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Off the Record...
 Amanda
Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti have more than just successful
Comic Book careers in common... they're engaged. With
projects like TWO-STEP, HAWKMAN, MONOLITH and CLOUDBURST
coming out now or in the near future, they're also pretty
busy. We chatted with them recently about what it is
like working together, why Amanda likes designing women
in sexy outfits, and why Jimmy isn't worried about winning
any popularity contests (he's too busy!).
CBEtc: How did the two of you meet?
Amanda : We were both working on different projects
for the same editor, Hildy Mesnick. She asked if I wanted
to have Jimmy ink my covers on GARGOYLES and I said
"Absolutely!" He has been doing a great job
over me ever since.
CBEtc: Hmmm... No wonder you stay with him...
Amanda & Jimmy: [Laughs]
CBEtc: When you meet fans, do people think the two of
you are married?
Amanda: This may come as a surprise to you, but we are
still not married yet… just engaged. It’s
actually kind of fun staying engaged and I am sort of
dreading the idea of a big wedding.
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"The book sold out its overprint run of
5,000 books and retailers still ordered issues
3 and 4 at 40% less than the first issue after
it sold out. I am getting emails from fans saying
they cannot find the book at their retailers…
"
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CBEtc: Speaking of partners, Jimmy, you have a
bunch of writing projects going on currently, such as
HAWKMAN, MONOLITH and CLOUDBURST. All of them have Justin
Gray as the co-writer (who is also a member of Jimmy
and Amanda's website www.paperfilms.com). How do the
two of you work together on these titles?
Jimmy: We meet, throw ideas at each other and see what
sticks. The internet and instant messenger helps us
out a lot as well. We have two very different ideas
about what we like to see structure wise and I think
the mixture helps each and every book we work on.
We are great friends and working partners… so
its give and take and give some more till it is all
done. We each have our individual strengths, so we both
agree that the combination always results in a flattering
amalgam of storytelling.
CBEtc: MONOLITH #1 was a sell-out for DC Comics.
Were you surprised by the fans reaction to #1?
Jimmy: What surprised me was the lack of orders from
the retailers when they were presented with such a strong
product at a discount price. The book sold out its overprint
run of 5,000 books and retailers still ordered issues
3 and 4 at 40% less than the first issue after it sold
out. I am getting emails from fans saying they cannot
find the book at their retailers… and that does
not help launch a new book at all.
I think the book will do better when the retailers start
to see the Monolith in other titles as well… which
will be happening soon. We hope the heat will build
with the book and the audience becomes more vocal. You
should see what others are saying on the DC Comic message
boards already.
CBEtc: For those who have missed out on early issues,
what is MONOLITH about?
Jimmy: In a nutshell, it’s about two young girls
living in a house left to one of them by her grandmother,
and a monster in the basement that goes out at night
and kills the bad guys. The book and its characters
are set in the DC Comics Universe and even Batman makes
an appearance in issues 6 through 8.
The nice part is, for only $2.50 a month, you get 22
pages of story that is not decompressed so you have
to buy a year's worth to get one story told. This is
a reader’s book with brilliant art by Phil Winslade.
Really… go out and pick up issue one and all your
questions can be answered.
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"I know I had a lot of fun doing it and
hopefully people have as many giggles reading
it as I did doing it. Look for weird stuff in
different panels and in the backgrounds. In one
panel, there are two characters that are from
my favorite T.V. show."
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CBEtc: TWO-STEP is a collaboration between the
two of you and writer Warren Ellis. Is this your first
work together?
Amanda: The first time we worked with Warren was on
a Vampirella story and that was a lot of fun. But TWO-STEP
was HUGE amounts of fun because the characters are so
crazy and I love the idea of doing books with a really
comedic side to them.
CBEtc: You have jokingly referred to TWO-STEP as
your "Tri-Annual Mini-Series." What has been
the delay?
Amanda: Mostly because Warren and I are not the biggest
speed demons in the world.
CBEtc: Is issue #3 worth the wait?
Amanda : God… I hope so! [Laughs] I know I had
a lot of fun doing it and hopefully people have as many
giggles reading it as I did doing it.
CBEtc: What are some of things that made you giggle?
Amanda: Look for weird stuff in different panels and
in the backgrounds. In one panel, there are two characters
that are from my favorite T.V. show.
CBEtc: Which T.V. show?
Amanda: I'll give you a hint... it was cancelled by
one network and picked up by another, and the show takes
place in London!
CBEtc: Amanda, during your and Jimmy's all-too-brief
stint on BIRDS OF PREY (47, 48, 49, 50), you redesigned
Black Canary's outfit to include the fishnet stockings
once again. Do you get a kick out of giving women sexy
outfits, or are you just pandering to what the fan-boys
want?
Amanda: I actually really do enjoy giving women sexy
outfits. I draw them wearing what I wish I could get
away with when I’m walking down the streets of
NYC [Laughs].
CBEtc: Speaking of characters showing a lot of skin,
HAWKMAN is getting a new direction. Jimmy, what can
you tell us about your take on the winged wonder?
