Comikaze!

The first annual Comikaze Expo is this weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and I’ve been assisting the organizers with some of their programming. I’ve put together three exciting and very different panels for the show, and I’ve been invited to participate in a fourth. In addition, I have two Fraggle Rock signings at the Archaia booth.

Yes, it’s going to be a busy weekend.

If you’re going to Comikaze—and if you’re not you really should be—here’s where you can find me.

Saturday, November 5th

10:00-11:30 a.m. – Archaia Booth (#1709)

I’ll be signing copies of Fraggle Rock, discussing the upcoming Dark Crystal graphic novel series with fans and singing selections from Les Miserable and Jesus Christ Superstar. Well, maybe not that last bit. (That is, unless you want me to. I mean, it’ll be first thing in the morning, I’ll be signing on my own and will probably be hurting for company. I think it’s safe to say that if you’re actually at the show that early and come by to see me, we can talk about or do whatever the hell you want.)

1:00-2:00 p.m. – Room 4

Darkness Rising: New Voices in Horror Comics

Do the things that once gave us the shivers still have the ability to terrify? How many times can we be startled by zombies, vampires and psychopaths before they lose their shock value? What can a genre that’s existed for centuries do to remain relevant to a generation of readers who grew up watching Freddy, Ghostface and Jigsaw? Join Dan Fogler, R. H. Stavis, Jackson Lanzing, David Server and Nicole Sixx as we discuss the process and practice of writing horror comics and figure out how to offer up a fresh serving of fear in this era of Paranormal Activity and The Human Centipede. If you’re a fan of horror or a writer looking to work in the genre, this is the panel for you!

I assembled the above panel and although I’m not mentioned in the panel description, I’ll be serving as moderator. It’s an eclectic, lively and very bright batch of panelists who are sure to have interesting things to say on the subject of scary stuff. If you’re a fan of horror comics (or horror in general), be sure to stop by.

4:00-5:00 p.m. – Room 306AB

Spotlight on Womanthology

Originally devised by Renae de Liz as a way to give women creators of all abilities a chance to be published, the Womanthology project has become one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns ever. This anthology graphic novel has gained the support of virtually everyone in the comic book community and the first volume, HEROIC , remains one of the most highly anticipated comic book properties in some time. In this panel, various contributors will discuss the development of Womanthology, their individual roles in the project, and the legacy they are building. With Cat Staggs, Bonnie Burton, Kimberly Komatsu, Jenna Busch, Jody Houser, Amanda Deibert, and Mary Bellamy. Moderated by Nicole Sixx.

I won’t be appearing on this panel (for rather obvious reasons), but I did help pull it together and will be out in the audience showing my support. This will be the largest Womanthology panel held since the project was announced, and will be the first panel to show art from the project. As far as I’m concerned, that makes this one a can’t miss.

Sunday, November 6th

1:00-2:00 p.m. – Room 2

How To Make Comics (Great For Kids!)

Everybody’s talking about how comics are growing up, but have we (gasp!) forgotten about the children? With a bunch of publishers starting kids-oriented imprints and many educational programs introducing youngsters to reading through comics, is this audience finally getting proper recognition? Join Tim Beedle (Muppet Robin Hood), Neo Edmund (Zenoscope’s Silver Dragon books), Kazu Kibiushi (Amulet), Paul Morrissey (Casper the Friendly Ghost) and Heather Nuhfer (Strawberry Shortcake) as they chat about what makes “all-ages” awesome, what titles hooked them in the first place as kids and what
downright fun it is to make comics the whole family can enjoy. Moderated by Tom Pinchuk (Unimaginable).

I was invited to participate in the panel on all-ages comics, and of course I was very happy to do so. I’m a firm believer that we need more comics for kids in the market, and an industry-wide system of support to ensure that they reach the readers they’re intended for. Everyone on this panel is a friend of mine and an extremely talented creator. It should be a good time for the whole family, provided I can remember not to swear.

2:00-3:00 p.m. – Room 306AB

Fraggles, Froud and a Frog Named Kermit: Bringing Jim Henson to Comics

For over 75 years, the work of Jim Henson has entertained and inspired viewers of all ages and won him millions of fans worldwide. Today, the legacy of this creative genius has expanded into a new medium—comic books! Join Tim Beedle (Muppet Robin Hood, The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths), Paul Morrissey (The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock), Joe LeFavi (Fraggle Rock, Return to Labyrinth), Jeff Stokely (Fraggle Rock) and Ian Brill (Farscape) as we discuss and dissect all the ways that The Jim Henson Company and Disney are putting puppets to paper. Learn how classic fantasy movies such as The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth along with beloved TV shows like The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock and The Storyteller have been brought back to life by the writers, artists and editors responsible. Plus, discover how this new medium is allowing The Jim Henson Company to bring life to some of Jim Henson’s unrealized projects, such as the upcoming A Tale of Sand.

