Mid-Ohio-Con Week: David Mack

By Mike Storniolo

As part of our Mid-Ohio-Con coverage this week, David Mack chatted with Silver Bullet's Mike Storniolo about attending the convention.

Mike Storniolo: What’s it like being a pro and sitting behind the table as total strangers come and talk to you?

David Mack: It’s like being an exhibit at the zoo. It’s actually quite enjoyable to meet such a diverse cross section of individuals, and to get their feedback of their experience of why they relate to my work. It is always enlightening to hear why people read my books and to hear what they got from it.

Storniolo: What do you do when the fan talking to you has terrible hygiene?

Mack: It has only happened a few times. I may continue to answer the questions, but I back up from my table to stay out of range of the offending odor.

Storniolo: When you attend conventions how do you make up the lost time in you work schedule?

Mack: I do a lot of writing during traveling. Especially on planes (see Kabuki: The Alchemy #4) and on trains when in Europe. If I am in a deadline crunch for the art, I also draw pages in the hotel rooms, and in some cases even at the convention.

Storniolo: Do these appearances increase sales on Kabuki and the other books you're working on at the time?

Mack: The main thing a convention does is introduce readers to Kabuki and my work, if they have not seen it before. Perhaps they have heard of it, but have not been able to find all of the collected volumes at a store. Or wanted to start with the first volume, but the store had not restocked it. In that case, they are able to find me at a convention and get the beginning volume or the entire set and read them, and then continue to order all the consecutive issues and volumes from their comic store.

Or maybe they have heard of Kabuki, but they want to know more about it and look through all the books first and ask me about the story. So I answer their questions give them a money back guarantee, and they pick of the book, and then their store has a new customer that will continue advance ordering Kabuki and the rest of my work for the future.

Storniolo: Do you get a chance to meet with other creators and plan new series at the cons?

Mack: That has happened. All of my collaborations have been discussed at conventions. Daredevil with Joe Quesada, my work with Brian Michael Bendis, Mike Oeming, Andy Lee, Rick Mays, etc.

Storniolo: Have you ever had the above experience at the Mid-Ohio-Con?

Mack: Specifically at Mid Ohio Con (and others too) Bendis, Oeming and I always have what we call our M.O.B. meetings at dinner and at the swimming pool and at the end of the day in the Hotel Hot tub, where we discuss our projects and plans. The con hotel has a great Roman style pool and hot tub room. Where we make our plans and discuss our approaches and share ideas for our work. You can always find Andy Lee here too.

Storniolo: What is the best experience you have ever had at a convention?

Mack: I can’t talk about it.

Storniolo: What's the worst thing that has ever happened to you at a convention?

Mack: Once when I was in France, all my luggage was stolen; all my clothes and belongings, but most importantly, my backpack with my original and un-published scripts for my upcoming books. All I cared about was the notebooks of scripts and my notes. But the miraculous thing is this: It took some days, but with the help of some wonderful French friends, I ended up getting all my scripts back and most of my stuff too.

Storniolo: Any advice that you have for a first time convention exhibitor?

Mack: Be kind and polite. Be open and enthusiastic about your work, but let people feel comfortable to look at it without them feeling pressure from you to buy something.

Storniolo: Aside from the promotion of your works, conventions are a great opportunity to get out and see what other people have going for them, any neat things you've stumbled upon at conventions?

Mack: Some of my most important friendships have begun at conventions. Brian Bendis and I met in Chicago in 1993 and became friends there. We started collaborating immediately and have ever since. Brian Bendis and I met Rick Mays at a convention in 1995. That led to our collaborations and friendship with him. Bendis and I met Mike Oeming at a store signing in Philly in 1995. I urge everyone to check out Andy Lee’s work at the convention. He is a real gem.

Storniolo: Do you have anything new our readers should be looking out for soon?

Mack: The new issue of my current Kabuki series from Marvel just hit stores. Five issues of that story out, and #6 is on its way. I have some other things lined up after that, but Kabuki is where my focus is right now. I have an Art of David Mack book scheduled for 2006.

Storniolo: Why do you attend the Mid-Ohio-Con?

Mack: Great venue, great atmosphere, wonderful people. I like doing the con with my friends and hearing what my readers have to say.