Jimmy: Flesh and blood is the thing we are shooting
for with the main characters. Justin and I want to put
all their drives to the test and turn them up a couple
of notches. Emotions, sexuality and plenty of carnage
are the key factors in the title as far as we see them.
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"Justin and I want to put all their drives
to the test and turn them up a couple of notches.
Emotions, sexuality and plenty of carnage are
the key factors in the title... This book is going
to the next hot thing for DC. You watch…
"
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CBEtc: Anything about upcoming issues you can share?
Jimmy: We have some really cool cameos and super villains
coming soon. This book is going to the next hot thing
for DC. You watch… I know things other people don’t.
I got friends on the inside! [Laughs]
CBEtc: What sets your run apart from others?
Jimmy: I am working on it. Isn’t that enough? [Laughs]
I feel all the color-by-numbers scripts have been done
to death and Justin and I are going to try our hardest
to give the readers something to invest their hard earned
money in.
We want to give them something beautiful to look at and
a book that can be re-read over and over and be enjoyed
for a long time. We're not looking for a quick fix here.
I can't stand disposable storytelling.
CBEtc: Will the JSA be playing more or less of a role
in the pages of HAWKMAN?
Jimmy: They will be there, but this is not the JSA title.
Its all about our winged friends and the madness they
call their lives. We have guest stars stopping by and
characters that have never been seen as well, but at its
core… its all Hawkman and Kendra.
CBEtc: Amanda, you did the cover for Jimmy's upcoming
CLOUDBURST GN for Image Comics. Why didn't you do the
interior art? Was this not a Jimmy-Justin-Amanda project?
Amanda: This is a project that Jimmy and Justin and Zeu
and Chris Shy have already planned on doing together for
a long time. I am just glad and thankful that they thought
to ask me to do the cover.
CBEtc: What is CLOUDBURST about?
Jimmy: Its our sci –fi movie in a book. The budget
on this one is $200 million plus. We've got aliens, sexy
woman, soldiers with guns, space ships and a planet whose
ecological system change causes the planet to be turned
inside out. Its "Aliens" and "Predator"
with a mix of "Pitch Black." The one shot has
a beginning, middle and end. Novel, isn’t it?
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"Its our sci –fi movie
in a book. The budget on this one is $200 million
plus. We've got aliens, sexy woman, soldiers with
guns, space ships and a planet whose ecological
system change causes the planet to be turned inside
out. Its 'Aliens' and 'Predator' with a mix of
'Pitch Black.' The one shot has a beginning, middle
and end. "
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CBEtc: Speaking of "novel," why a graphic
novel and not a mini-series?
Jimmy: I like graphic novels and one-sitting reading.
To drag this out over months, well... this type of story
suffers like that.
CBEtc: Earlier in your career, Jimmy, your name
was associated with Joe Quesada. It seemed like if Quesada
penciled it, you inked it. Have you found your increasing
writing assignments have helped create more of a identity
for yourself?
Jimmy: I was inking a lot of people back then and Joe
was a major one for sure. I think the minute I left
Marvel Knights I got a better focus on what I wanted
to do. The writing has always been there, from as far
back as Event Comics. Those characters did not create
themselves. My identity is whatever people think of
me.
People getting into comics the past two years think
all I do is write. People around longer know me as inker,
publisher, editor and writer. All I care about is what
they think of the work I do. I’m not running for
mayor or part of a popularity contest, so its all good.
[Laughs]
CBEtc: As an artist, Amanda, do you find it easier
working with Jimmy the Artist or Jimmy the Writer?
Amanda: Hmmm, that’s a tough one. I guess that
would depend on what kind of mood the two of us are
in. I think the toughest Jimmy to work with is Jimmy
the Editor and Jimmy the guy who is sick of smelling
the big turd in the cat box.
CBEtc: What's next on the horizon for Amanda &
Jimmy?
Amanda: Jimmy has some excellent writing ideas that
I cannot wait to work on, we just need to find a company
that isn’t scared off by those ideas. We are also
doing a book very similar to THE PRO with Garth Ennis
[same art team, same writer, same format, same company],
but it will have totally new characters.
CBEtc: Okay, now is the time for "2099"
portion of our interview. It’s basically an "either/or"
type of response, but you can answer whatever first
pops into your head.
Interiors or Covers:
Amanda: Interiors. I love telling a story with pictures.
I still love doing covers, though, but you can have
a lot of fun doing a sequential scene
Jimmy: Interiors…. can't remember, except for
Catwoman, that I even get to friggin ink the covers
unless its Amanda
X-Men 1 or X-Men 2:
Amanda: Spider-Man
Jimmy: X-Men bore me. Sorry… kids movies in my
mind
X-Box or Playstation:
Amanda: Whatever makes Jimmy happier… he is the
game player between the two of us
Jimmy: X-Box
First print or trade paperback:
Amanda: Trade paperback
Jimmy: Trade all the way. Comics have outlived their
format
Eat out or delivery:
Amanda: Eat out unless there is good T.V. on
Jimmy: Eat out with Amanda… she has pretty eyes
to stare into across a table
Mac or PC:
Amanda: PC is the only one I know
Jimmy: PC all the way. Want me to fish out my two dead
Mac computers from the trash for you?
