| Interview #5: The Rock, Steve Crosby |
[Oct. 17th, 2006|11:55 pm] |
Hey all,
A little late this time out, but...
This next interview is a rather special one for me. Several years ago now, when Russ Anderson first directed me to JLU: 2001, I was a little disappointed I have to admit. It was a great site, w/ some stellar stories, but it was all but dead. Russ was doing the HTML and James Hickson was editing and writing Plastic Man, and there was one other guy that I didn’t know doing Batman AND Superman. Well, I had some stories in mind and decided to check out what was happening. I read Batman. Then I read Superman…
Needless to say, I jumped at the chance to be on the same team w/ not only Russ and James, but this guy… Steve Crosby! I like to think that Steve and I hit it off well from Day 1, and have shared a good relationship since I took over the EIC spot from James. One thing that you probably don’t know is that Steve is the main reason I remain, that I keep doing JLU – despite my recent life and all the varied controversies at the site. I used to call Steve ‘the Rock’, because he was the true glue at JLU, and still is. Consistent and professional, and all for free. Besides, it would be a crime on my part not to let him write Batman!
Read now the Interview, and learn why Steve Crosby is one of my favorite writers, a great guy, and… The Rock!
***
Curt: To start, tell us a bit about yourself; family, job, things like that. Whatever you would like to comfortably share.
Steve: You never know who might read these, so maybe I should be vague. Well, I’m the third of four boys, the only one with a steady job at the moment. Course that’s only because my oldest brother went back to school and the next oldest is abroad trying to protect a forced democracy, but I won’t get into that. And considering how long it took me to get my life moving after high school I won’t criticize my younger brother too much.
At the moment and likely for a long time after I’m working in a prison. Yeah, all those fight scenes I write aren’t entirely made up. A while ago Jason Kenney was saying on his Live Journal about how nobody writes letters anymore. It’s not true, but sadly they all seem to be addressed to convicts.
C: What Titles are you working on? And for what Sites?
S: Saving the best for last, at M2K I’m in the midst of a Captain America run I’m very proud of. The last few issues have been rather street-level psychological-crime-drama heavy, but the latest arc should be brimming with some of that espionage thriller action that Cap should be a part of. Now that I’ve finished a three-part arc on New Warriors, closing out dangling plots, it’s just Captain America right now at M2K. At least until a super-secret high-profile project gets off the ground.
There are a smattering of projects I’m working on at Dino Pollard’s Marvel and DC Omega sites. At Marvel Omega’s Amazing Fantasy title I’ve started an arc on Deathlok that follows up a story Dino did in his New Warriors title. And at DC Omega I’m working at co-writing Justice Society of America and Superman/Batman with Brent Lambert and Dino Pollard, respectively. There are some big ideas for each title that should definitely blow readers away.
A new issue hasn’t been out in a while, but I’d like to think I’m still writing Uncanny X-Men at the MX subset of AV2K. When I get the chance I definitely need to contact Derrick Ferguson about getting that title back on track.
But nobody reading this cares about those projects. What really matters is what I’ve got going on at JLU. Yes, I’m still writing The Batman, and will continue to do so until the keyboard is ripped from my cold, dead hands. The next issue will resolve of the plots I’ve had going and set things up for the next run of stories. In addition to the Batman, I have a plethora of stories in mind for JLU, including more stories about the new Mon-El that has appeared in the wake of Dark Genesis, building his legend and well as exploring the mystery of why past incarnations of Mon-El are remembered. Also, after seeing the new Hawkman I introduced being used in recent issues of JLA, I’ve toyed with the idea of exploring his origin, showing just where and when this new reincarnation of Carter Hall grew up into Hawkman.
C: Would you like to write professionally, or is this just for fun- a hobby?
S: The odds of my submitting work to a publisher or self-publishing a novel are slim to none. I have nowhere near the originality or discipline to write anything more than the brief stories you’ve read so far. Maybe someday, but not in the immediate future.
C: How did you get into writing Fanfic? Through comic books, or some other media?
S: Comics, more specifically the limited series Avengers Forever by Kurt Busiek and Carlos Pacheco. It was while reading that series that I got interested in learning more about Genis-Vell, who was Captain Marvel at the time. A search of the internet led me to MV1 and the terrific Captain Marvel series Ralph Angelo was writing. I then set about devouring everything MV1, sending feedback to a variety of writers and even submitting a few stories of my own.
C: How did you find our Fanfic community? What led you here?
S: One of the MV1 writers I sent feedback to was Will Short, who was writing Doctor Strange at the time. When he started writing X-Men at MV1, I continued to send my opinions of the stories, and when he couldn’t find the time to script the series he invited me to co-write. At around the same time Will Short was also in the midst of putting together a DC based Fanfic group that would come to be known as JLU, which started with only a JLA title and solo titles for each of the Big Seven members. The moment Will Short told me about the venture, I insisted on writing the Batman. I also wanted Superman, but Dino Pollard had beaten me to it, so that run came later.
C: What other things do you do in your spare time? Any special hobbies or interests you care to share?
S: Aside from reading and watching everything, playing video games and building computers that only seem to work for about a year, I’m also a fairly avid poker nut.
