Bomb Queen Q&A Thread...with Jimmie Robinson!

[dan bailey]

Cool -- I'll be looking into all of the above. Well, almost all of the above ... skateboarding wasn't my thing even 25 years & ... ummm ... a lot more than 25 pounds ago. And I'd already subbed to Gallant Girl anyway ...

[sHayden]

So what going on in your worlds? And how do comics fit into your current economic situations?

Well Jimmie, I'd still like you to pass me some cool BQ drawings. I asked a few months ago. I still intend to get a BQ tattoo when I get married. (We're both getting tattoos..just not something silly like each other's names. She's going for a toki-doki themed design. If you don't know what toki-doki is, look up their clothes on the net.)

How do comics fit into my economic situation? Well, comfortably in fact. I mean, I've cut my budget in other places but my list of comics I purchase is not huge. Though the guy they occasionally hand me his pull list at the shop, he buys about 30 books a week, no clue how he does it.
But, I have cut a few titles, I just have to place logic behind it.
We'll use you Jimmie, Adam Warren with his Empowered book, and Holly G and Jim Balent over at Broadsword with Tarot; Witch of the Black Rose.
I love all your books, I think you're decent people (I know Jim and Holly are for sure, I've met them. And Holly is hotter in real life), and your stories are a lot of fun, not this ego stroking, covers 50 million titles, and blah blah blah. So, your books work their way into my budget, in Adam's case, it is when he has a volume of Emp come out.
Some other people.....their books are garbage and their egos and ideas are crap. Their book gets dropped, it helps my wallet as well as not supporting junk.
As for Warren Ellis...War-El the bastard son of Krypton as I call him..is still the Alpha and Omega. I'd buy toilet paper he wrote on.

[Jimmykitty]

Thanks and I seriously appreciate your support.

I'm glad the economy hasn't hurt your entertainment pleasure. Wish we could all be so lucky, haha! As for the tattoo, I'll be bloody honest, mate... it scares me that you'd do that! Bomb Queen isn't part of Americana like Batman. To have an obscure comic permanently inked into your skin concerns me, bro.

Of course Dan Bailey will step in to tell me about my inferiority complex again, hah!

Anyway... it'll all work out in the wash. In other news, Bomb Queen's next issue was done last week and it's going through the Image Central pipeline and off to the printer as I type this. For your information it doesn't go directly from my art table to the printing press, there's a whole process between me and the comic store. I think you guys will have a LOT to talk about when it hits, folks thought Kino-chan's rape scene was something...? Just wait for the craziness in #5 (of 6)

Also, you'll soon see Bomb Queen skateboards at my convention appearances. Here's a leaked image just for CBR folks...

Pencils

Ink / color

[sHayden]

WHERE CAN I GET A DECK AND HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Plus, I already have a Batman tattoo. And I like BQ, even if she someday fades into obscurity, I'll still have my issues, trades, and any merchandise I can get my hands on. A tat doesn't scare me.

[IamtheRock3]

you know I am surprise its not bomb Queen poster. Not that much bomb queen mercendise at out


But I guess it could of been the other way around. Where your like Gene simmion trying to sale us Bomb queen toilet paper

are you going to the comic con Jimmy

[Robo Ape]

Jimmykitty you said your book goes through a lot of layers before being published. How many editorial layers does it go through, I just thought it was interesting that rape scene got through. I bet it wouldn't have at DC & Marvel.

[Jimmykitty]

Jimmykitty you said your book goes through a lot of layers before being published. How many editorial layers does it go through, I just thought it was interesting that rape scene got through. I bet it wouldn't have at DC & Marvel.

Usually Bomb Queen goes through several layers (about 3 passes between me and Shadowline editorial), but lately, now that the series has been running for nearly 3 years, things have changed a little.

FIRST - after I ink a page I send it to Shadowline via email. In the very beginning that included hand lettering, since everything was done on the art board - old school style. But now that I'm lettering with the computer those pages only show the art and background details (signs, billboards, TV logos, stores, et.). So they look at that and if I've jumped the shark they'll say so.

SECOND - after Paul Little colors the inked pages I'll add word balloons and lettering. At this point Kris Simon and Valentino really give it a scrubbing because they've come to realize how much *self-editing* I do right on the final page. I can turn in a complete script to Kris for editing, but it's a lost cause because I tend to change SO much between the script and the art - which leads to me also changing the script. So nowadays everyone waits to see the lettering stage before editing, and that's usually for grammar and spelling (since I can't really type).

