I was about to leave for a ten hour road trip, but I quickly sent him the first four questions that came to mind first. I found out at the other end of that trip that Mr. Ellis, true gentleman that he is, responded to my questions within the hour. Here's what he had to say:

With what piece of work would you like to introduce new readers to your work and why?

Probably the first two TRANSMET collections -- I think they still show a fair range, from comedy to tragedy and back again.

If you were a new writer to comics today, how would you break in?

By going and doing something else first. If you're looking to break into commercial comics, you have to prove that you're worth having, and that means more than just being able to write better than me. Get published by a small house, so that you have a published example to show around. Sell some short stories, get on TV, make a CD, anything. Be aware that you're selling yourself as an asset.

What's the worst insult you've ever gotten over?

Who remembers insults?

What kind of practices can be implemented by new comic creators to move comics as a medium in a direction you'd like to see it go?

Write original work. Simple as that. If you want to get into comics specifically because you're dying to write Spider-Man, I don't want to know you.

Thanks so much!

I remembering having some trouble finding the initial reading order for Transmetropolitan (which he recommends above) especially in this age of ordering books online. They really are fun (and not for children). So FYI the first five books of the series are, in order:

1. Transmetropolitan: Back on the Street
2. Transmetropolitan: Lust for Life
3. Transmetropolitan: Year of the Bastard
4. Transmetropolitan: The New Scum
5. Transmetropolitan: Lonely City

Enjoy and much thanks to Mr. Ellis.

Filed under Comic Stripping, Journal, Peers & Peerless

Comments: Discuss this entry at LiveJournal

Posted by: msonyxx at December 6, 2006 3:34 AM