A (Not So) Silent Interview with Bobby Nash

I have had the pleasure of corresponding with writer extraordinaire Bobby Nash, I did a press release late last week about his new graphic novel Yin Yang by Arcana Comics. I was also able to get an in-depth look at who Bobby is, his advice about writing for a comic book company, and much more. I hope you enjoy reading the interview, I know I enjoyed talking to Bobby and learning more about his career and his comic preferences.

How did you get into comics?
Dumb luck.  Okay, maybe there was a little persistence and hard work involved too.

For my first professional gig, I started by looking up every comic book publisher I could find, both large and small, on the internet.  I then emailed every one that had an email address.  Out of the many emails sent I received only one response and it was to tell me that they were sadly not looking for any submissions, but thanked me for contacting them.  Roughly a year later that same person, Marat Mychaels, contacted me to see if I was interested in doing a try out for his book as he had lost his writer.  I said sure and that’s how I ended up writing Demonslayer at Avatar Press for a few years.

who are some of your favorite writers?
This could be a long list.  I read quite a bit, not just comics.  Some of my favorite writers are Darwyn Cooke, Chuck Dixon, Beau Smith, Ed Brubaker, John Byrne, Mike Mignola, Jonathon Hickman, Gail Simone, Jimmy Palmiotti, Roy Thomas, Marv Wolfman, Sean Taylor, Mike Grell, Van Allen Plexico, Peter David, Michael Connelly, Beverly Connor, Alex Kava, Stephen J. Cannell, Kyle Mills, Howard Hopkins, Nancy Holder, Steve Alten, Christoper Golden, and plenty more.

– Who are some of your favorite Artists?
Another long list. George Perez, John Byrne, Darwyn Cooke, Mike Mignola, Tom Grummett, John Romita Jr., John Romita Sr., John Buscema, Jack Kirby, Al Williamson, Mike Parobeck, Mark Bagley, Steve Epting, Frank Cho, Stuart Immomen, Jerry Ordway, Erik Larsen, Francesco Francavilla, Steve Scott, Amanda Conner, Eduarto Baretto, and plenty more.

– What comic books do you read?
Currently, I’m reading The Fantastic Four, Captain America, Byrne’s assorted Star Trek mini series, Birds Of Prey, Secret Six, Zatanna, Brightest Day, Human Target, Jonah Hex, Domino Lady, and I’m also trying out some of the new Avengers titles.  Plus I often pick up whatever happens to catch my attention when I’m in the comic shop.  I like to try new stuff when I see something that looks interesting. The Underground mini series was one of those that caught my eye this year that I really enjoyed.

Who is your favorite comic book character and why?
That’s a tough one as it has changed over the years.  When I was a kid my favorite character was spider-man.  It was spider-man that got me interested in comic books.  However, it was the Fantastic Four that made me stay.  I’m a huge Fantastic Four fan.  As I got older Captain America became my favorite character and remains so to this day.

– Who would you want on your dream collaboration for a book?
See that list of favorite artists above?  Take your pick.  HA! HA!

What’s your general writing process?
The main thing for me is just to sit down and write it.  I work out the plot, story points, and character beats in my head before I start and while I’m working on the script.  There’s no set schedule for me, although I try to write every day. Some days it doesn’t happen though.  I turn on some music and sit down and just start writing.

– Where do you draw your ideas from?
Everywhere.  Ideas come at me from a multitude of places. Mowing, driving, at the grocery store, you name it.  I love to people watch so that also helps with creating characters.

– How long have you wanted to write comics?
I started focusing on writing comics when I was in middle school so we’re looking at 26 years.  I really focused on it after I got out of school and started college where I met others with similar interests.

-Is it difficult getting into the industry?
Yes.

I’m often asked about breaking into the comic industry.  It takes luck and timing just as much as it does skill.  There also seems to be a common misconception that once your first comic book story is accepted that you no longer have to do the same things you did to break in.  Once you break in, you have to break in again for your next project.  Every project for me feels like I’m starting from scratch all over again.  It’s the same with prose work as well.  Every novel or short story pitch feels like the first one did.  Don’t get me wrong, having previously published work does help, but you still have sell your writing or art on every project.

– What would advice about getting into writing comics be for our readers that want to write?
Write.  I know it’s a cliche, but it’s true that practice makes perfect.  The more you write the better your writing becomes.  You pick up tricks along the way as you write and you learn what works and what doesn’t.  With comics, you also learn from your collaborators.  I’ve picked up good writing skills by seeing how artists interpret the script.  First and foremost, however, the main thing a writer has to do is write.

Also, if you want to write as your career, you have to remember that it is a job and treat it as such.  That means meeting deadlines, collaborating with editors and other creators, making revisions, and getting out there and promoting it as well.  It also means sometimes missing your favorite TV shows or family get-togethers, not to mention the occasional sleepless nights as deadlines loom.

– For those that didn’t read our press release what is the premise of “Yin Yang”?
Yin Yang is an original graphic novel written by me and drawn Luis Ruben Rivera and published by Arcana Comics.

Yin Yang is the story of brother and sister super-powered bounty hunters named Yin and Yang.  They are the best in the business. No one escapes them. Working for dedicated Federal Marshal, Wade Kendall, Yin and Yang go after meta humans who use their powers to live above the law.  If you run… they will find you!

In the graphic novel, the villainous Widowmaker kills the world’s greatest superhero live on television.  As a result she becomes public enemy number one and Yin and Yang are hot in pursuit.  But Widowmaker has a plan…

Here’s the full roster of creative folks who helped make Yin Yang possible. This was a great group of people to work with and I think we put together one heck of a fun book.
Written by Bobby Nash
Art by  Luis Ruben Rivera Nunez
Coloring by EsComic!
Lettering by Jaymes Reed
Front Cover by Franchesco
Back Cover by NAR
Created and edited by Jason Shane Powell
Published by Arcana Comics

– If you could only pinpoint one thing about “Yin Yang” to get our readers to pick it up what would it be?
Fun.  Yin Yang is all about fun.  This is the closest thing I’ve written to the 70’s or 80’s Marvel or DC comics I grew up reading.  I had fun writing the script and I hope readers will have fun reading the book.

I’d again like to thank Bobby for taking time out of his schedule to talk with me, we at Comic Booked wish him the best and definitely look forward to reading Yin Yang!