From: [L--L--S] at [aol.com] Date: Tue, 4 Jul 1995 08:10:41 -0400 Subject: Addlesee Interview This is an interview with Steve Addlesee, who has been active in both the small press and pro level comics since the early 80's. He also runs a few APA's and has some great advice in many areas. I hope you enjoy the interview. This was presented as part of the LEAD BALLOONS comic news service over on CompuServe. LB has been up for two months and is uploaded three to four times a week. Recent downloads has been approaching the 30-40 range per installment, nice considering there has been very little done to promote LB. Hope you enjoy the interview. Ronald-Thomas Fleming Editor LEAD BALLOONS ***** 1) HOW ABOUT A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON STEVE ADDLESEE? I'm 36 (which means I'm 18 the second time around), originally from Columbus, Georgia, currently living in Sandy, Utah. I'm a professional comics talent with an Associate of Science degree in Computer Information Systems. I'm married to Cathy Webb. I was born in Berlin, Germany on August 10, 1958 to Ralph and Irene Addlesee. Through my childhood, adolescence and adulthood, I taught myself to write, draw, and letter comics. In 1981 I began my career in small-press fandom and APAs. My first published credit was as penciller of an 8-page episode of THE STAR SLAYERS #7 by Ultrazine. Through the years I've been in several APAs. Currently, I'm a member of WE THE PEOPLE and Central Mailer of NYAPA (soon to be renamed MyAPA), Shoptalk, and X-APA. After several frustrating years of trying to establish myself in comics prodom, I achieved my first professional published credit in 1993 as an inker of POWER DEFENSE #1 by Miller Publishing. DON'T YOU HAVE YOUR OWN ZINE ABOUT YOURSELF? Yes. I produce COLT, a quarterly personalzine of F.O.A.L. (Friends Of A Legend) International. F.O.A.L. is my fan club of which my wife Cathy is president. The first issue was released in May, 1993 and I've just released my ninth issue. Mainly through word-of-mouth advertising, I've gathered 27 members. COLT features my artwork on my current assignments, and commentary on my career, hobbies and philosophy. Also COLT includes a feature spotlighting members, and occasionally included a convention report and fanmail. Usually I include something extra like the F.O.A.L. calendar, or a F.O.A.L. badge. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SELF-PUBLISHING? Since my callow youth. Of course, it took years to develop them to where I wasn't embarassed to show them. ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS AND STORIES APPEAR ANYWHERE? Not yet, although I'm working on two projects that feature my characters. The first is a superhero series titled CARC. As well as the starring character, he has a small group of fellow costumed adventurers who assist him (DEATHstreak, Incarcerator #2, Dark Hope, Jackal, and Freeman Rogue). Another project is an 8-page bi-monthly feature that will be in JIHAD by Dark Dimension Publications. This may appeal to the furry fans, as the lead character is Fawn, a magically-altered deer turned humanoid. This story includes a couple more characters from my inventory (Grimalkin and Solomon Stone). JIHAD is supposed to be out in August. CARC will be released when I have the first four issues print-ready. This series will also be published by Dark Dimension Publications. SO WHERE HAS YOUR WORK APPEARED? Besides my APAzines, the occasional issue of the COLLECTORS' CLUB NEWSLETTER and FAHRION FRONTIERS (the fanzine of the U.S.S. Fahrion, a local Starfleet chapter), my professional comic-related credits are as an inker of POWER DEFENSE #1 by Miller Publishing; a columnist for SEZ WHO?! #1 by Main Publishing; a columnist and cartoonist for SEZ WHO?! #2 by Dark Dimension Publications; and, most recently, as inker of the cover and lead story in PRIMITIVES #2 by SpareTime Studios. In 1993, I collaborated with DC artist Sal Velluto and inked two strips with scenes from "The Magic Flute" and "Macbeth" for the Utah Opera. Those strips appeared in various trade publications. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CURRENT PROJECTS YOU'RE INVOLVED WITH? CARC (DDP): I'm inking and lettering the first issue, pencilled by Seppo Makinen. I'm also the creator and writer of the series. SEZ WHO?! (DDP): I've completed articles for my "Sez Me!" column and "Badgerwolf" comic strips for issues #3 & #4. Michael Wolff is the writer of the "Badgerwolf" strip. JIHAD (DDP): I'm inking and lettering the first 8-page feature, written by Michael Wolff and pencilled by Dann Phillips. I'm also the creator of the feature. PRIMITIVES (SpareTime Studios): I'm waiting for the pages of PRIMITIVES #3 from penciller Larry Merrill. Steve Campbell is the writer of the series. THE LEGEND OF YORE RPG (Galileo Games): I'm drawing character illustrations for a new role-playing game that should be out in August by Brennan Taylor and Krista White. I'm waiting for assignments from Azure Press, Cybergraphix Animation, and Rising Phoenix Comics Group. ARE YOU STRONGEST AS AN ARTIST, WRITER OR INKER? I think I'm strongest