Cosmos

Night is falling, giving no hint
of its attendance save
the single winking star,
Eta Piscium, shedding its waning energy
into the deepness of the black,
a spectral of light, filling the airless
space, absorbing, vanishing into infinity.
Look up into that darkness,
and see those celestial lights,
as shadows retreat from the luminosity
of dawn, and when you are rested
think of the cosmos,
the sparkling stars of the long night
and how each one solitary and unknown,
leaves behind its heavenly presence
for us to muse and be in awe.

John Saunders’ first collection After the Accident was published in 2010 by Lapwing Press, Belfast. His poems have appeared in countless magazines and publications. John is one of three featured poets in  Measuring,  Dedalus New Writers published by Dedalus Press in May 2012. He is a member of the Hibernian Poetry Workshop and a graduate of the Faber Becoming a Poet 2010 course. His second full collection Chance was published in February 2013 by New Binary Press.

David Niall Wilson is a man of many talents. From being a former president of the Horror Writers Association to his work at Crossroads Press, and his writing in horror, science fiction, and fantasy he has worked tirelessly to promote all things creative. He has won the Bram Stoker’s Award for Horror Poetry as well as for short fiction. His novel This is My Blood released in 1999 seductively offers up the fictional gospel of Judas of Iscariot and features Mary of Magdalene as a fallen angel cursed with a form of vampirism which mirrors the recently translated codex ascribed to Judas himself.  In his latest novel Nevermore he weaves the tale of spirits trapped in trees seen by Eleanore MacReady and her meeting up with the young darkly inclined poet Edgar Allan Poe at one such tree. It was an honor to sit down with David and get a glimpse into the mind that brings such fascinating stories to the world.

http://www.davidniallwilson.com/

What were you like as a child? What was your most favorite thing back then?

This is probably not the first time someone answered, “I was a strange child.” I was totally into fishing, for one thing.   subscribed to Sports Afield, Field and Stream, Outdoor Life, and spent a lot of my time down at the lake I lived beside. Most of the rest of my younger years were spent reading. At one point I thought my future would be traveling the world (or at least the country) fishing and writing articles for those same magazines to pay the bills.

During what I guess were truly my formative years, I read a lot of historical fiction, Kenneth Roberts, biographies, the works of Abraham Lincoln, and a ton of mystery and horror anthologies that used to be available to kids through the Weekly Reader program. I was an early subscriber to The Science-Fiction Book Club, and worked my way through nearly every comic book in existence, for at least a decade.

I did not have a lot of friends, and those I did have tended to be close – and also weird. One invented a game called “Basement Ball” where you used a taped up ping pong ball, and a ping pong paddle both to pitch, and to bat. As you can imagine, it never caught on.

Musically, I was all over the place. I played Cello and Baritone Saxophone. I listened to Sam Cooke, The Bay City Rollers, and a calypso guy named The Big Cat, for a few. I knew (and still remember) the lyrics to thousands of pop songs starting in the Doo Wop days and moving into the 70s.  I’m a little spottier since then – maybe the hard drive needs a purge…

Were you always drawn to darkly creative subjects?

Absolutely. I have always loved music, and writing. I’ve been writing poetry since a very young age, and some stories. I used to paint, and still draw sometimes, though it’s kind of like the music for me.  I have some talent, and I can turn out things that make people smile, but I’m not Elvis, or Picasso – with the writing, I have a chance.

Who were some of your earliest influences?

Edgar Allan Poe would be the first author I could seriously call an influence. Tolkien, of course, and Kurt Vonnegut Jr.  Tom Robbins was another early favorite. I leaned, even then, toward the weird. As I grew older, I moved through Tanith Lee and Marion Zimmer Bradley, Michael Moorcock and Ray Bradbury, until I reached a point that I believe I am still hovering around, where I’m influenced a little bit by nearly every author I read. Even the bad ones. I look, and I read, and I think…God, don’t EVER let me do something like that…

What led you to become a writer?

