Lunchnotes by Chris & Laura Samnee

What’s It All About?

I came home from HeroesCon with an armload of new reading material. But the first one I grabbed was the third volume of “Lunchnotes” — a collection of quick cartoons artist Chris Samnee puts in his wife Laura’s lunch bag. You can see them on Laura’s blog here: http://lunchnotes.blogspot.com/

Maybe it’s because Chris is one of my favorite artists today. Maybe it’s because Chris and Laura are two of my favorite people in comics. Maybe because I grew up in a house full of collections of daily and Sunday comic strips ranging from Pogo to Doonesbury to Bloom County. Either way, this one called to me … and I read it with relish.

What’s It Got Going For It?
In a word — honesty. It takes a lot of skill to convey a story or make an emotional connection with a reader in three panels, let alone one. And, Chris has it. The truly great daily strips have a unique voice, not one that tries to be all things to all people. They don’t force comedy or speak down to their audience, but rather challenge readers to exert some effort and learn about what they have to say. They require audience participation. And, once that connection is made … the relationship between writer and reader flourishes. That’s the difference between a comic that’s “nice,” and one that you have to read or that you clip out and stick on your bulletin board because it speaks to you.

Think about the first time you saw a “Far Side” panel. Gary Larson didn’t talk down to you.  He had an odd voice. He took a chance that you wouldn’t get the joke.  He was challenging you to see the world from his skewed perspective. And, that’s why his strip stood out and always will.

Chris made his comics for Laura, and not for me and you. But, the it’s the honesty and sincerity of his voice that you and I appreciate. It’s where we can make a connection and find ourselves. He’s not forcing the comedy. He’s tapping into real emotions and sharing small, genuine moments. Not “yuk yuk” comedy or sappy emotions. Just little moments. And, it really, really works.

Chris and Laura may disagree, but I think that “Lunchnotes” has a voice that would speak to readers around the world and, if syndicated, would be a hit. And, it’s not because Chris tries to “bring the funny.” You can feel that he created these on the fly. He didn’t have time to overthink it. He just went with his gut. That’s exactly why they work so well.

Here’s a particular favorite:

What Did I Learn?
In storytelling, there’s always a temptation to force it, to go for the big moment. But, it’s often the little, genuine moments that sell. Have something personal to say, and trust that, if it’s done with craft, the audience will understand and appreciate the sincerity. They’ll “get it.”

I don’t know if my end game is “breaking into comics,” but regardless, becoming a better storyteller and studying how others do it sounds like fun. So, I have gone through my trades … some brand new and some old … and creators I like … some breaking in, some dominating, some no longer with us … to put together the list below. As I read, I’ll jot down my thoughts on what I learned, good or bad, from the books on this list. And, if you want to join me and read along, I would love it.

Up Tomorrow: “Lunchnotes” by Chris Samnee

The List:

• Lunchnotes – by Chris Samnee
• Cavemen in Space by Joey Weiser
• Green Monk by Brandon Dayton
• Queen & Country – Vol. 1 by Greg Rucka (Re-Read)
• Afrodisiac by Jim Rugg & Brandon Maruca
• The Myth of 8-OPUS: The Doomed Battalion by Tom Scioli
• Cow & Buffalo: Superheroes by Matt Maihack
• Area 10 by Christos Gage and Chris Samnee (Re-Read)
• Twilight by Howard Chaykin & Jose Luis Garcia Lopez
• Never Learn Anything from History by Kate Beaton
• Mysterius the Unfathomable by Jeff Parker and Tom Fowler
• Criminal: The Dead and the Dying by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
• Fell – Feral City by Warren Ellis and Ben Templesmith (Re-Read)
• Mouse Guard Winter 1152 by David Petersen (Re-Read)
• BPRD: King of Fear by Mike Mignola and Guy Davis
• Captain Britain by Alan Davis and Jamie Delgado (Re-Read)
• The Silver Surfer by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (Re-Read)
• Fear Agent 5 – I Against I by Rick Remender and Tony Moore
• 100 Bullets: First Shot Last Call by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso
• Casanova by Matt Fraction and Gabriel Ba (Re-Read)
• Arrowsmith by Kurt Busiek and Carlos Pacheco (Re-Read)
• M.A.R.S. Patrol by Wally Wood
• Pride of Baghdad by Bryan K. Vaughn and Niko Henrichon (Re-Read)

This one has been a long time coming. Mitch Gerads was one of the earliest … and nicest … fans of this blog. Since then, I have followed his work on Comic TWART and waiting with baited breath to hear about the release of the second issue of Johnny Recon, a comic MItch created with his buddy Scott Dylan. You can learn more on their site, www.popgunpulp.com

So, it was inevitable. Mitch is a bad ass. And, he  needed to be interviewed. So, now bask in the majesty that it Mitchworth Bellvedere Geralds. (Um … yeah … that’s totally not his name.)