I did a version of this panel at the West Hollywood Book Fair, but we have a different crew of panelists this time around, as well as the ability to show art from the books we’ll be discussing. If you’re a Jim Henson fan, you’re going to want to be there, especially if you’re curious about some of the new Henson comics that Archaia will be putting out this year.

3:30-5:00 p.m. – Archaia Booth (#1709)

I’ll be wrapping up Comikaze with a group Fraggle signing in the Archaia booth. I’ll be hanging out with Joe LeFavi, Heather Nuhfer and Paul Morrissey, and we’ll be signing copies of Fraggle Rock while dancing our little bums off to the show’s soundtrack. If you’ve never experience a group Fraggle signing before, they’re usually a lot of fun. And considering we’ll be coming down off of a weekend of con craziness, I’d say anything could happen!

This is Comikaze’s inaugural year, so hopefully you can make it down on Saturday or Sunday to ensure they get a good turnout. LA could use a good comic convention, and the people running Comikaze clearly have their hearts in the right place. Plus, Elvira is one of their special guests. How cool is that?

Hope to see you there!

Back to the Big Apple

I’m not entirely sure how it happened, but somehow New York Comic-Con is once again upon us. I’ll be at the convention again this year, signing copies of Fraggle Rock and helping to promote The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths. I’m currently scheduled for three signings, but you never know…a few more may be added before the show’s over and done with. Here’s the current lineup:

Friday, October 14th

5:30-7:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 15th

10:00-11:00 a.m.

Sunday, October 16th

11:30-12:30 p.m.

All three signings will be in the Archaia booth (#1546). If you’re going to be at the show, stop by and say hi. I’d love to see you.

That’s if I can actually make it onto the show floor. When it comes to conventions, anyone who says procrastination is your friend is probably just trying to ensure they’re able to get tickets. I waited too long to register for the show, and now pro registration is sold out. As a result, I’m currently without a badge.

Fortunately, it looks like Archaia may have an extra badge for me. If not, well…I’ve always wanted to see the Statue of Liberty.

Hope to see you all there!

San Diego Comic-Con 2011 schedule

I can’t believe it’s time for Comic-Con already. I’m sure it will come as no surprise to any of you that I’ll be at the show this year, but one thing that’s new is that I actually have a signing schedule this year. Yes, I’ll be in both the Archaia booth and in the APE booth promoting a few of my current and upcoming projects.

Here’s my schedule:

Thursday, July 21

4:30-6:00 pm – Archaia booth (#2635)

Friday, July 22

11:00 am-12:00 pm – APE booth (#1804)

6:00 pm-7:00 pm – Archaia booth

Saturday, July 23

11:00 am-12:00 pm – APE booth

12:00 pm-1:00 pm – Archaia booth

Sunday, July 24

1:30 pm-2:30 pm – Archaia booth

3:00 pm-4:00 pm – APE booth

I’ll be signing copies of Fraggle Rock vol. 2 in the Archaia booth and copies of Strawberry Shortcake #1 in the APE booth. Provided they have copies of Strawberry Shortcake #1. If not, I’ll just be standing around in the booth and trying not to look creepy.

Please come see me.

I’ll also have some free issues of Muppet Robin Hood #1 that I’ll be giving out as well. If you want one, just ask.

See you in San Diego!

The People Behind the Puppets: Nichol Ashworth

There have been a few Fraggle Rock writers and artists who have contributed more than one story to the series, but so far, there’s only been one creator who has written one story and drawn another: Nichol Ashworth.

That might not be a name that you recognize right now, but give it a few years. Nichol first came to my attention near the end of my stint at Tokyopop, largely due to the creativity she displayed in the entries she submitted to Tokyopop’s Rising Stars of Manga contest. Traditionally, most of the entries we received fell into a few uninspired categories—epic fantasies that drew heavy inspiration from RPGs, shoujo romances set in private high schools or violent actioners that channeled Lone Wolf and Cub. The truly unique entries always stood out, and Nichol’s were utterly unique.

When thinking of artists who might be good for Fraggle Rock, Nichol was one of the first people who came to mind. For starters, I knew she was a huge Jim Henson fan, but more than that, she possessed the same sort of vivid, unpredictable, humanistic, yet slightly warped imagination that Jim had. The only problem was that I didn’t need artists. I needed writers. Fortunately, Nichol is every bit as gifted with words as she is with lines, and she knew these characters remarkably well. Her Fraggle Rock story, “Boober the Doozer,” was included in Archaia’s Free Comic Book Day issue last year, making it one of the most widely distributed Fraggle Rock comics in print.

