Introducing ‘Dustin,’ Steve Kelley’s comic strip

All of the many characters in Steve Kelley’s comic strip “Dustin” are a bit of the author himself.

“It’s like the slices of a pie,” he said. “They represent parts of me. Dustin, in his heart, he’s kind of lazy and kind of a dreamer. His mother has this very sunny personality.”

Mr. Kelley, who has joined the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as editorial cartoonist, has been writing the “sitcom” strip with artist Jeff Parker for more than 10 years. (It appears inside on Page D5.)

Readers will be introduced to the title character, an unemployed 23-year-old college grad and boomerang who has

moved back in with his parents, Helen and Ed Kudlick, and younger sister, Megan. Others in the “Dustin” universe include his friend, Fitch, and Simone, who runs an employment agency.

Mr. Kelley, who has performed as a stand-up comedian on stage and on television, said he approaches writing “Dustin” as a sitcom. Throughout the day, he jots down observations on his cellphone and has assembled a small staff of freelance contributors who pitch jokes.

After writing “Dustin” as a theatrical script with stage directions, he emails it to Mr. Parker, who is based in Tallahassee, Fla. Dustin and his world are then put to paper.

“Jeff is just a miracle worker; he can do anything artistically,” Mr. Kelley said.

Ideas, he said, are everywhere. “I just kind of go through life every day and look for something that’s ironic or frustrating that gives rise to humor. Things that annoy me tend to annoy other people, and I think comic strip readers like to have those things addressed because it gives them some sense of relief by proxy.”