The Man, The Mitch, The Legend …

Marvel Smartass (MSA): What’s the first comic you ever bought? What hooked ‘ya?

Mitch: Oh man, I never quite understood how the other guys answer this question.  They always know a specific issue and what drug store they bought it at. Me? I couldn’t tell you what the first book I ever bought was, but I can tell you the first title I looked at and hooked me for life.  I used to sneak into my older brother’s room when he was away and look at his issues of Nexus. My brothers were 14 years older than me and Nexus seemed so grown up yet classic.  I guarantee I didn’t understand any of it at the time, but I was completely hooked and Nexus is still hands down one of my favorite books today.

MSA: Favorite comics character you didn’t create?

Mitch: Always and forever, Batman.  When done right, Batman cannot be beat.

MSA: What’s the first comics character you remember making up?

Mitch: My friend, Brock Anderson, and I, spent a couple days making mini comics in my basement in elementary school.  It was called “Night and Vegence.” It was only called that because neither of us knew how to spell “Vengeance” at the time.
 
MSA: Are you a Marvel Guy? A DC Guy? Or a “Shut up and read whatever’s good,” guy?

Mitch: Probably the latter for the most part, but the long answer is that, in my opinion, DC has the best characters, but Marvel has the best creators. I LOVE nearly all of DC’s heroes, but I buy 90% Marvel books because I really don’t dig much of the work being done on the DC side.  I guess that means at this juncture in my life I buy for the creators far more than the characters.
 
MSA: When you told your parents you were going to draw/write comics when you grew up, they said …?

Mitch: They were pretty awesome about it.  They’ve always supported my artistic endeavors even when they were bordering on crazy talk.

MSA: You are a founding member of Comic TWART. How important is it to have a good network of other artists/creators?

Mitch: I can’t stress how important it is to any young artist’s career to learn proper social skills.  I’m generally a nice, competent and outgoing guy and it has paid off probably more than the actual talent. Making friends is a win/win situation and making the RIGHT friends/proper networking is invaluable. It’s always easier to open doors to new business if you have someone helping to turn the knob. (Let’s save the “That’s what she said’s” till the end of the interview.)

MSA:  Biggest influences on your style?

Mitch: I wonder if Stuart Immonen and Chris Sprouse have to pay me every time I mention them in a question. I try to learn from just about everyone’s work that I follow.  I don’t know if it comes through in my work at all, but the biggest influence on me as an illustrator is without a doubt, Norman Rockwell. The way that man could tell a story with a single image was uncanny and unparalleled.  I stare at my Rockwell books daily.

MSA:  If you want to be a great artist, you need to …

Mitch: This question has so many obvious answers and most people know them, BUT the answer I like to stress when I’m asked this question is that you have to be able to take, learn from, and use criticism. I mean that in a very real way.  Art is so subjective and that’s great, but “illustrating” is a whole new ballgame.  There’s a lot of honesty in this field, especially the comics side of it.  Be honest with yourself if you are ready.  My number one rule of advice, and I apply this to myself every time I sit down at my table with a new script: “Learn to draw what you can’t before you CHOOSE to draw what you can.”

MSA: What has Comic TWART done for you?

Mitch: First and foremost it has introduced me to 15 of my new best friends.  Those guys are seriously the greatest bunch of guys you will find anywhere.  It’s such a supportive crew and to be listed with those guys at this point in my career is beyond flattering and they definitely make me look better by association.  In a more direct way, they got Johnny Recon on the map. Self publishing is a tiring and very overwhelming task and the biggest hurdle is getting new fans that don’t live within 15 miles of your home.  It blows my mind how far Johnny Recon has come purely because of Comic TWART.  Ed Brubaker gave us a quote for the back cover to issue #2 because he discovered the character through Comic TWART. That’s pretty damn cool.  We’ve also got a lot of guest work by my fellow TWARTists in issue #2!

About Johnny Recon  …

MSA:  You got 15 words to pitch “Johnny Recon.” Make them count.

Mitch: “Johnny Recon is a science fiction pulp pie with an awesome Indiana Jones adventure filling.” 

MSA: How did you meet Scott?

Mitch: Ha Ha! I’ve know that no-good-nik since Mrs. Rasch’s first grade elementary class, some 22 years ago.
 
MSA: If Johnny met Flash Gordon, he would … 

Mitch: Steal his girl.
 
