In today’s Questionable Comics we talk to an editor and a writer/letterer. Up first is Daniel Chabon, who edits a number of series for Dark Horse, including the new Margaret Atwood, Johnnie Christmas and Tamra Bonvillain series Angel Catbird, which is the feature length debut of the celebrated novelist.
What current projects are you working on?
Mostly creator-owned comics. Current comics I’m editing are:
Angel Catbird by Margaret Atwood, Johnnie Christmas, & Tamra Bonvillain
Beasts of Burden by Evan Dorkin & Jill Thompson
Black Hammer by Jeff Lemire, Dean Ormston, & Dave Stewart
Bounty by Kurtis Wiebe, Mindy Lee, & Leonardo Olea
Dept. H by Matt & Sharlene Kindt
Harrow County by Cullen Bunn & Tyler Crook
House of Penance by Peter Tomasi, Ian Bertram, & Dave Stewart
Mae by Gene Ha
I also am editing books by Dave McKean, Douglas Rushkoff, Geof Darrow, Mike Oeming, & Neil Gaiman.
I got lots more cooking too!
Use one word to describe how you work.
Constant.
What’s your workspace like?
Pretty clean actually. I’m not OCD or anything but I feel like if my office is a mess then I might be leaving important papers buried under other important papers and things will never get done.
What do you listen to when you work?
NPR, Pavement, lots of podcasts–I like WTF with Marc Maron and This American Life. Sometimes I’ll listen to songs I think might be fun to sing for karaoke during the weekend.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Thoroughly take into consideration both sides of the argument before you to take a side. I went to law school–they really drill that stuff into your head.
Email or Skype?
Email always. It’s the quickest way I can get back to people and keep things moving forward.
A page from Angel Catbird, the Margaret Atwood series Daniel Chabon edits for Dark Horse
Organizing projects – on paper, or in the cloud?
Paper. All my active projects I print out copies of and hang them on my wall for reference.
What’s the one thing you wish you could improve about your work?
Maybe slowing down? I tend to get back to people right away to keep things moving forward. I don’t like to leave people hanging, but also I worry I may be acting too quickly.
When’s the best time to work?
At work. I never stop working unfortunately. Folks tend to get emails from me even after midnight. I suck.
Who do you consider to be inspirational creators in your field (classic and modern)?
I am pretty blessed and inspired by all the creators I’ve had the opportunity to work with so far. Jack Kirby will always be king though. 🙂
Paul Allor is a veteran writer with a number of credits on licensed properties like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and G.I. Joe. He has also been developing a number of more personal works, including Tet and Past the Last Mountain.
What current projects are you working on?
Tet, my mini-series with artist Paul Tucker, is out now. Nothing else has been announced yet, but I’m really, really, really happy with some things I have in the works. Thinking about them gives me upwards of two, maybe even three minutes of happiness and satisfaction. It’s pretty sweet. [Since this questionnaire was conducted, Paul Allor hasbeen writing G.I. Joe: Deviations and has also been working on Past the Last Mountain with Louie Joyce, which currently has a Kickstarter campaign going, fund it here].
Use one word to describe how you work.
Constantly.
What’s your workspace like?
Pretty boring. I work out of my apartment. My desk faces the wall. My computer is on my desk. I have two monitors for when I letter, because that’s how cool I am.
What do you listen to when you work?
It depends on what I’m working on. When I’m lettering I’ll watch Netflix or listen to podcasts. My musical tastes are pretty wide-ranging. Lately I’ve been listening quite a bit to Okkervil River, the Punch Brothers, The Detroit Cobras, Memphis Minnie, Tony Joe White, Charles Mingus, Tift Merritt.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Stay hydrated.
How do you get into writing mode?
I never feel like I’m in writing mode. It’s always hard. I always have to push myself. You just have to sit down and do it.
A sequence from Paul Allor and Louie Joyce’s creator owned series Past the Last Mountain
Full script or Marvel Method?
Full script. Occasionally I’ll have a page or two where I do something looser, but always with purpose, and after talking it over with the artist.
What’s the one thing you wish you could improve about your work?
The one thing! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! The ONE THING, he says! Man, this guy. This fucking guy, am I right?
When’s the best time to work?
I am not aware of a good time to write. See above re: it’s always hard.
Who do you consider to be inspirational creators in your field (classic and modern)?
Man, so many I could name. But I’m going to say C.K. Williams, who was one of the biggest influences on my writing, and who passed away recently. Go look up C.K. Williams’ “Even If I Could.” You’ll be glad you did.
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