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J. Morgan Neal Pulls Double Duty In Shooting Star Comics Anthology #2

Posted: Tuesday, August 5
By: Markisan Naso

While many up-and-coming talents would be satisfied to have a single story in a comic book anthology, J. Morgan Neal goes one better in the upcoming Shooting Star Comics Anthology #2. In addition to a second Aym Geronimo story fans (for which fans might recognize him from issue #1), he also collaborates with writer Gregg W. Noon to bring readers the first Gone to Texas tale, just another step forward in Shooting Star's promise to bring quality short stories in all genres -- including western tales.

SSCA: Why out of all the things you could do to make a living that actually make sense did you want to pursue writing comic books?

JMN: Because I enjoy it the most along with doing film-related things. I like the act of storytelling and seeing through to the realization of a story. I love more than anything seeing the thoughts and images in my head and the words I put on paper become real visuals. And I love comic books, damn it.

SSCA: Another new independent comic book? What does Shooting Star Comics offer that's so new and different?

JMN: Well...it offers me for a start. This is the only place currently that I can provide what I uniquely offer and hope to entertain with. Other than that I also feel that my SSCA comrades offer other such rare material that I honestly do not think this is anything like any other anthology on the market. I cannot think off the top of my head of any characters out there like Nick Landime, Yellow Jacket, Fishnet Angel or Bed Bug. Not that I have found.

SSCA: Tell us about your contribution to Shooting Star Comics Anthology #2.

JMN: Another chapter in the exciting life of Aym Geronimo and the PostModern Pioneers entitled "Rainmaker." Set in the Sahara in Algiers, Aym and the gang are attempting to do a scientific rain dance, and some extremists decide to put a stop to it. Todd and I were happy to finally use the full eight pages allotted to us this time. Todd's art is fantastic.

I am also very fortunate to have co-written another tale for SSCA #2 with my Nē partner Gregg Noon that was rendered by the incomparable Timothy Truman. It's a western story called "Yellow Devil," set in the Gone to Texas world, and it stars our character Ran Wu in a tale about life and death and human nature.

I also did my part in the editing process where and when I could... I hope to some good end.

SSCA: How did you come up with the idea for Aym and Gone to Texas?

JMN: The Aym story is complicated. I have always been a huge Doc Savage fan and also a huge Challengers of the Unknown fan. I have had one idea or another for things much like those two over the years. I also was totally blown away by Buckaroo Banzai that did much the same thing with a Doc Savage type character. At one point I considered doing a comic based on Buckaroo, but after a recent failed attempt to do a Evil Dead comic I decided to make my own....and threw in everything but the kitchen sink. In many ways, Aym is my ultimate homage to the things I have read and watched and enjoyed, but let it not be misconstrued -- Aym is all original in her own way and all about now and the future as she is about the past.

Gone to Texas is based on a band of misfits and desparados and renegades I have had in my head for years based off of my love of the western genre. With Gregg Noon's help, I think we have a great western series that could entertain the heck out of people if given half the chance. With the truly great pencils, inks, and lettering of the one and only Tim Truman....we have more than a chance.

SSCA: From what writers and artists do you draw inspiration?

JMN: Oh man! You haven't the space.. But I will throw it in to three groups.

One: the masters of the past...Lee, Kirby, Ditko, O'Neil, Englehart, Romita Sr, Broome, Buscema, Moench, Cardy, Kuburt, Kanhigar, I could go on and on...

Two: the masters of today....Dixon, Truman, Brubaker, Priest, Busiek, Johns, McDaniels, Guice, Johnson, Copiel, DnA, Jenkins, Romita Jr, Parker, Lieber....I could go on. And on.

Three...my comrades and colleagues of the SSCA and Job Wanted.....McCullar, Burnham, Rogers, Taylor, Hileman, Franklin, Ethan C, Dupras, Hutchison, Meadows, Nuendorff, and many others....not the least of which are Misters Fox and Noon. They say you are judged by the crowd you keep, if so...I am in good shape.

