Comics Interview — Issue #049

Conducted the morning after their elaborately themed wedding at Atlanta's Dixie Trek convention, this wide-ranging interview covers the history of MICRA from its origins as a prose novel and rejected graphic-novel proposal to its eventual publication through Comics Interview Publications. Waldron discusses his background in adolescent psychology and his twelve years running the Atlanta Fantasy Fair, where he cultivated relationships with figures like Stan Lee, Jim Steranko, and Forrest Ackerman. Barrows describes her journey from graphic designer to letterer and editor on MICRA; both discuss MICRA's science-fiction themes — a domed future society where economic inequality is a central concern — and Waldron outlines plans for a follow-up 12-issue series and a possible prose novel adaptation.

Born in Thailand and raised in Kenya for thirteen years, Boonthanakit describes a colorful pre-comics life that included professional ballet dancing and musical theater with the Kenya National Theatre, an off-Broadway acting role, and commercial illustration in New York. He came to comics only after winning a Draw-Off competition at the Atlanta Fantasy Fair, where Lamar Waldron recruited him; MICRA #1 was the first comics story he ever drew. He credits his theater and dance background with giving him strong grasp of anatomy, staging, and character expression.

A veteran Marvel artist and editor who trained initially as a theater director (BFA and MA from University of Nebraska), Hall explains how he perpetually alternates between comics projects and stage work, having directed roughly 60–65 plays while also drawing WEST COAST AVENGERS, SQUADRON SUPREME, and now PSI FORCE. He co-authored and co-produced the long-running off-Broadway play THE PASSION OF DRACULA and has since written a FRANKENSTEIN adaptation performed in sign language by a theater for the deaf in Cleveland. Hall reflects on the evolution of Marvel's artistic culture, crediting Jim Shooter's improved page rates with enabling slower but more talented artists to sustain careers.

DAK's editorial describes his initial skepticism about MICRA's commercial prospects — a female lead in a science-fiction comic — and explains why he agreed to publish it: confidence in writer Lamar Waldron's organizational track record and the stunning painted artwork of Ted Boonthanakit, for whom MICRA #1 was his first-ever comics story.

Includes a letter from Michael Delle-Femine, Editor-in-Chief of CRACKED, correcting a name misspelling and noting Sol Brodsky's foundational role in creating CRACKED; and a long letter from Tim Barnes of Gloucester, England, offering detailed critical commentary on the earlier Frank Frazetta interview.