First comic you read that made you want to work in comics?

I've read comics for just about as long as I can remember, but I'd never really considered a career in the medium until I read Jamie S Rich's introduction for Darko Macan & Edvin Biukovic's GRENDEL TALES volume, DEVILS AND DEATHS. Before that, I'd always wanted to do something on the technical side of theater or maybe something on the production end of magazine publishing. That little text piece flipped a switch, though - I knew that editing comics was something I wanted to do.

I wish someone would have asked that question earlier! Kissing up to the old man does me no good now!

Last person you spoke to on the phone?

Christian Neil Skoorsmith, one of my oldest and dearest friends and proprietor of the RedChristian Blog. Chris is a union-organizin', philosophy studyin', car pool takin' Peace Corp alum that's so far off on the left that if you put him on a teeter-totter you'd have to put Mussolini (or maybe GWB) on the other end to balance it all out. We briefly discussed the state of the union until I got depressed and hung up.

First time you met one of your heroes?

Definitely too young to remember meeting my Grandpa Jim, but he would definitely be the first. Even though it's been over thirteen years since he died, he's still my moral compass and my true idea of a Man's Man. A yellow-dog-Democrat from birth, in the months before I was born, he went from hard-drinking, hard-smoking Midwest man, to the kindest, gentlest, most generous person I've ever known.

Last time you cooked a meal?

Do the waffles I threw in the toaster this morning count? No? Um, probably some stuffed salmon, couscous, and green beens that I made last weekend.

First crush?

Diana Teabo. Athletic, short dark hair, totally adorable. I spent the better part of 1989 pining for her in a shy, introverted kinda way. When I found out how obvious my affection was, I was devastated and more than a little pathetic. A group of girls a significant number of social steps up from the platform I resided on took pity on and, eventually, adopted me. Thus began five years of extreme social awkwardness as I became "just one of the girls".

Last time you spent $100 on clothes?

About a week ago. Zadie (my daughter) and I went to the mall and bought lots of new clothes for her mom for Mother's Day. My credit card is still reeling.

First thing you do when you book into a hotel?

Flop onto the bed farthest from the window and sigh.

Last time you cried?

Uh, when I was writing the answer to the "First time you met one of your heroes?" question...

First teacher to make a difference to you?

Mrs Annette Vernei, my fifth grade math and reading teacher. She was this amazing woman who refused to acknowledge any student had any limitations as to what they could do. She had sixth-graders working out of college algebra texts and fifth-graders reading Vonnegut. Teaching came in the last third of her life following a successful career in modern dance with legends like Martha Graham. Simply astounding.

Last time you told a lie?

I don't remember. Wait, it's fifteen seconds ago when I typed "I don't remember".

First time you feared for your life?

I was five and had ridden my bike into a giant prickly pear cactus. I was covered in long spiny stickers and as my mother tweezed them all out one by one, I dictated my will to my little brothers.

Last comic you read that reminded you why you love comics?

That's a toughie. All the Oni books are like my godchildren, but Bryan O'Malley's LOST AT SEA is like the one I delivered on my own in the backseat of a taxi cab. As for stuff from the "other guys", Derek Kirk Kim's SAME DIFFERENCE... and Judd Winick and co.'s CAPER are both projects I would have killed to be involved with and are excellent examples of just what kind of stories this medium is capable of.

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