A discussion related to Adventures Into Digital Comics.

1)  Can you tell us about your background?

  I've been publishing comic books since I was a teenager.  Chrome Fetus Comics originally began as a mini-comic when I was in high school.  Since then, my work has appeared in innumerable magazines and newspapers. My first major graphic novel, Chloe, won a xeric grant in 2001.

2)  What do you find in comics that you wouldn’t find in another type of visual exercise?

  If I had the budget, locations and dependable actors, I'd probably be making movies.  The beauty of comics is that all the action can be transcribed onto paper.  The experience is pure; it has not been filtered through actors, nor is it shaped by financial restraints or filming conditions.  The pictures are precise; an exact replica of what is in the artist's mind.

3)  1993 was the last profitable year for the American industry.  The market has been shrinking ever since.  What do you think are the causes of the industry’s collapse in the 90’s?

  If by "American industry" you mean comic books my reply is this: The large comic book publishers stopped evolving since 1973.  Rather than responding to the public demand for something other than superhero/fantasy pulp, they "expanded" into films and toys that can only appeal to a dwindling niche market.  Curiously enough, from what I hear, sales of independent comics, though not necessarily rising, have not suffered so dramatically.

4)  For the past few years, we’ve seen the big companies trying to improve quality: better paper, big names from other industries, etc.  Do you think that it had an impact on sales?  What could be a key to solve the sales’ problem?

  My opinion is that the comic books designed to appeal youngsters are priced too high.  When I was a kid the economic decision regarding the purchase of a comic book was made by weighing the price of the book against the price of two candy bars.  If it exceeded that amount, I felt I was being ripped off.

5)  In the 90’s, publishers began to create alternate covers, and made a lot of -- sometimes unnecessary -- relaunches.  What do you think of those “gimmicks”?

  They didn't impress me all that much.

6)  To make more money and be able to reach different places such as bookstores, the publishers have created the trade paperback.  As an example, many people have read "Sandman" when it was available on paperback, but not before.  Do you feel that the comic book format had its days, and could be replaced by the paperback?

  Yes, that is a definite and viable possibility.  I personally feel that comics can break into larger markets in paperback form; especially if the stories are self contained and don't end with "to be continued."

7)  The early 90’s saw the first digital lettering and coloring in American comic-books.  Do you think that itd a new world of possibilities as far as storytelling is concerned?

  It depends on who uses it.  In mainstream comics, digital lettering and color looks ugly and makes for an unpleasant reading experience.  However, cartoonists like Chris Ware and Al Columbia have done extraordinary things with intelligent and sensitive application of those tools.

8)  Between 1993 and 2001, may readers left comic books in the US.  Some people in the industry blamed video games and movies, two media now able to offer visual miracles.  Do you agree on this point?

  It depends on which comic books you're talking about.  If we're discussing the more mainstream variety of comics and publishers, then yes, they are definitely no competition for those media.  Comics that offer more than a quick entertainment fix stand a better chance.

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