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=== Creation ===
=== Creation ===
''The Oatmeal'' website was created by cartoonist Matthew Inman in 2009.<ref name="brandx">{{Cite web|last=Millan|first=Mark|date=2010-04-11|title=COVER STORY: The Oatmeal, he's a cereal killer {{!}} Brand X {{!}} Los Angeles Times|url=http://www.thisisbrandx.com/2010/04/cover-story-the-oatmeal-hes-a-cereal-killer.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411050101/http://www.thisisbrandx.com/2010/04/cover-story-the-oatmeal-hes-a-cereal-killer.html|archive-date=2010-04-11|access-date=2020-11-25|website=Brand X|publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> Regularly making the front page of [[Digg]] helped drive early traffic to the site.<ref name=":2" />
''The Oatmeal'' website was created by cartoonist Matthew Inman in 2009.<ref name="brandx">{{Cite web |last=Millan |first=Mark |date=2010-04-11 |title=COVER STORY: The Oatmeal, he's a cereal killer {{!}} Brand X {{!}} Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.thisisbrandx.com/2010/04/cover-story-the-oatmeal-hes-a-cereal-killer.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411050101/http://www.thisisbrandx.com/2010/04/cover-story-the-oatmeal-hes-a-cereal-killer.html |archive-date=2010-04-11 |access-date=2020-11-25 |website=[[Brand X (website)|Brand X]] |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> Regularly making the front page of [[Digg]] helped drive early traffic to the site.<ref name=":2" />


Inman said that when he started the comic, he felt that drawing was a chore, but in a 2019 interview he said he now loves it.<ref name=":2" /> In a 2010 interview, Inman said that when thinking of a subject to write about, he simply picks something he is interested in. He usually works at home, but as he finds it difficult to go long periods without social contact, he often goes to a coffee shop to work. Inman said that he found it is much easier to gain exposure for his work through the internet than it would have been 20 years ago. He added that he enjoys making people laugh, and although he can't actually see the reaction of others to his work, he still appreciates seeing the high number of [[page view]]s that his website receives.<ref name="carsondaly">"Episode for March 31, 2010". ''Last Call with Carson Daly''. Aired March 31, 2010.</ref>
Inman said that when he started the comic, he felt that drawing was a chore, but in a 2019 interview he said he now loves it.<ref name=":2" /> In a 2010 interview, Inman said that when thinking of a subject to write about, he simply picks something he is interested in. He usually works at home, but as he finds it difficult to go long periods without social contact, he often goes to a coffee shop to work. Inman said that he found it is much easier to gain exposure for his work through the internet than it would have been 20 years ago. He added that he enjoys making people laugh, and although he can't actually see the reaction of others to his work, he still appreciates seeing the high number of [[page view]]s that his website receives.<ref name="carsondaly">"Episode for March 31, 2010". ''Last Call with Carson Daly''. Aired March 31, 2010.</ref>


=== Content ===
=== Content ===
The format of ''The Oatmeal'' has been described as "storytelling-meets-infographics"<ref name=":2" /> and as "a quirky and often crudely-drawn comic".<ref name=":1" /> The comics cover an eclectic range of topics; a 2010 article describes comics on being chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor, evil scheming kittens, people being sodomized by Bigfoot, and babies that taste like nachos.<ref name="brandx" /> Other themes are zombies, horse care, English grammar,<ref>{{cite news|last=Carter|first=Matt|date=January 19, 2010|title=Guide to online entertainment|work=The Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/752159--guide-to-online-entertainment|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607053741/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/752159--guide-to-online-entertainment|archive-date=2011-06-07}}</ref> dolphin brutality, and sexual congress between koalas and goats.<ref name=":1" />
The format of ''The Oatmeal'' has been described as "storytelling-meets-infographics"<ref name=":2" /> and as "a quirky and often crudely-drawn comic".<ref name=":1" /> The comics cover an eclectic range of topics; a 2010 article describes comics on being chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor, evil scheming kittens, people being sodomized by Bigfoot, and babies that taste like nachos.<ref name="brandx" /> Other themes are zombies, horse care, English grammar,<ref>{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Matt |date=January 19, 2010 |title=Guide to online entertainment |work=Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/752159--guide-to-online-entertainment |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607053741/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/752159--guide-to-online-entertainment |archive-date=2011-06-07}}</ref> dolphin brutality, and sexual congress between koalas and goats.<ref name=":1" />


His first viral comic was "How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You",<ref name=":2" /> and other comics have titles such as "How to Use a Semicolon",<ref name=":2" /> "What it's Like to Own an Apple Product", "How the Male Angler Fish Gets Completely Screwed", "15-ish Things Worth Knowing About Coffee" and "How a Web Design Goes Straight to Hell."<ref name="homepage">{{cite web|last=Inman|first=Matthew|title=Homepage|url=http://theoatmeal.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626064746/http://theoatmeal.com/|archive-date=June 26, 2010|work=The Oatmeal}}</ref>
His first viral comic was "How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You",<ref name=":2" /> and other comics have titles such as "How to Use a Semicolon",<ref name=":2" /> "What it's Like to Own an Apple Product", "How the Male Angler Fish Gets Completely Screwed", "15-ish Things Worth Knowing About Coffee" and "How a Web Design Goes Straight to Hell."<ref name="homepage">{{cite web |last=Inman |first=Matthew |title=Homepage |url=http://theoatmeal.com/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626064746/http://theoatmeal.com/ |archive-date=June 26, 2010 |work=The Oatmeal}}</ref>


One comic, "Why Nikola Tesla Was the Greatest Geek Who Ever Lived", was heavily critiqued by a writer for [[Forbes]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Knapp|first=Alex|title=Nikola Tesla Wasn't God And Thomas Edison Wasn't The Devil|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2012/05/18/nikola-tesla-wasnt-god-and-thomas-edison-wasnt-the-devil/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> In response Inman made a second post going through the Forbes article, acknowledging some good points but picking apart others, including calling multiple sections "bullshit" and defending his work as "a comedian [who speaks] in hyperbole."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Inman|first=Matt|title=I wrote a response to the Forbes article about my Tesla comic|url=https://theoatmeal.com/blog/tesla_response|access-date=2020-11-26|website=The Oatmeal|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
One comic, "Why Nikola Tesla Was the Greatest Geek Who Ever Lived", was heavily critiqued by a writer for [[Forbes]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knapp |first=Alex |title=Nikola Tesla Wasn't God And Thomas Edison Wasn't The Devil |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2012/05/18/nikola-tesla-wasnt-god-and-thomas-edison-wasnt-the-devil/ |access-date=2020-11-26 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> In response Inman made a second post going through the Forbes article, acknowledging some good points but picking apart others, including calling multiple sections "bullshit" and defending his work as "a comedian [who speaks] in hyperbole."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Inman |first=Matt |title=I wrote a response to the Forbes article about my Tesla comic |url=https://theoatmeal.com/blog/tesla_response |access-date=2020-11-26 |website=The Oatmeal |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />


In reaction to [[Tumblr]]'s regular downtimes, Inman created the TumbleBeasts in 2010 as a parody of the Twitter [[Fail Whale]], and urged Tumblr to use them. Tumblr added the artwork to their 404 page for some time, renaming them Tumbeasts.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jeffries|first=Adrianne|date=2011-01-25|title=Tumblr Adds Suggested Tumbeast to 404 Page|url=https://observer.com/2011/01/tumblr-adds-suggested-tumbeast-to-404-page/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Observer|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="stateofweb">{{cite web|title=The State of the Web - Winter 2010 - The Oatmeal|url=http://theoatmeal.com/comics/state_web_winter#tumblr|website=The Oatmeal}}</ref>
In reaction to [[Tumblr]]'s regular downtimes, Inman created the TumbleBeasts in 2010 as a parody of the Twitter [[Fail Whale]], and urged Tumblr to use them. Tumblr added the artwork to their 404 page for some time, renaming them Tumbeasts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jeffries |first=Adrianne |date=2011-01-25 |title=Tumblr Adds Suggested Tumbeast to 404 Page |url=https://observer.com/2011/01/tumblr-adds-suggested-tumbeast-to-404-page/ |access-date=2020-11-26 |website=Observer |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="stateofweb">{{cite web |title=The State of the Web - Winter 2010 - The Oatmeal |url=http://theoatmeal.com/comics/state_web_winter#tumblr |website=The Oatmeal}}</ref>