Thus... let's use that rape scene you talked about... nobody saw the pencils because only the inks were shown, the script was handed in, but like I said I change so much what's the point (sometimes I don't turn in the script at all). So... when the inks came up on the establishing shot of Kino-chan tied up and naked the only objection was the writing on her butt. "Fuk Me!" So that was changed to "Use Me!"

No mention was made of the mop handle scene. And of course nothing was literally "shown" -- it was obscured or off camera.

Basically it comes to this. Shadowline trusts me enough to go out on a limb, but they're smart enough to slap my hand when I'm really pushing it, and I have no problem at all taking their advice. In fact, I find it my responsibility to work with Jim Valentino since Shadowline is *his* company. I'm pleased as punch to be published under his part of the Image umbrella, but I must remember it is *his* part, not mine. It would be bad form to piss in his sandbox. Working with Image is as close to self-publishing as it gets, but Image is still the publisher. If I go too far and some small comic shop gets offended, it won't be just me up on the chopping block. Lawyers will ask questions about the publisher's editorial decisions.... which could make them liable.

I love these guys too much to run them through any legal trouble.

Sorry for the long post, but to answer shortly, changes are being made (a lot of it you'll never see).... you'd be surprised at the stuff that gets cut. The issue now at the printer had significant changes because of a retailer complaint. I had to redraw some stuff... which hasn't happened in a very long time.

Basically it comes down to...
Nudity = bad
Violence = good

But that's just how it is, I'm not out to change people's mind about things, we live in a country /world where people have strong convictions about morals and ethics. Who am I to say what they should read. That's why I enforce the Mature Readers on the front and back cover and in the Previews solicitation. That's why the covers are so salacious. Jim Balant does this, too. His Tarot Black Witch is pretty obvious even by the most casual viewer. My covers ride the line closer to mainstream -- which might say more about how far everyone has gone in the market.

But i'm also poking fun at the mainstream in a long about way. Superheroes / supervillains / et. And I ride the parody and satire platform. I can get away with more that way. Ultimately, Bomb Queen is still a villain book. This is the comic that a villain would read. Folks need to bring their sick dark humor to stomach some of the content... but not all. I admit, lately.... Bomb Queen has been a real mixed up bag of tricks. It's ugly (rape, murder) it's cute (jokes, manga) it's a villain (the Queen, the city) it's heroic (White Knight, Dee Rail).

As long as it's not boring, that's my motto. Hah!

[dan bailey]

Nice, fun page in the latest Proof, Jimmie.

[sHayden]

again Jimmie, I doubt I'll be able to see you at a con. Unless you plan to show up at Pittsburgh comic-con, and that is doubtful for me this year. So, how can I get a skate deck?

[boywond3r]

Hey Jimmie, are you going to be at the 2009 NYCC? Thanks!

[Jimmykitty]

dan bailey
Yes, Proof is fun, and I was visiting the Proof forum on the Image Comics board and there was a fan art section. I just took a chance and had fun with a sketch. They liked it and asked for it for print. So I decided to color it a bit and that's all she wrote, haha! Strange how things evolve, eh?

boshobosho
Imageskate.com (which also has Savage Dragon, Witchblade and Darkness skate decks) will produce the board, I have yet to hear a production date, I assume it would be prior to the 2009 convention season, but I'm not exactly sure when... so when I get the official word I'll let everyone know. They approved the design so it is a "go". In fact, I want the back cover of the last issue of the current story arc be a skate ad promoting the board. I'll have a few at the conventions I attend.... which beings me to....

boywond3r
I'm sorry but I can't make the New York Con, and I say this every year, but I swear I really need to make good on getting out to the East Coast one year.

The cons I have booked, so far, Emerald City (Seattle), ComicCon (San Diego), Wondercon (San Francisco). I have other shows on my radar (but not booked), a lot depends on my production time at the moment. Being the one-man army means if I leave for a show all production stops.

[sHayden]

Jimmie...why not get yourself a rich, old, woman who will give you all the money you want so you can go to east coast cons. all she requires in return..your manly affections.

[Robo Ape]

Usually Bomb Queen goes through several layers (about 3 passes between me and Shadowline editorial), but lately, now that the series has been running for nearly 3 years, things have changed a little.

FIRST - after I ink a page I send it to Shadowline via email. In the very beginning that included hand lettering, since everything was done on the art board - old school style. But now that I'm lettering with the computer those pages only show the art and background details (signs, billboards, TV logos, stores, et.). So they look at that and if I've jumped the shark they'll say so.