I think I just…was. In high school, I wrote so much more than I had to that I did projects for several classmates (culminating in one of my best friends winning first place in a poetry contest with a poem I wrote, and not even giving me the prize). I told people I was a writer even before I’d written anything significant, and just always believed it. I like to tell stories, and I tell them better on paper than I do in person.

Do you happen to remember what your very first piece of writing?

There are two that I remember clearly from around the same period. One was a poem called The Torture Chamber, which I remember almost nothing about, but that I wrote on a whim and turned into my English teacher, Ms. Plath. The other was a short story titled The Thing at the Top of the Stairs, written for the same teacher, in that same class. I lost the story, but years later rewrote it from memory and it was published in a book titled 365 scary stories (all very short, as you can imagine. I had 7 stories in that book). The story was about a writer who was trying to finish a manuscript – a horror manuscript. He fell asleep, and when he woke he heard noises coming from the stairs to his basement. Of course, something big, tentacle, and dark was there, and it grabbed him…he passed out, and when he woke up? The manuscript was finished…  Certainly nothing new or clever, but it stuck with me, and hey – it was published…

Can you tell us a little about Crossroads Press? Do you enjoy bringing the world the works of so many talented and creative souls with your work there?

I do enjoy it, but I can tell you, the entire thing was an accident. All I ever wanted was to write. I got the idea to get my own backlist of work out there in eBook formats, was pretty good at it, and others asked if I could do their work. From there, it sort of took root and spread. The basis of the company is to put authors first, and to try never to fail to communicate clearly, pay honestly and on time, or treat people the way we’d like to be treated. I have a long history of dislike for editors and agents, and a lot of that comes from long – sometimes interminable – waits that culminated in no sales, or not much money, or years of waiting to see the words in print. I’m sorry, there is no way those people can be too busy to answer an e-mail, or the phone – I’ll show them busy, if they want to compare dance cards. They just got into a tradition of ignore, push aside, and wait that they seem unable to break out of. No one should wait two years just to be told no when the editor and agent both knew all along that is what was going to happen. We’re breaking that mold.

This is My Blood sounds fascinating. What inspired you to write that one?

 To shorten a very long story, a guy on one of the US Navy ships I was stationed on suggested that it would be “cool” if Jesus was a vampire. I explained (being at that time just free of my early desire to study for the ministry) that this wouldn’t work, and why…but then thought…but what if someone close to Jesus was a vampire – of sorts?

The idea grew into the novelette A Candle in the Sun, my first big pro sale. It was reprinted in Year’s Best Horror XIX and eventually I sat down to expand it and finish the story. I had something to say, of course – it was my way of making my farewell address to organized religion. With Mary Magdalene, a fallen angel who knew that there was a Heaven, and a Hell, as my “voice” I was able to step aside and work at the flaws. I’ve been told that, blasphemous as the whole notion of Mary and Judas as vampires might be – the book can actually cause a reaffirmation of faith. Never saw that coming. Also, you’d be shocked how many people over the years were convinced that the parts of the fictional Gospel According to Judas Iscariot were real and wanted to know where I’d found them.

 What are your personal feelings on the story Judas of Iscariot?

Even when I was caught up in the whole Christianity thing, the story of Judas bugged me. If he was created to fail, then fulfilled his purpose, he hardly seems worthy of damnation for it. Through the books of the Bible, none of the others were really any better – they grumbled, fought, tried to become top dog and even worried over whether the things Jesus said and did were right. Even miracles performed right in front of their faces had little impact over time. Judas was set up – and so – I wrote a story in which he is a hero.

 What made you decide Mary of Magdalene should be afflicted with a form of vampirism? What sort of affliction was it exactly?

