canned fish

What comics did you read growing up? I learned how to read from Batman comics. I was a definitely a DC kid. My mainstays were Justice League of America and Superboy & the Legion of Super-Heroes, and wandering interest in just about every other DC title circa 1976-1982. My comics interest started to wane a bit, and even more after DC's "Crisis." It really seemed silly to me that the series was supposed to re-write "history." What, I was supposed to pretend I didn't have boxes of old JLA, Teen Titans, Superboy, Adventure, All-Star, etc? Soon after, I finished high school, and I guess that's where the "growing up" question ends. After that, I pretty much just followed (or bought back issues of) my favorite artists.

Who are your artistic influences? My first influence was Dick Dillin, I ate his stuff up as a kid, and would try to draw hands like he would and every woman had a Mary Tyler Moore flip. Otherwise, I took a real shine to Jack Kirby, Joe Staton and Walt Simonson. I had a Neal Adams phase too... though it was really frustrating for me to try to draw realistically. And I'll admit I'm a little swayed by manga. Add Alex Toth, Dan Decarlo, and Henry Scarpelli to the list.

Why gay romance? Couldn't you reach a bigger audience doing other genres? I actually never intended to write and draw "gay romance" comics. I started verring off from hero comics with Lathargia and Meet Me in Saint Louie. Lathargia was supposed to be a dark film noir type series, but it just turned into camp. MMSL was squarely slice-of-life and I think a good effort. I decided to continue the main character Tighe's story in two more graphic novellas. The second would deal with Tighe's move to California, dealing with a boss from Hell and his new sexuality. The third would be about his bittersweet dating life and plunge into despairity. About that time, I started listening (actually listening) to advice from self publishers like Carla Speed McNeil (FINDER) and Randy Reynaldo (ADVENTURES OF ROB HANES). And I started noticing how many gay comics fans there were and how few gay comics there were. This lead to my decision to skip the 2nd Tighe story and launch into the 3rd which became Cavalcade of Boys. After my well-received test print, it was clear to me this was a good direction to go. Originally conceived as "slice-of-life", the stories mainly dealt with romance, dating or sex so I changed the billing to "gay romance". Yes, the audience for gay romance is small... but it is a clearly defined audience. With other genres, the possibility to reach them is there, but why would they pick up my book over the hundreds of others on the shelves?

How can you be so prolific? Actually, I have slowed down a great deal in the past year. I kept a really rigorous schedule for over 6 years, but I am definitely no longer prolific.

My old answer had been: " I am fast, incredibly disciplined, excellent with time management, and I am NOT a perfectionist.

I'll say I have no time criteria for a page... a page takes as long as it takes. I can spend up to 4 hours for a single panel if that's what it takes. But generally, I produce finished inks in 3-4 hours per page. I try to get interesting camera angles and such, but a soapy romance script doesn't require lots of far-out action.

I make sure I write or draw everyday. No exceptions. I make a schedule and I stick to it, or I rearrange accordingly. I do a lot of multi-tasking to get all life's monotonies out of the way, still make time to play with my dog, get to the gym, and maintain a reasonable social life. I watch about an hour of TV a week. Drinking slows me down... so I rarely drink.

Once I finish a page, I hardly ever go back. I must have really made a big mistake for me to go back. My theory is, every page I draw gets better and better. I know some artists who will redraw a page over and over. Not me. Sure, issue 1 page 1 of Cavalcade isn't that great, but I keep moving forward. Comics are stories, a blending of script and art, and most readers won't scrutinize every panel. I'm creating stories, not poetry, and not a fine painting. Of course, my script and my art have to be acceptable to me, but you can't complete your story if you get bogged down in perfection. The most common question I overhear about a lot of indy comics is "when is your next book coming out?" That's what readers want... the next book.

Also, I always have several projects in play... so if I am not in the mood to work on one, I immediate focus my attention on another."

Do straight people read your comix? Yes, but I don't really have a good handle on how many. I try not to assume anything about my readers, but it's pretty clear based on their feedback. Gay people either out themselves to me or note how accurate my stories and dialogue are. Straight people usually say they wish my characters were more upright like their gay friends are.

What comics are you reading now? I mostly like to read novels (prose) these days. Among TPBs I love are Scott Pilgrim, Hopeless-Savages, Blue Monday, Breakfast Before Noon, Blankets and Box Office Poison. I like some manga every now and then, but mostly Incubus. I like to scoop up old romance comics and teen humor comics off eBay, and am also enjoying the new Spirit series.

What are your dream assignments? Not possible, really... but I'd love a run on Josie & the Pussycats, Teen Titans (pre crisis, Titans east and west deal), and of course, I like the genre I'm working in now, so I'd love it to get so big that it sells lots of copies.

Why aren't you drawing for Oni or SLG? Take that up with Oni and SLG. Let's just say self-publishing isn't my first choice.

What was your first professional comics work? If you mean "paid" then Colour My Shoes, a bi-weekly strip I drew for a friend that ran in The New Hampshire. TNH paid me, surrisingly. If you mean "mainstream," my only foray was published in 2006 by Marvel Comics, with a Cannonball story in the I ♥ Marvel event.

How long have you been doing comix? Tough question. Choose your answer: I've been drawing comix since I was 5 or so. I started doing ashcans in 1989 and also had a strip in the college paper. My mini-comics grew in scope significantly around 1996, peaking in intensity in 2000. After doing some one-shots, I refocused my efforts in 2002, self publishing on a more national scale with Cavalcade of Boys.

I've noticed the same angular arch in the skyline shots of many of your comics... where do they take place? Depends on the story... but mostly, and unless otherwise obvious to me, they take place in the fictional "Arché-City." Strugglers takes place in Saint Louis. Cavalcade starts off in generic Socal city, but later, half the cast is squarely in Arché-City. You can see landmarks and references in Cavalcade, Tragic Something or Other, Baby Makes Three, The Cupcakes, and of course Arché-Lady. I love working in a fictional setting. The city morphs to my needs. But still, I actually have made a complex map of the city, to scale, including streets, subway, etc. I created the city years ago, and it never lets me down. When I force myself into "real" locations, I never like the result.

personal stuff!

Where do you live? Boston.

What color is your hair? I don't know! It's been called blond, red, smokey auburn and brown. But it's all natural.

Are you out? uh, yeah...

Are you single? Yep, good-bye heart-break; I'm ready to love again.

Do you live alone? Yes, but with dog.

Can I take you out for dinner or a drink when you are in my town for a con? Maybe, I tend to be very busy during cons. Coffee works better for me anyhow.

Do you do this full time? What's your "real job"? I do this about half time these days, and I also have a full time day job, which pays my bills. I manage a department of 8 people doing marketing work @ MIT.

What is your biggest pet peeve? Comics, TPBs, and OGNs with no page numbering!!