MSA: If Johnny met Buck Rogers, he would …

Mitch: Steal his wallet.
 
MSA: If Johnny met Barbarella, he would …

Mitch: Steal her virg…wait, is this a family show?

MSA: What cons will you be attending this year?

Mitch: We’re waiting to hear back from the New York Comic Con (Fingers crossed!) but if we can’t get a table there it looks like we’ll be hitting Fallcon (MN) and then a long break till Emerald City Comic Con (WA) in 2011.  Hopefully we’ll be getting some more shows into that mix as well, but no definite plans yet. Like always, stay tuned to our website for all that noise.http://www.popgunpulp.com
 
MSA: I want to buy Johnny Recon. How do I buy it?

Mitch: This is a fantastic question that you would think has an easy answer.  Self publishing is fun, but it’s daunting.  Johnny Recon has gained a lot of success and while that’s the best news ever, it also is making the business side of Johnny insanely tough.  But we’ve got some news that should definitely be making Johnny Recon much more widely available, but we can’t say anything just yet.

For right now we’re selling it at cons we’re attending, local stores in the Twin Cities area (Minnesota), and very soon, through our website (http://www.popgunpulp.com) directly.  We’re also currently in talks with some different people about full on national distribution on an indie level.  So stay tuned for more news on that!

MSA: How important is Kickstarter.com to independent creators?

Mitch: Kickstarter was, and is, an amazing tool for anyone who needs to turn their creative spark into a roaring fire, but they don’t have the money for lighter fluid.  It’s such a grand simple concept.  I kick myself daily for not thinking of it first.

Mitchy the Geek …

MSA:  Star Wars or Star Trek?

Mitch: Wars. I’m a rarity in the comic world.  Until the JJ Abram’s 2009 Trek movie (Which was incredible by the way!) I had never actually seen an episode or a movie of any incarnation of Star Trek. 
 
MSA: New Who or Who Who? Or, Who is Who?

Mitch: I’m a giant Doctor Who fan and I know it’s cooler to say the old stuff is better, but the new seasons have been absolutely out of this world (pun intended).  Eccleston hooked me all over again, Tennant made me a fan for life, and honestly, Matt Smith might be the best Doctor yet. He’s certainly the best actor yet, he’s really made it all his own, but familiar.
 
MSA: If you could resurrect one comics series, it would be …

Mitch: Nexus!  It breaks my heart that Rude and Baron had to put the book on a long hiatus and now an indefinite hiatus because of sales.
 
MSA: If you could take over a successful comics series, it would be …

Mitch: Batman. I could talk your ears off with what is wrong with Batman these days. The way I see it, Batman has been around the block, he’s been living life, the thing with his parents? He’s not crying over it anymore! He’s not a tortured soul.  He’s the world’s greatest detective, he’s smart as hell, he’s trained to be the tip of the spear in every situation.  I want to work on THAT Batman book.  My dream project is to write and illustrate a Batman arc with the Riddler. I can guarantee you I won’t have an origin flashback on any of the pages and at some point Batman WILL grin.
 
MSA: If you had to build your own super team pulling from ANY company’s properties, who would be on it?

Mitch: These questions are brilliant! Um, let’s see… Doctor Who, Batman, Tom Strong, and Doc Savage. They would put Reed Richards out of a job overnight.

MSA: Who’s the coolest imp … Bat-Mite, Mr. Myxlplyx, The Impossible Man or the Great Gazoo?

Mitch: Gonna go Great Gazoo on this one.  I remember liking when he showed up on the Flintstones and I generally hate when all those other guys show up in my books.
 
MSA: Favorite comics “Hell yeah!” moment.

Mitch: It was from the Grant Morrison/Howard Porter run on JLA.  Some aliens had enslaved the Earth and captured the entire Justice League except Batman. The aliens gloat to a battered and bloody Superman that they’ve captured them all except the “lowly human” on the team, and Superman starts laughing hysterically. Superman looks them in the eye and just says something like “You have no idea what you’re in for.  He’s the most dangerous human on Earth.” Then Batman, a lowly human, brings down the entire alien invasion Die-Hard style, over the course of the next couple issues. That was probably the exact moment I knew how “my” Batman would be portrayed.
 
MSA: What’s on the top of your pull list?

Mitch: Whatever Stuart Immonen and Chris Sprouse are doing, I’m the first in line. Also anything Agents of Atlas. That book is everything good comics should be.

MSA: Who are your favorite artists? 

Mitch: Stuart Immonen, Chris Sprouse, Adam Hughes, Bryan Hitch, and at the risk of showing all my cards to people I actually know, I’m a MEGA fan of everything Mitch Breitweiser and Chris Samnee.
 