She was a fallen angel. When Jesus went to the desert and was tempted by Lucifer, the Bible only accounts for a very small amount of that time. To me, the biggest temptation a man can face is the beauty of a woman. Lucifer raised Mary to tempt Jesus, but instead, she went to him and asked to be taken back to Heaven. In anger, Lucifer cursed her to follow him and feed off his faithful, claiming that she would be his undoing.

Do you think the whole Twilight thing has done damage to both vampire and werewolf lore?

I find myself unalterably indifferent to Twilight. For one thing, I don’t consider myself any “kind” of writer, and don’t have any investment in the lore of vampires or werewolves, ghosts, or whatever. I think Twilight is a grand example of a case where the masses can’t tell good writing from bad – half the writers on the Internet have that same problem. People love a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, and apparently anything where young men in good condition take off their shirts a lot is going to have wide appeal. Those who like more traditional dark fantasy won’t care one way or the other about Twilight, and the fans of Twilight are – at least – reading.  Maybe one day they’ll pick up something well-written, but similar enough in theme to catch their attention, and then – suddenly – they’ll ‘get’ it. Maybe. Probably not, but one can always hope. I’m more horrified by the idea that the “Fifty Shades of pointless Twilight Fan-Fiction porn” is writing a guide…on writing. No good can come of this…

 Were you surprised that your story touched on things in the recently translated codex attributed to Judas?

I was delighted! Most of the books that have become apocryphal have, in some way, shown that the standard beliefs of church and the “faithful” are flawed. I believe the early Christians would be horrified by what their religion has become, and find it a travesty that so many take the word of a despot King who commissioned a version of the “Holy Book” that allowed him to get divorced legally, rather than studying the whole of what is known of those times. The Book of Judas that they discovered and published talks about spirituality more than religion, and touches on the mystical, much like the all-but-forgotten Book of Enoch that was cut from the Bible, even though it’s referenced within that same work.

 Do you think he got a bum rap in that whole story?

As I said before, yes. Either man has a choice, or he does not, and if he does not, maybe God should punish himself.

 Do you believe in angels and demons and such yourself?

I have a very open mind about things beyond our understanding, but in the traditional sense?  Not at all. I don’t believe any old mythology – Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Islam, etc. is any more valid than another. They are fairy tales told long, long ago, and people need to embrace the reality of the wonderful world surrounding them instead of leaning on broken crutches from the past. Organized religion exists so that one group of men can control another. It has always been that way.

 Is it true you are an ordained minister in the Universal Light Church? What led you to do that? Do you think religion is changing much in our times? How do you think it needs to change most?

I am, but then, so is one of the cats I used to own. I wanted to be legal to perform weddings and funerals. I never have, but if I wanted to, I could. Beyond that, it’s a piece of paper. I also have a diploma from Miskatonic University proclaiming me a Master of Medieval Metaphysics – I give that equal credibility.

 You have written short stories, novels, and poetry is there any one you enjoy more than the others?

I write novels most of the time. Poetry is something that ‘occurs’ – kind of like when I get the urge to write a song. It doesn’t happen often, and usually means more to me than to anyone else.  Short stories are something I’ve always been good at, but they are a lot of work to get right, and they pay poorly. That said, I have at least a half dozen collections and over 200 stories published, so… I can’t say I hate them. I like writing novels the best. They feel solid, and complete, and I don’t feel the same restrictions. I once said on a panel at World Fantasy convention that a poem is like a photograph – one frame – that’s all you have to get your meaning across. A short story is more like a filmstrip, or a single scene that encompasses the entire theme of a work. Novels are the “movies” of the storytelling world…they are easier, for me, and so I like them better. Screenplays are like a distilled novel and –like poetry – require a lot more thought to get right.  Anyone who thinks adapting something ‘properly’ form prose to screen is a simple matter simply doesn’t understand screenwriting.

 Any subject you have yet to cover that you would most like to?