as an inker, as that's where I receive the most praise from fans and fellow comic professionals. DO YOU SEE YOUR WORK IN COMICS AS A HOBBY THING OR SOMETHING THAT COULD BE FULL-TIME? I'd like to see my comics career become a full-time job. Actually, it's already a full-time job, I just wish the pay justified the efforts. ARE YOU SURPRISED AT HOW FAR YOU HAVE COME? If anything I'm surprised at how long it's taken me just to get this far. In 1983 I tried to establish myself in comics prodom. After tens of rejections and signing up with many new publishing groups that would fold within a year, I called it an attempted career in 1987. During that time, some of my fellow talents in small-press seemed to be snapped up by a major publisher with their first submission after just a year or two in the "trenches." I returned in 1990, endured a lesser number of rejections, but still had the misfortune of working for groups that would eventually fold before my work was published. Fortunately, I now have a few published credits, and am working for groups that have some staying power. My next steps are to get established with a major publisher, so I can better suppliment my income. WHAT WERE SOME OF THE OBSTACLES AND CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FAVED OVER THE YEARS? As for obstacles, I mentioned the rejections and unstability of publisher wannabes in my previous answer. Also, I had little to no networking among my peers. In my early years, some of them regarded me as the opposition. Once they got the nod, they snubbed me (and some of those are now well-known names in the industry). Thankfully, when I tried again in 1990, I had some warm contacts, such as letterer Susan Dorne. She was instrumental in aiming me in the direction of publishers and fellow pros seeking talent. As for challenges, one is to maintain my professionalism, even when the publisher, comics pro, or fan I'm dealing with doesn't deserve it. Another challenge was when I collaborated with Sal Velluto on the two strips for the Utah Opera. Sal brought me to his studio and hovered over me while I inked. I felt as if I was an art student in a European university. Sal was a taskmaster, but I swallowed my ego, learned some techniques, and improved my inking skills. Sal would give me copies of pencilled pages to take home and work on as a homework assignment. In my next visit, he would evaluate them. When I received his nod of approval, I knew I had successfully reached a higher level in my inking skills. My association with Sal was the first time I "jammed" with a fellow professional. HOW HAVE COMICS CHANGED OVER TIME? In just the last ten years the stories and characters have gotten more grim and vigilant. Even the more sterling superheroes can kill if the cause is just. Death has had a field decade (as opposed to a field day). I remember when the death of a supporting character was a landmark issue; now entire cities are wiped out at a whim. Also, the characters undergo more dilemmas. Just pick a popular character and within the last five years, they've undergone at least one devastating physical or mental setback (Batman's broken back, Wolverine's adamantiumless skeleton, Captain America's physique. I also remember Tony Stark's alcoholism, Hal Jordan's change from hero to villain, and the current situation with the Punisher); had at least one family member or close friend die; or had at least one love relationship go sour. Yet the characters persevere. However, if readers are looking for the good ol' days when the hero(es) main concern was defeating the villain(s) from robbing a bank, laboratory, or jewelry store and getting to work/school/dinner at Aunt Matilda's on-time, they're better off re-reading comics from the 60s and 70s that they have in their collection. On a more positive note, writing and artwork has greatly improved in comics. Writers now write a continuing feature for many issues as opposed to the one-issue story. Since comics are a more visual medium, the artwork has greatly improved, in general. Artists Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, and John Byrne were the top three in the 1994 CBG Awards for "Favorite Penciller," while Scott Williams, Todd McFarlane, and Terry Austin were the top three for "Favorite Inker" (I hope to place well in that category in this year's balloting). ARE COMICS GETTING BETTER OR WORSE? That depends on what the reader is looking for. If the reader enjoys pathos; reading of their character undergoing the tortures of Prometheus and/or the labors of Hercules, then they're having a wonderful time. If they're looking for happy endings, they're still looking. If it's for the artwork, they're having a wonderful time as well. