CREATORS SPEAK
OUT We asked 16 of the top gay creators in the comic
industry their thoughts, and here’s what they had to say.
The
following comic professionals were kind enough to take the time to
answer several of our questions. Please read their books and visit
their web sites.
Joe Phillips is a comic artist and has worked on
just about every major mainstream comic series, including
Spider-man, Hulk, Silver Surfer, Captain America, Superboy, Wonder
Woman, Green Lantern, Body Doubles, and Aliens. Visit Joe on-line at
http://www.joephillips.com/
Howard Cruse is a writer and artist (some would say
legendary, myself included) who created such landmark works as
WENDEL, and STUCK RUBBER BABY as well as helping create the
groundbreaking GAY COMICS in 1980. Please visit Howard on-line at http://www.howardcruse.com/
Jose Villarrubia is a multi-talented digital artist
who contributed to DC/Vertigo’s VIELS and provided the art for Alan
Moore’s Promethia #7. He also works closely with Jae Lee as his
colorist on projects like HELLSHOCK and SENTRY. Jose hasn’t joined
the digital age quite yet and gotten himself a website, but you can
see one of his wonderful digitally manipulated photographs here http://www.popimage.com/gallery/mar00.jpg
Eric Shanower is the writer and artist on Dark
Horses OZ and currently blowing Frank Millers 300 out of the water
with his epic Trojan War re-telling AGE OF BRONZE published by Image
Comics. Visit him on-line at http://www.hungrytigerpress.com/
Robert Rodi has written several novels, including
WHAT THEY DID TO PRINCESS PARAGON, which is a must read for any
comics fan. He’s currently finishing off a new novel, and is writing
the new DC/Vertigo series CODENAME: KNOCKOUT due out this winter.
Greg Fox is the creator of KYLE'S BED &
BREAKFAST, a clever comic strip about a, what else, gay bed and
breakfast. He also writes AN ANGEL’S STORY and ROCK THE HOUSE. You
can visit Greg on-line at http://members.aol.com/KylesBnB/index.html
Devin Grayson has written BATMAN, CATWOMAN, THE
TITANS, and BLACK WIDOW as well as her creator owned RELATIVE
HEROES. You can visit her on-line at http://www.2kcomics.com/
Roberta Gregory is best known for NAUGHTY BITS,
starring the unforgettable Bitchy Bitch. She’s also infamous for her
creation itchy Butch, the worlds angriest dyke. You can get to know
Roberta on-line at http://www.robertagregory.com/
Brad Rader has been a story board artist on such
notable animated series’ like BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, GARGOYLES
and MEN IN BLACK. His comics work includes THE BATMAN ADVENTURES and
THE MARC for dark Horse. He was also recently nominated for an Emmy
for SPAWN in the category of Outstanding Animated Program.
Ariel L Schrag is the creator of the
autobiographical comics AWKWARD, DEFINITION, POTENTIAL, and
LIKEWISE. You can find information on Ariel and her comics at http://www.slavelabor.com/
Tommy Kovac is the creator of STITCH from Slave
Labor Graphics, and also produces a number of ‘Zines, including
LIBRARY BONNET distributed by Tower Records. Learn more about him
and STITCH at http://www.slavelabor.com/
Sharon Cho is the co-writer and co-creator of
NOBODY (recently released as a trade paperback by AiT/Planet Lar and
reviewed by us earlier this month) She in an agent to some of the
biggest and most talented artists working in the field today. If
you’d like more information on NOBODY, go here http://www.astronautsintrouble.com/
or www.writerboy.com/nobody
You can get information on representation at http://www.spitfiresvcs.com/
Chris Cooper is a writer and editor for Marvel
Comics. He’s edited such books as CAGE, BLADE THE VAMPIRE HUNTER and
PUNISHER. He’s written STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY and the
HULK/SUB-MARINER annuals. He’s currently writing QUEER NATION, a gay
on-line comic located at http://www.queernation.com/
Terrance Griep, Jr., has been a published writer
since 1993. His professional credits include numerous magazine
articles, short stories, radio plays, and precisely one poem...but
his most-recognized work is on DC Comics' Scooby-Doo to which he
currently contributes. Gay readers will want to check out BLACK
VESPER, a gay super-hero published by Kat Butt Komix in the Spring
of 2001. You can check out a daily Western written by Terrance at http://www.giftcomics.com/
Adam Dekraker is an artist. You’d have seen is work
on THE TITANS, SUPERBOY, LEGIONNAIRES, and WILD C.A.T.S. He’s
currently inking the RUGRATS IN PARIS movie adaptation for
Nickelodeon.
Bevis Musson is a writer and artist. His current
project is PopImage’s latest on-line comic GOODFELLOW located here
http://www.popimage.com/goodfellow/
Marc Andreyko is the creator of the unfinished
(Come on Marc, get the lead out!) cult, gay-tinged
Peter-Pan-meets-Lestat, gothic horror comic THE LOST, and co-writer
of last years crime noir hit TORSO with Brian Michael
Bendis.
Are
comic companies doing enough to portray gay characters in a positive
way? Do you think they have an obligation to do
so?
What
is it that first drew you to comics, as either an occupation, or a
source of enjoyment?
Do
you feel that YOU have a responsibility as a gay comic creator to
represent gay readers?
What
made you decide to 'come out' as a gay creator?
Do
you think the majority of gay comic readers are as vocal as they
should be about what they want from their comics?
How
important is it for you to include gay characters in your
work?
Discuss this
article at the PopImage Forum.
|