ Sometimes the message comes before the visual , sometimes it ’ s vice versa . It ’ s what I ’ m feeling at the moment , so sometimes it ' s one word in an article that starts an explosion of visuals . Even when I work on cartoons today , I have no idea when they ’ ll be published . There is the excitement of not knowing where things are going to lead . I still draw what I want to draw ,” says Combs .
Combs is passionate about his cartoons , so it comes as no surprise that sometimes his work is received with equal passion . He talks about one called “ Love It or Leave It ” about getting out of the fire service if you don ’ t love it .
“ The point is selfreflection – a way to get the conversation started around what it truly means to be a champion of the fire service . This will strike certain people the wrong way – especially if they ’ re struggling with that . To put it bluntly , are you in it for the T-shirt or to serve ? The whole point of the cartoon , which probably started out as self-reflection , is pretty on the nose : get out if you don ’ t love it .”
THE SAME PEOPLE WHO WILL DO ANYTHING ARE RIGHT THERE , ALONGSIDE THE PEOPLE WHO WILL SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING .”
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL COMBS & FIRE ENGINEERING MAGAZINE CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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