Lately I am more and more drawn to stories that are born of folklore, myths, legends, and even the classics of literature. My most recent novel, Nevermore, A Novel of Love, Loss, and  Edgar Allan Poe, gave me a shot at answering who Lenore was, why The Raven was written, and even a shot at reworking some Brothers Grimm magic. I love that kind of thing. I live near The Great Dismal Swamp, where the novel takes place, and much of the folklore behind it is based on the actual history of the area. Short answer, as I move into the future, I grow fonder of the deep past.

 Are there any known facts about yourself that your friends, peers, etc. might be surprised to learn?

I’m a fairly open book…I bake pies. Some know that, others don’t. I love dark beer, bourbon whiskey, and animals. I have a secret bucket-wish to spend time playing with a bear and/or a big cat. I can sing (not world-class, but I carry a tune). I am often to be seen with a Cockatiel on my shoulder…

 Can you tell our readers a little more about Nevermore? What led Eleanore and Edgar Allan Poe to meet at that particular tree?

There is (theoretically, I hope to confirm it soon) a tree on the banks of Lake Drummond that looks like a deer leaping into the lake. There is another that resembles a woman. Both have their legends. Lenore, in my novel, is an artist – but she is more than that. She sees images in trees, brush, water, stones, the faces of spirits still clinging to the earth.  It is her gift (or curse?) to be able to draw them, then erase them from the images and set them free. Edgar is traveling, seeking a cure for his wife, Virginia’s illness. Again, for the purposes of my story, his melancholy is partly due to the fact that he is something of a mystic himself. He has a familiar – a crow named Grimm – that travels with him. He believes he could find a cure for Virginia, but the types of cures he knows she will not abide, due to her strong Christian faith. So he writes his pain into the ink of stories that come to him when he –and Grimm – are bonded.

When Lenore and Edgar come into close proximity, their gifts form a link, and they are sucked into an event in the past that – by changing the words of a story he is writing – allow Edgar to subtly change the past. Any more would be giving away too much…

 Why do you think society has always been fascinated with the darker side of things?

The title of the original novelette that became This is My Blood answers this, as does a parable from that novel. Without darkness, there is no light. Without light, there are no shadows. In creative art people seek ways to dive into the darker side of the world, the mind, the psyche, and the universe without putting themselves in real danger. They expect to emerge on the other side safe and sound. Most of the time creative people allow for this – other times, our entire intent is to leave a mark. It’s that possibility –that inherent danger – that draws people back, time and again. The temptation without the payback. The cake without the calories. You read and you visit the darkness someone else created for you – but you can come back when you’re through, and visit again when you need to. Most of the things we crave in life are bad for us in one way or another. Vicarious satisfaction is better than none at all…if that makes sense. Most of the time when I answer questions like this I teeter between wondering if I’m profound, or a blithering idiot.

 What projects are you working on at the moment?

I am working on several things, but I’m currently concentrated on a novel tentatively titled On a Midnight, Dark and Dreary – which is – all at once – the sequel and conclusion to the tragedy of Nevermore, the next Donovan DeChance novel, and a direct tie-in to the other series I helped create, and that I love, the O.C.L.T. – not to mention indirect ties to my vampire novel Darkness Falling. It’s going to be complex and difficult and satisfying, if I do it right, and if I do not – I will do it again. It’s important.

Anything you’d like to say in closing?

Thanks for giving me a place (and a lot of good topics) to babble. People who know me know that I love to talk. When I do it with my fingers, it’s easier for them to tune me out…

You can find him at fourteen
in a provincial town’s public library.

The days have been grey.

In the reference section
surrounded by yesterday’s papers
are sleeping men in overcoats
who have come in
from the rain and the cold.

But he is not sleeping.

He is looking at a book and
at the same moment he is aware
that this book is altering
the course of his life and
the gathering dark.

This has never happened before.

