I've decided that I'm going to celebrate June by celebrating friends. Each day I will tell you a bit about a friend that I love and why they are so awesome. It could be that they are awesome just because they are awesome. I think you'll think the same. No rhyme or reason to which friends I pick. No order. Just random picks. If I leave someone out, it means we broke up and I'd like my pants back.
Sorry for the lack of Jubilation June posts. I didn't factor in the fact that I'd be out of town for the weekend for Heroes Con and the recovery time after. But, I'm back and with a good one. It's Becky Cloonan!! That's us up there back in May at TCAF in Toronto. I'm trying to remember when I first officially met Becky. I believe it was at San Diego Comic Con a few years back. 2010, if memory serves. I knew of her from her fantastic comic book work over the years but had never even interviewed her yet for my podcast COMIC NEWS INSIDER. Finally, at Heroes Con in 2011, we sat down for a long chat about her career and it was fantastic! We got along swimmingly and she's been on the podcast many more times since. Not to mention, we like to get our drink on when we are ever in the same place. Usually a comic convention. She's the cat's meow for sure and you will definitely think so if you didn't already! Check it.
- She is an amazing cartoonist. Her early work Demo with Brian Wood was just a hint of the greatness to come. Not just a drawer of pretty pictures. She's a fine storyteller in her own right. As she's proven with her 3 recent mini-comics over the past few years. The stories pull you in and are really moving. I look forward to a big graphic novel that she writes and draws one day!
- She is one of those people that others immediately like. She is so positive and happy and has a great sense of humor. Not to mention one of the best smiles and laughs around!
- After our first interview back in 2011, she complimented me on my interviewing style. She knew I also moderated panels at conventions. After being on the podcast a few times over 2011-2012, she asked me to moderate a spotlight panel at San Diego Comic Con last year. It was a fun/laid back conversation about her work and how to break in. I think I do a pretty good job of interviewing/moderating and it's nice to hear someone like Becky always tell me I'm one of her favorites.
- We both are oyster freaks. And quite a few times, we've gotten together with others and taken down dozens! Oysters are a hit or miss with most and some are deathly allergic. So it's tough to find someone who wants to go for them. Becky is always up for it! We've put away many here in NYC, in Boston and recently at Heroes Con in Charlotte. OYSTERS!!!
- She may not have invented it, but I'm going to give her credit for Draculoke. That's Dracula + karaoke = Draculoke! We've gone karaoke-ing a few times and the first time she did it, I wet my pants. It's, you guessed it, singing whatever song you choose in Dracula's voice. Just makes it more awesome! Go on and try it next time you are rocking out at the karaoke spot. It makes it entertaining for those in the crowd whom were dragged there against their will. And just might get them up on the mic!
- Last year, she became the first female artist to draw the main Batman title for DC Comics with her one issue stint on Batman #12. While I wish that other great female artists had previously gotten a crack at the Batman title, I'm glad she was the first. Hopefully, blazing a trail for the many many many amazing female artists out there. Let's get her on a Bat title regularly!
- Her most recent comic book work, The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, is written by Gerard Way. He being the founder/lead singer of the recently split up band, My Chemical Romance. He's got good comic book cred with his award winning series The Umbrella Academy. They've been friends for awhile now. And while this comic is a sequel to the MCR album Danger Days, Becky is a big part of the collaboration. Issue 1 just came out and it's fucking awesome. Go get it!
- Her enthusiasm for the comic book medium is bigger than anyone else I know. She is a great teacher to those who want to get into the business and is still so eager to learn. She'll gush over her favorite artists and talk about how they influenced her. She gives great advice about all sides of the business including technique, finances, self publishing, etc.
- She's been part of a couple of my podcast dinners where I sit down with about 4 cartoonists over dinner and just chat comics. She dubbed them "Dinterviews" during the recent one at TCAF in Toronto. Which I've now acquiesced. Also at that dinner, she got so excited over something our mutual pal Paul Pope said about ink. Just proves the previous paragraph of how she's always open to learn and genuinely gets happy about it! Always looking to improve even though she's so goddamn good already.
- We were both in the UK last year attending conventions and even stayed with our mutual friend Emma Vieceli (a previous Jubilation June honoree) at the same time. We were so excited about British pies and Emma took us to a great local spot. We love our oysters, but we LOVE our British pies!! It's just nice to have someone around who gets as hyped as I do for silly little things.
- In the few years we've known one another, she's always been so kind and supportive. I've been doing the podcast since 2005. I already had a few friends in the comic book biz, but since then, have made many more. On occasion, there might be one or two in the biz who look down upon me for being at a party or what not. I'm not a creator or even a real journalist. Just someone who interviews and covers the industry every week. If I'm with Becky at a convention, she introduces me to anyone I don't know and brings me along to any bar/party/etc. Not allowing the negative Nancys to exclude me.
She moved to Canada last year with her fiance' Andy so I only tend to see her at comic shows. But when we do, it's fun, drinks and often...oysters! She's a force to be reckoned with in the comic book industry and will be for many years to come. I've never had a very close family except for my sister. But often I'll have friends whom I consider like a brother or sister. Becky is definitely another one of those whom I'd like to claim as a little sister. Always lovely to be around and I defy you to be anything but happy when she's around. You could be having a terrible day and then you run into Becky...presto change-o...happy! I'll most likely see her again next month at San Diego Comic Con. And you can bet there will be lots of laughs and drinks happening. And maybe an oyster or 2!
Becky, along with Paul Pope, Monica Gallagher, Glyn Dillon and myself at the TCAF "dinterview".
Last year at SDCC post-panel.
At the epic and live recording of the podcast's 400th episode!
At the Boston "dinterview" last year with Ming Doyle, Andy Belanger and Jeremy Bastian.
Other...: about.me/jimmyaquino
