David Kot Interviews Comic Maven Nicole D'Andria
I was interviewed in 2014 by David Kot, the founder of Face Value Comics, as a sweet thank you for an interview I did of him about his comic book - the first ever to feature an autistic protagonist. Without further ado, see what I think about comics and learn a little more about what I do.
Bold = David Kot
Non-bold = Nicole D'Andria
Bold = David Kot
Non-bold = Nicole D'Andria
Dear Comic Maven:
Thank you for your interest in The Superhero Assisted Placement (SAP) Agency. Despite a difficult economic climate, we have immediate need of a qualified super heroine. Our staff read your resume and work history, but has some additional questions. Will you please complete the following questionnaire for SAP?
1. You write quality comic book reviews without apology. What do you think sets apart your reviews from competitors? Does your alter ego produce these reviews, or is this a special super-power?
Different reviewers have different strengths. I like to think my reviewers are extremely informative and I try to add a little humor once and awhile – sometimes it’s even funny! I also have a wide variety of interests, so I’ll review comics from both big companies like DC and Marvel while also reviewing comics from lesser-known companies like Studio Z and Big Dog Ink that range from mature horror comics to all-ages fantasy comics.
Thank you for your interest in The Superhero Assisted Placement (SAP) Agency. Despite a difficult economic climate, we have immediate need of a qualified super heroine. Our staff read your resume and work history, but has some additional questions. Will you please complete the following questionnaire for SAP?
1. You write quality comic book reviews without apology. What do you think sets apart your reviews from competitors? Does your alter ego produce these reviews, or is this a special super-power?
Different reviewers have different strengths. I like to think my reviewers are extremely informative and I try to add a little humor once and awhile – sometimes it’s even funny! I also have a wide variety of interests, so I’ll review comics from both big companies like DC and Marvel while also reviewing comics from lesser-known companies like Studio Z and Big Dog Ink that range from mature horror comics to all-ages fantasy comics.
2. Our telepath reported you have a desire to write comic books someday in the future. Who writes the most interesting characters in comics today? Who writes the most engaging plots? About what would you write? Would you like to color, draw, ink, or letter professionally?
Anna Maria Marconi
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For me, the most interesting characters are coming from Astonishing X-Men writer Marjorie Liu. I also have to mention a writing team relatively new to the comic book scene, Donny Cates and Mark Reznicek. They have been writing an amazing story called Buzzkill. Also, I have to give a mention to Dan Slott. His Superior Spider-Man series introduced a fantasic new character, Anna Maria Marconi, who appears to have a congenital growth-hormone condition (meaning she look 10 when she's really a college student). People with this condition are rare in any media and I'm so glad Slott decided to create a positive role model with it.
I want to write about topics that are often swept under the rug or neglected. It’s similar to what you’re writing, David. You have the first comic book starring a hero with Autism. I want to tackle topics that will make a positive impact on the world. Then, when I’m not doing that, I wouldn’t mind writing a little horror story. I do love horror. Also, I don't want to stop with just comics. I want to possibly write novels and other types of long works. I'm in the process of one of those types of "long works" right now, but its way too early to reveal anything more than that... |
I would also like to edit comic books and novels. I’d love to try to draw a comic book too but my artistic ability is very limited. Though I know of several people who I’d love to have draw a comic book I wrote like Zsombor Huska or Stjepan Sejic.
3. Most comic book heroes wear a disguise or keep a private identity. What, if any, costume or disguise would you wear? What costume gimmicks are overdone in current comic books?
I’ve been known to go around in an altered version of the Riddler’s outfit. I also wouldn't mind strutting around in Catwoman's get-up... as long as it was fully zipped up. I've also recently fallen in love with a new heroine's costume by the name of Bluebird.
Very revealing outfits are overdone in comics nowadays, mostly for women. I’ve been known to go around in an altered version of the Riddler’s outfit.
I’ve been known to go around in an altered version of the Riddler’s outfit. I also wouldn't mind strutting around in Catwoman's get-up... as long as it was fully zipped up. I've also recently fallen in love with a new heroine's costume by the name of Bluebird.
Very revealing outfits are overdone in comics nowadays, mostly for women. I’ve been known to go around in an altered version of the Riddler’s outfit.
4. Many comic book females are simply carbon-copies of their male counterparts; even their costumes lack originality. Who is your superhero role model? How can comic books magnify the role of women, and in what ways?