=== Hiatus ===
=== Hiatus ===
In June 2019, just after the release of ''[[The Secret Life of Pets 2]]'' – a feature animated film in which Inman was credited as creative consultant – Inman told the Washington Post that he "won’t be regularly creating the Oatmeal much longer", planning a hiatus of around two years. Inman said that he loved ''The Oatmeal'' but "I’m just tired and it’s been a decade of writing comics for strangers from my basement, and I want to try something different for a while."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Cavna|first=Michael|title=Cartoonist Matthew Inman will step away from the Oatmeal after his latest — and possibly final — book|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/06/06/cartoonist-matthew-inman-will-step-away-oatmeal-after-his-latest-possibly-last-book/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607202539/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/06/06/cartoonist-matthew-inman-will-step-away-oatmeal-after-his-latest-possibly-last-book/|archive-date=2019-06-07|access-date=2019-12-19|website=Washington Post|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-06-07|title=Cartoonist Matthew Inman To Step Back From "The Oatmeal"|url=http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news/matthew-inman-the-oatmeal-hiatus/|access-date=2019-12-19|website=Multiversity Comics|language=en}}</ref> This news came around the same time as the announcement of Inman signing a deal to develop an animated feature for [[Illumination Entertainment]], though at that time the film did not appear to have been [[Green-light|greenlit]] and no details were announced.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-06-11|title='The Oatmeal' Creator Matthew Inman Is Developing An Animated Film For Illumination|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/the-oatmeal-creator-matthew-inman-is-developing-an-animated-film-for-illumination-175494.html|access-date=2019-12-19|website=Cartoon Brew|language=en-US}}</ref>
In June 2019, just after the release of ''[[The Secret Life of Pets 2]]'' – a feature animated film in which Inman was credited as creative consultant – Inman told the Washington Post that he "won’t be regularly creating the Oatmeal much longer", planning a hiatus of around two years. Inman said that he loved ''The Oatmeal'' but "I’m just tired and it’s been a decade of writing comics for strangers from my basement, and I want to try something different for a while."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Cavna |first=Michael |title=Cartoonist Matthew Inman will step away from the Oatmeal after his latest — and possibly final — book |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/06/06/cartoonist-matthew-inman-will-step-away-oatmeal-after-his-latest-possibly-last-book/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607202539/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/06/06/cartoonist-matthew-inman-will-step-away-oatmeal-after-his-latest-possibly-last-book/ |archive-date=2019-06-07 |access-date=2019-12-19 |website=The Washington Post |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-07 |title=Cartoonist Matthew Inman To Step Back From 'The Oatmeal' |url=http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news/matthew-inman-the-oatmeal-hiatus/ |access-date=2019-12-19 |website=Multiversity Comics |language=en}}</ref> This news came around the same time as the announcement of Inman signing a deal to develop an animated feature for [[Illumination Entertainment]], though at that time the film did not appear to have been [[Green-light|greenlit]] and no details were announced.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-11 |title='The Oatmeal' Creator Matthew Inman Is Developing An Animated Film For Illumination |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/the-oatmeal-creator-matthew-inman-is-developing-an-animated-film-for-illumination-175494.html |access-date=2019-12-19 |website=Cartoon Brew |language=en-US}}</ref>


== Success ==
== Success ==
''The Oatmeal'' received 300,000 visitors in its first month and within 10 months had received 4.5 million visitors.<ref name="brandx" /> Inman said in 2010 that ''The Oatmeal'' received more than 20 million page views per month;<ref name="state">{{cite web |access-date=June 22, 2010 |url= http://theoatmeal.com/misc/p/state |title=The State of the Oatmeal |website=The Oatmeal |date=February 26, 2010 |last=Inman |first=Matthew}}</ref> as of 2012 the site received 4 million visitors a month.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|date=24 January 2012|title=How Two Of The Internet's Top Comics Names Turn Creativity To Cash|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1679437/how-two-of-the-internets-top-comics-names-turn-creativity-to-cash|website=Fast Company}}</ref>
''The Oatmeal'' received 300,000 visitors in its first month and within 10 months had received 4.5 million visitors.<ref name="brandx" /> Inman said in 2010 that ''The Oatmeal'' received more than 20 million page views per month;<ref name="state">{{cite web |access-date=June 22, 2010 |url=http://theoatmeal.com/misc/p/state |title=The State of the Oatmeal |website=The Oatmeal |date=February 26, 2010 |last=Inman |first=Matthew}}</ref> as of 2012 the site received 4 million visitors a month.<ref name=":5">{{cite web |date=24 January 2012 |title=How Two Of The Internet's Top Comics Names Turn Creativity To Cash |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1679437/how-two-of-the-internets-top-comics-names-turn-creativity-to-cash |website=Fast Company}}</ref>


Inman stated in 2012 that ''The Oatmeal'' had a revenue of $500,000 a year. The Guardian considered the claim and found it reasonable given the site's visitor numbers.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|last=Bradbury|first=Danny|date=June 21, 2012|title=The Oatmeal beat Funnyjunk, but other cartoonists aren't so lucky|work=[[The Guardian]]|location=London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/jun/21/oatmeal-carreon-comics-property|access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref> [[Fast Company]] described Inman in 2012 as a "millionaire".<ref name=":5" />
Inman stated in 2012 that ''The Oatmeal'' had a revenue of $500,000 a year. The Guardian considered the claim and found it reasonable given the site's visitor numbers.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last=Bradbury |first=Danny |date=June 21, 2012 |title=The Oatmeal beat Funnyjunk, but other cartoonists aren't so lucky |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/jun/21/oatmeal-carreon-comics-property |access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref> [[Fast Company]] described Inman in 2012 as a "millionaire".<ref name=":5" />


Campaigns for related products have also been successful. A fundraiser to develop and produce a card game called [[Exploding Kittens]] raised $8.8 million,<ref name=":9" /> and a game company co-founded by Inman received a $30 million investment in 2019.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":10" />
Campaigns for related products have also been successful. A fundraiser to develop and produce a card game called [[Exploding Kittens]] raised $8.8 million,<ref name=":9" /> and a game company co-founded by Inman received a $30 million investment in 2019.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":10" />
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=== Awards ===
=== Awards ===
The website was awarded the [[Eisner Award]] in the Best Digital/Webcomic category in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-award-recipients-2010-present |title=Eisner Award Recipients 2010–Present |location=San Diego |publisher=Comic-Con International |website=Comic-Con.org |access-date=July 13, 2015}}</ref> In 2016, Inman received the [[Bob Clampett]] Humanitarian Award from [[San Diego Comic-Con]], an award given "to people in comics and the popular arts who have worked to help others."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award|url=https://www.comic-con.org/awards/bob-clampett-humanitarian-award|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Comic-Con International: San Diego|language=en}}</ref>
The website was awarded the [[Eisner Award]] in the Best Digital/Webcomic category in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-award-recipients-2010-present |title=Eisner Award Recipients 2010–Present |location=San Diego |website=Comic-Con.org |publisher=Comic-Con International |access-date=July 13, 2015}}</ref> In 2016, Inman received the [[Bob Clampett]] Humanitarian Award from [[San Diego Comic-Con]], an award given "to people in comics and the popular arts who have worked to help others."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award |url=https://www.comic-con.org/awards/bob-clampett-humanitarian-award |access-date=2020-11-26 |website=Comic-Con International: San Diego |language=en}}</ref>


== Physical products ==
== Physical products ==
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{{Incomplete list|date=November 2020}}
{{Incomplete list|date=November 2020}}


* ''5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth (And Other Useful Guides)'' (2011)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Inman|first=Matthew|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/699530584|title=5 very good reasons to punch a dolphin in the mouth : (and other useful guides)|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|year=2011|isbn=978-1-4494-0116-0|location=Kansas City, Mo.|oclc=699530584}}</ref>
* ''5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth (And Other Useful Guides)'' (2011)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Inman |first=Matthew |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/699530584 |title=5 very good reasons to punch a dolphin in the mouth : (and other useful guides) |publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-4494-0116-0 |location=Kansas City, Mo. |oclc=699530584}}</ref>
* ''How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You'' (2012)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Inman|first=Matthew|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/805987064|title=How to tell if your cat is plotting to kill you|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|year=2012|isbn=978-1-4494-1024-7|location=Kansas City, Mo.|oclc=805987064}}</ref>
* ''How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You'' (2012)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Inman |first=Matthew |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/805987064 |title=How to tell if your cat is plotting to kill you |publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-4494-1024-7 |location=Kansas City, Mo. |oclc=805987064}}</ref>
* ''My Dog: The Paradox: A Lovable Discourse about Man's Best Friend'' (2013)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Inman|first=Matthew|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/837684449|title=My dog : the paradox, a lovable discourse about man's best friend|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|year=2013|isbn=978-1-4494-3752-7|location=Kansas City, Missouri|oclc=837684449}}</ref>
* ''My Dog: The Paradox: A Lovable Discourse about Man's Best Friend'' (2013)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Inman |first=Matthew |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/837684449 |title=My dog : the paradox, a lovable discourse about man's best friend |publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-4494-3752-7 |location=Kansas City, Missouri |oclc=837684449}}</ref>
* ''Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants'' (2013)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Inman|first=Matthew|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/855200171|title=Why grizzly bears should wear underpants.|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|year=2013|isbn=978-1-4494-2770-2|location=Kansas City, MO|oclc=855200171}}</ref>
* ''Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants'' (2013)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Inman |first=Matthew |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/855200171 |title=Why grizzly bears should wear underpants. |publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-4494-2770-2 |location=Kansas City, MO |oclc=855200171}}</ref>
* ''The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons I Run Long Distances'' (2014)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Inman|first=Matthew|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/871192552|title=The terrible and wonderful reasons why I run long distances|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|year=2014|isbn=978-1-4494-5995-6|location=Kansas City|oclc=871192552}}</ref>
* ''The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons I Run Long Distances'' (2014)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Inman |first=Matthew |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/871192552 |title=The terrible and wonderful reasons why I run long distances |publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-4494-5995-6 |location=Kansas City |oclc=871192552}}</ref>
*''404 Not Found: A Coloring Book by The Oatmeal'' (2016)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Inman|first=Matthew|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/945357045|title=404 not found : a coloring book by The Oatmeal|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|year=2016|isbn=978-1-4494-8047-9|location=Kansas CIty, MO|oclc=945357045}}</ref>
*''404 Not Found: A Coloring Book by The Oatmeal'' (2016)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Inman |first=Matthew |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/945357045 |title=404 not found : a coloring book by The Oatmeal |publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-4494-8047-9 |location=Kansas CIty, MO |oclc=945357045}}</ref>
* ''If My Dogs Were a Pair of Middle-Aged Men'' (2017)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Inman|first=Matthew|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1004664206|title=If my dogs were a pair of middle-age men|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|year=2017|isbn=978-1-4494-3352-9|location=Kansas City, Missouri|oclc=1004664206}}</ref>
* ''If My Dogs Were a Pair of Middle-Aged Men'' (2017)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Inman |first=Matthew |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1004664206 |title=If my dogs were a pair of middle-age men |publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-4494-3352-9 |location=Kansas City, Missouri |oclc=1004664206}}</ref>


