Meet the Writer – Marc DiPaolo
When did you start writing?
In 1989, in 8th grade, I wrote the book Doctor Who: The Bringer of Darkness, featuring the 4th and 6th Doctors, Daleks, Time Lords, the Celestial Toymaker, and Peri (resurrected), with a plot that predicted later adventures The Genocide Machine and The Big Bang. I tried to publish it with the Virgin DW novel line, but they said it was “too fanfic.”
What are your favorite things to write?
As a college professor, I’m supposed to write serious academic books for my career, make them too boring for anyone to want to read, and not enjoy writing them. Somehow, I’ve managed to LOVE writing them and make them reasonably engaging – and “deep” – reads. It helps that I’ve published books about fun topics like comics, movies, and genre novels. But now I want to write more creative works, and this is my first published comic. (Yay!)
Who are some of your artistic inspirations?
For my autobiographical comics work, I’m blending the styles of Jeffrey Brown and Harvey Pekar. In my academic work, I’m part Roger Ebert and part Marina Warner, and I channel the morality of Walt Whitman and Wonder Woman. My favorite living authors are Richard Russo, Sherman Alexie, and Margaret Atwood.
Any projects you’re working on or looking forward to working on?
I’ve done a terrible job drawing a 200-page autobiographical graphic novel called “That Guy from Staten Island.” It needs redoing by an actual artist or nobody will publish it.
What’s a good way for fans to check out your work?
My website is https://drdipaolo.wixsite.com/marc. I also teach English at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
Meet the Artist – Jerry Bennett
When did you start drawing?
Since I was a very young child, drawing Star Wars ships back in 2nd grade!
What are your favorite things to draw?
I think I most enjoy drawing people, because I really enjoy creating all kinds of facial expressions, looks, different hair styles, and poses to place them in to make them relate to the world around them. But, I also love creating original creatures and robots, too.
Who are some of your artistic inspirations?
Much of my influence derives from comic artists like Arthur Adams and Michael Golden, and recently Stuart Immonen and Olivier Coipel. I’ve also been very inspired by the movie poster art of Drew Struzan.
Any projects you’re working on or looking forward to?
I’ve really been blessed to get some really fun work, drawing storyboards and character concept work for independent clients. I’m also enjoying all the licensed sketchcards I’ve been doing for Star Wars and MST3K trading cards, with sketchcards for a Marvel X-Men trading card set coming soon.
What’s a good way for fans to check out your work?
People can find me on Instagram and Facebook by the same name, artistjerrybennett. My Twitter handle is @comicbookjer
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