However, as a big fan of her art, I really wanted to see Nichol draw the Fraggles as well as write them, especially after spending this year’s convention season watching her draw Fraggle sketches for anyone who came to her signings. With Vol. 2, I got my chance, pairing her up with Paul Morrissey for the funny, frantic short, “Red’s Chomp-a-Thon.”

We’ve had artists draw their own stories on Fraggle Rock, but Nichol was the only one to write and draw two separate stories for two separate creators. It may seem strange, but considering how much fun this girl is to work with, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Nichol, you first got on our radar at Tokyopop when you entered the company’s Rising Stars of Manga contest. I remember that your first entry was called “Muse,” and it was…well, there’s no getting around it, pretty dark and perverse. Did you deliberately set out to submit such a disturbing entry?

It’s funny, I really had no rhyme or reason for choosing that story over others. I think that “Muse” was just the most compelling idea I had at that moment. It’s based off of a nightmare I had, actually. On the one hand, yes, it’s very dark… and perhaps a bit perverse, but on the other hand, it definitely got attention! 🙂

Readers also really responded to “Muse.” Fans of manga-ka like Kaori Yuki and Fuyumi Soryo, especially. I kept it up on my Tokyopop artist’s page for a long time and got a lot of emotional responses to this piece. The story isn’t one that you can feel iffy on—it either creeps you out and you love it or you’re really upset about it and think that I’m demented.

Care to describe it for the people out there who are unfamiliar with it?

“When I was a baby, I was very sick. My mother, raising me alone, went almost mad at the sound of my cries. Her only way to cope was to draw my screaming faces over and over again. By the time I learned to smile, I didn’t have to any more… because I am her Muse.”

We can leave it there and let people yearn for the rest.

You didn’t win the contest your first time entering it, but “Muse” made quite an impression on the judges. I remember when we met you in person at Otakon the following year, we were surprised that such a dark entry came from such a sweet girl. Did you expect us to remember it? And when we did, were you thrilled that we didn’t freak out and call the cops?

Haha! Man, cops would have made for a smash entry into the world of comics, for sure! To be honest, since it did make it into the Top 20, I thought that SOMEONE must have read it… but the fact that the two editors I was doing a portfolio review with had read it—and remembered it—that was one of the coolest moments of my life. Especially since “Muse” was only the second comic I ever made!

The fact that you remembered my story is probably why I haven’t given up on my dreams to be a comic book writer and illustrator. I had a lot of trouble in college and none of my teachers believed in me and my “japanime” style. It was before anime and manga really hit pop culture, and they had a lot of prejudice about what that style meant and where it could take you. They thought that I was riding on a fad, not seeing enough of the genre to see where I was adding the “me.” I mean, let’s face it, all comic book characters have a general look to them. You’ve got your tall hero, fat, stumpy bad guy, etc, etc, etc. That’s true for Marvel as well as manga. The professors that I had just refused to see it in that light at the time. Since I love proving people wrong, I send a general middle-finger in the direction of all those artistically stunting people! With love, of course. I send it with love because their general distaste for me made me work harder—want it more.

Your next entry was one of our winners for that year, and what was so great about it was that it was so different from “Muse.” It was called “Chronicles of the Big Feet,” and it was about a family of bigfoots, err…big feet. What on earth inspired you to enter a manga contest with a short comic about monkey people?

Well, in my portfolio review, you guys said I needed more work on my backgrounds. Truth be told, I f-ing hate drawing buildings, so I wanted something outside. That same day, I sat down at my artist’s alley table and drew some monkey-men while I thought about what to do… thus “Chronicles” was born! It’s what I call “same-day-action.” I even still have the first draft (in colored marker) of the character designs I did that day.

A spread from "Chronicles of the Big Feet." Nichol can draw monkey people like no one's business.

I remember that I was a champion of it simply because it was so weird and different than what we usually saw in the contest. It was humorous, but it was clear that you hadn’t lost your edge. In fact, I believe you’re down on record as the only Rising Stars of Manga winner to feature pot prominently in your entry. Do you think Big Feet blaze up all that much?

Woot! Record! Point goes to me!

Funny thing is that I’m totally not a pot advocate or anything…and no, Big Feet are too smart for that! Above the influence and all that. BUT…they do know how to lure in humans!

Funny note about “Chronicles” (the fourth comic I ever drew) is that it has a very special cameo. The third comic I did, “Ledge,” was another very dark story. It had a main character that made a cameo in “Chronicles,” he then showed up in my next story, “Coprolalia,” about a girl with Tourette’s syndrome who wants to fall in love, and became the main character for another work in progress, Cog.