* ''How to be Perfectly Unhappy'' (2017)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Inman|first=Matthew|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/978287000|title=How to be perfectly unhappy|publisher=Andrew McNeel Publishing|year=2017|isbn=978-1-4494-3353-6|location=Kansas City, Missouri|oclc=978287000}}</ref>
* ''How to be Perfectly Unhappy'' (2017)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Inman |first=Matthew |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/978287000 |title=How to be perfectly unhappy |publisher=Andrew McNeel Publishing |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-4494-3353-6 |location=Kansas City, Missouri |oclc=978287000}}</ref>
* ''Why My Cat is More Impressive Than Your Baby'' (2019)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Inman|first=Matthew|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1078552495|title=Why my cat is more impressive than your baby|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|year=2019|isbn=978-1-5248-5062-3|location=Kansas City, Missouri|oclc=1078552495}}</ref>
* ''Why My Cat is More Impressive Than Your Baby'' (2019)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Inman |first=Matthew |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1078552495 |title=Why my cat is more impressive than your baby |publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing |year=2019 |isbn=978-1-5248-5062-3 |location=Kansas City, Missouri |oclc=1078552495}}</ref>
At least one of ''The Oatmeal'' books was a New York Times Bestseller. ''How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You'' spent at least 20 weeks on the NYT bestseller list "Paperback Advice & Misc.", often at #1.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Paperback Advice & Misc. Books - Best Sellers - Oct. 28, 2012 - The New York Times|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2012/10/28/paperback-advice/|access-date=2020-11-26|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Paperback Advice & Misc. Books - Best Sellers - March 31, 2013 - The New York Times|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2013/03/31/paperback-advice/|access-date=2020-11-26|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
At least one of ''The Oatmeal'' books was a New York Times Bestseller. ''How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You'' spent at least 20 weeks on the NYT bestseller list "Paperback Advice & Misc.", often at #1.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Paperback Advice & Misc. Books - Best Sellers - Oct. 28, 2012 - The New York Times |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2012/10/28/paperback-advice/ |access-date=2020-11-26 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Paperback Advice & Misc. Books - Best Sellers - March 31, 2013 - The New York Times |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2013/03/31/paperback-advice/ |access-date=2020-11-26 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>


=== Merchandise ===
=== Merchandise ===
Revenue from ''The Oatmeal'' includes the sale of wall posters, greeting cards, calendars, clothing, coffee cups, signed prints, stickers, magnets, and badges.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":1" />
Revenue from ''The Oatmeal'' includes the sale of wall posters, greeting cards, calendars, clothing, coffee cups, signed prints, stickers, magnets, and badges.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":1" />
=== Games ===
=== Games ===
In January 2015, Inman, in collaboration with Elan Lee and Shane Small, launched a [[Kickstarter]] crowdfunding campaign for their project [[Exploding Kittens]], a card-based, [[Russian roulette|Russian-roulette]]-style game with art by Inman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elanlee/exploding-kittens/description|title=Exploding Kittens|last=Lee|first=Elan|date=January 20, 2015|website=Kickstarter.com|access-date=January 22, 2015}}</ref> The campaign raised $1{{Spaces|2=}}million in its first seven hours, and ultimately raised $8.8{{Spaces|2=}}million, becoming the most-funded card game on Kickstarter.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elanlee/exploding-kittens/posts|title=Exploding Kittens Updates|last=Lee|first=Elan|website=Kickstarter.com|access-date=January 23, 2015}}</ref>
In January 2015, Inman, in collaboration with Elan Lee and Shane Small, launched a [[Kickstarter]] crowdfunding campaign for their project [[Exploding Kittens]], a card-based, [[Russian roulette|Russian-roulette]]-style game with art by Inman.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elanlee/exploding-kittens/description |title=Exploding Kittens |last=Lee |first=Elan |date=January 20, 2015 |website=Kickstarter.com |access-date=January 22, 2015}}</ref> The campaign raised $1{{Spaces|2=}}million in its first seven hours, and ultimately raised $8.8{{Spaces|2=}}million, becoming the most-funded card game on Kickstarter.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elanlee/exploding-kittens/posts |title=Exploding Kittens Updates |last=Lee |first=Elan |website=Kickstarter.com |access-date=January 23, 2015}}</ref>


The success of the game prompted Lee and Inman to found a company in 2015, also named Exploding Kittens.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.com/l-a-based-tabletop-game-company-exploding-kittens-wants-you-to-throw-foam-burritos-at-your-friends-and-family|title=L.A.-based tabletop game company Exploding Kittens wants you to throw (foam) burritos at your friends and family|date=2019-04-11|website=Daily News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref> Since then, the company Exploding Kittens has released five more games: [[Bears vs. Babies]] (2017), You've Got Crabs (2018), Throw Throw Burrito (2019),<ref name=":6" />, On a Scale of One to T-Rex (2019),<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> and the [[mobile game]] Kitty Letter (2021).<ref name="ap-10feb2021">{{cite web |last1=Vonau |first1=Manuel |title=Kitty Letter is a cat-themed 'words with enemies' game by the creator of The Oatmeal |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2021/02/11/kitty-letter-is-a-cat-themed-words-with-enemies-game-by-the-creator-of-the-oatmeal/ |website=Android Police |access-date=February 11, 2021 |date=February 10, 2021}}</ref> There is also merchandise of characters from the games.<ref name=":6" />
The success of the game prompted Lee and Inman to found a company in 2015, also named Exploding Kittens.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |url=http://www.dailynews.com/l-a-based-tabletop-game-company-exploding-kittens-wants-you-to-throw-foam-burritos-at-your-friends-and-family |title=L.A.-based tabletop game company Exploding Kittens wants you to throw (foam) burritos at your friends and family |date=2019-04-11 |website=Daily News |language=en-US |access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref> Since then, the company Exploding Kittens has released five more games: [[Bears vs. Babies]] (2017), You've Got Crabs (2018), Throw Throw Burrito (2019),<ref name=":6" />, On a Scale of One to T-Rex (2019),<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> and the [[mobile game]] Kitty Letter (2021).<ref name="ap-10feb2021">{{cite web |last1=Vonau |first1=Manuel |title=Kitty Letter is a cat-themed 'words with enemies' game by the creator of The Oatmeal |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2021/02/11/kitty-letter-is-a-cat-themed-words-with-enemies-game-by-the-creator-of-the-oatmeal/ |website=Android Police |access-date=February 11, 2021 |date=February 10, 2021}}</ref> There is also merchandise of characters from the games.<ref name=":6" />


In October 2019 it was announced that Peter Chernin, American businessman and the CEO of The Chernin Group (TCG), had made a $30m investment in Exploding Kittens in exchange for becoming a minority stakeholder in the company. Inman said that the funds will be used for the [[Gaming convention|live gaming convention]] Burning Cat, and for hiring additional artists in order to increase production to three to five new games a year.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/exploding-kittens-peter-chernin-tcg-capital-1203365861/|title=Exploding Kittens Raises $30 Million From Peter Chernin's TCG Capital|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2019-10-10|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Exploding Kittens Laps Up $30 Million Investment {{!}} Los Angeles Business Journal|url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2019/oct/11/exploding-kittens-game-gets-30-million-investment/|access-date=2019-12-19|website=labusinessjournal.com}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/exploding-kittens-kickstarter-card-game|title=Exploding Kittens is the most-backed project on Kickstarter to date — here's how a $20 card game became an internet phenomenon|last=Chen|first=Connie|website=Business Insider|access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref>
In October 2019 it was announced that Peter Chernin, American businessman and the CEO of The Chernin Group (TCG), had made a $30m investment in Exploding Kittens in exchange for becoming a minority stakeholder in the company. Inman said that the funds will be used for the [[Gaming convention|live gaming convention]] Burning Cat, and for hiring additional artists in order to increase production to three to five new games a year.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/exploding-kittens-peter-chernin-tcg-capital-1203365861/ |title=Exploding Kittens Raises $30 Million From Peter Chernin's TCG Capital |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2019-10-10 |website=Variety |language=en |access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Exploding Kittens Laps Up $30 Million Investment {{!}} Los Angeles Business Journal |url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2019/oct/11/exploding-kittens-game-gets-30-million-investment/ |access-date=2019-12-19 |website=labusinessjournal.com}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/exploding-kittens-kickstarter-card-game |title=Exploding Kittens is the most-backed project on Kickstarter to date — here's how a $20 card game became an internet phenomenon |last=Chen |first=Connie |website=Business Insider |access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref>


