Kate Glasheen On Hybrid Bastards

Terry: Kate,I guess that I ought to ask you something along the lines of what comics have influenced you to get involved in the industry?

Kate: I’ll list the top three: Calvin and Hobbes for it’s amazing storytelling and beautiful art, the Havok and Wolverine: Meltdown series because it was the first painted comic I saw as a kid, and most importantly: Teddy, by Ethan Persoff. It’s an online comic, but before I read this it hadn’t really occured to me that comics can really be whatever you want them to be.

I’m drawn to fine arts and illustration, and Teddy really opened my eyes to the fact that I didn’t have to seperate the two in order to do comics.

Terry: When did you first start trying to draw comic strips -in fact,when did you first think “I’d like to try drawing comics”?

Kate: Waaayyyyy back. I don’t even think I was born yet when I started drawing comics. In fact, I don’t even think I was concieved. I think it was really just automatic for me–I ‘ve been drawing since I could hold a pencil, and i’ve been reading comics just as long so to mimic that art form was never decided, it just kind of happened.

Terry:And at which point did you suck in a breath and decide “I am going to draw comics!”?

Kate: At the exact second I read the phrase “Dear Ms. Glasheen, we regret to inform you that we are not allowed to hire people off the street to pilot our space shuttles.” I haven’t forgotten about that, NASA. I’m just biding my time.

Terry: Do you think you have an artist who,perhaps,influences your art style?

Kate: Absolutely. A few of many are Bill Waterson, Kent WIlliams, Edward Gorey, Ida Applebroog, and Donny Miller. I learned how to draw gore from Stephen Gammell from the Scary Stories series as a kid, and I still draw blood and guts almost exactly the same as I did back then.

Terry:Any fears or concerns from your family when you told them you were going to draw comics -it’s not the securest of occupations!

Kate: Hahaaha–No one is more worried about my future than me. My family has been so supportive. My parents and brother have nothing but encouragement for me, and even my cousins , aunts, and uncles go above and beyond by coming to shows when I have them. I don’t think this would be possible for me without such strong support. I’m sure they worried then, and continue to now, but I think everyone knows that this is what I should be doing.

And I don’t specifically mean comics–I mean art in general. It’s a huge risk to get into it but I don’t think it’s possible for artists to be doing anything else and be happy, unless that anything else includes a Nintendo and Limeade.

Terry:You’ve chosen a wonderful title tostart with -”Hybrid Bastards”! Is this your first full comic?

Kate: I actually have a few other full lengths, but this is my first officially published book. If anyone is interested in the others, they can find them in a drawer in my room or through Amazon. Oh wait–no, not through Amazon.

Terry:I know you have a degree in Fine Arts? So I’m guessing colour work wouldn’t be a big hurdle to you but it is a big project for a first time full comic to be published in colour -any problems or did it go smoothly?

Kate: Wow, I really don’t know where to start with this one. I did all of the Bastard books at once, one task at a time, so when I got to the coloring stage I was basically looking at doing 66 full paintings. I’m not a good multi-tasker, so I knew my life would be on pause until I finished all those pages.

I set up a metal wire that stretched from one wall in my studio to another and hung every page up. I then went through the entire series one color at a time as my attempt at an assembly line. Sitting down for 14 hour stretches drawing is definitly hard work, but it’s also so exciting and enjoyable. I just don’t get the same satisfaction or enjoyment from coloring. I don’t mean to downplay a colorist’s position by any means–for me specifically, coloring is more of an afterthought since my work is so linear, and as a result, more of a chore then a pleasure.

Long story short, there were many all nighters and several boxes of wine. Yes, boxes.

Terry:Archaia Studio Press I have never heard of before so I’m assuming they are a small Indie publisher?

Kate:Well, Archaia was a smaller company a few years ago, but between this year’s lineup and next year they’re practically doubling their output. They also have some hefty titles under their belt, such as Mouse Guard, The Killer, Artesia, The Lone and Level Sands…there are several award winning books on their roster which is both awesome and intimidating at the same time.

I’m actually hiding under a chair while I type this.

Terry:There’s almost a Matt Howarth “Amazing Post Bros” look to the art and I wonder whether your styles is changing the more comic work you do?

Kate: I’m sure it is, although by this point I’ve been practicing and training for so long that I’ve hit a point where the changes are very minute and gradual. I like how I just described my evolving style like it was a war. It’s not really a war. And then a grenade goes off to my left and disconnects me from the internet and my arm from its socket.

Terry:I’ve leapt ahead somewhat! I ought to ask when you met your writer Tom Pinchuk -I know he moved to New York from Singapore so I assume that’s where you met?

Kate: Actually my dad and Tom’s dad were best friends in high school and have remained so since then. We had never really talked until a few years ago when our mothers basically hooked up the comic connection. Tom sent me an e-mail and we started going back and forth,mostly about the stock market, but also somewhat about comics.

Terry:So was it a case of “Hey,Kate,you wanna draw comics and I want to write them -team up?”

Kate: Now, that I think about it, I remember us corresponding for a while before one of us actually suggested we work together. I think I asked Tom if he had any projects that he needed an artist for, which luckily enough, was “Hybrid Bastards!”. It’s really been great–we’ve both done well by each other as far as deadlines, and especially creative criticism. I know Tom saved at least a few pages from disaster with his critiques, and he was very open to suggestions I would have with the writing.

Terry:For those out there interested,can I ask is this a one off book,a mini series or on-going?

Kate: Bastards is a three issue mini series. I could see something else coming out of the Bastard’s world pretty easily, but Tom and I haven’t really given it any thought at this point.

Terry:And it premiers when?

Kate: The first issue is slated for a November release, and then the remaining two will follow in January and March.

Terry:When Hybrid Bastard ends I assume you have another project you want to do or does everything depend on how HB goes?

Kate: I have about a billion projects I want to do. I have another pitch I sent to Archaia because they’ve been absolutely great to work with which I’m waiting to hear back on. I really need to get back into some fine art stuff because I never want to get too far from those roots. It’s extremely valuable to my concepts to keep my brain from getting too used to any one style or method.

Although I’m obviously hoping “Hybrid Bastards!” does good, you have to get used to disappointment in any creative field. If it does well, I’ll be so pumped, but at the same time, none of my creative goals are counting on its success. I’ve been working crap jobs for years now to get by, and I really just have to keep drawing to get to the point where drawing is my only job.

Terry:Comic-wise,where would you like to see yourself in,say,ten years?

Kate: Hahaha EMPLOYED!!! Ideally, I’d be working on the books I create from start to finish and making enough money off of it to feed myself and my cat. More money then that would be amazing, but there’s no denying how important food is. All the writing, all the drawing, all the col–well, maybe I’ll hire out for the coloring.

Terry:And,finally,big sell time:why should someone buy Hybrid Bastards?

Kate: I really doubt anyone’s read a book like this before. It’s just so wierd–reading through it makes you feel like you’re getting attacked by a gang of circus clowns with cotton candy rifles. The characters are all so ridiculous that they actually become realistic. The humor ranges from witty to slapstick to random and back again, and that’s just during a death scene.

It is just so out there in plot and design that it it can’t possibly cater to any specific audience, so, as a result, it caters to every audience.

Terry: Kate,here’s hoping all goes well and I look forward to a review copy of HB!

Kate: Thanks, Terry!