| Too Much Coffee Man | |
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Too Much Coffee Man Art by Shannon Wheeler. |
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| Publication information | |
| First appearance | Too Much Coffee Man Minicomic (1990) |
| Created by | Shannon Wheeler |
Too Much Coffee Man is an American satirical superhero created by cartoonist Shannon Wheeler, and which has appeared in comic strips, minicomics, webcomics, comic books, magazines, books, and operas.
Visually, the character is a parody of superheroes, which since their inception have been colloquially referred to by industry professionals as "long-underwear characters". Too Much Coffee Man wears literal long underwear, dressing in what appears to be a spandex version of old-fashioned red "long johns" (full-body underwear with a buttoned flap on the back for bodily functions). Too Much Coffee Man is an anxious Everyman who broods about the state of the world, from politics to people, exchanging thoughts with friends and readers.
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The strip is most often presented as a single page in comic books, alternative press newspapers and other publications, though occasionally the story arc stretches into multi-page stories. The strip "Too Much Coffee Man" was retitled "How to Be Happy, with Too Much Coffee Man" with the January 23, 2006, installment.[1] On February 6, 2006, the title was simplified to "How to Be Happy", and Too Much Coffee Man did not appear in the strip again until January 21, 2008.[2]
Shannon Wheeler said he created Too Much Coffee Man to make more accessible themes he had begun in a college newspaper. He said in 2011:
In 1991, I drew an autobiographical cartoon for The Daily Texan with themes of alienation and loneliness. When I described it, people's eyes glazed over. As a cheap gag, I started Too Much Coffee Man. I still address the same themes, except now there's coffee. People like coffee.[3]
The Too Much Coffee Man Minicomic was first issued in 1990 in many different formats, even one issued as a one-inch square, as a self-promotion for Wheeler's book Children with Glue (Blackbird Comics, 1991). The minicomics were self-published, photocopied and handmade by Wheeler in initial runs of 300 black-and-white copies.
The Too Much Coffee Man Comic Book was issued between 1993 to 2001. It began in Austin, Texas, and continued to be published after Wheeler moved to Portland, Oregon.
In 1994, Converse shoe company licensed the rights to use Too Much Coffee Man for a 15-second spot, first airing during a Saturday Night Live episode.
With the earnings from the Converse shoe commercial, Wheeler purchased a computer, launched his website tmcm.com on December 7, 1995[4] and began posting his comics online. He continues to post new and newly colored Too Much Coffee Man cartoons on his website every week.
The Too Much Coffee Man Magazine was issued from 2002 until 2006 from Portland, OR.
TMCM has appeared as the main character in books bearing his name and also along side other story lines Wheeler has created.
From 1994 to 1996, Too Much Coffee Man ran in the Dark Horse Comics anthology series Dark Horse Presents #92-95, 100-111. In 1997, the publishing house collected all the TMCM stories and reissued them as a single comic book Too Much Coffee Man "Saves the Universe".[5]
Too Much Coffee Man Opera appeared on stage for the first time in 2006. Two years later, Too Much Coffee Man Opera:The Refill was produced.
Wheeler and composer Daniel Steven Crafts adapted the strip into what the press called as "the world's first comic-book-to-opera adaptation." Too Much Coffee Man Opera debuted at Brunish Hall at the Center for Performing Arts in Portland, Oregon, on September 22, 2006. A sample performance, which preceded the debut, was given at the Opera America convention in Seattle, Washington.[6] Wheeler later teamed with Portland-based comic Carolyn Main to write a second act. This new, extended version, dubbed Too Much Coffee Man: The Refill, debuted again at Brunish Hall in April 2008.
In 2000, jazz musician Bob Dorough recorded a CD entitled Too Much Coffee Man. The character appears on the cover, drawn by Shannon Wheeler, and there is a title track (originally intended to be music for an animated series based on the character) as well as a cover of the Richard Miles composition "The Coffee Song".[7]
Marvel Comics and the cable television network Comedy Central were developing a potential animated series or special with the production company Nelvana in 2000 and 2001. The character has also been used in advertising for such companies as Hewlett-Packard and Converse.
Too Much Coffee Man wears what appears to be a spandex version of old-fashioned red "long johns" (full-body underwear with a buttoned flap on the back for bodily functions) with a large mug attached atop his head; it remains unclear whether he is wearing it or whether it is physically part of him. He rarely sleeps and his nerves are shot from an excess of caffeine. He spends most time in his apartment or at the local coffee shop with his often pessimistic cohorts, debating politics and the toils of urban society. He has also been in outer space and in a U.S. prison.
Too Much Espresso Guy is his cynical friend. The espresso cup atop his head is strapped on in an obvious way.
Too Much German White Chocolate Woman With Almonds is a mutual friend. She is pale-skinned, worries a lot, and has large almonds on her face.
Underwater Guy is another mutual friend, who wears a wetsuit with a diving snorkel and mask.
Mystery Woman is Too Much Coffee Man's secret love.