=== Events ===
=== Events ===
At the same time as announcing his fifth book, ''The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons I Run Long Distances'', Inman announced "Beat the Blerch", an organized running race in 10 kilometer, half, and full marathon formats which was held in Carnation, Washington, on September 20 and 21, 2014.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|title=Beat the Blerch 10k/half/full marathon|url=http://beattheblerch.com|access-date=September 21, 2014}}</ref> All 2,000 spots originally offered for the first race day were sold out in 20 minutes, prompting Inman to open a second day for more runners to enroll.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Mills|first=Heidi|date=June 10, 2014|title=How to Beat the Blerch|url=http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/bodywork/in-stride/How-To-Beat-The-Blerch.html|access-date=January 23, 2015|website=[[Outside (magazine)|Outside Online]]|publisher=Mariah Media Network}}</ref> The Beat the Blerch event took place every year from 2014 to 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Run Signup - Beat the Blerch|url=https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Carnation/BeatTheBlerch|access-date=2019-12-19|website=Run Signup|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2020, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a 'virtual race' was organised instead.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Beat The Blerch - 2020 Virtual Race|url=https://www.beattheblerch.com/blerch-2020|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Beat The Blerch|language=en-US}}</ref>
At the same time as announcing his fifth book, ''The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons I Run Long Distances'', Inman announced "Beat the Blerch", an organized running race in 10 kilometer, half, and full marathon formats which was held in Carnation, Washington, on September 20 and 21, 2014.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Beat the Blerch 10k/half/full marathon |url=http://beattheblerch.com |access-date=September 21, 2014}}</ref> All 2,000 spots originally offered for the first race day were sold out in 20 minutes, prompting Inman to open a second day for more runners to enroll.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Heidi |date=June 10, 2014 |title=How to Beat the Blerch |url=http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/bodywork/in-stride/How-To-Beat-The-Blerch.html |access-date=January 23, 2015 |website=[[Outside (magazine)|Outside Online]] |publisher=Mariah Media Network}}</ref> The Beat the Blerch event took place every year from 2014 to 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Run Signup - Beat the Blerch |url=https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Carnation/BeatTheBlerch |access-date=2019-12-19 |website=Run Signup |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2020, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a 'virtual race' was organised instead.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beat The Blerch - 2020 Virtual Race |url=https://www.beattheblerch.com/blerch-2020 |access-date=2020-11-26 |website=Beat The Blerch |language=en-US}}</ref>


In June 2019, Exploding Kittens Inc. announced the planning of a live gaming convention. The two-day event was to take place in May 2020 in [[Portland, Oregon|Portland, Oregon, U.S.]] It was named Burning Cat in reference to the [[Burning Man]] festival, and was to conclude with the burning of a large wooden statue of a cat in homage to Burning Man's burning of a human-shaped figure. Burning Cat was to feature appearances from guest speakers alongside a series of gaming and networking activities. The event was postponed until 2021, then indefinitely, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wweek.com/culture/2019/06/14/the-creators-of-nsfw-card-game-exploding-kittens-are-bringing-a-gaming-convention-to-portland-and-its-weird-as-hell/|title=The Creators of NSFW Card Game Exploding Kittens Are Bringing a Gaming Convention to Portland—And It's Weird As Hell|website=Willamette Week|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blooloop.com/news/exploding-kittens-burning-cat-convention/|title=Exploding Kittens to host live gaming convention Burning Cat|website=Blooloop|access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Burning Cat {{!}} A convention from the creators of Exploding Kittens and the Oatmeal|url=https://www.burningcat.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924102843/https://www.burningcat.com/|archive-date=2020-09-24|website=BurningCat.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Burning Cat|url=https://www.burningcat.com/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011075343/https://burningcat.com/|archive-date=2020-10-11|website=BurningCat.com}}</ref>
In June 2019, Exploding Kittens Inc. announced the planning of a live gaming convention. The two-day event was to take place in May 2020 in [[Portland, Oregon|Portland, Oregon, U.S.]] It was named Burning Cat in reference to the [[Burning Man]] festival, and was to conclude with the burning of a large wooden statue of a cat in homage to Burning Man's burning of a human-shaped figure. Burning Cat was to feature appearances from guest speakers alongside a series of gaming and networking activities. The event was postponed until 2021, then indefinitely, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wweek.com/culture/2019/06/14/the-creators-of-nsfw-card-game-exploding-kittens-are-bringing-a-gaming-convention-to-portland-and-its-weird-as-hell/ |title=The Creators of NSFW Card Game Exploding Kittens Are Bringing a Gaming Convention to Portland—And It's Weird As Hell |website=Willamette Week |language=en-US |access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://blooloop.com/news/exploding-kittens-burning-cat-convention/ |title=Exploding Kittens to host live gaming convention Burning Cat |website=Blooloop |access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Burning Cat {{!}} A convention from the creators of Exploding Kittens and the Oatmeal |url=https://www.burningcat.com/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924102843/https://www.burningcat.com/ |archive-date=2020-09-24 |website=BurningCat.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Burning Cat |url=https://www.burningcat.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011075343/https://burningcat.com/ |archive-date=2020-10-11 |website=BurningCat.com}}</ref>


== Tesla Museum fundraiser ==
== Tesla Museum fundraiser ==
{{Main|Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe}}
{{Main|Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe}}
In August 2012, Inman launched a fundraising campaign on the [[crowdfunding]] website [[Indiegogo]] to support a nonprofit organization offering to purchase [[Wardenclyffe Tower]] in [[Shoreham, New York|Shoreham]] on [[Long Island]], [[New York (state)|New York]]. The organization, [[Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe]], hoped to buy and restore the facility that was [[Nikola Tesla]]'s last laboratory, preserving the site and creating a museum to Tesla. There was a sense of urgency, as apparently there was an offer from another party to buy the site for commercial use.<ref name=":8">{{cite news|last=Voakes|first=Greg|date=August 15, 2012|title=The Oatmeal's Latest Fundraiser to Save the Tesla Tower|work=[[Forbes]]|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregvoakes/2012/08/15/the-oatmeals-latest-fundraiser-to-save-the-tesla-tower/|access-date=August 16, 2012}}</ref> Inman, a fan of Tesla, promoted the fundraiser with a blog post on ''The Oatmeal'' calling for people and companies to donate.<ref>{{cite web|last=Inman|first=Matthew|title=Help me raise money to buy Nikola Tesla's old laboratory|url=http://theoatmeal.com/blog/tesla_museum|access-date=August 21, 2012|website=The Oatmeal}}</ref> The [[New York (state)|state of New York]] agreed to match donations up to $850,000.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Solon|first=Olivia|date=August 16, 2012|title=Indiegogo project seeks crowdfunding for Tesla museum|work=[[Wired UK]]|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-08/16/tesla-museum|url-status=dead|access-date=August 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123093631/https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-08/16/tesla-museum|archive-date=2012-11-23}}</ref>
In August 2012, Inman launched a fundraising campaign on the [[crowdfunding]] website [[Indiegogo]] to support a nonprofit organization offering to purchase [[Wardenclyffe Tower]] in [[Shoreham, New York|Shoreham]] on [[Long Island]], [[New York (state)|New York]]. The organization, [[Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe]], hoped to buy and restore the facility that was [[Nikola Tesla]]'s last laboratory, preserving the site and creating a museum to Tesla. There was a sense of urgency, as apparently there was an offer from another party to buy the site for commercial use.<ref name=":8">{{cite news |last=Voakes |first=Greg |date=August 15, 2012 |title=The Oatmeal's Latest Fundraiser to Save the Tesla Tower |work=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregvoakes/2012/08/15/the-oatmeals-latest-fundraiser-to-save-the-tesla-tower/ |access-date=August 16, 2012}}</ref> Inman, a fan of Tesla, promoted the fundraiser with a blog post on ''The Oatmeal'' calling for people and companies to donate.<ref>{{cite web |last=Inman |first=Matthew |title=Help me raise money to buy Nikola Tesla's old laboratory |url=http://theoatmeal.com/blog/tesla_museum |access-date=August 21, 2012 |website=The Oatmeal}}</ref> The [[New York (state)|state of New York]] agreed to match donations up to $850,000.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Solon |first=Olivia |date=August 16, 2012 |title=Indiegogo project seeks crowdfunding for Tesla museum |work=[[Wired UK]] |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-08/16/tesla-museum |url-status=dead |access-date=August 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123093631/https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-08/16/tesla-museum |archive-date=2012-11-23}}</ref>