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If you mean my superhero role model that is a woman, it changes a lot. There are a lot of female and male characters I love. In comic books that are ongoing right now I’d have to say Karma. I like how unique her origins are. She’s an immigrant from Vietnam and she has to deal with being a mutant, an immigrant and a lesbian in a community that can be ignorant and cruel to all of the above. Her story arc in Astonishing X-Men was one of my favorites from that series, which I thought was one of the best series of 2012. I think more comic books should have a strong female protagonist that doesn’t have a love interest. I also want to see women of all sizes and races in comic books. Others I'd like to mention are Firestar, Marrina, Harper Row and Anna Maria Marconi.
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Karma
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5. Superhero teams frequently disband or change rosters, but soon regroup to promote sales. If you could draw upon members from any comic book publisher: 1) who would they be, 2) what role would they fill within the group and 3) why would they work well as a team or for great sales?
I would love to see a book written by John Byrne. He wrote my favorite team book, Alpha Flight (which was also the series that got me into comics). I’d like to see the artwork done by Stjepan Sejic, who is by far my favorite artist right now. His work in Witchblade and Aphrodite IV is absolutely fantastic. The amount of detail in the characters is absurd and they look almost real. John Byrne is a legend, having worked on classic X-Men, Wonder Woman and Superman stories, he would bring in both DC and Marvel fans. Sejic would then bring in the Top Cow crowd.
I would love to see a book written by John Byrne. He wrote my favorite team book, Alpha Flight (which was also the series that got me into comics). I’d like to see the artwork done by Stjepan Sejic, who is by far my favorite artist right now. His work in Witchblade and Aphrodite IV is absolutely fantastic. The amount of detail in the characters is absurd and they look almost real. John Byrne is a legend, having worked on classic X-Men, Wonder Woman and Superman stories, he would bring in both DC and Marvel fans. Sejic would then bring in the Top Cow crowd.
6. “Comic” books may be confused with “comedy.” Into what new genres do brave comic books break ground? What has been the riskiest yet successful comic book idea in recent memory? Which ideas make you laugh (with or without intended purpose)?
Drama has been allowing a lot of comic books to address some risqué topics with a combination of maturity and humor. One recent success story I can think of is Sex Criminals. The series is about two people who can stop time by having sex. This concept could easily be skewered but the writer knew how to handle it with a mature tone… as well as some awesome intended comedy. Then there’s Buzzkill. Not as successful as Sex Criminals (but it might as well be in my eyes) this series has a superhero whose powers come from drugs. Instead of having this be a stupidly positive thing, we see all the horrible consequences of drinking in a way that isn’t preachy. This comic really teaches people something and I respect that.
Drama has been allowing a lot of comic books to address some risqué topics with a combination of maturity and humor. One recent success story I can think of is Sex Criminals. The series is about two people who can stop time by having sex. This concept could easily be skewered but the writer knew how to handle it with a mature tone… as well as some awesome intended comedy. Then there’s Buzzkill. Not as successful as Sex Criminals (but it might as well be in my eyes) this series has a superhero whose powers come from drugs. Instead of having this be a stupidly positive thing, we see all the horrible consequences of drinking in a way that isn’t preachy. This comic really teaches people something and I respect that.
Buzzkill #1 Cover
7. Our agency needs to fill gaps left by moonlighting superheroes doing movie projects. What remaining comic book character(s) NEED a movie made about them? Which comics would make great Saturday Morning Cartoons enjoyable for today’s youth?
There are so many characters I could name who deserve their own movie. I’ve been hearing about it and I would love to finally see a Black Panther movie. It seems like black superheroes don’t exist on the big screen. Alpha Flight is the reason I got interested in comics so I would love to see my favorite superhero team get a movie made about them. I would love it if Michael Bay not only didn’t screw up the upcoming TMNT movie, but also had Usagi Yojimbo make a cameo and then make a good movie about him. I’m also surprised there isn’t a current Superman cartoon. I may not be a big Superman buff, but he’s a great role model (when written right) and I think kids would enjoy him, especially if they make the cartoon nearly as good as the underrated “Superman: The Animated Series” show from the 90s.
Also, to expand from the Saturday Morning Cartoons, there are a couple of comic characters that I would love to see get more adult cartoons. For example, I’d love to see Deadpool get his own series on Adult Swim or have Black Panther get another show similar to the one he had on BET.
