Comics Interview — Issue #055

Interviewed on the occasion of Southern Knights #25, Vogel discusses the book's six-year run and how DAK's involvement as publisher freed him to focus on writing. He offers sharp opinions on the b&w market crash (blaming over-ordering triggered by Turtles mania), the trend toward darkness and violence in mainstream comics, and the importance of humor and humanity in his books. He previews upcoming story arcs for Southern Knights (a Connie mini-series, meeting the Crusaders) and X-Thieves (microseries on Fred and Bianca's pasts, the return of Hunk), and discusses the sci-fi backup series Missing Beings, which features what Vogel claims is the only practicing homosexual artificial intelligence in comics.

Self-taught artist Peppers recounts how he broke into Southern Knights, the frustrations of showing his portfolio at conventions before landing the gig, and his artistic influences (Kirby above all, Byrne, Miller). He discusses his work on the Dragon mini-series, his philosophy that good art should be immediately readable without requiring effort, and his collaboration with Zimmerman on the upcoming mini-series Magna-Man: The Last Superhero.

In a joint interview, Marvel's promotion manager and publicity director explain their distinct but complementary roles: Rutt targets the general consumer press emphasizing social and literary significance of titles like The 'Nam, while Saffel focuses on the direct market retailer with advance information and creator credentials. They discuss the growth of media interest in comics as a business story and Marvel's use of imprints (Epic, Star) and the Comics Code to signal audience range to retailers.

Part two of an interview with the Pacific Comics founder and current Blackthorne publisher, focused on the legal and financial mechanics of Pacific's collapse. Schanes explains that Pacific chose informal liquidation over bankruptcy to maximize creditor payouts, describes the "Black September" Marvel product flood that caused catastrophic inventory buildup, and recounts how Pacific pioneered creator ownership and royalties — reforms that forced Marvel to create the Epic line.

DAK reflects on Southern Knights reaching issue #25, praising the series as one of only 22 titles in the Overstreet Price Guide with every issue listed as hot, and argues that the book's best days are still ahead.

Reader responses include a correction disputing a Vietnam veteran suicide statistic cited in a previous issue, praise for the all-Perez issue #50, and a request for help connecting comics artists to an Elsie Segar tribute project in Chester, Illinois.