The fundraiser raised $1,370,461 from over 33,000 backers,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Let's Build a Goddamn Tesla Museum|url=http://www.indiegogo.com/teslamuseum|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Indiegogo|language=en}}</ref> including Joseph Sikorski, director of the Tesla film ''Fragments From Olympus'',<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.theverge.com/2012/8/21/3259130/oatmeal-tesla-museum-campaign-reaches-funding-goal |work=The Verge |title='Oatmeal' Tesla museum campaign reaches funding goal after $33,333 pledge |first=Sam |last=Byford |date=August 21, 2012 |access-date=May 9, 2013}}</ref><ref name="BBC_Target_Exceeded">{{cite news |title=Tesla museum campaign exceeds fund-raising target |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19343855 |access-date=August 23, 2012 |date=August 22, 2012 |work=BBC News}}</ref> and [[Elon Musk]].<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/21/tech/innovation/tesla-museum-campaign/index.html?hpt=hp_bn5 Backers raise cash for Tesla museum honoring 'cult hero'], CNN.com; August 21, 2012.</ref> With the grant from New York state the campaign totaled over $2.1 million.<ref>{{cite web |website=Indiegogo |url= http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/let-s-build-a-goddamn-tesla-museum--5 |first=Matthew |last=Inman|title=Let's Build a Goddamn Tesla Museum |page=5 |access-date=May 9, 2013}}</ref> After the fundraiser, Jane Alcron of the Tesla Science Centre said the additional funds would be used to start converting the ruins into a science center and perhaps building a replica of the original tower.<ref>{{cite web|last=Inman|first=Matthew|title=Let's Build a Goddamn Tesla Museum|url=http://www.indiegogo.com/teslamuseum|access-date=November 21, 2012|website=Indiegogo|page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=August 24, 2012|title=Web Cartoonist Raises $1 Million For Tesla Museum|work=[[National Public Radio]]|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/08/24/159925435/zap-cartoonist-raises-1-million-for-tesla-museum|access-date=August 24, 2012}}</ref>
The fundraiser raised $1,370,461 from over 33,000 backers,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Let's Build a Goddamn Tesla Museum |url=http://www.indiegogo.com/teslamuseum |access-date=2020-11-26 |website=Indiegogo |language=en}}</ref> including Joseph Sikorski, director of the Tesla film ''Fragments From Olympus'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/8/21/3259130/oatmeal-tesla-museum-campaign-reaches-funding-goal |work=The Verge |title='Oatmeal' Tesla museum campaign reaches funding goal after $33,333 pledge |first=Sam |last=Byford |date=August 21, 2012 |access-date=May 9, 2013}}</ref><ref name="BBC_Target_Exceeded">{{cite news |title=Tesla museum campaign exceeds fund-raising target |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19343855 |access-date=August 23, 2012 |date=August 22, 2012 |work=BBC News}}</ref> and [[Elon Musk]].<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/21/tech/innovation/tesla-museum-campaign/index.html?hpt=hp_bn5 Backers raise cash for Tesla museum honoring 'cult hero'], CNN; August 21, 2012.</ref> With the grant from New York state the campaign totaled over $2.1 million.<ref>{{cite web |website=Indiegogo |url=http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/let-s-build-a-goddamn-tesla-museum--5 |first=Matthew |last=Inman |title=Let's Build a Goddamn Tesla Museum |page=5 |access-date=May 9, 2013}}</ref> After the fundraiser, Jane Alcron of the Tesla Science Centre said the additional funds would be used to start converting the ruins into a science center and perhaps building a replica of the original tower.<ref>{{cite web |last=Inman |first=Matthew |title=Let's Build a Goddamn Tesla Museum |url=http://www.indiegogo.com/teslamuseum |access-date=November 21, 2012 |website=Indiegogo |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=August 24, 2012 |title=Web Cartoonist Raises $1 Million For Tesla Museum |publisher=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/08/24/159925435/zap-cartoonist-raises-1-million-for-tesla-museum |access-date=August 24, 2012}}</ref>


In May 2014, Inman produced a comic on ''The Oatmeal'' titled "What it's like to own a [[Tesla Model S]] - A cartoonist's review of his magical space car",<ref>{{cite web |url= http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla_model_s |first=Matthew |last=Inman |title= What it's like to own a Tesla Model S - A cartoonist's review of his magical space car - The Oatmeal |website= The Oatmeal}}</ref> and a follow-up comic titled "Part Two: Man Vs. Motor"<ref>{{cite web |url= http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla_model_s2 |first=Matthew |last=Inman |title=Man Vs. Motor |website=The Oatmeal}}</ref> in which he talked about Nikola Tesla, and [[Elon Musk]], the CEO of [[Tesla Motors]]. After publishing the comic, he tweeted Musk, inviting Elon to donate to the Tesla Museum.<ref>{{cite web|last=Inman|first=Matthew|title=The Oatmeal|url=https://twitter.com/Oatmeal/status/466267316406063104|access-date=November 14, 2014|website=Twitter}}</ref> At 2 a.m. the following day, Elon responded by tweet: "I would be happy to help". Musk then donated $1 million for the development and construction of the museum.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McCormick|first=Rich|date=2014-07-11|title=Elon Musk donates $1 million to Nikola Tesla museum after webcomic calls him out|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/7/11/5889829/elon-musk-donates-1-million-to-tesla-museum|access-date=2020-11-26|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://theoatmeal.com/blog/musk_tesla_museum |first=Matthew |last=Inman |title=So, I had a call with Elon Musk earlier this week ... |website= The Oatmeal }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Annual Report 2019|url=https://teslasciencecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/TSCW_Annual_Report_2019-Interactive2.pdf|page=9}}</ref>
In May 2014, Inman produced a comic on ''The Oatmeal'' titled "What it's like to own a [[Tesla Model S]] - A cartoonist's review of his magical space car",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla_model_s |first=Matthew |last=Inman |title=What it's like to own a Tesla Model S - A cartoonist's review of his magical space car - The Oatmeal |website=The Oatmeal}}</ref> and a follow-up comic titled "Part Two: Man Vs. Motor"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla_model_s2 |first=Matthew |last=Inman |title=Man Vs. Motor |website=The Oatmeal}}</ref> in which he talked about Nikola Tesla, and [[Elon Musk]], the CEO of [[Tesla Motors]]. After publishing the comic, he tweeted Musk, inviting Elon to donate to the Tesla Museum.<ref>{{cite web |last=Inman |first=Matthew |title=The Oatmeal |url=https://twitter.com/Oatmeal/status/466267316406063104 |access-date=November 14, 2014 |via=Twitter}}{{Primary source inline}}</ref> At 2 a.m. the following day, Elon responded by tweet: "I would be happy to help". Musk then donated $1 million for the development and construction of the museum.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCormick |first=Rich |date=2014-07-11 |title=Elon Musk donates $1 million to Nikola Tesla museum after webcomic calls him out |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/7/11/5889829/elon-musk-donates-1-million-to-tesla-museum |access-date=2020-11-26 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://theoatmeal.com/blog/musk_tesla_museum |first=Matthew |last=Inman |title=So, I had a call with Elon Musk earlier this week ... |website=The Oatmeal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual Report 2019 |url=https://teslasciencecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/TSCW_Annual_Report_2019-Interactive2.pdf |page=9}}</ref>


Inman is featured in ''[[Tower to the People]]'', a 2015 documentary on Wardenclyffe by Joseph Sikorski.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tower to the People: Tesla's Dream at Wardenclyffe Continues (2015)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3685200/fullcredits|access-date=2020-11-27|website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref>
Inman is featured in ''[[Tower to the People]]'', a 2015 documentary on Wardenclyffe by Joseph Sikorski.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tower to the People: Tesla's Dream at Wardenclyffe Continues (2015) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3685200/fullcredits |access-date=2020-11-27 |publisher=[[IMDb]]}}</ref>