There are so many characters I could name who deserve their own movie. I’ve been hearing about it and I would love to finally see a Black Panther movie. It seems like black superheroes don’t exist on the big screen. Alpha Flight is the reason I got interested in comics so I would love to see my favorite superhero team get a movie made about them. I would love it if Michael Bay not only didn’t screw up the upcoming TMNT movie, but also had Usagi Yojimbo make a cameo and then make a good movie about him. I’m also surprised there isn’t a current Superman cartoon. I may not be a big Superman buff, but he’s a great role model (when written right) and I think kids would enjoy him, especially if they make the cartoon nearly as good as the underrated “Superman: The Animated Series” show from the 90s.
Also, to expand from the Saturday Morning Cartoons, there are a couple of comic characters that I would love to see get more adult cartoons. For example, I’d love to see Deadpool get his own series on Adult Swim or have Black Panther get another show similar to the one he had on BET.
8. What are your three pet peeves a majority of comic books share?
I think a major one many people who have read My Problems With Comic Book Covers have already figured out is comic book covers. A lot of comic books have cover art done by a different artist than the one who did the interior art and I think that’s especially annoying for new readers who don’t know about that, because then they expect one style and get an entirely different one. I also hate it when I see that a cover has ten variants. I remember when it was announced The Walking Dead #115 would have 15 different covers. It’s just an excuse to get more money out of our pockets.
I don’t like when some artists neglect the artwork in some panels. For example, they won’t finish giving a character their face if they are a distance away even though it still makes no sense for them to be missing their face. But more often I see artists that will draw very little detail in the backgrounds, sometimes forgetting the background entirely. I know artists don’t want to draw attention away from characters, but a great background is hard to find. Then you read something like Batman: Noel and realize how gorgeous artwork can look when the character and the background are drawn in completely.
I think a major one many people who have read My Problems With Comic Book Covers have already figured out is comic book covers. A lot of comic books have cover art done by a different artist than the one who did the interior art and I think that’s especially annoying for new readers who don’t know about that, because then they expect one style and get an entirely different one. I also hate it when I see that a cover has ten variants. I remember when it was announced The Walking Dead #115 would have 15 different covers. It’s just an excuse to get more money out of our pockets.
I don’t like when some artists neglect the artwork in some panels. For example, they won’t finish giving a character their face if they are a distance away even though it still makes no sense for them to be missing their face. But more often I see artists that will draw very little detail in the backgrounds, sometimes forgetting the background entirely. I know artists don’t want to draw attention away from characters, but a great background is hard to find. Then you read something like Batman: Noel and realize how gorgeous artwork can look when the character and the background are drawn in completely.
My last big pet peeve is what I spend my multi-part column talking about: women in comics. There are so many issues I couldn’t list them all here, but one thing that irritates me is there are no plus sized women anymore, super heroine or not, unless they’re a villain. I love seeing how beautifully women are drawn in comics, but I would like to see a heroine who wouldn’t make it into Vogue once in a while. Same goes for their outfit (or lack thereof).
9. Despite many changes in healthcare, many of our clients suffer from bizarre and unusual weaknesses; our insurance claims attributed to green-glowing meteorites topped $1 billion last year. Who has done the best job utilizing real-world problems or situations to make unique antagonists in comic books? What is YOUR weakness?
I hate to be a broken record, but I want to bring up Buzzkill again. The real antagonist is alcohol in that comic and they do a great job addressing the issue in a new way health class will never top.
My weakness is probably that I can be a pretty harsh critique. I look at everything with a fine-tooth comb and sometimes take things too seriously. I also have a tendency to nitpick a comic book to death.
Thank you in advance for your responses. Our resident telepath has already read your mind for the answers. An agent will be in touch with you soon, Comic Maven.
I hate to be a broken record, but I want to bring up Buzzkill again. The real antagonist is alcohol in that comic and they do a great job addressing the issue in a new way health class will never top.
My weakness is probably that I can be a pretty harsh critique. I look at everything with a fine-tooth comb and sometimes take things too seriously. I also have a tendency to nitpick a comic book to death.
Thank you in advance for your responses. Our resident telepath has already read your mind for the answers. An agent will be in touch with you soon, Comic Maven.
SAP stands ready to help you, as YOU get ready to help the world!
