Columnist, I Write Comics, WTF Do I Know?
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Tell me about your column and your latest projects.
My column, is called I Write Comics, WTF Do I Know? which is appropriate, since I do, in fact write comics. It's a look at whats going on in the world these days... mostly towards the comics scene.
I'm working on the third and final Fantastic Four in Puerto Rico book. In this one, Reed and Sue head to the cities of Ponce and Rincon.
I also just finished a 11-page backup story for Wolverine. Very fun character to write. He's in Rio de Janeiro with Sunspot.
I've also been battling a tremor in my drawing hand for almost a year now. It's been keeping me away from True Story Swear To God, which is killing me. But I've been taking some homeopathic medicine that has actually been producing results. The tremor is still there, but not as strong.
Who or what are the biggest influences on your work and If you could pick one person to collaborate with living or dead, who would you pick?
Living would be Marcos Martin. I'm absolutely in love with his Spider-Man work. Also Colleen Coover, who has such a gorgeous line in her work. Dead-wise, it'd be Al Hirschfeld. My father was such a huge fan of his work and it had a big influence on my drawing style.
What album had the most influence on your adolescence?
My first album was Boston's debut album. I loved the guitar ship on the cover, but then the songs blew me away. But Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" was the first album that I could play and actually draw while listening to. Gorgeous sounds in that album.
Also, I think the way Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" was so personal, it showed me how you can really look into your own life and pull great stories out of it.
What were your favorite toys or games from your childhood?
I had a Major Matt Mason action figure when I was a kid that I totally loved playing with. He had the astronaut suit, including the helmet and visor you could flit up and down. But the the Mego Spider-Man figures came out and I was in geek heaven. There's a simplicity in that action figure that is missing in the newer models. I can't explain it, but, to me, the Mego Spidey is THE Spidey action figure.
I also loved Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots. They were awesome.
What is your pop culture guilty pleasure? (What movie, tv show, band, etc. do you love that you know is awful, but you love it anyway?)
I was really into The Partridge Family. I thought it was hilarious, plus I had a huge thing for Shirley Jones at the time. She was my MILF.
I also grew up during the disco age, so I was into the Bee Gees and wearing Angel Flight suits and hitting the discos in the San Francisco bay area. It was a great time.
If you could own one piece of artwork by any artist, who would you choose and why?
I think it'd be the cover art to Amazing Spider-Man #122. Just because it had such an impact on me and also because John Romita Sr. was, and still is, my comic art God. Nobody has done a more beautiful Gwen Stacy than Romita.
What are your favorite television shows that you feel ended too soon?
Y'know... I've never had that feeling. Maybe "Arrested Development." I think it's just sad how the networks dick around with time slots and never allow an interesting show to find its legs and really become something great.
Who is your favorite super hero?
Spider-Man. I've followed that hero since I was six-years old and it's one of life's miracles that I'm allowed to put words in that character's mouth. It's a feeling I never thought I'd get to experience, given the fact that I barely graduated high school. Really. It melts my brain to think that I've written that character a few times.
If you were to have dinner with 5 people living or dead, who are they and what would you serve?
Hmmmm... well, first of all, Mario Batali cooks. Gotta have great food at a party and I'm not there to work, y'know?
• Nina Hartley. I mean, how can you not want a porn star who's seen and done it all? My best friend in Napa was assigned to give her a tour of the valley while she was giving a lecture there. He told me that she was one of the coolest people on earth. So, you gotta have that person in the room who's done something shocking. It adds spice to the party.
• Shaquille O'Neil. Because a) he's a giant, which is always cool... and b) he's funny. He likes to laugh and he's this big goofy kid.
• Tina Fey. She's gorgeous and she's interesting. I'd love to hear some stories about backstage at SNL or the writing process of 30 Rock. Yeah, she's someone who truly peaks my curiosity. She'd have to wear the glasses.
• Sarah Silverman. Been a long-time fan of hers and I love the fact that she'll say the thing that no one else in the room will say. I do that also, so I can relate to why that's so fun to do. She also loves weed, so... there's that too. And she's also gorgeous.
• Craig Ferguson. I love how he interviews people. No notes. Just a great conversation, which is such underrated talent to have. And he's hilarious. I could just imagine a conversation between Craig and Nina... priceless.
Now, this isn't the most inspirational group on earth. There's no Jesus, or John Lennon or Ghandi in the mix... which is fine with me. This is my dinner and I like to enjoy myself at my parties and I like everyone there to have fun too.
What fictional character do you identify most with?
Peter Parker. I never think I'm the best person in the room and I've often used my humor to get me through tough times.
What 5 movies could you watch again and again?
• Seven Samurai. Someone recommended this to me and when it was finally on TCM, it was at midnight and ran till 4am. I went ahead and watched it and loved every fucking minute of it. It was as close to perfection as a movie can hope to be.
• Die Hard. The original. Really. Ask my wife, who groans every time I come across it while seeing what's on television. I will always watch it.
• Band of Brothers. Yeah, it's a mini-series, but I still love everything about it. I've seen this series about 30 times at this point.
• My Neighbor Tortoro. One of my favorite animated movies of all time. And it's got a cat taxi... A CAT TAXI.
• The Big Chill. Again, it all comes down to the characters and I loved everyone in that house. I wish they could've stayed a week longer.
What book or author do you regularly recommend?
"The Alchemist" by Paulo Cohello.
What are your favorite web sites?
I'm always on the Bendis Boards over at Jinxworld. Those nutcases have helped me through some very tough times over the years. It's also where I go whenever I have a new book out. I'm always interested in their feedback the most.
What are you most looking forward to geeking out over in the coming year?
Getting the wedding issue of True Story Swear To God out. I'm close to finishing it and I keep tinkering with it. It's been the only issue I've done this with... tinkering. I just want it to be done with and out there. Plus, I keep wanting to make the artwork better on certain pages. The tremor has made this really hard to be happy with, art-wise... so I keep trying to redo pages.
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