==Legal disputes==
==Legal disputes==
Line 109: Line 109:
=== FunnyJunk legal dispute ===
=== FunnyJunk legal dispute ===
{{main|The Oatmeal and FunnyJunk legal dispute}}
{{main|The Oatmeal and FunnyJunk legal dispute}}
Inman alleged that FunnyJunk, a [[Data aggregator|content aggregator]] website, repeatedly [[Copyright infringement|infringed]] ''The Oatmeal''<nowiki/>'s [[original content]].<ref name="arstechnica2011">{{cite web|last=Hutchinson |first=Lee |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2011/06/funnyjunk-vs-the-oatmeal/ |title=The Oatmeal vs. FunnyJunk: webcomic copyright fight gets personal |work=Ars Technica |date=June 2, 2011 |access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref> FunnyJunk alleged that those accusations were [[defamation]] and demanded $20,000 in damages.<ref name="arstechnica2012">{{cite web|last=Hutchinson |first=Lee |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/06/lawyer-demands-20000-so-webcomic-raises-100000-from-the-internet/ |title=Lawyer demands $20,000, so webcomic raises $100,000 from the Internet |work=Ars Technica |date=June 12, 2012 |access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref> Infuriated by the demand, Inman set up a [[Indiegogo]] fundraiser to raise $20,000, but to give the money to the [[National Wildlife Federation]] and the [[American Cancer Society]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theoatmeal.com/blog/funnyjunk_letter |title=FunnyJunk is threatening to file a federal lawsuit against me unless I pay $20,000 in damages |first=Matthew |last=Inman |website=The Oatmeal |access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> The campaign raised $220,024 at completion.<ref>{{cite web |first=Matthew |last=Inman |url=http://www.indiegogo.com/bearlovegood |title=BearLove Good. Cancer Bad. |website=Indiegogo |date=June 11, 2012 |access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref> He stated he intended to take a photo of himself with the cash, then send the photograph along with a satirical illustration of FunnyJunk's<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/Oatmeal/status/212695259367473153 |first=Matthew |last=Inman |title=Also, just to be clear I ... |work=Twitter.com |access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://komonews.com/archive/website-war-earns-big-bucks-for-charity |title=Website war earns big bucks for charity |work=KOMO News |access-date=July 21, 2016}}</ref> mother "seducing a [[Kodiak bear]]" to FunnyJunk.
Inman alleged that FunnyJunk, a [[Data aggregator|content aggregator]] website, repeatedly [[Copyright infringement|infringed]] ''The Oatmeal''<nowiki/>'s [[original content]].<ref name="arstechnica2011">{{cite web |last=Hutchinson |first=Lee |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2011/06/funnyjunk-vs-the-oatmeal/ |title=The Oatmeal vs. FunnyJunk: webcomic copyright fight gets personal |work=Ars Technica |date=June 2, 2011 |access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref> FunnyJunk alleged that those accusations were [[defamation]] and demanded $20,000 in damages.<ref name="arstechnica2012">{{cite web |last=Hutchinson |first=Lee |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/06/lawyer-demands-20000-so-webcomic-raises-100000-from-the-internet/ |title=Lawyer demands $20,000, so webcomic raises $100,000 from the Internet |work=Ars Technica |date=June 12, 2012 |access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref> Infuriated by the demand, Inman set up a [[Indiegogo]] fundraiser to raise $20,000, but to give the money to the [[National Wildlife Federation]] and the [[American Cancer Society]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theoatmeal.com/blog/funnyjunk_letter |title=FunnyJunk is threatening to file a federal lawsuit against me unless I pay $20,000 in damages |first=Matthew |last=Inman |website=The Oatmeal |access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> The campaign raised $220,024 at completion.<ref>{{cite web |first=Matthew |last=Inman |url=http://www.indiegogo.com/bearlovegood |title=BearLove Good. Cancer Bad. |website=Indiegogo |date=June 11, 2012 |access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref> He stated he intended to take a photo of himself with the cash, then send the photograph along with a satirical illustration of FunnyJunk's<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/Oatmeal/status/212695259367473153 |first=Matthew |last=Inman |title=Also, just to be clear I ... |via=Twitter |access-date=July 9, 2012}}{{Primary source inline}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://komonews.com/archive/website-war-earns-big-bucks-for-charity |title=Website war earns big bucks for charity |work=KOMO News |access-date=July 21, 2016}}</ref> mother "seducing a [[Kodiak bear]]" to FunnyJunk.


FunnyJunk's lawyer, [[Charles Carreon]], attempted to shut the campaign down, alleging it violated Indiegogo's terms and conditions.<ref name="msnbc">{{cite web |title=Cartoonist turns lawsuit threat into $100K charity fundraiser |url=http://digitallife.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/12/12187665-cartoonist-turns-lawsuit-threat-into-100k-charity-fundraiser |first=Rosa |last=Golijan |date=June 2012 |access-date=June 12, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613010748/http://digitallife.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/12/12187665-cartoonist-turns-lawsuit-threat-into-100k-charity-fundraiser |archive-date=June 13, 2012 }}</ref> Carreon also filed a ''[[Pro se legal representation|pro se]]'' lawsuit ''Carreon v. Inman et al'' in [[United States District Court for the Northern District of California]] against Inman, Indiegogo, the American Cancer Society, and the National Wildlife Federation in response.<ref>[https://techcrunch.com/2012/06/17/can-i-sue-you-people-troll-lawyer-sues-the-charities-the-oatmeal-supports/ Can I Sue You People? Troll Lawyer Sues The Charities The Oatmeal Supports] Retrieved:June 18, 2012</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Dave |last= Thier |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2012/06/18/lawyer-charles-carreon-suing-the-oatmeal-american-cancer-society-and-national-wildlife-federation/ |title=Lawyer Charles Carreon Suing The Oatmeal, American Cancer Society and National Wildlife Federation |work= [[Forbes]] |date=April 18, 2012 |access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Carreon |first=Charles |title=Charles Carreon v. Indiegogo, NWF, ACS |url= http://charlescarreon.com/Carreon.v.Inman.Gov.Code.25559.Redacted.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120813012140/http://charlescarreon.com/Carreon.v.Inman.Gov.Code.25559.Redacted.pdf |archive-date=August 13, 2012}}</ref> On July 3, 2012, Carreon filed a notice of [[voluntary dismissal]] in his lawsuit against all parties [[Prejudice (legal procedure)|without prejudice]].<ref name="effopsahl">[[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] (July 3, 2012). [https://www.eff.org/press/releases/charles-carreon-drops-bogus-lawsuit-against-oatmeal-creator Charles Carreon Drops Bogus Lawsuit Against The Oatmeal Creator.]</ref><ref name="ars-dismiss">{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Timothy B. |url= https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/07/carreon-claims-victory-drops-his-lawsuit-against-the-oatmeal-et-al/ |title=Carreon claims victory, drops his lawsuit against The Oatmeal et al. |work=Ars Technica |date=October 4, 2009 |access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Anthony |last=Ha |url= https://techcrunch.com/2012/07/03/charles-carreon-drops-lawsuit/ |title=FunnyJunk Attorney Charles Carreon Drops Lawsuit Against Oatmeal Creator |work=TechCrunch |date=January 4, 2011 |access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Kelly |last=Clay |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyclay/2012/07/04/funny-junk-drops-frivolous-lawsuit-against-the-oatmeal/ |title=Funny Junk Drops Frivolous Lawsuit Against The Oatmeal |work=Forbes |date=April 18, 2012 |access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref>
FunnyJunk's lawyer, [[Charles Carreon]], attempted to shut the campaign down, alleging it violated Indiegogo's terms and conditions.<ref name="msnbc">{{cite web |title=Cartoonist turns lawsuit threat into $100K charity fundraiser |url=http://digitallife.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/12/12187665-cartoonist-turns-lawsuit-threat-into-100k-charity-fundraiser |first=Rosa |last=Golijan |date=June 2012 |access-date=June 12, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613010748/http://digitallife.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/12/12187665-cartoonist-turns-lawsuit-threat-into-100k-charity-fundraiser |archive-date=June 13, 2012}}</ref> Carreon also filed a ''[[Pro se legal representation|pro se]]'' lawsuit ''Carreon v. Inman et al'' in [[United States District Court for the Northern District of California]] against Inman, Indiegogo, the American Cancer Society, and the National Wildlife Federation in response.<ref>[https://techcrunch.com/2012/06/17/can-i-sue-you-people-troll-lawyer-sues-the-charities-the-oatmeal-supports/ Can I Sue You People? Troll Lawyer Sues The Charities The Oatmeal Supports] Retrieved:June 18, 2012</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Dave |last=Thier |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2012/06/18/lawyer-charles-carreon-suing-the-oatmeal-american-cancer-society-and-national-wildlife-federation/ |title=Lawyer Charles Carreon Suing The Oatmeal, American Cancer Society and National Wildlife Federation |work=[[Forbes]] |date=April 18, 2012 |access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Carreon |first=Charles |title=Charles Carreon v. Indiegogo, NWF, ACS |url=http://charlescarreon.com/Carreon.v.Inman.Gov.Code.25559.Redacted.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813012140/http://charlescarreon.com/Carreon.v.Inman.Gov.Code.25559.Redacted.pdf |archive-date=August 13, 2012}}</ref> On July 3, 2012, Carreon filed a notice of [[voluntary dismissal]] in his lawsuit against all parties [[Prejudice (legal procedure)|without prejudice]].<ref name="effopsahl">[[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] (July 3, 2012). [https://www.eff.org/press/releases/charles-carreon-drops-bogus-lawsuit-against-oatmeal-creator Charles Carreon Drops Bogus Lawsuit Against The Oatmeal Creator.]</ref><ref name="ars-dismiss">{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Timothy B. |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/07/carreon-claims-victory-drops-his-lawsuit-against-the-oatmeal-et-al/ |title=Carreon claims victory, drops his lawsuit against The Oatmeal et al. |work=Ars Technica |date=October 4, 2009 |access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Anthony |last=Ha |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/07/03/charles-carreon-drops-lawsuit/ |title=FunnyJunk Attorney Charles Carreon Drops Lawsuit Against Oatmeal Creator |work=TechCrunch |date=January 4, 2011 |access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Kelly |last=Clay |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyclay/2012/07/04/funny-junk-drops-frivolous-lawsuit-against-the-oatmeal/ |title=Funny Junk Drops Frivolous Lawsuit Against The Oatmeal |work=Forbes |date=April 18, 2012 |access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref>