MSA:  What’s the vital ingredient in the writer/artist relationship?

Mitch: Each person has to let the other do their thing. The artist has to let go and let the writer write their vision and the writer has to be able to let go and let the artist interpret that vision.  It’s harder than it sounds.
 
MSA: Which comics character is in dire need of a makeover?

Mitch: Is Frank Castle still a Frankencastle? Yeah, let’s undo that.

MSA: “If I ever meet [Insert Comics Legend], I will faint. Or, throw up, then faint.”

Mitch: Alex Toth, for all sorts of reasons.

WARNING: The following article, although sincere, definitely borders on the sappy. But, even a confessed smartass is entitled to be sappy once in a while …

Two kids sitting on a bench at summer sports camp.

In between kick ball and softball and dodge ball, they’re talking comics. They’re making up heroes. They’re building worlds. They’re rebranding G.I. Joe figures as super heroes. They’re tracing body shapes out the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe to create their own heroes and costumes. And, they’re dreading the next game of kick ball or softball or dodge ball.

“What’s your favorite comic?”

“Like you have to ask – West Coast Avengers, man.”

“Me, too, and Hawkeye is my favorite.”

“And, Mockingbird.”

“Yeah, and Mockingbird.”

“And, Dazzler. And, Cloak and Dagger. And, Power Pack.”

“I’m going with She-Hulk.”

“You always say that.”

“I want to work for Marvel Comics when I grow up.”

“Me, too.”

“Come on. I have an idea for a villan named Huntarr.”

“Isn’t that just like Kraven the Hunter?”

“No. This one has two R’s.”

By the time eighth grade graduation rolls around, one kid has to move to another town. Not long after, he decides that there’s no way he’ll ever get a date if he still reads comics and makes heroes. So, he puts the comics away and stops drawing. And, he loses touch with his partner in crime. (P.S. It didn’t work. He should have kept reading comics. Would have been more fun on a Friday night.)

Twenty years later, he’s realized he’s an idiot and he’s reading comics again. He still loves Hawkeye and Mockingbird. (Truth be told, he’s still a little ticked off about Hawkeye blowing up thanks to a flaming quiver.) And, on New Year’s Day 2008, he reads this: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19336

Then, he freaks out … Then, he calls his mother.

For a while now, it’s been evident that I am a raging Jim McCann supporter. It’s not just because he’s a gifted writer. (He is.) It’s just not because he is in love with the same period of Marvel history that I am. (We are.) It’s not just because he brought my beloved Mockingbird back from the grave and put Clint Barton back in purple. (He did.)

It’s because he’s one of my oldest friends. He’s pretty much the same today as he was when he was sneaking away at sports camp to make comics. And, I’m very proud of him.

For so many of us, growing up and becoming an adult encourages us to put aside the things we loved as a child. We think it means having to letting go the dreams of our youth and focus on what we deem “practical” or “sensible” or “necessary.” It can even mean looking in the mirror and wondering if it’s just too late to go after the dream you won’t allow yourself to pursue, but that you can’t forget.

Thankfully, Jim taught me that being an adult doesn’t mean any of that. It isn’t necessary to leave behind the dreams you have as a kid.

When New Avengers: The Reunion came out. I was so excited for Jim. It was awesome. But, last week, was the real deal. At my local comic book store — and yours — two of the passions of Jim’s youth were on display – a Dazzler comic and an ongoing Hawkeye & Mockingbird comic. And, his name was on the cover of both.

Gotta’ say it … WOW.

Reconnecting with my old friend has been tremendous. And, reading his comics has been a blast. But, there’s something more to it than that.

Knowing that someone I know followed his dream and made it …
That he fulfilled a promise he made to himself as a child …
That he didn’t let it go by the wayside…
And, that most importantly that he had cultivated the talent to put himself in that position …
Well, that is empowering.
It is inspiring.

It’s that inspiration that helped push me to start this blog and then to the creation of www.5MinuteMarvels.com. They may not lead to anything for me in the world of comics, but these blogs have introduced me to some great friends and have pushed me to be creative again. On some level, they’re helping me fulfil the promise I made to myself as a child. And, It doesn’t hurt that they are tremendously fun.

So, thanks, Jim. I can’t wait to see you name on the comics I buy for many years to come …

Two adults sitting at a convention.

In between signings and panels and photographs, they’re talking comics.

We don’t need to make up another hero. I already have one.

Checking out recent digitals on Marvel.com, I came across this Steve Ditko classic. And, while admiring his incredible art, I noticed that our buddy Gorak the Mystic is extraordinary powerful … but not so great on aim. Ouch! That bolt on the right looks painful. 

