Okay, we've heard how the comicbook companies think that their fans
are sooooo important, but is it true? Do they actually consider our ideas and
feelings? Do they care about what we, the fan, the ones who make their
company possible think? It's possible. I asked former X-Men artist Chris Bachalo for
his opinion on fans, to get an idea of what comicbook creators think of
their fans. I love the answers, and I think you will too.
Jeri:
What is the upside to having a great fan following?
Chris:
Assuming that I do have a great fan following, I would have to say
the upside is getting validation and appreciation for your work. Personally, I
work in an isolated environment so there isn't any interaction between
myself and the outside world, so it is very rewarding to go out to conventions and
have people tell me that they enjoy my work.
Jeri:
What is the downside to having a great fan following?
Chris:
There aren't many downsides-most fans are very polite and supportive -
but you do get a few who forget your right to privacy - I have had one fan
-- actually the mother of a small boy, who followed me to the men's room in
search of an autograph for her son. Innocent enough but she was very
aggressive.
Jeri:
What is the worst experience you've had with a fan?
Chris:
My worst was when I said I would make it to a chat room for a guest
appearance, I had an unexpected emergency and was not able to make it, the
fan leading the chat room sent me and my family threatening and vulgar e-mails
and refused to believe my excuse for not being able to attend.
Jeri:
Do you actually care about your fans opinion?
Chris:
Of course I care, I think most creators do, fans are totally within
their right to enjoy or critique sometimes it gets brutal and yes sometimes
I feel like the family dog that gets kicked . I've been a fan long before I
was a pro and I can identify with how passionate some fans are. Ultimately, if
you do good work, timely work creative and editorial - usually flow
together, but it's like everything else in life - s--- happens. Sometimes creative,
editorial and fans just don't mix - I think you have to learn to recognize
that and know when it's time to move on.
Jeri:
Where do you stand on the Fan Continuum?
Chris:
On a scale of 1-10 - 10 being the highest I'd have to rate an 8 -
mostly because of my workload - I can't always get to e-mails and chats like
I'd like to and I can't make it to as many conventions to talk with the fans
as I'd like to because of deadlines. Again, I was a fan long before being a
working artist so I can identify with most fans and realize it is important
to have a good rapport with fans.
Jeri:
How do you handle fans who write for your opinion? Do you consider it
a waste of time?
Chris:
Why would you ask me if it's a waste of my time? That's a bit
negative.. I guess sometimes interviewers expect the worst... No I do not
consider it a waste of my time. I do however, find it sad that most of the
time when someone asks for my opinion they either A. didn't want to hear it
or B. Didn't really have the intent to put in the time and effort necessary
to improve or submit their work. I can't name how many times my suggestion
of going to school to hone their skill has met with a shrug or disbelief. I
feel that a lot of fans asking for my opinion think drawing comics is an easy
dream job and it really can be just as stressful as any "real world" job out
there.
Jeri:
And in closing, I'd like to ask you for your favorite fan story, if
you have one.
Chris:
I don't have a particular story, I'd have to say collectively it
would be my stories from abroad, I think we in the US have a misconception about
people in other countries and everywhere from Australia to France I have
enjoyed everyone I have met immensely.
First of all, I must thank Chris for this interview. He is the best
comic pro that I've ever had the pleasure of talking to, and the most cooperative.
Kudos to you Chris.
Now for my conclusion; Just from interviewing Chris and seeing his
answers, I feel that there is at least one comicbook creator that truly cares about the
comicbook reading community. And where there's one, there's many. You may
receive a negative or no response from many of the creators, but there are
those who care. Chris is definitely one of them.