===Oatmeal Studios trademark suit===
===Oatmeal Studios trademark suit===
On November 21, 2012, [[greeting card]] maker Oatmeal Studios sued Inman and Recycled Greetings for [[trademark infringement]]. Oatmeal Studios holds the trademark for their name and after The Oatmeal worked with another company to make greeting cards based on the comic, Oatmeal Studios considered that this was too similar and likely to cause confusion.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mullin |first=Joe |url= https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/11/the-oatmeal-sued-over-trademark-by-oatmeal-studios/ |title=The Oatmeal sued over trademark by 'Oatmeal Studios' |work=Ars Technica |date=May 17, 2012 |access-date=November 21, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://techcrunch.com/2012/11/21/oatmeal-studios-responds-to-the-oatmeal-lawsuit-we-are-simply-trying-to-project-our-name/ |title=Oatmeal Studios Responds to The Oatmeal Lawsuit: 'We Are Simply Trying to Protect Our Name' |work=TechCrunch |date=November 21, 2012 |access-date=November 26, 2012}}</ref> On August 28, 2013 a Stipulation of Dismissal with prejudice was filed by Excelsior Printing Company, the litigants in the lawsuit, meaning that the two parties had settled the dispute.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/massachusetts/madce/3:2012cv30200/147904/33 |title=Excelsior Printing Company v. Inman et al Filing 33 STIPULATION of Dismissal with prejudice by Excelsior Printing Company. (Hennessey, Christopher) |date=August 28, 2013 |access-date=March 22, 2020}}</ref>
On November 21, 2012, [[greeting card]] maker Oatmeal Studios sued Inman and Recycled Greetings for [[trademark infringement]]. Oatmeal Studios holds the trademark for their name and after The Oatmeal worked with another company to make greeting cards based on the comic, Oatmeal Studios considered that this was too similar and likely to cause confusion.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mullin |first=Joe |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/11/the-oatmeal-sued-over-trademark-by-oatmeal-studios/ |title=The Oatmeal sued over trademark by 'Oatmeal Studios' |work=Ars Technica |date=May 17, 2012 |access-date=November 21, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/11/21/oatmeal-studios-responds-to-the-oatmeal-lawsuit-we-are-simply-trying-to-project-our-name/ |title=Oatmeal Studios Responds to The Oatmeal Lawsuit: 'We Are Simply Trying to Protect Our Name' |work=TechCrunch |date=November 21, 2012 |access-date=November 26, 2012}}</ref> On August 28, 2013 a Stipulation of Dismissal with prejudice was filed by Excelsior Printing Company, the litigants in the lawsuit, meaning that the two parties had settled the dispute.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/massachusetts/madce/3:2012cv30200/147904/33 |title=Excelsior Printing Company v. Inman et al Filing 33 STIPULATION of Dismissal with prejudice by Excelsior Printing Company. (Hennessey, Christopher) |date=August 28, 2013 |access-date=March 22, 2020}}</ref>


== Author ==
== Author ==
Line 131: Line 131:
{{Commonscat|The Oatmeal}}
{{Commonscat|The Oatmeal}}
*{{Official website|http://theoatmeal.com}}
*{{Official website|http://theoatmeal.com}}
*{{cite web |url= http://www.seattleweekly.com/2010-09-22/news/eat-your-oatmeal/ |title=Eat Your Oatmeal: How a Fremont programmer created one of the web's top cartoons |website=[[Seattle Weekly]] |date=September 22, 2010 |first=Abe |last=Aboraya }}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.seattleweekly.com/2010-09-22/news/eat-your-oatmeal/ |title=Eat Your Oatmeal: How a Fremont programmer created one of the web's top cartoons |website=[[Seattle Weekly]] |date=September 22, 2010 |first=Abe |last=Aboraya}}
*{{cite web |url= http://www.slideshare.net/jessedee/viral-marketing-with-the-oatmeal-matthew-inman-sxsw |title=Viral Marketing with the Oatmeal |series=SXSW |date=March 13, 2011 |website=[[Slideshare]] |first=Jesse |last=Desjardins }}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.slideshare.net/jessedee/viral-marketing-with-the-oatmeal-matthew-inman-sxsw |title=Viral Marketing with the Oatmeal |series=SXSW |date=March 13, 2011 |website=[[Slideshare]] |first=Jesse |last=Desjardins}}
*{{cite web |url= https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elanlee/exploding-kittens?ref=nav_search |title=Exploding Kittens |website=[[Kickstarter]] |first=Elan |last=Lee |quote=This is a card game for people who are into kittens and explosions and laser beams and sometimes goats |date=July 2015 }}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elanlee/exploding-kittens?ref=nav_search |title=Exploding Kittens |website=[[Kickstarter]] |first=Elan |last=Lee |quote=This is a card game for people who are into kittens and explosions and laser beams and sometimes goats |date=July 2015}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Oatmeal, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oatmeal, The}}

Revision as of 18:13, 15 May 2022

The Oatmeal
The Oatmeal logo
Type of site
Comics, blog
Available inEnglish
Created byMatthew Inman
URLTheOatmeal.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationNo
LaunchedJuly 6, 2009; 15 years ago (2009-07-06)
Current statusActive

The Oatmeal is a webcomic and humor website created in 2009 by cartoonist Matthew Inman. Inman updates his site with original comics, quizzes, and occasional articles. Inman has also produced a series of Oatmeal books, featuring content from the webcomic as well as previously unpublished material, as well as related board games and other merchandise.

Inman stated in 2010 that The Oatmeal received more than four million unique visitors per month. He also said that as of 2012, The Oatmeal's annual revenue was around US$500,000, of which three-quarters came from merchandising and the rest from advertising. The website won the Eisner Award for Best Digital/Webcomic in 2014.

In 2019, Inman announced plans step back from The Oatmeal for a while to concentrate on other work.

Website

portrait of Matthew Inman, the creator of The Oatmeal comic
Matthew Inman, creator of The Oatmeal
An example of Inman's artwork, the Tumbeasts were used by Tumblr.

Creation

The Oatmeal website was created by cartoonist Matthew Inman in 2009.[1] Regularly making the front page of Digg helped drive early traffic to the site.[2]

Inman said that when he started the comic, he felt that drawing was a chore, but in a 2019 interview he said he now loves it.[2] In a 2010 interview, Inman said that when thinking of a subject to write about, he simply picks something he is interested in. He usually works at home, but as he finds it difficult to go long periods without social contact, he often goes to a coffee shop to work. Inman said that he found it is much easier to gain exposure for his work through the internet than it would have been 20 years ago. He added that he enjoys making people laugh, and although he can't actually see the reaction of others to his work, he still appreciates seeing the high number of page views that his website receives.[3]

Content

The format of The Oatmeal has been described as "storytelling-meets-infographics"[2] and as "a quirky and often crudely-drawn comic".[4] The comics cover an eclectic range of topics; a 2010 article describes comics on being chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor, evil scheming kittens, people being sodomized by Bigfoot, and babies that taste like nachos.[1] Other themes are zombies, horse care, English grammar,[5] dolphin brutality, and sexual congress between koalas and goats.[4]

His first viral comic was "How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You",[2] and other comics have titles such as "How to Use a Semicolon",[2] "What it's Like to Own an Apple Product", "How the Male Angler Fish Gets Completely Screwed", "15-ish Things Worth Knowing About Coffee" and "How a Web Design Goes Straight to Hell."[6]

One comic, "Why Nikola Tesla Was the Greatest Geek Who Ever Lived", was heavily critiqued by a writer for Forbes.[7] In response Inman made a second post going through the Forbes article, acknowledging some good points but picking apart others, including calling multiple sections "bullshit" and defending his work as "a comedian [who speaks] in hyperbole."[8][4]

In reaction to Tumblr's regular downtimes, Inman created the TumbleBeasts in 2010 as a parody of the Twitter Fail Whale, and urged Tumblr to use them. Tumblr added the artwork to their 404 page for some time, renaming them Tumbeasts.[9][10]

Hiatus

In June 2019, just after the release of The Secret Life of Pets 2 – a feature animated film in which Inman was credited as creative consultant – Inman told the Washington Post that he "won’t be regularly creating the Oatmeal much longer", planning a hiatus of around two years. Inman said that he loved The Oatmeal but "I’m just tired and it’s been a decade of writing comics for strangers from my basement, and I want to try something different for a while."[2][11] This news came around the same time as the announcement of Inman signing a deal to develop an animated feature for Illumination Entertainment, though at that time the film did not appear to have been greenlit and no details were announced.[12]

Success

The Oatmeal received 300,000 visitors in its first month and within 10 months had received 4.5 million visitors.[1] Inman said in 2010 that The Oatmeal received more than 20 million page views per month;[13] as of 2012 the site received 4 million visitors a month.[14]

Inman stated in 2012 that The Oatmeal had a revenue of $500,000 a year. The Guardian considered the claim and found it reasonable given the site's visitor numbers.[4] Fast Company described Inman in 2012 as a "millionaire".[14]

Campaigns for related products have also been successful. A fundraiser to develop and produce a card game called Exploding Kittens raised $8.8 million,[15] and a game company co-founded by Inman received a $30 million investment in 2019.[16][17][18]

Inman appeared on an episode of Last Call with Carson Daly in 2010 and mentioned his web site.[3][1]

Awards

The website was awarded the Eisner Award in the Best Digital/Webcomic category in 2014.[19] In 2016, Inman received the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award from San Diego Comic-Con, an award given "to people in comics and the popular arts who have worked to help others."[20]

Physical products

Books

As of 2019, Inman had released ten books, which collect material from the website and feature new material.[2]

  • 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth (And Other Useful Guides) (2011)[21]
  • How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You (2012)[22]
  • My Dog: The Paradox: A Lovable Discourse about Man's Best Friend (2013)[23]
  • Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants (2013)[24]
  • The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons I Run Long Distances (2014)[25]
  • 404 Not Found: A Coloring Book by The Oatmeal (2016)[26]
  • If My Dogs Were a Pair of Middle-Aged Men (2017)[27]
  • How to be Perfectly Unhappy (2017)[28]
  • Why My Cat is More Impressive Than Your Baby (2019)[29]