He turns the pages of the book and
it has hundreds of colour illustrations
that are incredibly beautiful and
the title of the book is
The Life and Art of Vincent van Gogh

These two woodcuts originally appeared in the book Black Book Black I by Olivier Deprez & Miles O’Shea (Fremok Editions)

Olivier Deprez is a founding member of the influential avant-garde comic collective of Fremok. His books include Le Chateau and Lenin Kino. He has exhibited his work from Cuba to China and all points in between. A collection of his wood engravings have been acquired by Yale University. He lives in the South of France.

Miles O’Shea’s work, notably with Oliver Deprez and Pieter De Buysser, has been seen throughout Europe. A performance piece with artist Orla Barry was recently shown at Tate Modern UK and The Museum of Modern Art in Dublin. His debut novel is to be published in Spring 2014. He lives in Bruxelles, Belgium.

The two have worked together since 2006 in English and French and sometimes in neither. There is a Black Book Black retrospective to be held in 2014 at the Centre de la Gravure et de l’Image imprimée in Belgium.

For more information on the project please see: http://www.blackbookblack.net/

Graveyard Shift

Archie Collins sat inside the cabin, reading the latest issue of Varney the Vampire, while slurping a cup of cocoa. The night was young and the wind sounded a little soft. Archie’s eyes were engrossed by the pages of this pamphlet, and feeling rather tense. There was no wood in the fireplace and here it was freezing. To resist the cold air, he refused to take off his coat, flatcap and fingerless gloves. The quiet wind suggested he was alone tonight. It was his first month, and he needed this unwanted job, as times were extremely hard for him. Friday was always his favourite day – payday – where he would rush off to his local inn. Sunday evening, he would be broke.

After he’d finished his third cup, it didn’t take long before his insides were as cold as outside. Archie demanded to himself that it was time to go on his usual round. While I’m out, I’ll try and scout for some wood for the fireplace.

He stepped out, locking the door, and scoured the cemetery grounds with his guiding oil lamp lantern. The dominating light shined on hundreds of headstones, tombs and crypts. Archie began to feel lost, as always, after wandering for over ten minutes. But it seemed to be a lot longer. A large graveyard, it was, and reports of resurrection-men lurking about for bodies to plunder was the main reason why his job existed.

The only sound he heard was his own crunching footfalls, treading on the fallen leaves. All seemed to be quiet, and the wind continued to die. Lots of trees stood uneven, as Archie passed them. He kept remembering to brandish his knife, expecting an ambush from the trees. His employer insisted he should check the site, every two hours, but Archie would come out only once during the night.

Ding, ding, ding! His heart froze at this sound. His movement stopped too, but his mind screamed, someone’s alive!

He chased after the chiming sound, as it rang and rang, yelling for attention! Strange shapes formed out of trees and headstones, during his pursuit. Then, he stopped at the uncanny sound, huffing and puffing, and faced – a freshly buried grave.

Archie was about to race back for a shovel, when another…

…ding, ding, ding! And another…and another. More and more safety coffins ringing their bells.

But his mind was instantly crippled with confusion and uncertainty, he had no idea what to do.

Now, every single burial tolled to be unearthed.

Jason D. Brawn is the author of horror novelettes Stranded and Refuge, as well as having short stories, poems and film reviews published in anthologies, magazines and ezines. He holds a degree in Film and Media from Birkbeck College, University of London and has appeared in the Hammer Horror webserial, Beyond the Rave. He resides in London and enjoys cinema, theatre, listening to obscure music, art, travelling and reading for inspiration.

His website is http://jasonbrawn.weebly.com/index.html        

Raven Morgoth is an artist, sculptor, graphic designer based in Winchester – United Kingdom. She works with all kinds of media: oils, acrylics,  and coloured pencils. Raven recently created digital art using Wacom Intuos tablet and Photoshop CS5.  http://www.ravenmorgothstudio.com/

Ira Joel Haber was born and lives in Brooklyn New York. He is a sculptor, painter, book dealer, photographer and teacher. His work has been seen in numerous group shows both in USA and Europe and he has had 9 one man shows including several retrospectives of his sculpture. His work is in the collections of  The Whitney Museum Of American Art, New York University, The Guggenheim Museum, The Hirshhorn Museum & The Albright-Knox Art Gallery. His paintings, drawings, photographs and collages have been published in over 100 on line and print magazines. He has received three National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships, two Pollock-Krasner grants, the Adolph Gottlieb Foundation grant and, in 2010, he received a grant from Artists’ Fellowship Inc.  Currently he teaches art at the United Federation of Teachers Retiree Program in Brooklyn.

