Indie Spotlight - Michael Waggoner

Michael Waggoner

  Continuing with our coverage and general promotion for the upcoming indie series TITANS, I interviewed colorist Michael Waggoner about the project and his general interests.

What attracted you to TITANS?

It would have to be the fusion of the multiple mythologies. Johnny has brought in these Gods and Goddesses from Norse, Egyptian, Greek and Roman folklore into this massive tale with unlimited possibilities. Plus the premise of the book is interesting. What if God was to retire...who would take over? It's going to be one wild ride.

What is your approach to working on the book?

We had some pretty lengthy discussions about the direction of book and the over all tone we wanted to portray. Both being fans of Hal Foster's Prince Valiant work, we decided that we wanted to go “old school” with the colors and Sean's artwork really mashed well with that concept. Limiting the color palette and using flat colors really gave it it's own voice. Few books take that approach these days, Paul Grist's Mudman is one of those and has been a great read by the way. Utilizing that limited color scheme to add depth and clarity has been a challenge. Not that we were trying to re-invent the wheel or anything...we just wanted to do something a bit different.

How long will you be on the project?

Titans #1 pg1 preview.

As long as Johnny wants me working on it, I'll be there.  

What tools do you use for coloring projects?

In the old days I used Martins dyes and painted the pages. Now I'm using Photoshop and sometimes GIMP for computer coloring. 

When did you get into comics?

I started reading comics in the early 80's. Whatever I could talk my mom into buying at the local Winn-Dixie or Safe-Way during our weekly grocery shopping trip was what came home with me. Like most kids, I instantly started writing and drawing my own comics. I was fortunate enough to have a great teacher, Chris Herrington, back in junior high who kept pushing me and my degenerate friends to write and draw comics at a time when many were getting out of it. I later got a job at the local baseball card shop and convinced them to carry new comics. I worked for there nearly 15 years, during those years, we set-up and promoted comic cons and trade shows. Giving me the opportunity to make friends in the comic business and I learned much from talking to the top pros.

What series do you read?

Currently I'm reading the Batman tiles, Legion of Super Heroes, Legion Lost, Sixth Gun, X-Factor, Animal Man, Mudman and Saga...as far as monthly titles from the majors go. The new Dial H and G.I. Combat had me reminiscing about the days of buying Action Comics and the first G.I. Combat run back in the 80's. I'm very excited about the VALIANT relaunch and have enjoyed the first two X-O Manowar and the first Harbinger. There are way too many indies to list here...many of which will be covered in the up-coming Comix Lab zine though.

Who are your favorite writers/artists?

This could be a long list...here's the short hand version. Bill Sienkiewicz, Jae Lee, Frank Miller, Neil Gaiman, Matt Feazell, Dave Sim, Mike Weringo, Peter David, Joe R. Lansdale, Jeff Lemire, Ernie Chan, Tony DeZunia and Jim Shooter...to name a few

What characters would you like to draw?

Batman and company for sure, Jonah Hex, Scalphunter, Shang-Chi, Moon Knight, a solo Rocket Raccoon, Iron Fist, Magick, Justice Machine, Elementals and American Eagle.

What writers would you like to work with?

Jeff Lemire, Cullen Bunn, Mark Waid, Rick Remender, Palmiotti and Gray, DnA and Paul Levitz would all be nice to work with. Joe R. Lansdale is one hell of a writer and a good friend who has allowed be the option to adapt his works in to comics form, so that one may be coming true in the very near future. My pal Jai Nitz should also be on the list. I got to say that Johnny Brown is tearing it up on Titans and that it's a pleasure to be working on that.

If you'd like to donate to help launch TITANS at Gen Con, you can visit its Indiegogo Page.

Michael Waggoner on Facebook 

TITANS on Facebook. 

Indie Spotlight - Johnny Mack Interview

Johnny Mack, the creator of upcoming book TITANS answered some questions for me. I'm here to help promote and support my fellow creators. Johnny is a member of the Wonderfunders! facebook group, the group responsible for my upcoming comic. So sit back and enjoy this interview, check out the links, and support Johnny in his endeavors!

When did you start reading comics?

My earliest memory of reading a comic was about five or six (circa 85-86). There was a Spiderman cartoon that would come on and of course Superfriends etc. I was given a ton of comics for Christmas that year because I said I wanted them. So My parents bought em for me…and thus my love affair with comics began.

What are your favorite comics?

Frenemy of the State which is by Rashida Jones (daughter of music producer Quincy Jones and actress Peggy Lipton of Mod Squad fame) Sailor Moon, Spell Checkers, Artifice, Johnny Saturn, and Teahouse (the last three are web comics.)

Who are your favorite writers?

That’s a tough question for me because writers in the comic medium don’t really get a lot of recognition at times unless they draw as well. I do in just general novelist; I love so many it’s hard to narrow the field.

When did you start writing comics?

I started back in the mid 90’s. Things were so different back then, internet was in its infancy and crowdfunding as well as digital/pod printing didn’t even exist. My friend John Cummings who is a talented artist in his own right and I tried to do a comic. Needless to say no one is buying copies of “Alternate 8” (lol)

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

From family and friends, the world around us, folklore, mythology and religion. Also, film genres of all kinds. I feed off a lot of things and places for inspiration.

When and how did you conceptualize TITANS?

The idea for it (TITANS) came from me writing for solace. My mother had just passed some time before that and I was writing a totally different comic based on a table top Mutants and Masterminds game my best friend Scott was running. It was so slow trying to write the script because it never felt organic…I couldn’t even get people to want to work on it with me or to at least stay a while to work on it. One day like out of left field the idea came to me for “TITANS” and I began to write it and never looked back.

What can you tell us about the book without giving too much away?

Ok, so God has decided he is going to retire from being the “Supreme Ruler” so he decides to open his job up to other pantheon of gods, demi-gods and heroes. Only thing is that they have to fight to the death for the job…but of course there is more than meets the eye to all this. So if you want to know more folks, please read our baby when it comes out this summer (lol).

What is your goal for the length of the series? Ongoing or is there a definite ending you're working towards?

I view it (the comic) like a tv series. I have planned five seasons the first arch consisting of twelve issues with the rest being somewhere between 18-24 issues. Audacious I know! Also, there will be four graphic novels in between each arch and some special mini archs. So, needless to say the comic will be around for a while .

Tell us about the team working on the book.

I have an amazing team of people behind me; I have Sean Hill who does the amazing artwork, Michael Waggoner on the colors and Stephen Schilling who does, lettering, layout & design. I also can’t forget my web guy Michael Surma and my editor Jessica Fishburn.

Preview art from TITANS #1

What is your plan to publish the book?

We are going to self-produce and publish this baby under our own banner "Underground Comix". It’s scary and exciting all in the same time.

Are you currently working on anything else?

Yeah, Waggoner and I have assembled a team together to produce a comic magazine called “Comix Lab” and I got a few other comic ideas brewing and coming together.

What are your career goes in regards to writing? Do you wish to remain in the realm of comics or expand into other mediums?

Well, I writer screenplays and I am gearing up to write some cookbooks as I love to cook and am a foodie/ food scientist. So I hope to continue to write in all three mediums as they all are exciting, challenging and rewarding in their own right.

What comic artists would you like to work with in the future?

There are some killer artist that I have meet through a group I am involved with on Facebook (Wonderfunders) and I have to say the one I am dying to work with is Brian Germain. I so want him to do a book or at least a cover…something!

Underground Comix 

TITANS on Facebook 

Underground Comix on Twitter 

TITANS on Indiegogo