Hey, Gorak! On your way to world domination, you might want to stop for a little target practice with the lightning bolts or … well, you’re not going to have an heir to the throne, if ya’ know what I mean.

 So, for fans of Hawkeye and Mockingbird … it’s about to be Christmas. The new Hawkeye & Mockingbird series by Jim McCann and David Lopez debuts in June, and the Marvel PR machine is gearing up to make it a hit. And, all signs point to “Hell, yes!”

A few preview pages from Enter the Heroic Age #1 (featuring an original 8-page H & M story by McCann and Lopez) are now up at IGN.com … and Marvel.com released a FREE sketchbook from the series today. Check it here and enjoy!

And, for me … an extra special present. Author Jim McCann and I met up at C2E2 two weeks ago — and today, I was able to interview him. He’s done quite a few, “What’s it like to go from marketing guy to writer” and “Tell us about how you got to bring Hawkeye and Mockingbird back …” interviews, so I wanted to get to know a little bit more about the series, but a lot about him and his perceptions of the Marvel U. We chose to go with more of a 15 words-or-less, lightning-round style. Hope you little smartasses dig it! 

About “Hawkeye & Mockingbird” …

Smartass: Tease us on “Hawkeye & Mockingbird” in 15 words or less — not quite the “elevator speech.” More like the “falling down the elevator shaft speech.”

McCann: Ever wonder what it would be like to follow the coolest, most volatile and yet loving couple around who also happen to have the best weapons, sharpest wits, and get in the worst trouble ever?  Add some super villains, espionage, car chases, secrets, and lies, and you have HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD (I cheated & went over 15 words.  Me no am math wiz. Me am writer.)

Smartass: If Hawkeye and Mockingbird get remarried, who would be at Bobbi’s bachelorette party?

McCann: Who says they WANT to?  They’ve done that.   But if they did- Tigra, Jessica Drew, Firebird, Bangs, and London.  Dazzler would provide musical entertainment.  And Alkhema would crash it.  Mayhem ensues.  Crap, that’s my second arc & I just spilled it! 

Smartass:  Where does one go to get a replica of the crazy, cool beltbuckle the Phatom Rider has? Yowza! Cool AND terrifying.

McCann: Trust me, you DON’T want to have to go through what the Phantom Rider has gone through just to get a belt buckle!

Smartass:  Why Dominic Fortune? And, rocking the ‘stache?

McCann:  Gotta read to find out, but the answers will be forthcoming. 

Smartass: The panel in the sketchbook with Clint and Bobbi in a car and, like, 10,000 arrows a la “300.” Wha …!?!?

McCann: That’s one of my favorite moments.  I wanted to give Hawkeye the chance to do something he’d never done before. You’ll see how in the first issue!

Smartass:  What would “Bangs’” [Agent 89] Facebook status be today?

McCann: “Defused a bomb then made it bigger. Can’t wait to see the blast radius. Good times.”

Smartass:  What’s it like to see David Lopez pencils come in?

McCann:  Every holiday and birthday wrapped into one.  It’s like he takes my words and somehow reads my mind too and makes music with pencils.

Smartass:  The new WCA HQ looks cool. Who is the “IT” interior decorator of the Marvel U?

McCann:  Thanks! I told David what I wanted & we toured a high-rise building in Time’s Square to get the “elevated” feeling.  For all the cool tech stuff, it’s part insanity from my mind, and part honest research on David’s side.

Smartass:  When you’re confronted with “Hawkeye and Mockingbird are the Green Arrow and Black Canary of the Marvel U.,” you say …

McCann:  They’re not.  Anyone who says that hasn’t read Hawkeye & Mockingbird AND Ollie & Dinah.  If you had, you’d know that they are vastly different aside from having “bird” code-names.

Smartass:  Who would you cast as Hawkeye in the Avengers movie? Mockingbird?

McCann:  Don’t want to name real people because then rumors would swirl that I know stuff (and I don’t), but Sydney Bristow and Saywer would be my picks.

About Jim McCann the Dude …

Smartass: Outside of “Read a lot of scripts” and “Write every day,” what advice do you have for aspiring writers?

McCann: Read more & write more.  Watch TV or movies, listen to music, visit museums, and learn about other things outside your comfort zone.  You NEVER know where or when inspiration will hit, so be ready for it.

Smartass:  If you left a cookie on your desk and came back to find it gone, where would you start your investigation?

McCann:  One of my cats, probably.  Or with myself.  I am quite absentminded when it comes to eating.  I’ll either have 5 meals in a day or 1.  I’m not great with the normal eating thing.