C: Is there any certain Title that you would like to write down the line, or any specific Site that you might want to write for?
S: Not necessarily for any certain site, except insomuch as a particular site’s continuity allowing me to write a particular story. My idea to rewrite the entire Clone Saga from Spider-Man will probably have to be written with no site affiliation.
Speaking of which, yes, I would love to write an ongoing run of Spider-Man somewhere. And Avengers, without a shadow of a doubt. There are times when I’ve been close to writing either series, and actually wrote issues for runs that were in the works, but for a variety of reasons those projects have always been aborted. Some day though. Some day…
C: What's your favorite color?
S: Black, with bubble-gum pink a close second.
C: We assume that you enjoy the writing and Fanfic, but are there things you would like to see done differently or changed in Fanfic?
S: Sometimes people just need to shut up and write. That’s all Fanfic should be about. Writers exchange ideas, write stories either on their own or in a shared continuity, and just appreciate a good alternative to the sludge we’re expected to pay money for.
C: What's your favorite comic book story, or storyline?
S: Favorite story of all time is "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" by Alan Moore and Curt Swan. Much as I hate to admit it, a good Superman story is all too rare. Favorite storyline of all time is Daredevil: Born Again. Why is it that Daredevil only gets really, really good when his secret identity is in jeopardy?
C: How about in Fanfic?
S: My favorite single Fanfic story was written my Mark Bousquet at MV1, a little anthology story about Captain America, Iron Man and Thor through the eyes of Kang the Conqueror, with a glimpse of each character’s end.
Favorite storyline in Fanfic, hands down, was JLA/Avengers, a crossover event between M2K and JLU and even a third site. I’m not sure who else was involved, but that was some of the best work Chris Munn had ever done.
C: What's your favorite movie?
S: Maltese Falcon. The dialogue just doesn’t get any better than that.
C: What are your writing habits?
S: I try to write at least 1,000 words every day. That’s gotten a little hard right now, but I hope to make up for it soon.
C: Do you like to listen to music as you write? If so, what and which, or some other background noise, like the television or DVD's? Or maybe you prefer silence when writing?
S: I could write in the middle of a rock concert. What I prefer is to play music while I’m writing, anything that may fit the mood of whatever I’m writing at the time, though it’s not necessary.
C: Outside of Fanfic, what are your reading habits?
S: Mystery and thriller genres, and occasionally Sci-fi/fantasy. After hearing a lot of praise about it, I got into George R. R. Martin’s books, beginning with A Game of Thrones. What struck me first thing was that we’re told the specific ages of most of the characters, something I don’t think has been done very often.
C: Who’s your favorite author or series, or book?
S: In Sci-fi, nothing beats Isaac Asimov’s Robot and Foundation stories. In mystery and thriller, I will read anything with the names Raymond Chandler or Robert Ludlum.
C: How about in comics- do you have a favorite Title, author or artist?
S: No favorite titles. Anything drawn by John Romita Jr. I will likely read, as he is without a doubt the most consistently good and disciplined artist in the business today and that should be encouraged. Peter David and Keith Giffen blow me away with their versatility. Ed Brubaker is currently the writer I follow around like a lost puppy, as with Steve Epting and Michael Lark he delivers the best Captain America and Daredevil I’ve read in ages, and even has me reading Uncanny X-Men again.
C: How long have you been writing stories- Fanfic or otherwise?
S: I’ve been writing since I was around 18 years old. As I’m now 25, that’s been quite a while I’d say. My best hope that I’ve managed to write at least twelve stories each year.
C: Any upcoming events in your life you'd like to share: births, marriage, graduating college, etc.?
S: Nothing too big, though right now I’m planning to buy my first car. Any suggestions?
C: Any dream assignments in Fanfic that you would love to tackle like a massive crossover or reinventing a character?
S: After reading the Essential collections of these characters, I would love to do something with Moon Knight or Nova sometime down the line. As far as massive crossovers, M2K has something in the works I would kill to be a part of.
C: What's your favorite Title to read currently in Fanfic?
S: Favorite titles that have been finished remain always Liberators by Jess Nevins and All God’s Children by Mark Bousquet, both based at MV1. The current title I make sure to read whenever a new issue comes out is Thunderbolts by Chris Munn at M2K. It would be considered the Marvel equivalent of Suicide Squad if it weren’t so much better.
C: Where do you get your inspiration?
S: Anything and everything I’m exposed. Sometimes a random phrase that isn’t even said to me will spark a story.
C: Where about do you live? Be as specific as you like or as vague: town, state, time zone, continent, etc.
S: New York State is home to me, in the Finger Lakes Region. I’m about the same distance away from Ithaca, Rochester, Syracuse and Elmira while still being in the country, so I’m very happy about where I live.
C: Write a closing note- anything you might want to share w/ your peers, words of wisdom, an anecdote, etc. Say 'hi' to anyone. Now's the time...
Steve: We could write all the stories we want, but that wouldn’t make a bit if difference if there wasn’t anybody willing to post them on the internet. So I’d like to say thank you to every man and woman that hosts a Fanfic site and gives these terrific stories a home.
Curt: Thanks Steve, for the GREAT interview and for keeping JLU going for me. Keep up the great work!
***
Next up: Gregory Hernandez! |
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