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES AND NOT SO FAVORITE COMICS BEING PUBLISHED TODAY? I don't have the income to bare the shelves of the local comic stores, so I'm unable to speculate on the current titles. Looking back, I enjoyed Rich Buckler's DEATHLOK THE DEMOLISHER series (a precedent-setting series of a chaotic, post-apocalyptic future); John Ostrander's GRIMJACK series (a mercenary in a chaotic multi-dimensional setting who was capable of being evil, yet he had a sense of honor, ethics, and valued friendship); Alan Moore's WATCHMEN (a more realistic look of a group of costumed adventurers; how their philosophies and conduct changed through the decades). Currently (just for yoks), I read Erik Larsen's FREAK FORCE. One new series that deserves looking into is PRIMITIVES by SpareTime Studios. The series is original (for those who are tired of the new superhero/superteam on the stands). This is the story of some of Earth's original tenants who return to present-day Earth and are appalled at what they discover. 20,000 years ago, an alien race called the Kreel came to Earth and kidnapped fifteen cavemen of the Long-Tusk Clan. Of the fifteen, five survived (reasons not yet revealed). Those five (Mog, Murch, Dok, Steg, and Grall) underwent the Kreel enhancement process that strengthened their bodies and minds (they stand seven feet tall, weigh 450 lbs., and are capable of lifting and throwing an automobile). Somehow (reason unrevealed), the Primitives take a spaceship (the T'KAR) and return to present-day Earth. After stopping a landfill fire that almost set off 1,241 barrels of illegally-buried picric acid, and stopping World War III, the Primitives are about to show the citizens of Earth the error of their ways. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW CREATORS? To creators: Be original with your concepts. Lord knows we have enough customed, grim vigilantes. To pencillers and inkers: Do your best work. My father summed it up best when he wrote this in my 1976 high school annual: "Do your part along the way and do your very best. You are not required to do any more, you can't afford to do any less. And time goes marching on." YOU ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN APA'S, RIGHT? I've been involved with APAs since 1982. X-APA is my first APA (I just released my 75th issue of CARCAJOU). I've been with a number of APAs through the years before settling with the four I'm with now. They are NYAPA, Shoptalk, We The People, and X-APA. I'm the C.M. of three APAs (NYAPA, Shoptalk, X-APA). I've held this title back in 1989 when I was the C.M. of APA-69 Classic, Bodyslam, and NYAPA. Unless I'm very mistaken, I'm the first to achieve those titles. When I'm not APAhacking, I'm establishing a career in comics prodom. Among my published credits are as an inker of Power Defense #1 by Miller Publishing, a columnist for Sez Who?! #1 by Main Publishing, a columnist and cartoonist for Sez Who?! #2 by Dark Dimension Publications, and an inker for Primitives #2 by SpareTime Studios. Here is my current status with the groups I'm involved with: Badgerwolf: I'm the creator, inker, and letterer of the Carc series. DDP: I have an opinion column "Sez Me!" and I draw the "Badgerwolf" strip for Sez Who?! Also, I'm the creator, inker, and letterer of the "Fawn" feature for Jihad. Galileo Games: I'm slated to draw character illos for the Legend of Yore RPG. SpareTime Studios: I'll be inking Primitives #3. I'm involved with a few other groups, but I'm waiting for assignments from them. HOW WOULD ONE START THEIR OWN APA? WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO START AN APA? I guess the prestige of being C.M. is a factor; especially if the APA is successful. To start an APA it would help for the C.M. wannabe to advertise in APAs they're associated with, as well as any small-press fanzines that allow such advertisements. Or they could contact Eric Watts of The New Moon Directory. I'm sure he can assist in getting the APA-to-be some exposure. ANY ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO APA'S? If at all possible, try to nip in-house feuds (First Amendment be damned). They serve no purpose other than to lower memberships and possibly kill an APA. ANY APA'S THAT YOU WOULD SUGGEST? Those that I run. NYAPA, Shoptalk, and X-APA. NYAPA is a general topic APA; Shoptalk is watering hole for amateur and professional comic talents; X-APA is the X-Men APA. For those who are into politics, there's We The People (Michael Wolff, P.O. Box 57218, Webster, TX 77598). ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT APA'S? For thirteen years I've been involved with APAs. I won't say they've been wonderful years, but through participation I've managed to improve my writing and artistic skills. I've also managed to make some good friends (and some adversaries). I've managed to network on occasions to improve my career in comics. I can safely say that my life would've been very different had it not been for APAs. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW CREATORS? To creators: Be original with your concepts. Lord knows we have enough customed, grim vigilantes. To pencillers and inkers: Do your best work. My father summed it up best when he wrote this in my 1976 high school annual: "Do your part along the way and do your very best. You are not required to do any more, you can't afford to do any less. And time goes marching on." ( You can reach Steven R. Addlesee via online at: [steve addlesee] at [lcars.com] )