Smartass: Which Marvel legend was the biggest thrill for you to meet?

McCann:  Toss up between Stan Lee and John Romita Sr.  Oh, and Gene Colan.  And all of the modern legends I’ve gotten the chance to know and become friends with.

Smartass: What comics catchphrase or exclamations do you use in real life? Come on … be honest.

McCann: “Mein Gott in Himmal” and just about every other Claremontian All New, All Different X-Men phrases.  Guilty of that.

Smartass:  So, you’re from Nashville — do you miss Goo Goo Clusters?

McCann:  That’s it, this interview is over unless someone gets me Goo-Goos NOW!

Smartass: What’s the first comic you ever bought?

McCann:  A very good friend gave me GI Joe #1 and Uncanny #168 (?), and then I started buying Uncanny with issue 175 and the first Hawkeye mini was one of my first finds in the $.25 bin.

Smartass: Has a comic ever made you cry?

McCann:  Brian K Vaughan can make me bawl.  In Runaways, Y the Last Man (especially with 355 and Ampersand’s final scenes), and Pride of Baghdad all make me cry. Also, I got misty the first time I saw my name in a comic next to the words “Written by”, I must admit.

Smartass:  Thanks to Brevoort, you seem to be a new Who fan. What’s your favorite line you’ve heard?

McCann:  Toss up here.  Hmmm- “This hand…it’s a FIGHTIN’ hand!.” “I don’t want to go.” and “Beans are Evil.”

Smartass:  What vintage comic are you on the hunt for right now?

McCann:  Marvel Super Action #1- Bobbi’s only appearance as Huntress.  I catch it for $$$, but am hoping to get a good deal on it.

About the Marvel Universe …

Smartass:  If you were picking your own X-Team, who would be your first pick?

McCann:  Everyone thinks they know the answer to this, but my FIRST pick wouldn’t be Dazzler- I’d go with Kitty.

Smartass:  Who is the most underutilized character in the Marvel Universe?

McCann:  HERE is my Dazzler answer.  I’d like to see her stretch out more in the MU like she did in her solo series.

 Smartass:  You’re a “Project: Runway” fan, what would Tim Gunn say to She-Hulk?

McCann:  Your lawyer suits are FAR more fashionable than your cousin.

Smartass:  Finish this, please – “Doctor Bruce Banner, belted by gamma rays, turns into the Hulk …”

McCann:  “Ain’t he un-glam-orays”, sung I *think* by Marvel’s own Flo Steinberg (that or she sang part of the Mighty Marvel Marching Society theme…)

Smartass:  What artist would open on the Dazzler/Cat’s Laughing world tour?

McCann:  Rick Jones

Smartass:  Storm – Mohawk or “No-Hawk”?

McCann:  MOHAWK!!!

Smartass:  If you could turn one Marvel property into a kid’s cartoon show, what would it be?

McCann:  Power Pack.

Smartass:  What if Wanda had said, “No more muppets”?

McCann:  Then I wouldn’t have Morris, my new muppet from the Whatnot Workshop.  That would make me sad.

Smartass:  What would happen if someone grabbed a cosmic cube with the Infinity Gauntlet while wearing the Serpent Crown?

McCann:  They would look like Tom Brevoort!  How else do you think he has all of that mighty knowledge?!

And, one last …

Smartass:  Who makes Fin Fang Foom’s underwear?

McCann:  It’s recycled Goodyear Blimps, hand-dyed by contestants on the Amazing Race. Duh.

I’m not the world’s foremost believer on fate, but today … I’m a convert. Several weeks ago, I interviewed Marcio Takara, a Brazilian illustrator living in Canada. He is currently penciling The Incredibles for Boom! I had found his “Tiny Heroes” sketches on DeviantArt and fallen deeply in love. The man has a style all his own that, in my humble opinion, captures much of what is fun and exciting about comics. And, today, Marcio and I were both featured on Ain’t It Cool Comics – he for The Incredibles and me (indirectly) for my daughters’ blog, 5 Minute Marvels.

So, here’s the part of “That’s Marvel BadAss” where I give you links and tell you to visit them after you read. But, not today. Stop reading. Go now and enjoy the art. Come back later. The words will be here and you’ll be deeply smitten with Marcio’s work.

Wha … what are you waiting for?!?!?! Go NOW and visit www.MarcioTakara.com

[Anticipated 15 minutes later …]

Okay. So you’ve seen the brilliance. You want him to be drawing, like, every comic you read. And, you want to know what makes the man tick. Now, you’re ready to read.

Marvel Smartass: What was your “conversion comic”? What ignited your passion?