SECOND - after Paul Little colors the inked pages I'll add word balloons and lettering. At this point Kris Simon and Valentino really give it a scrubbing because they've come to realize how much *self-editing* I do right on the final page. I can turn in a complete script to Kris for editing, but it's a lost cause because I tend to change SO much between the script and the art - which leads to me also changing the script. So nowadays everyone waits to see the lettering stage before editing, and that's usually for grammar and spelling (since I can't really type).

Thus... let's use that rape scene you talked about... nobody saw the pencils because only the inks were shown, the script was handed in, but like I said I change so much what's the point (sometimes I don't turn in the script at all). So... when the inks came up on the establishing shot of Kino-chan tied up and naked the only objection was the writing on her butt. "Fuk Me!" So that was changed to "Use Me!"

No mention was made of the mop handle scene. And of course nothing was literally "shown" -- it was obscured or off camera.

Basically it comes to this. Shadowline trusts me enough to go out on a limb, but they're smart enough to slap my hand when I'm really pushing it, and I have no problem at all taking their advice. In fact, I find it my responsibility to work with Jim Valentino since Shadowline is *his* company. I'm pleased as punch to be published under his part of the Image umbrella, but I must remember it is *his* part, not mine. It would be bad form to piss in his sandbox. Working with Image is as close to self-publishing as it gets, but Image is still the publisher. If I go too far and some small comic shop gets offended, it won't be just me up on the chopping block. Lawyers will ask questions about the publisher's editorial decisions.... which could make them liable.

I love these guys too much to run them through any legal trouble.

Sorry for the long post, but to answer shortly, changes are being made (a lot of it you'll never see).... you'd be surprised at the stuff that gets cut. The issue now at the printer had significant changes because of a retailer complaint. I had to redraw some stuff... which hasn't happened in a very long time.

Basically it comes down to...
Nudity = bad
Violence = good

But that's just how it is, I'm not out to change people's mind about things, we live in a country /world where people have strong convictions about morals and ethics. Who am I to say what they should read. That's why I enforce the Mature Readers on the front and back cover and in the Previews solicitation. That's why the covers are so salacious. Jim Balant does this, too. His Tarot Black Witch is pretty obvious even by the most casual viewer. My covers ride the line closer to mainstream -- which might say more about how far everyone has gone in the market.

But i'm also poking fun at the mainstream in a long about way. Superheroes / supervillains / et. And I ride the parody and satire platform. I can get away with more that way. Ultimately, Bomb Queen is still a villain book. This is the comic that a villain would read. Folks need to bring their sick dark humor to stomach some of the content... but not all. I admit, lately.... Bomb Queen has been a real mixed up bag of tricks. It's ugly (rape, murder) it's cute (jokes, manga) it's a villain (the Queen, the city) it's heroic (White Knight, Dee Rail).

As long as it's not boring, that's my motto. Hah!

Very interesting post & thanks for that. Intrigued to hear about retailers objection & that fact that as ever people get more worked about nudity than violence. I suppose you face the same issues as some manga titles do when they are translated for the west.

[Jimmykitty]

Well, it would be bad form to write specifics about certain retailer complaints. Because they're not trying to be mean, they want to sell the book.

Basically, because Bomb Queen rides the fine edge between a standard comic and an extreme one. As a reader, you know sometimes the book isn't too bad, but then a particular issue might go off the rails. Stuff in the background I usually get away with. Most retailers don't scour over every book. But when I go extreme (say the rape scene) then people take notice.

[For the record I have yet to get one complaint about that scene]

The 500 lbs. gorilla in the room is *nudity*, specifically nipples. Bare breasts are okay as long as the point of the nipple is covered. We've seen this in "regular" comics all the time. How the suit is ripped only in specific areas. Different communities have standards that don't apply across the board. What passes in San Francisco may not fly in Alabama. How they sell the book will differ. Some put the book on the "new comics" shelf, some put it in the 'adults only" section. Others don't know and let the book "float" relying on the "mature reader's" label to cover liability.

Whatever the reason it doesn't matter, I make the book for readers. Retailers will do what's best for them and their customers. I won't dictate what they should do.

But America as a whole is tied up with nudity and in love with violence, that's just the fact. And that's why it's shown in Bomb Queen, if it wasn't an issue it wouldn't be in the book. My job for this series is to go to the unsafe places.

As I've said from the beginning, this is a super villain book, not a super hero book.
Rules are different.

[dan bailey]

What passes in San Francisco may not fly in Alabama.

I'm shocked -- shocked -- to hear this. (Note my location ...)