You know the thing that makes Red Ketchup such a perfect show – it feels like it’s got everything that was good about the ultra-violent, sexist animated shows I watched as a child in the late 1980s, early 1990s, sans the pervasive ‘only straight people exist’ mentality. As a queer Canadian writer and an animation fan, it’s a real pleasure to get to talk about this show and it’s oddly admirable protagonist.
Even in an episode when they’re openly talking about the undercurrent of sexual attraction between them, when it comes time for Peter to retrieve Red’s emergency dimebag from his ass, there’s nothing but trust and professionalism between them. And that, my friends, is a properly nuanced male friendship!
There’s something about this fictionalized encounter between Red Ketchup’s’ two creators at a convention in the 1980s that is equal parts sad and lovely. For those unfamiliar with the real-life history of Réal Godbout and Pierre Fournier – the two lifelong friends became absolute legends in the world of comics. Of all the work they did together, ‘Red Ketchup’ has always been a crowd favourite, from his very first appearance in Michel Risqué.
The animated version of ‘Red Ketchup’ was a long time in the making, (check out Daniel Kurland’s excellent interview with Martin Villeneuve for more details on that!) and during the production process, Pierre Fournier passed away. It is sad that Fournier did not get to see how great the show based on his work really is, but, within that same show, there’s always going to be a comic book convention in the 80s, attended by two French Canadian stoners who draw funny papers.
Mirroring that is the conclusion of Red’s adventures in the Bermuda Triangle. Having helped the now enormous Guardian kill the aliens as revenge for having killed Peter, he re-enters his body, regains consciousness, and sees that, not only is Peter Plywood totally fine, no time has passed at all. In probably the best moment of the entire show, Red puts his hand on Peter’s shoulder. It’s only for like, half a second, but he’s so clearly happy to see him and relieved that his friend and partner is alive and well.
And then, no longer burdened by worry, Red Ketchup hi-jacks a commercial airplane, and proceeds to wreck shit.