SDCC: ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY’S COMIC BOOK CREATORS

July 24, 2008 on 7:17 pm | In Comics, San Diego Comic Con |

Hey comic fans! Kevin M. here at EW’s comic creators panel, which brings on stage some veterans and new comers alike: Jim Lee, John Cassaday, Matt Fraction, Mike Mignola, Robert Kirkman, Colleen Doran and Grant Morrison. Needless to say, each creator received thunderous applause from the packed room.

When asked what their expectations are for San Diego, Morrison joked: “My expectations are just to stay alive through these things.”

Morrison and Mignola gave their thoughts on the current trend of comics-to-movie. Both agreed that comics should be written like comics. Both said that movies follow a specific three-act formula, which comics don’t have to and in fact excel in breaking that structure.
“I definitely see us changing the ways that they’re telling their stories,” said Lee, who feels comics are beginning to influence the media rather than vice versa.

The panelists were asked if they thought the current state of comics is healthy, or if it’s become to post-modern and repetitious.
“I think superheroes are more relevant now than they’ve ever been before,” said Morrison. “They represent an image of the west that isn’t a cowboy or a gangster.”
Lee said that he feels people focus on continuity a little too much. He said he enjoys reading the various interpretations of Batman without thinking about what fits into where.
“I’d rather someone do the coolest Aquaman story they can do rather than trying to fit it into everything,” said Lee.
Doran expressed her support for outside and indie comics, which the major companies tend to say away from.

“Find some time in between commercial projects and try something,” said Mignola in support of hoping between commercial project and personal. “I’ve seen too many guys who say ‘I’ve always wanted to do something, but I didn’t.’”

Lee and Kirkman were asked about working as executives and how it affects their comic work.
Lee, a veteran executive, said he often thinks about going back and focusing just on art; however, it just feels too confining to him. He prefers the various jobs he does as an executive.
“I’m still trying to convince myself that I don’t have an executive position at Image,” joked Kirkman. “So far it just seems like I have to make a couple more phones calls.
“For me, the corporate job is allowing me to do more work,” added Kirkman about no longer doing Marvel work. “That’s how I’m looking at it now, but in a couple months I might be, ‘Ah! This was a bad idea.’”

Questions then opened to the audience

A fan asked Mignola if he’d ever go back to drawing comics as well as writing them.
“The more contact I have with Hollywood the more I want to stay in my studio drawing comics,” said Mignola. “I desperately want to draw more comics and you’ll be seeing more comics from me.”

A fan jokingly asked Cassaday if he could draw every X-Men comic.
“Probably not,” responded Cassaday.

A fan asked what compels the panel to write comics and tell stories.
Morrison said he just loves telling stories. He has an idea and want to tell people about it.
“I can’t imagine doing anything else,” said Doran. “They better have me doing comics because I can’t sell hot dogs.”
“I think we’re all doing it so we don’t have to sell hot dogs” joked Kirkman “I enjoy writing. I do it so my wife doesn’t think I’m a failure.”
“I remember being a little kid and seeing Star Wars and going home and drawing my own version of it,” said Cassaday. “It’s just in you. And my version of Star Wars was much better.”
Fraction said he enjoys the fact that with comics you can do anything—like blow up New York—without worrying about a budget or set pieces.
“It’s cheap for us to blow up New York,” joked Mignola.
“I work at Marvel. We do that every other day,” added Fraction.

A fan asked Lee about his All-Star Batman series and if it was a limited series.
“It’s a come-out-once-a-year series,” joked Lee. “We’re still coming out more frequently than WildCats, but that’s my fault, too.”

Another fan asked their opinion on who a up-and-comer is that people should look out for.
Fraction said Jason Aaron.
Derek McCullochsaid Doran
“It’s not that I think anyone’s good, it’s just that I don’t remember names,” said Mignola. “There’s so many talent out there that I walk past in the hallway.”
Jonathan Hickman said Kirkman.

A fan asked why the panelists got involved with comics.
“I like monsters,” said Mignola.
“I had a crush on Aquaman,” said Doran.
“Me, too,” joked Morrison. Morrison asked Doran what she liked Aquaman and she responded, “Because we was wet.”
Comics influenced Kirkman to get into the business.
“I just love telling stories and love comics,” said Fraction.