So did drawing a comic that featured a cast of hairy, non-human characters help prepare you at all for drawing Fraggle Rock? And what do you think would happen if the Fraggles ever got together with the Big Feet?

Absolutely! They’re all just big circles piled on top of each other with hair! Fantastic!

If the Fraggles met the Big Feet… Hmmmm… If we give the Big Feet the Uncle Travelling Matt feel then it would be like Gorg-sized monkeys doing documentaries on Fraggle life! (Ooooooh, fanfic!)

The opening page of "Boober the Doozer," one of the most widely distributed Fraggle comics we've published. Art is by Jake Myler with writing by Nichol.

How big of a Jim Henson fan are you? And how did it feel getting a chance to play in his playground with Fraggle Rock?

If I could kiss Jim, I would. Even now, which may be scary.

To say that he shaped my childhood is not an understatement. Between Fraggle Rock, Sesame Street and The Muppet Show; spin-offs like Muppet Babies; full length movies like Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal; and even the holiday specials like Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas—I became a Henson devotee. I’d say that his shows helped me develop my love for fantasy, anthropomorphism and my general lack of fear when adding a touch of darkness to the light.

You’ve contributed twice to our Fraggle Rock series, once as a writer and once as an artist. Did you find one role more fulfilling than the other?

I was excited for both aspects and they were both really cool in different ways. It was my first time collaborating with others, so I’m glad that the experience and the outcome were both very positive. I’m going to lean towards saying that I loved the artwork more than the writing, but that’s only because I had almost-final control of the end product. As the writer, I wrote, then waved goodbye…and waited. As the artist, Paul Morrissey (the writer for “Red’s Chomp-a-Thon”) and I were able to team up and back-and-forth a bit to make something really special…and I touched it last! (Except for the letterer…whom I am very thankful for. The only repeated negative feedback I’ve ever gotten on my own work was on the font in my damn word bubbles. I hate stupid word bubbles… *mumblegrumble*)

A page from "Red's Chomp-a-Thon." In a reversal from her first Fraggle Rock story, Nichol drew this short, but didn't write it.

The story you wrote for us, “Boober the Doozer,” was actually one of the first ones we ran, and as a part of Archaia’s Free Comic Book Day offering last year, remains one of the most widely read Fraggle Rock comics we’ve published. Was it at all intimidating working on it? You had to know that lots of people would be seeing it.

Does it sound bad to say that the reality of it only came to me after it was already written? I was just so excited, jumping around singing “I’m going to write a Fraggle story, lalalaaa!” My main focus was to write something that would make both Jim Henson and the Fraggle fans happy to read. I thought, “If I can do that, then all the other pieces will just fall into place.”

It really wasn’t until the story was with the artist, Jake Myler, that I started to think, “Oh, does that mean I’m helping them put their best foot forward?!?” and “This is going to have the widest circulation of all the subsequent comics!” and “Eek, WTF have I done?!?!” “Will I be tarred and feathered?!?”

Thankfully, I was neither tarred, nor feathered. Instead, I got to do written interviews with MTV (and not for a reality TV show!) and USA Today. I’ll never forget the USA Today article…because it was Free Comic Book Day and it had a lot of authors and illustrators being interviewed. One of the comic splash pages shown was Superman. I thought to myself, “Damn… I’m in a USA Today article together with Superman. Someone kill me now, because it’s all downhill from here!

For your second contribution, “Red’s Chomp-a-Thon,” you had to draw the Fraggles stuffing their faces. Did you get hungry when you were drawing it? And what do you think Doozer sticks taste like?

Ohm nom nom nom (Cookie Monster reference, anyone?)

Oooh, there’s this one episode where they add mustard and tomato flavors to the Doozer sticks to make them more tasty for the Fraggles! I actually kept that thought in my mind when I painted the colors for the special Doozer constructions, thinking of tomato, blueberry and all these other fun things that could be mixed up into radish dust! (Does this make me [more of] a geek?)

An early page from Cog. The story began on a plantation in the slave era before moving forward in time.

Okay, on to more serious matters. You’ve been working on a project called Cog for the past few years, which actually began as a Tokyopop Pilot. Do you want to tell readers what it’s about?

Cog is a magnificent journey for me and it’s the most sophisticated plotline that I’ve conjured to date. Cog is a story about a lot of things: Love and Hate, Fate vs. Free Will, Human vs. Divine. It also challenges the Christian thought that the divine = good. It’s a story that has a lot of me in it. Some of the vignettes are purely my back story, retold in third person. Right now, one could say it’s my magnum opus, but I won’t because I’m too young for that crap. 😀

Cog’s premise is that the world’s fate is predetermined and must follow along a specific path. Some humans are essential to making the world’s time-clock flow forward. Cogs are created to find these humans that matter and make sure they fulfill the world’s destiny. Our story is about one Cog, the system that created him, the future he makes—and the future he does not.