SSCA: What are your upcoming plans?

JMN: Well Gregg and I have another Gone to Texas tale in the upcoming Fanzing Presents:Job Wanted anthology along with the aforementioned Phillip Nuendorff, who did some incredible, stylized art. I hope to have a Aym comic of some kind before a year's time and a huge 6 part graphic novel/trade paperback planned with her. And, of course, there's SSCA #3, and hopefully see Gone to Texas take off as well. And also future issues of O'Neil Observer. And soon, the introduction of Rex Solomon.

SSCA: What do you see as the greatest strengths of comics today?

JMN: Well...what has always been it's strength. It is still a one-of-a-kind method of story telling that still works in the way it is meant to work. The perfect meld of word and image to create an experience like no other. Other than that I would grant that the leaps in production are an improvement, but at what cost? Sometimes I wouldn't mind seeing a newsprint comic again if it meant paying less than three bucks a comic.

SSCA: Now the other side. What still needs to change in the industry?

JMN: The cost has to be dealt with in some way, and we have got to get comics back out into the world. Comics and comics fandom are becoming like Vietnam back in the day, to where it is almost a completely separate existence from the rest of the world. We will not find new readers in any kind of numbers with comic shops alone. Also we have to draw some sensible, rational lines in that not every comic is for kids but nor should every comic be for adults. And for cripes sake some can be for both! Do we really want all comics to be single-minded in maturity level as well as genre? And speaking of which, we need more genres!

SSCA: What's the one thing you'd like to tell retailers and fans now that you
have their attention?

JMN: Buy and read more stuff that you normally don't buy or read. Expand your horizons the best you can with the costs as they are today. Retailers, if you could just spotlight one title a week. And readers, if you could add just one book a month or buy a TPB of something you have never read. Until we can bring in new fans, we are it. This is the last bastion and we the poor few who defend it. And defend it we must.

Oh, and buy Shooting Star Comics Anthology #2!

SSCA: What are your goals for Shooting Star Comics? Where would you like to be in five years in the industry?

JMN: that, then it needs to do then what it does now -- provide variety and new material and artists for readers to discover and enjoy and to maybe get a sneak preview of the pro stars of the near future. Personally I want to be a full time up to my ears in deadlines professional comic book writer and part-time filmmaker. I want Aym to be well on her way to her fifth published year, as well as Gone to Texas and other projects. I'd like to be doing some work for the big two, finally having done something with my buddy Scotty McCullar. I would be happier than a pig in slop -- and for all you city folks out there....yes...that is VERY happy!

SSCA: In a perfect world, what would be your comics dream job?

JMN: It would have to be the Fantastic Four. They have all the combined separate elements I could ever want in a comic book as a reader or as a writer -- action, adventure, exploration, science fiction, horror, and even some super-heroics. But I also have to write something with Batman in it someday. I would also jump at the chance to do the Legion of Super-Heroes, Doom Patrol, Challengers of the Unknown, Avengers, Spider-Man, or any of Marvel's Kung Fu crowd.

J. Morgan Neal resides, clad in his Batman jammies and Thing feet slippers deep in the heart of North Texas with his cat Boot Reer Float at the Arkham Asylum for the Terminally Bewildered and looks forward to fish sticks and Jello night. Neal has lived in a Four Color Coma his entire life, and by day he is a not-so-mild-mannered security officer and by night the scourge of the unimaginative as Four Color Man! Writer of articles, creator of characters, author of sequential comics! He is co-moderator of the Dixonverse, associate editor and a moderator for the O'Neil Observer, is the co-creator of Gone to Texas as part of the Nē team along with Gregg Noon and the co-creator along with Todd Fox and writer of Aym Geronimo and the PostModern Pioneers. He is also the co-producer, co-writer, and performer in the future video film "Panhandling for Laughs: The Morgy and Shoo Story." You can find info at www.jmorganneal.com and www.aymgeronimo.com. He and Bootreer also watch a lot of TV.