Star Wars or Star Trek:
Amanda: Ooooooooh, hmmmmm, let me get back to you on
that one… ohhh… I dunno…. To decide,
there is no try… there is only do or do not…..
dammit, Jim! I’m an artist… not a master
interviewee…. [Laughs]
Jimmy: Love them both… enjoying Enterprise like
hell
Smaller Top - Hawkman or Vampirella:
Amanda: They look about the same to me, they just cover
different parts
Jimmy: Vampi in a heartbeat
Squeeze from the middle or at the end (toothpaste):
Amanda: End… I can be very anal retentive
Jimmy: End, I like squeezing stuff
Ongoing or mini-series:
Amanda: Mini-Series
Jimmy: Mini-Series
Dogs or Cats:
Amanda: Both
Jimmy: Bears
Late night or early day:
Amanda: Both
Jimmy: Both
Big screen or rent:
Amanda: Big screen
Jimmy: Big screen every time, but only when everyone
else is at work
Play with toy or keep it in the box:
Amanda: Play with it
Jimmy: Give it to someone else and get it out of my
crowded apartment
Fly or drive:
Amanda: Fly if it’s a boring trip… drive
if it’s a fun one
Jimmy: Fly to Miami and drive to Key West
South Park or Simpsons:
Amanda: Simpsons
Jimmy: Simpsons all the way
Cell phone or E-mail:
Amanda: Cell phone
Jimmy: E-mail
Sleep in or make deadline:
Amanda: The brain wants to meet the deadline and the
body wants to sleep in
Jimmy: Always make the deadline
Lou Ferigno or Adam West:
Amanda: Adam West
Jimmy: Lou needs an attitude adjustment charging other
pros for autographs… so Adam all the way
Buffy or Vampirella:
Amanda: Both in a really well-choreographed cat fight
Jimmy: Vampirella. I never watched Buffy
CREDITS (Not official)
AMANDA CONNER -ART CREDITS:
AVENGERS SPECIAL (SHE HULK AND WASP STORY)
BARBIE AND BARBIE FASHION
BAYOU BILLY (ARCHIE COMICS)
BIRDS OF PREY 47, 48, 49, 50
CODENAME: KNOCKOUT 6, 9, 13, 14
EXCALIBUR 78
GARGOYLES
GATECRASHER
HERE COME THE BIG PEOPLE
KID DEATH AND FLUFFY
LOIS LANE
MAD MAGAZINE
MARVEL SUPER HEROES (WASP STORY)
PAINKILLER JANE #0
PAINKILLER JANE VS THE DARKNESS
THE PRO
SOLO AVENGERS #12
SOUL SEARCHERS & CO.
STARMAN #14
SUBURBAN JERSEY NINJA SHE-DEVILS
TOMOE MINI SERIES
TWO STEP
VAMPIRELLA (24 ISSUES)
X-MEN UNLIMITED
JIMMY PALMIOTTI - WRITING CREDITS:
ASH
BEAUTIFUL KILLER
DEADPOOL
HAWKMAN
THE MONOLITH
PAINKILLER JANE
SUPERBOY
21 DOWN
THE RESISTANCE
X-MEN UNLIMITED
JIMMY PALMIOTTI- ART CREDITS:
Over 400 titles, including Punisher, Namor, Punisher
2099, X-Men, Spider-Man, Batman, Catwoman, Ash, Painkiller
Jane, Midnight Mass, Fables, Manhunter, X-O Man O War,
Solar, X, Predator...
JIMMY PALMIOTTI - OTHER CREDITS:
CO-FOUNDER , CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND PROJECTS MANAGER
FOR BLACKBULL COMICS.
CO-CREATOR OF SURF & TURF, CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT
WITH MAINFRAME ENTERTAINMENT
CO-CREATOR OF ASH
EDITOR AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR ON JUST A PILGRIM FOR BLACKBULL
COMICS, RECENTLY OPTIONED BY CATCH 23 STUDIOS.
CO-CREATOR AND PUBLISHER OF EVENT COMICS
CO-CREATOR OF ASH, PAINKILLER JANE, KID DEATH AND FLUFFY,
AND 22 BRIDES, ALL FOR EVENT COMICS.
CO-FOUNDER OF THE MARVEL KNIGHTS COMIC LINE, THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH IN MARVEL COMICS HISTORY. THESE TITLES
INCLUDED KEVIN SMITHS DAREDEVIL, BLACK PANTHER, PUNISHER,
KILLRAVEN, THE INHUMANS AND MANY OTHERS.
AWARDS WON:
BEST INKER 1999, 200, 2001…WIZARD AWARDS.
EUROPEAN EAGLE AWARDS BEST INK ARTIST, 2000
BEST EDITOR: 1999,2000…WIZARD AWARDS
A.R.C.H.I.E.S. BEST SERIES AND BEST INKER 1998
EISNER AWARD, EDITOR ON BEST SERIES 1999 FOR MARVEL
COMICS INHUMANS
WIZARD AWARD FOR BEST COVER 1993,1994
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