Attention Span

America’s absolute destruction dances in the mind of Mickey Mouse as he skips in black and white radiance

No one notices.

The statutory rape of Afghanistan is ongoing

No one notices.

The president impregnates his secretary’s throat with patriotism

We are disgusted.

Jeremiah Walton was born February 12, 1995 in New England where he currently attends High School. Jeremiah manages Nostrovia! Poetry, http://www.nostroviatowriting.com , a small publishing press dedicated towards promoting poetry to the youth, and disproving the negative stereotypes assigned to poetry.

Since we do love to promote all things creative here I thought it was past time we included fashion as well. That said I am very pleased to bring you Nicholas Lemons. Lemons rose to fame as a male model for fashion icons like Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Gant, and DSquared2 to name a few. He is currently a designer offering up the mens line, Nick + Campbell, which uses natural fibers such as sustainable bamboo and cotton to produce the most comfortable underwear on the planet. It was an honor to talk with him on the transition from model to designer.

Can you tell us a little about your background? What were you like as a child?

I was born Kentucky. Growing up in the country, I did a lot of fishing, hunting, playing sports and just going to school. I really enjoyed my youth.

I know you have a love of comics. What initially sparked your interest in all that? Which characters are your favorite and why? Which artists do you enjoy most?

I have collected comics most of my life. When I was younger, I would draw all the time any chance I could get. I wanted to start my own comic book at one point. There are so many characters that I love, it’s hard to name them all…. Batman….Silver Surfer…Superman and trust me, the list goes on.

What was it like to go from the mid-west to modeling at the age of 17? Did you experience any culture shock?

I went from country life to sitting on a beach in Miami watching cruise ships roll out. It was most definitely a culture shock for me.

What do you think you would be doing at this point in your life if you hadn’t become a model? What do you plan on doing when you stop?

I am not a model anymore, I am a designer. There you have it.

I read somewhere once that you had said, “The more beautiful you are on the inside the more beautiful you are on the out”. Do you still believe that? Do you think it possible to be beautiful strictly from what you carry inside the self?

Yes, I believe that being healthy has a lot to do with that as well, but I do believe that true beauty comes from within.
What do you think it takes for a person to be truly beautiful?

What qualities do you find most…admirable?

Self respect, being genuine. A man or a woman of his or her word goes a long way. I believe that just being an all around good spirit will make you shine.

Do you think the world today places too much emphasis on looks?

Yes…I have always thought that it is more about charisma than just simply good looks.

You’ve also said you would like to be an angel. Why is that? Have you always been drawn to things of a mystical nature?

I don’t think I said that? But ok, that would be a really good time…question is what kind of angel would I like to be?

When did you first discover your love of tattoos? How many do you have? Are there any that hold personal meaning? Which are your favorite? Are you planning on any more?

I love them all and would love to be covered eventually from the neck down. I enjoy being tattooed and working with different artists very much.

Do you have any favorite tattoo artists?

Tasha Rubinow, Anderson Luna, Neil Powers, Jun Matsui…

How did the Nick+Campbell clothing line come to be? Do you think it may expand beyond underwear in the future? Any plans to offer a women’s or children’s line?
I would love to expand, anyone would. If I make clothing that people enjoy wearing then I should have room to expand in the future, that’s the plan.

Any little known things about you that people might be surprised to learn?