One of my favorite parts of the story is my representation of the divine entity that controls the Cogs. I call them the Tinkers. They have no form of their own. When they manifest, they pause time and rip apart the fabric of reality to create these grotesque monstrosities—piecemeal of human parts, sidewalk, trees, wires—anything that was nearby when they appear. I think it’s super cool!

You and I actually worked together on Cog, and the project changed considerably as we were working on it. Are you happy with where it’s at now? And do you welcome that sort of involvement with an editor, or do you prefer when editors stay more hands off?

Cog began as a collection of short stories called Monsters, but you, Tim, said it needed a bow to tie it all together. It then became Cog as you and I know it today. I am forever grateful for that.

Since I’m pretty self-depreciative on a daily basis, having feedback from someone knowledgeable is key for me. I think that an editor is a partner, one who takes your jewel, polishes it and sets it in gold so that people will buy it. Or he tells you it’s a piece of crap that no one will ever buy and you move on… Still, I believe there are limits to an editor’s role. I mean, I think you’ll agree that while you’ve told me in the past that “this needs this,” you don’t write it for me. I still have the burden and joy of the creative solution!

I also have the right to disagree *mwahaha* and push my agenda.

A young girl dramatically confronts her dying father in Cog.

The Tokyopop Pilot program, along with Tokyopop itself, is no more, but at the time, it was a fairly controversial program. Frankly, I thought the criticism was all pretty overblown and even a little unfair myself, but what was your opinion about it?

Hmm… Well, as a new artist seeking more exposure, doing it and getting paid for it was great. The only thing that I thought was mildly unfair was that my pilot was over 40 pages and I got the same moolah as someone who did a 20-pager…but the longer story was also my personal choice, so I can only complain so much.

So what are your plans for Cog now?

Right now it’s being reviewed by a certain publishing house in the hopes that they’ll pick it up. But if they decide to pass, I’m moving on to the next publishing house to see what they say. I’ll never forget that Stephen King was turned down by over 100 publishers before someone picked up his first novel. And since I loves me some Stephen King, I’ll follow that example of tenacity.

Cog is told through a series of interrelated chapters, each one a complete story on it's own. This one is called "The Boy Who Draws Tigers" and introduces Daniel, a key character in the story.

Cog, like “Muse,” deals with some heavy themes and gets pretty dark at times. The chapter you wrote and drew as a pilot was set among slaves at a pre-Civil War Southern plantation. You seem drawn to dark stories, and yet you’re one of the funniest people I know. You have a great sense of humor and your art style lends itself well to funny stuff. Are we ever going to see a comedy from you?

Split personalities must lend themselves to a variety in style. *wink*

Funny stuff, though? Abso-tively-posi-lutely! Think of me like a boxer. No, not the dog. The greasy, sweaty man throwing jabs at yet another sweaty man. If I kept coming at you with right hooks, you’d know what to expect. I like to keep ya’ on yer toes. (Float like a buttahfly, sting like a bee!) You never know what you’ll see from me next, but hopefully you’ll know that it will be good!

I have artists that I trust. If I see a new series from them, I’m not going to buy just book one…I’m going to buy whatever is available/I can afford! Because, I just know I’m in for a good ride. I aspire to be an artist that’s consistent like that. Trusted by readers. Taking them for a good ride.

How would you define your art style? Are there any artists you’re particularly influenced by?

As a writer, I’m definitely influenced by ze King, as I mention above, but as an artist…it seems like a harder question. My style has changed over the years and will continue to change as I learn and grow, but I’ll say that my manga-style stuff nods to Kaori Yuki and Yayoi Ogawa.

I’ve read books that have emotionally moved me, and as a writer/illustrator, I really work to do that. To emotionally move someone that I have never met with my just my work. (No matter what direction I’m moving them in!)

And finally, you’re responsible for some of the best “unsanctioned” Fraggle Rock material we’ve received, including a couple of sketches of Mokey and Gobo making out that had us giggling at Comic-Con last summer. Do you think Mokey and Gobo really have a thing going? Don’t you think Gobo’s more into Red?

Red?! Pfft. No way, dude! Gobo totally has it for Mokey—but Mokey is oblivious and just loves everyone in that “artsy” way. Red, however, is gonzo over Gobo and totally jealous when he pays more attention to anyone other than her! And since the Fraggles act like kids, she reacts in a very kid-like way—she bothers him, picks on him and challenges his authority all the time.

On another note, I think that Wembley and Boober should be gay together. They’re not…but it is truly unfortunate… Fanfic opportunity #2!

