Roy Thomas
Writer, DC / Marvel (Freelance)
Working on: Young All-Stars, All-Star Squadron, Secret Origins; SAGA OF THE SUB-MARINER
Part one of a wide-ranging career retrospective, Thomas recounts his origins as a fanzine editor (ALTER EGO), his brief unhappy stint under Mort Weisinger at DC, and his hiring by Stan Lee at Marvel in 1965. He discusses the early Marvel Bullpen, his work on X-Men, Avengers (including the Kree-Skrull War with Neal Adams and the creation of the Vision), Doctor Strange, Sub-Mariner, and The Invaders, offering detailed anecdotes about working relationships with Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Neal Adams, Gene Colan, and Bill Everett. Thomas reflects on his love of historical fiction and Golden Age characters, and his ongoing interest in World War II settings.
Ty Templeton
Artist, DC Comics
Working on: Justice League International (fill-in/ongoing); Stig's Inferno (Vortex)
Toronto-based artist Templeton discusses taking over Justice League International from Kevin Maguire, admitting he accepted the job primarily for exposure and money despite preferring alternative/indie-style humor comics. He praises Keith Giffen's breakdown system as a useful storytelling foundation, expresses admiration for Jack Kirby's design work (especially Big Barda), and is candid about wanting to eventually leave mainstream superheroes to return to creator-owned indie work.
Jim Bradrick
Artist/Animator, Dark Horse Comics
Working on: Wacky Squirrel, Boris the Bear backups; INSANE! parodies
Bradrick, a TV commercial animator from Portland, explains how he entered comics through Dark Horse after his partner Randy Emberlin connected him with the company; he designed Wacky Squirrel as a Tex Avery-influenced funny animal character originally appearing as Boris the Bear backups. He discusses his animation background, influences (Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, Walt Kelly), his parody work for INSANE!, and expresses hope that Who Framed Roger Rabbit will revitalize both animation and funny animal comics.
Keith Giffen
Artist/Plotter, DC Comics
Working on: Justice League International, Justice League Europe, Legion of Super-Heroes
Andy Helfer
Editor/Writer, DC Comics
Working on: Justice League International (editor), The Shadow (writer), Mister Miracle
The JLI creative team explains that the book's comedic tone evolved organically rather than by design, rooted in the concept of superheroes behaving naturally when off-duty among themselves. Giffen describes his visual plotting/breakdown method as setting the book's rhythm, while Helfer credits writer Marc DeMatteis and letterer Bob Lappan as essential contributors. They discuss the upcoming Justice League Europe spin-off, Helfer's black-humor approach to The Shadow, and Giffen's return to Legion of Super-Heroes.
A short meditation on storytelling as one of humanity's oldest professions, arguing that fiction writers are essentially paid to lie in the most respectable way possible.
A lengthy letter from reader Danny DeAngelo complains about the editorial treatment of reader letters at Amazing Heroes and Comics Buyer's Guide, specifically regarding Kevin Dooley's public mockery of a fellow reader and Max Allan Collins's editorial response to a critical letter.