I believe, at some point, that this world will come together as one and find a way to share our knowledge and use religion as hints and keys to finding other forms of life and other means of living beyond this planet. I also would encourage, if possible, for humans to travel. If they cannot travel, then speak about the world we live in and keep an open mind. I’ve always questioned why people are incapable of imagining the things they are capable of doing. If you can imagine it, you can accomplish it. It’s all about the steps we follow to get to the places we have imagined.

How do you hope to be remembered when your time comes?

I hope that I will be remembered as someone who thinks ahead of his time, and someone that made a change for the better of life.

Anything you’d like to say in closing?

Enjoy!

Joe & Adam Kubert

Adam Kubert is a legendary comic artist. Over the course of his career his works have appeared in DC, Marvel, and Dark Horse Comics. His works feature the characters we all know and love from Superman, Spider-man, Wolverine, Ultimate X-men, Ultimate Fantastic Four, and Ghost rider to the Incredible Hulk he produces some of the most vivid work in the business. He teaches at the Joe Kubert School of alongside his father Joe and brother Andy (who is also an illustrator). Wizard magazine has called him one of the “Hot 10 Writers and Artists” in the industry. He won an Eisner Award for his work alongside his brother Andy,inking the title Batman: Batman vs Predator.

What were you like as a kid? What would you say is your fondest early memory?

My earliest memory was popping a wheelie all the up my driveway on my Honda SL70…those were the days.

What is it like to come from a family that is so creative? Your father must be very proud?

Yeah…he seems to be. As far as a creative family, I don’t really know any other so to me this is normal.

What did you draw most as a child?

Catsup faces on my hamburger.

You got a job as a letterer at age 12. What was it like to do that?

Again, this is what I knew so it didn’t feel weird in any way. Just a way to make enough money to buy that SL70!

Did you feel lucky to have the job at such an early age?

Hmm…I don’t know but it felt pretty good being able to buy what I wanted instead of having to ask for it.

Is it true you were the youngest professional comic book letterer?

As far as I knew, yes.

Since this is a publication catering mainly to horror/sci fi/dark fantasy, are you yourself a fan of those genres? Which works speak to you most? Do you have a favorite..monster so to speak?

I have four favorite monsters…they are my four children.

 What is your scariest memory to date?

When I was a kid we had traveled to Mexico. My two brothers and I went out into the ocean with one raft.  Trouble was that there was a tremendous rip tide and before we knew it were way way out there… and couldn’t get back in. I remember seeing my Dad with his hands cupped by his mouth but we couldn’t hear him because we were so far away. They sent some surfers to bring us back in. It wasn’t until we were safely on the beach that we found out there were a lot of sharks out there.

You have a degree in medical illustration. What led you to that?

I enjoyed drawing and I liked science so I put the two together.  Plus it was the only program that I was accepted into.

Do you ever think you might go back to that?

Nope.

When you started working on Batman vs Predator did you ever think you’d win an Eisner Award for it in 1992? What did it feel like when you first learned of that?

I remember Diana Schutz called me the next day and gave me the news….she said she was proud of me but not all that keen to go up in front of a gazillion people to accept it.  I was pretty stoked to win it… Andy still kids me about winning the best tracer award.

What it is like to work with your father and brother? Do you find it helps to work with people you know best?

I love working with both Andy and my Dad. I know whenever we work together that the job is going to come out great.

What do you think you’d of become if not an artist?

A hobo. I love to travel.

What projects are you currently working on?

I’m working on the last issue of Astonishing Spider-Man Wolverine…written by Jason Aaron…and LOVING it!

Anything you’d like to say in closing?

Yes…I try not to take what I do for granted. I realize what I have and know that I’m very, very lucky. I don’t feel like it’s work…and for that I’m forever grateful. Thanks for the genes, Dad (smiles).

For more information on the Kubert School please see: http://www.kubertschool.edu/

(This interview originally appeared at The Damned Interviews sometime past. Many thanks to Adam for taking the time. We cannot post images due to copyright issues, but everyone knows Adam does great work.)