For more information on Nichol’s work and upcoming projects, visit her website: www.nixcomix.com.

Or if you’re on Facebook, be sure to “like” her fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boston/NixComix/291714942383

That’ll do it for our series of Fraggle Rock creator interviews. But keep checking back for more information on Fraggle Rock, Dark Crystal and the other projects I’m working on, as well as thoughts, commentary and random groupings of characters created when I pass out on top of my keyboard.

The People Behind the Puppets: Heidi Arnhold

As an editor, I’ve visited art schools and spoken to students nationwide. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed, in part because they’re so eager and excited to get out there and prove themselves in their field. The problem is that art students usually need some time before they’re ready to draw comics professionally, so while it’s fun and no doubt instructional to the students to visit art schools, it rarely results in any new talent. (At least, not right away!)

However, Heidi Arnhold was an exception. I first met her when she came to see me for a portfolio review at Savannah College of Art and Design’s Editor’s Day event. Her work had a level of intricacy and detail that wasn’t there in the other work I had seen – something that would go on to become a hallmark of her style. She also seemed to gravitate towards fantasy, something that is generally underrepresented in comics. I took Heidi’s card and samples of her work back with me to LA, intending to pair her up with a writer I’d been talking to about a fairy tale project. However, that plan got tossed out the window when our Legends of The Dark Crystal artist abandoned the only recently underway project. All of a sudden I needed an artist that could draw that world, in a style not unsimilar to the previous artist’s and who was available now.

That artist, of course, was Heidi. If you’ve picked up either volume of Legends of The Dark Crystal, you know that she not only did a spectacular job taking over the art duties for that series, but she transcended her position as a simple artist and wound up playing a pivotal role in bringing the world of The Dark Crystal back into the public eye. And that was only the beginning…

Hey there, Heidi. You and I go back quite a ways don’t we? In fact, when I first met you, you were still in school. I was a guest at your school (SCAD) for Editor’s Day. What made you decide to come talk to me?

We do go back a long ways! I was a senior then, right on the cusp of graduating. You were at the top of my must-see list because I felt that Tokyopop might be the publisher most receptive to my style. My art had a mixture of many influences, but it wasn’t a good enough fit for editors seeking artists to work at Marvel or DC.

I remember being impressed with a lot of the talent I saw there that day, but you still stood out. Most of the samples you showed me were from a fantasy comic. Have you always been drawn to fantasy?

Ha ha. “Drawn to fantasy.” I see what you did there. Yes, I’ve always felt a strong connection with anything fantasy-oriented. I’m very much a daydreamer, and as a kid I opted for the land of make-believe over everything else (you know…like you do). I used whatever means I had around me to express myself and make the worlds in my head come to life. My mother still tells people that I used to turn leaves from her plants into characters and creatures, and I’d spend hours playing with them. I don’t use the leaf “medium” anymore, but I find the fantasy genre to be the perfect niche that lets my imagination run wild.

A page from Heidi's Fraggle Rock story, "The Meaning of Life."

What made you want to become a comic artist in the first place? And how did you end up at SCAD?

Without a doubt, it was Archie Comics’ Sonic the Hedgehog series. As a grade-schooler, I was obsessed with the blue blur, and when I discovered that Sonic comics existed in middle school my head just about exploded. I devoured every issue, rereading each of them until they were practically falling apart. In seventh grade, a light bulb went off in my head and I realized that drawing a Sonic comic book would be the coolest thing I could ever do with my life. I went to work right away and assembled a professional sequential portfolio: a fan comic drawn on notebook paper. I was so proud of myself. I mailed that sucker off to Archie, and almost a year later I received a letter from them thanking me for my interest, but there weren’t any job openings available. Thinking about it now still makes me laugh; it was sweet that they were at least willing to indulge my youthful career aspirations by responding that way.

Ahem… Anyway, I forgot about drawing comics after that for a while, but it came to the forefront of my mind towards the end of high school. I knew I didn’t want to be an animator. I didn’t have the patience or the stamina. Comics seemed like the perfect compromise, and my academic advisor recommended SCAD to me. It was the only school I knew of that had a sequential art program. After visiting the college, that was it for me. I didn’t even apply to another school.

Shortly after you graduated, I hired you to draw Legends of The Dark Crystal, a prequel graphic novel series based on the classic Jim Henson film. If memory serves, you hadn’t even seen it when I first approached you about it, had you?