At least one of The Oatmeal books was a New York Times Bestseller. How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You spent at least 20 weeks on the NYT bestseller list "Paperback Advice & Misc.", often at #1.[30][31]

Merchandise

Revenue from The Oatmeal includes the sale of wall posters, greeting cards, calendars, clothing, coffee cups, signed prints, stickers, magnets, and badges.[14][4]

Games

In January 2015, Inman, in collaboration with Elan Lee and Shane Small, launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for their project Exploding Kittens, a card-based, Russian-roulette-style game with art by Inman.[32] The campaign raised $1 million in its first seven hours, and ultimately raised $8.8 million, becoming the most-funded card game on Kickstarter.[15]

The success of the game prompted Lee and Inman to found a company in 2015, also named Exploding Kittens.[33] Since then, the company Exploding Kittens has released five more games: Bears vs. Babies (2017), You've Got Crabs (2018), Throw Throw Burrito (2019),[33], On a Scale of One to T-Rex (2019),[33][16] and the mobile game Kitty Letter (2021).[34] There is also merchandise of characters from the games.[33]

In October 2019 it was announced that Peter Chernin, American businessman and the CEO of The Chernin Group (TCG), had made a $30m investment in Exploding Kittens in exchange for becoming a minority stakeholder in the company. Inman said that the funds will be used for the live gaming convention Burning Cat, and for hiring additional artists in order to increase production to three to five new games a year.[16][17][18]

Events

At the same time as announcing his fifth book, The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons I Run Long Distances, Inman announced "Beat the Blerch", an organized running race in 10 kilometer, half, and full marathon formats which was held in Carnation, Washington, on September 20 and 21, 2014.[35] All 2,000 spots originally offered for the first race day were sold out in 20 minutes, prompting Inman to open a second day for more runners to enroll.[36] The Beat the Blerch event took place every year from 2014 to 2019.[37] In 2020, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a 'virtual race' was organised instead.[38]

In June 2019, Exploding Kittens Inc. announced the planning of a live gaming convention. The two-day event was to take place in May 2020 in Portland, Oregon, U.S. It was named Burning Cat in reference to the Burning Man festival, and was to conclude with the burning of a large wooden statue of a cat in homage to Burning Man's burning of a human-shaped figure. Burning Cat was to feature appearances from guest speakers alongside a series of gaming and networking activities. The event was postponed until 2021, then indefinitely, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[39][40][41][42]

Tesla Museum fundraiser

Main article: Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe

In August 2012, Inman launched a fundraising campaign on the crowdfunding website Indiegogo to support a nonprofit organization offering to purchase Wardenclyffe Tower in Shoreham on Long Island, New York. The organization, Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, hoped to buy and restore the facility that was Nikola Tesla's last laboratory, preserving the site and creating a museum to Tesla. There was a sense of urgency, as apparently there was an offer from another party to buy the site for commercial use.[43] Inman, a fan of Tesla, promoted the fundraiser with a blog post on The Oatmeal calling for people and companies to donate.[44] The state of New York agreed to match donations up to $850,000.[43][45]

The fundraiser raised $1,370,461 from over 33,000 backers,[46] including Joseph Sikorski, director of the Tesla film Fragments From Olympus,[47][48] and Elon Musk.[49] With the grant from New York state the campaign totaled over $2.1 million.[50] After the fundraiser, Jane Alcron of the Tesla Science Centre said the additional funds would be used to start converting the ruins into a science center and perhaps building a replica of the original tower.[51][52]

In May 2014, Inman produced a comic on The Oatmeal titled "What it's like to own a Tesla Model S - A cartoonist's review of his magical space car",[53] and a follow-up comic titled "Part Two: Man Vs. Motor"[54] in which he talked about Nikola Tesla, and Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Motors. After publishing the comic, he tweeted Musk, inviting Elon to donate to the Tesla Museum.[55] At 2 a.m. the following day, Elon responded by tweet: "I would be happy to help". Musk then donated $1 million for the development and construction of the museum.[56][57][58]

Inman is featured in Tower to the People, a 2015 documentary on Wardenclyffe by Joseph Sikorski.[59]

Main article: The Oatmeal and FunnyJunk legal dispute

Inman alleged that FunnyJunk, a content aggregator website, repeatedly infringed The Oatmeal's original content.[60] FunnyJunk alleged that those accusations were defamation and demanded $20,000 in damages.[61] Infuriated by the demand, Inman set up a Indiegogo fundraiser to raise $20,000, but to give the money to the National Wildlife Federation and the American Cancer Society.[62][4] The campaign raised $220,024 at completion.[63] He stated he intended to take a photo of himself with the cash, then send the photograph along with a satirical illustration of FunnyJunk's[64][65] mother "seducing a Kodiak bear" to FunnyJunk.

FunnyJunk's lawyer, Charles Carreon, attempted to shut the campaign down, alleging it violated Indiegogo's terms and conditions.[66] Carreon also filed a pro se lawsuit Carreon v. Inman et al in United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Inman, Indiegogo, the American Cancer Society, and the National Wildlife Federation in response.[67][68][69] On July 3, 2012, Carreon filed a notice of voluntary dismissal in his lawsuit against all parties without prejudice.[70][71][72][73]

Oatmeal Studios trademark suit

On November 21, 2012, greeting card maker Oatmeal Studios sued Inman and Recycled Greetings for trademark infringement. Oatmeal Studios holds the trademark for their name and after The Oatmeal worked with another company to make greeting cards based on the comic, Oatmeal Studios considered that this was too similar and likely to cause confusion.[74][75] On August 28, 2013 a Stipulation of Dismissal with prejudice was filed by Excelsior Printing Company, the litigants in the lawsuit, meaning that the two parties had settled the dispute.[76]

Author

The Oatmeal was created by Matthew Inman (born 1982 or 1983).[1][2] He is native to Chino, California but his family moved to the small, rural town of Hayden, Idaho, when he was in grade school. Hayden was an ultra-conservative environment area; he rebelled against those views.[1]

Inman created websites for others from age 13, and he moved to Seattle at age 17 to work in technology. After some jobs for other companies, he created a dating website called "Mingle2", which became popular. He sold Mingle2 but stayed on with the new company, and wrote comics and quizzes to attract readers. Inman says this work was the inspiration for The Oatmeal.[1]

Inman currently lives in the Seattle area.[2] He is a long-distance runner, including ultramarathons.[36]

Inman opposed the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). He said that while the act would have afforded him more rights, he disliked like the way that SOPA would have put the onus on sites to prove their innocence. He joined a global day of action against the legislation.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Millan, Mark (2010-04-11). "COVER STORY: The Oatmeal, he's a cereal killer | Brand X | Los Angeles Times". Brand X. Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2010-04-11. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cavna, Michael. "Cartoonist Matthew Inman will step away from the Oatmeal after his latest — and possibly final — book". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  3. ^ a b "Episode for March 31, 2010". Last Call with Carson Daly. Aired March 31, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Bradbury, Danny (June 21, 2012). "The Oatmeal beat Funnyjunk, but other cartoonists aren't so lucky". The Guardian. London. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  5. ^ Carter, Matt (January 19, 2010). "Guide to online entertainment". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ Inman, Matthew. "Homepage". The Oatmeal. Archived from the original on June 26, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ Knapp, Alex. "Nikola Tesla Wasn't God And Thomas Edison Wasn't The Devil". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  8. ^ Inman, Matt. "I wrote a response to the Forbes article about my Tesla comic". The Oatmeal. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  9. ^ Jeffries, Adrianne (2011-01-25). "Tumblr Adds Suggested Tumbeast to 404 Page". Observer. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  10. ^ "The State of the Web - Winter 2010 - The Oatmeal". The Oatmeal.
  11. ^ "Cartoonist Matthew Inman To Step Back From 'The Oatmeal'". Multiversity Comics. 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  12. ^ "'The Oatmeal' Creator Matthew Inman Is Developing An Animated Film For Illumination". Cartoon Brew. 2019-06-11. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  13. ^ Inman, Matthew (February 26, 2010). "The State of the Oatmeal". The Oatmeal. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  14. ^ a b c "How Two Of The Internet's Top Comics Names Turn Creativity To Cash". Fast Company. 24 January 2012.
  15. ^ a b Lee, Elan. "Exploding Kittens Updates". Kickstarter.com. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
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  22. ^ Inman, Matthew (2012). How to tell if your cat is plotting to kill you. Kansas City, Mo.: Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4494-1024-7. OCLC 805987064.
  23. ^ Inman, Matthew (2013). My dog : the paradox, a lovable discourse about man's best friend. Kansas City, Missouri: Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4494-3752-7. OCLC 837684449.
  24. ^ Inman, Matthew (2013). Why grizzly bears should wear underpants. Kansas City, MO: Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4494-2770-2. OCLC 855200171.
  25. ^ Inman, Matthew (2014). The terrible and wonderful reasons why I run long distances. Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4494-5995-6. OCLC 871192552.
  26. ^ Inman, Matthew (2016). 404 not found : a coloring book by The Oatmeal. Kansas CIty, MO: Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4494-8047-9. OCLC 945357045. {{cite book}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
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