|
Dead@17 is a very interesting book about two best friends named
Nara and Hazy for details check my review.
I picked it up at Wizard World Texas in November. While I was there, I interviewed
Dead@17's creator Josh Howard, who's a very nice guy, if a little shy.
Sidra:
How did you get interested in comics?
Josh Howard:
Basically, when I was eleven, I saw the Batman movie for the first time. I drew a lot and I said "Hey, I want to do comics." Since then I've been trying to break in and it's been a long road, but finally hooked up with Viper and here I am.
Sidra:
How did you come up with the idea for Dead@17?
Josh Howard:
Good question. I created the characters first. They didn't really have a story. I just knew I had created the characters of Nara and Hazy and that they were best friends. Then I just kind of started drawing a story for them and made it up as I went along. And my little black and white version made it to Kinko's. I gave it out to my friends and that's what got Viper's attention.
Sidra:
What's the hardest part about creating comics for you?
Josh Howard:
The hardest part is that I have to do it all. I am the artist, the writer, the colorist. That's the hardest part having to do it all.
Sidra:
So, what comes first for you the visuals or the writing?
Josh Howard:
Writing, definitely. I write it all out first, then I pencil it out. Then I ink it and I color it. That's pretty much it.
Sidra:
Your art is kind of an animated style. What made you decide to go with that?
Josh Howard:
Animation has always been my biggest influence, even more so than comics. I've always leaned toward more of an animated look. So, I just did what I loved.
Sidra:
What made you decide to publish small press for this?
Josh Howard:
Actually, it wasn't really my choice; it's just sort of what ended up happening. I sent it out to a lot of people, and didn't really get any responses from the big names. Viper was local. They saw it. So, it really wasn't my choice, it just happened.
Sidra:
What can we look forward to in the future in Dead@17?
Josh Howard:
Hopefully once the four issue miniseries it over, it'll have done well enough, which right now it has, that I will be able to do more. I have it tentatively planned for two more miniseries that will wrap it all up. And I have another project in the works with Viper as well. This one's a little bit different.
Sidra:
Can you anything about that?
Josh Howard:
It's very different from Dead@17 with completely different characters. It has more of an animated feel. It leans more toward a superhero bent, even though I don't like superheroes. I think it's a different idea so, we'll see.
Sidra:
How come you don't like superheroes?
Josh Howard:
I think it's overdone, done to death, been there done that. We need some more stuff out there.
Sidra:
If my readers want to pick up a copy of your comic how would they go about doing that?
Josh Howard:
Well, since most stores are sold out, the best way to do it is to go to Viper's Website, http://www.vipercomics.com , or check around to online stores, they may have some left. And if that fails we should have a trade paperback coming out after the series sometime, so look for it then. Issue two looks like it will be out December 3rd and Issue three will be out sometime in January, and in February issue 4. The first three are completely done so it's just a matter of shipping them to the printers.
|