Aaaaaah, Tim! You just have to put me on the spot, don’t you? I should explain… A couple years ago, I was being interviewed about Legends, and I was asked if I was a big fan of the original movie. I panicked, because for some stupid reason I thought that if I hadn’t seen it when I was younger (like many I knew had), the fans would kill me. You might remember this, because I contacted you immediately freaking out over what to say. At that point, I chose to lie and said that I’d seen it as a kid, but didn’t remember it well. I guess the cat’s out of the bag now, huh? (Sorry, Park Cooper!)

So no, when you first approached me, I hadn’t seen it. However, my fondness for it grew rapidly as I became familiar with the story, characters and environments. Now I can say with certainty that if I had watched it as a kid, I would have loved it. I also most likely would have been really, really scared. I mean, all those glowing Garthim eyes surrounding Jen in the dark?? Sheesh, talk about a nightmare factory.

An untoned page from the second volume of Legends of The Dark Crystal -- the Skeksis in the center is the Collector, a new character that Heidi designed for the series.

How did you prepare yourself for drawing a comic based on a film with such an avid fan base when you weren’t familiar with the source material?

The moment it dawned on me that I might be able to work on the project, I borrowed the Dark Crystal DVD from a friend, and eventually you sent me my own copy to refer to along with Brian Froud’s concept art book (thanks again, by the way!). From the get-go, I was pretty scared that if I didn’t do the original movie justice, it would upset the fans, so I did a lot of research. I sketched scenes from the movie. I printed out reference material to keep in a notebook. I also drew the Chamberlain over and over and over again. There was something about Skeksis anatomy that was difficult for me to grasp at first. I redrew him so many times I had dreams about drawing him while I slept. Needless to say, that part of the process was a little frustrating! Eventually I just had take the plunge and put all my prep work to good use in the comic itself. After penciling and inking pages and pages of Skeksis, I’m not intimidated by them anymore. 😀

It was a challenging project because you actually replaced another artist and we wanted the transition to be as unnoticeable as possible. How difficult was that for you to achieve?

It was pretty daunting for me at first. I never anticipated having to adjust my personal approach to someone else’s on top of learning the source material. I was still fresh out of college, and it didn’t occur to me that I might have to do something like that, especially not for my first job! Even when I tried to imitate Max Kim’s style, it didn’t really click in the test pages I sent you back then. What helped me was inking his pencils for chapter two and working from his thumbnails for chapter three. The inking process aided me with my muscle memory, and referencing his thumbs as I penciled the next chapter kept my work somewhat similar to his. What’s funny is that as I continued working on the series afterward, I could see my own style start to emerge again, but it was more subtle.

A gentler page from Legends of The Dark Crystal, this one featuring the Monk, another new character.

After Dark Crystal, you moved on to Star Trek and now most recently, Fraggle Rock. All three properties are fairly iconic, and yet all three are entirely different. Has it been difficult moving from one to the other?

The transition between Dark Crystal and Fraggle Rock wasn’t too difficult! If anything, it was a breeze drawing Fraggles after all the elaborate costumes and environments in Dark Crystal. There were also many underground environments between the two properties, so I felt pretty comfortable with that. Star Trek was a different beast altogether. I love Star Trek and science fiction in general, but I’ve never felt terribly inclined to draw anything sci-fi related. I wanted a chance to force myself to think outside of my little fantasy box and try something new, and at times it was like pulling teeth. Finding accurate reference material for the Enterprise’s interior wasn’t easy. I struggled with the crew’s likenesses and my figures were stiff. Designing the alien world for our short story was the only time I had a chance to breathe out, but it didn’t help much. All in all, it was a learning experience I’m glad I had. I’m open to taking another crack at that genre again someday, because my first attempt was lacking in some ways.

The thing that amazed me about your art on Dark Crystal, and what I believe made everyone involved with that project such a huge fan of yours, is that you really add a lot of detail to your art. The texture and depth you give every project you work on is phenomenal. In fact, I’d say it’s unfortunate that Dark Crystal and the Star Trek manga you illustrated were printed at such a small trim since much of that detail was lost. Do you feel that a high level detail is part of your artistic style?

At least partially, yes! One of my favorite artists in middle school was Patrick Spaziante (he did work for Sonic, surprise, surprise). At the time he was known for these amazingly detailed backgrounds, and I was mesmerized by that particular aspect of his work. I admired him so much that I wanted to emulate him in every way possible, and while I may not draw Sonic and his pals often anymore, the detail-oriented tendencies stuck. I enjoy little details…almost to a fault. When I first started to work on the comic, it was a struggle for me; the world of The Dark Crystal is so pretty and I wanted to show every facet of it. It was almost as if the first volume of Legends was acting as an enabler and brought out the negative side of my detail obsession. I went overboard a number of times, and there are numerous panels that ended up looking too busy. Thankfully, I found more of a balance as I continued to churn out pages.

