This interview is of jgib99, whose comics are How Unfortunate and Hitting Rock Bottom with the Creedys!
(interview conducted by harkovast!)
Question 1
Lets start out with some introductions.
Why don’t you tell us about yourself?
Okay. My name is Joe Gibson. I live in Philadelphia. I started my love affair with art around 7 yrs. Old when I used to try and draw Peanuts characters from the Sunday comic pages. I’m mostly a self-taught artist. I also like to spend my free time watching bad movies, starting mosh pits at metal concerts, Cheering on the Phightin’ Phils, and searching for that elusive lady that can put up with my lunacy.
Question 2
Enough padding! Lets talk comic! Tell us a little about what your comics are about.
Wait, that wasn’t a question! Let me try again.
Can you tell us a little about your comics?
There, that’s better!
How Unfortunate is set in a world a few years in the future where the number of S.P.’s (Super Powered humans) are increasing along with the crime rate. The story revolves around two detectives, Steve Riley and Luke Nordquist. Who, after pissing off their commander, were “volunteered†to become a part of a government-runned agency that teams policemen with S.P.’s to fight crimes involving super powered criminals. The S.P.’s that Steve and Luke are assigned to are Brenda Royce- Energy Blasts, J.B. Franklin- Super strength, Kevin Bossman- Can create weapons and/or transportation from anything, Tina Bryzanski- Forms explosive rocks that she detonates by clapping her hands, Ian Cabot- Changes into reptilian creatures, Frank Carey- Super healing powers, and Lucinda Ruiz- Telekinetic .
Question 3
Your comic is drawn in a manga style on a computer, what made you choose this style?
I wanted a change-of-pace. Any time that I’ve drawn in the past, I always did it in the Western comic style. And I’ve always wanted to try drawing manga, being a fan of Battle of the Planets, Robotech, and Cowboy Bebop. The first few chapters are manga-influenced. But in the later chapters, I’ve started blending a little more western style.
Question 4
Will the British Guy ever come back? Like Zombie British Guy? Could Angry Vicar regenerate him or turn him into a cyborg? Sorry, but I liked that guy! I want him back!
Hmmm… British RoboZombie. I like the sound of that. I smell spin-off!
Seriously. He’s probably not going to appear any time soon. But ya’ never know. Zombies have a funny way of popping up when you least expect it.
Question 5
Do you have trouble thinking up new powers for the characters in your story? Have you ever given someone a power and then regretted it (for example, if it was too powerful and unbalanced things)?
It is a little hard trying to come up with a super power that hasn’t already been done many times before in different comic books. I have an easier time creating the characters and their personalities.
Question 6
There are a lot of naked/semi naked women in your comic, what made you decide to include that? Do you just like drawin’ em or was it a move to get hits? Be honest!
I always planned on having the comic be for mature readers. So, I really didn’t have a problem with drawing nudity in How Unfortunate. I’ll admit it, I love drawing women (especially naked), and I really don’t have a problem drawing male nudity (It’ll eventually happen in HU). But I’d rather draw women. :P
Question 7
What is the worst thing anyone has said about your comic? Come on! Tell us something really harsh or unfair someone said!
At the Duck, there really hasn’t been anyone that said something mean. But someone (not naming names) said on the very first page cover that Brenda’s hair looked like a mullet (Which I’ll admit, it does). I’ve had a few people at conventions say that the artwork sucked. I just shrugged it off.
Question 8
There is a lot of violence in your comic, especially dismembered bodies! What image do you think is your goriest and have you ever made yourself wince a bit at the grisliness of your own picture?
There hasn’t really been any gory scenes that I’ve drawn in HU that have made me cringe (That’s because I’m a total horror movie nut. The gorier the movie, the more I love it.). In my opinion, the goriest pages I’ve made so far are page 72 and page 150.
Question 9
What is with Nordquist’s tache? That things a monster? Is he a retired porn star or something? And while we are on the subject, do you have tache? And what is your opinion on facial fuzz?
Ah, the famous Luke Nordquist soup strainer. There’s really no official reason why his mustache is so big and thick, or how he gets away with keeping it that way working as a police detective. Knowing Luke, he probably keeps it like that to piss off Captain Grobbe. Is he a former porn star? Unfortunately, no. As for my opinion on facial hair. I’m more of a side burns/goatee guy.
Question 10
There are a lot of characters and plot threads playing out in How Unfortunate. Is it all planned in advance or are you creating it as you go along?
Both. Most of the story, including major plot twists and the eventual ending, is already planned out. But there are a few characters and plots that were added on as the story progressed.
Question 11
Angry Vicar and his team seem pretty loveable, despite their evil intentions. Do you think they are drifting more towards being heroes as the story progresses? I am thinking of the prison riot scene where I found myself rooting for them against the other inmates.
The thought of Angry Vic becoming a hero would probably make his skin crawl. He has his villainous reputation to uphold, you know. But, despite his protest, he’s becoming a bit of a reluctant anti-hero. He’s going to play a pretty big role in the story when all is said and done.
Question 12
If you were an SP, what super power would you want? And how would you use your power? Secretly in your everyday life? To battle evil? Or to save the world?
Teleportation. Think of how much money would be saved on gas. No getting stuck in traffic jams.
Question 13
Who is your single favourite character in your comic? And, of course, why?
It would be too easy for me to say that Steve is my favorite since he’s the main character. And I do like him. But my favorite character is the Angry Vicar. He’s How Unfortunate’s patron (evil) saint of the downtrodden and the unappreciated evil crime lords. He’s a fun character to draw.
Question 14
Is there anything in your comic that you look back on and really dislike? Any early pages you regret or plots you wish you had laid out differently?
I wish that I had the time to refix a few of the first couple of chapters. Including the text and coloring. I also thought that I could’ve done a better job on the very first cover page.
Question 15
How long does it take to make a page of your comic? Do you find the creative process easy or tough?
Penciling and inking the page usually takes me about 2 to 3 hours, depending on how much is going on in the page. The coloring on the computer takes an extra 3 hours. The process most of the time is pretty easy. There are times when certain pages will drive me nuts.
Question 16
Agent Johnson has a lot of cool scars, can you give us some more info on how he got those? Who did that to him?
He accidently left a spoon in the microwave when he was heating up some soup. Poor guy.
Seriously, he received the scars from a fight he had with an S.P. a few years before the beginning of the How Unfortunate story. Which explains his hatred for S.P.’s.
Question 17
What is the best thing about having your own web comic? What keeps you going and gives you the will to keep making more pages?
It gives me the chance to do what I love. And I love to be given the chance to share my comic with everyone at the Duck and on the internet. And the fact that there are people out there reading HU helps me to keep it going on. What gives me the will to keep making pages? Caffeine.
Question 18
Can you give us any bonus info? Any hints at what is to come in the future of your comic? Gooo on, you know you want to! Give us a tasty hint!
Okay, I’ll give you a few hints without giving too much away.
-A few of the regulars in HU are soon going to kick the bucket. One or two of them will be real jaw-droppers.
-We’re going to find out something shocking about Luke’s recent past (No, he’s not a porn star).
-We’ll find out what Steve’s other premonitions are.
-A character from waaaay back from the beginning of the story will return.
and
-The Angry Vicar is going to find something that he lost.
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Round 8 - harkovast interviews jgib99 of How Unfortunate!
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