Marcio Takara: Justice League International by Giffen, DeMatteis and Maguire. Back in the 80s I guess. That was the first comic book I ever read.  And, Superman The Movie was what made me love superheroes.  I still love it

Marvel Smartass:  Are American comics popular in Brazil?

Marcio Takara: I wouldn’t say as popular as in the U.S., but we do have people reading them. As far as I know, we always had companies translating all sorts of superheroes comics — mostly the big two companies. Nowadays with the web it’s even easier for people to read stuff.

Marvel Smartass: The FAQs on your Web site beg the question  — how DID you develop your style?

Marcio Takara: All I’ve been doing is trying to draw whatever I’m comfortable with. Actually, I don’t even worry about it that much. Just the fact that I’m drawing every day makes the evolution of my work something natural. Just practice, I guess.

Marvel Smartass: When you’re working, what’s your focus? Where do you start … and what is most important to you?

Marcio Takara: My focus is to make everything as clear as possible –  the action or the pose or the emotion. It goes on and on.

[As for] where I start — I start with an overall composition, then I’ll do some basic action lines for the characters, then structure everything. If you nail all these three, you’re halfway there with whatever you’re doing.

And, what’s most important to me — to meet the deadlines

Marvel Smartass: With respect to your distinctive style, what is it like working on The Incredibles –working with a house style? Is that limiting as an artist, or does it create creative opportunities one wouldn’t think of right off the bat?

Marcio Takara: It’s been great. I have to pretty much watch parts of the movie everyday for reference. And, it’s amazing to learn with whatever they did on that. Pixar is fantastic. I can say I learned a thing or two from watching the movie every day, so it’s worth it. It’s not exactly how I’m most comfortable drawing, but it’s still an excellent exercise.

Marvel Smartass: How did The Incredibles  gig with Boom! come about?

Marcio Takara: I got an email out of nowhere from Mark Waid. “Hi, this is Mark Waid here. Wanna’ work with me?” There’s no way I could refuse that!

Marvel Smartass: I have kids, so I’ve seen The Incredibles, like, 20 times. How about you?

Marcio Takara: 20 thousand

Marvel Smartass: Who are your favorite artists?

Marcio Takara: Adam Hughes, Mignola, Maguire, Jim Lee, Lafuente, Ivan Reis, Alex Raymond, John Buscema, Chris Bachalo… I don’t know the list goes on and on

Marvel Smartass: What books do you read now? What’s a “must” every month?

Marcio Takara: Uncanny X-Men. Matt Fraction is awesome! And, I love the Dodsons as well.

Marvel Smartass: You’ve done work with a variety of publishers, but, what is your dream property?

Marcio Takara: X-Men. No wait, JLA maybe. JLI I’d say.

Marvel Smartass: So, what sold me on you was your terrific “Tiny Heroes” version of the West Coast Avengers . So, an opportunity … give me the elevator pitch for an Incredibles/West Coast Avengers cross-over. Who would they fight? How would Hawkeye and Mr. Incredible get along. More importantly, would Mockingbird and Elastigirl kill each other?

Marcio Takara: I have no idea, man. But, one thing is for sure, I’d love to draw Elastigirl for grown ups. I don’t know Ultimate Incredibles, maybe

This short-lived series featured a handful of heroes who were normal people who used technology to become extraordinary agents for The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves (T.H.U.N.D.E.R.). I was lucky enough to inherit a stack of these comics from my uncle when I was first getting into comics … and they made a huge impact on me. As much as I loved to read about heroes who got their powers from radioactive spiders, toxic waste and god-like extraterrestrials, I couldn’t wrap my head around those kind of origin stories when creating my own characters. More often than not, they were kissin’ cousins to the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents … normal people who came across or were given extraordinary suits and weapons to become more than human … but only when they were using these items.

My favorite thing about the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents is that there were consequences to their actions and … some of them died rather early on.

• Dynamo – Fearless, dashing leader and holder of the Thunder Belt. Super-strong.
• No-Man – A human mind that could jump from one android body to another.
• Lightning - Super-fast, but advanced his own death each time he used his suit.
• Menthor - Initial double-agent who (as I remember is) had headaches from using his mental powers helmet.

D.C. acquired these characters, but have done nothing with them yet. Last year, they teased a new series, but the future is a bit uncertain as I’ve been able to ascertain.

These days, ‘ol Nick Fury is knocking about with a group of superhuman “Secret Warriors,” but how cool would it have been to see him leading a squad of super-powered agents in the 60s? I think this would have been brilliant. I mean, I love the Howling Commandos (especially Dum Dum) as much as the next guy, but … so cool. But, I did have to leave in La Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine.