Heidi's Fraggle Rock story finds our characters returning to The Singing Cave, an ethereal cavern first introduced in the TV series.

One problem that I know you’ve run into is that people seem to recognize your talent, but dismiss you essentially because you don’t draw superheroes. I’ve also heard people label you a “manga artist” since you’ve done a lot of work for Tokyopop, but I’ve never felt your art was particularly manga-influenced. How frustrating is that for you, and do you feel it’s starting to change as you get more work out there?

I actually never knew that anyone labeled me as a “manga artist” before. I guess it makes sense, given the circumstances. There is a manga influence in my work, which primarily manifests itself in the characters’ facial characteristics and expressions at times. It doesn’t help that the properties I worked on required a manga-esque look to them. I have enjoyed manga for a long time, but in college I broadened my horizons to the different styles and approaches in sequential art, including superhero comics. I feel like various traits from all those influences have worked their way into my own style.

Is it frustrating to be dismissed for that? Sure, a little. It’s not something I hear very often firsthand, however. What encourages me is knowing that I’m not done growing, and I’ll learn something new with every project I have the privilege to work on.

How would you define yourself as an artist?

I define myself as an artist through… drawing stuff. This is why I’m not a writer, haha. I draw, and my artistry is, literally and figuratively, defined there.

…I guess if I were to seriously think about it, I would say it all hinges on self-expression with me. Normal communication isn’t a strong suit of mine. For instance, when I try to tell friends a funny story, it typically falls flat somehow. I get nervous and my delivery isn’t that great. But if I were to tell the same story in a sequential art format, everything comes together so much better. I don’t have to verbally describe someone’s expression or reaction; it’s right there on the page. People take what they want from it, and the pressure is no longer on my shoulders to “perform” right there on the spot. When I was growing up, I often would draw how I felt instead of writing it in a journal. Many of my old high school sketchbooks told stories of their own. I still draw how I feel sometimes, though it’s typically more in a comical sense. (No more teenage angst.) I suppose this is a roundabout way of saying that art is the best avenue I have to be myself.

While much of her work has been all-ages and family friend, Heidi has a penchant for drawing monsters, such as the "Soul Sucker" above.

You’re known for drawing pretty amazing monsters. How exactly did you get that reputation, and what makes a monster particularly terrifying to you?

Hahaha… Am I known for that? I don’t know how I got that reputation, unless you’ve been telling folks about it! C; Monsters are fantastic, because when you create them, they can be anything you want them to be. There aren’t any specific anatomical requirements or ability limitations. You can go nuts and create something as menacing or silly as you like, and that’s the best. Drawing monsters really helps me relax and have fun artistically. Oddly enough, a really scary monster in my mind is one I know very little about. Seeing a hint of it in the darkness (glowing eyes, claws or a hulking silhouette) is a pretty terrifying concept to me. Especially if it’s creeping up behind me while I have my back turned. Not that I’ve ever fled in horror upstairs from the monster wolves in my basement or anything…

Okay, time to put the kids to bed because I have to ask you about cocktopus. Seriously, is your family proud of how many phallic octopuses you’ve drawn over the years? Do you think you’ll ever draw a cocktopus comic?

My mom has always been good natured, and she laughed when I first told her about the gag that led to the creation of such happy, inappropriately shaped drawings and plushies. I used to think I’d draw a comic filled with Cocktopus’s many misadventures, but now I’d say that’s pretty unlikely. There are too many other things I want to draw that are going to take priority. It is a sad day for phallic squids everywhere.

Some Cocktopus plushies. Probably not for the kids.

So what’s next for you this year? Do you have your next project lined up?

Nothing’s set in stone yet! I’ve teamed up with a writer (someone you know!) to assemble a pitch that shows a lot of promise. I’m very excited to see where that goes this year! Aside from that, I’m just gonna keep flying by the seat of my pants. It seems to be working out okay for me so far.

And finally, let’s get serious for a moment and ask you something extremely important. If you were cursed by an angry gypsy who gave you a choice of either having perpetual bad breath, having everything you eat taste like anchovies or having your clothes randomly burst open manga-style every time you’re on a first date, which would you choose?

It’s a toss-up between perpetual bad breath and my clothes popping open on a first date. I would never EVER sacrifice my relationship with food… I love it too much. I’m going to opt for the first date wardrobe malfunction, because as it stands I’ll never have to go on a first date again! Haha! I cheated the system!

For more information on Heidi’s projects, be sure to visit her website: www.heidiarnhold.com

And for a glimpse at some of her most recent comic pages and illustrations, be sure to visit her DeviantArt gallery: http://chibimaryn.deviantart.com

We’re almost done with our series of Fraggle Rock creator interviews, but not quite. Check back soon for our final one!