Artists, wondering how you convey character and personality with the fewest lines possible … take note. Katie has it down to a science. Check out her work at www.KatieCanDraw.com!

Dean is a terrific storyteller with his popular “sidekick of a sidekick” online comic, “Butterfly.” And, he has has inspired hundreds of artists and comics fans to share their reimagined versions of established (and in some cases, forgotten) heroes at the newly relaunched Project: Rooftop blog. Whatever he’s doing, Dean has a knack for creating and inspiring people to stretch the boundaries of an already imaginative genre just a little further … and with a side-order of class and style.

Marvel Smartass: Who were your “A-Ha!” creators — the ones who most spoke to you and influenced your own work and passion? What keeps you excited about comics?

Dean Trippe: I first read The Dark Knight Returns when I was twelve. My grandmother bought it for me at a small comic shop slash used bookstore outside Atlanta. That was a good shop, they had back issues and non-superheroey stuff the grocery stores didn’t. DKR was a big deal for me. I still have the same thoroughly read TPB.

I was also really into Chuck Dixon’s Bat-Family stuff. His Nightwing stuff with Scott McDaniel especially. Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo on the Flash and then ‘Ringo and Todd Dezago over on Spider-Man. Waid and Ron Garney on Captain America. Grant Morrison’s JLA, Chris Bachalo’s Generation X designs, and so much more awesome. And obviously, Batman: The Animated Series was a huge influence on me, as an artist and storyteller.

By the time I was heading to school for comics, I was into Hellboy, Tom Strong (and the rest of ABC Comics), Planetary, The Authority, etc. The Just-Outside-the-Mainstream stuff. These days, Grant Morrison’s my favorite writer by a mile. Artists are harder to rate, because I like far more styles of art than styles of writing, I guess. Guy Davis, Frank Quitely, Mike Mignola, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Joel Priddy, Chris Sprouse, Darwyn Cooke, Cliff Chiang, Scott Morse…there are a ton of great artists out there.

But the thing that really keeps me excited are the up-and-coming artists, like the folks I meet through Project: Rooftop. I tell you, there’s more talent than good books out there.

Marvel Smartass: What’s next up for “Butterfly”? Have you ever thought about animating it?

Dean Trippe: We’re plotting the Butterfly return right now. Jemma Salume, the series artist as of a couple of years ago, just sent me the pencils for the next strip, so we should be up and running again any week now. I’d love to do an animated series for Butterfly. I think it’d be great. Apples in Stereo’s “Energy” would be the theme song.

Marvel Smartass: How important have Web comics become to helping creators break into the industry?

Dean Trippe: Webcomics are a great big deal. The internet, message boards, free-hosted blogs, all that stuff is the only reason anyone knows my stuff at all. It’s the difference between stapling your mini-comics to shelve at the local comic shop (still awesome) where a handful of folks may be able to check them out, and making them available virtually everywhere on the planet. That still doesn’t beat putting a book into the hands of a fellow creator (or employer) at a convention, but for building a network of friends and fans in the industry, it’s the best.

Marvel Smartass: How did the team on Project: Rooftop assemble? What’s in store for P:R in 2010?

Dean Trippe: I just asked my friends if they wanted to join up. I’ve tried to bring on folks from every profession or viewpoint within the industry. Coming up, we’ll be running a Captain America contest, more awesome content for all the new columns, and a Dick Giordano tribute event. The relaunch has been so much fun, and well-received. Our mission is to promote taking superhero costume redesigning seriously, foster continued interest in these amazing characters, regardless of who owns them or how they’re handled in the actual titles, and to spotlight up-and-coming creators, many of whom have gone on to win awards and work for the Big Two. I’m incredibly proud of P:R. We’re glad to be back.

One of my favorite parts of Project: Rooftop is RetroFix!

Marvel Smartass: If you could take the reigns of any established series currently in production today, which would you pick? Why?

Anything in the Batman or Superman Families would rock. The World’s Finest are the best. I absentmindedly write stories for them in my head all the time. Their archetypal nature as the IDEAL and the OPTION, day and night, hope and justice…ah, I just love ‘em. Have since I was younger than Robin.

Marvel Smartass: Throw us some comics blogs/Web sites you love to visit …

Dean Trippe: Comics Alliance does great comics news and interesting articles. I follow The Daily Batman religiously. Comic Twart is a great new comics art collective blog. I’m a huge fan of the guys at Robot 6. And I like Super Punch a lot.

Read More!

Dean was a great interview. To hear what other creators have had to say on Marvel Smartass, click here! 

Gorgeous.