Fashion and Comics with Andrea Grant

Conducted by Todd Matthy

While the world of comics is often thought of as a “boy’s club” there are plenty of women who are on their way to becoming stars in the comic book world. One of those women is Andrea Grant. Andrea is not only a model but an accomplished writer who is author of The Pin-Up Poet and the founder of Copious Amounts Press which publishes her comic book, Minx, which has a brand new graphic novel called Minx: Dream War that can be pre-ordered at your comic shop.

I recently had the opportunity to speak to Andrea about Minx, self-publishing, and a woman’s perspective of the comic world.

Q: What made you get into comics in the first place?

A: I’ve always loved combining images with words to tell a story, and comics just seemed like a natural progression of this aesthetic.

 

Q: Were you a comic book fan growing up? What were your favorite books? What are you currently reading?

A: Yes, I read comics such as Catwoman, She-Hulk and X-Men growing up. I read as much as possible, and my tastes range from classic lit to poetry to graphic novels, and non-fiction books about mythology, philosophy, business, and art. Leonard Cohen’s Stranger Music and Lao Tzu’s Tao Teh Ching are favorites I often refer to.  I just finished Patti Smith’s Just Kids, and right now I’m reading a collection of Joan Didion’s short stories.

 

Q: How did you get you get into publishing?

A: Back in 2001, I was a restless, ambitious kid, so I decided to start a literary/arts magazine called Copious.  It did really well in the underground, taught me a lot about publishing, and gave me a certain degree of credibility when I began the MINX comic project in 2006.  

 

Q: What inspired you to create a comic book?

A: I’ve always been fascinated by the thin lines between fantasy, reality, and dreams. The creation of the MINX project was initially cathartic; the idea occurred right after I’d emerged from a very strenuous time in my life. MINX began as an alter ego that I felt comfortable working with creatively as I sought to find my voice as an artist.  The character is an archetype of an empowered, modern half-Native American woman who challenges tradition while retaining her femininity and core beliefs of right vs. wrong. MINX is a very personal project—both a conceptual self-portrait, and a response to the way that our current celebrity-obsessed media often corrupts the truth and distorts the boundaries of fantasy and actuality.

 

Q: Who are your primary influences? 

A: Visual artists, such as the Dutch and Flemish masters, Roy Lichtenstein, Warhol, Cindy Sherman, and Picasso. Helmut Newton. Leonard Cohen. The Brontes. The Beat Poets. Tennessee Williams. Sherman Alexie. Neil Gaiman. And music, which constantly plays in the background when I’m working.

 

Q: What was the inspiration for Minx?

A: I often refer to the world of MINX as a sort of hyper-reality combining mythology, dreams, and literal reality.  I cast my friends in the comic as supporting characters because they are a diverse set of intellectuals who inspire my imagination.

 

Q: Can you talk about your issue with DC Comics? Would you ever consider working with them?

A: The issue with DC was amicably resolved.  Sure, I’d consider working with them if the right opportunity arose…why not?

 

Q: How long does it take you to write a comic book?

A: That depends on how inspired I am versus how much I can focus, versus the deadlines.  It takes a tremendous amount of discipline, and to actually write a single issue/24-page script takes 2-3 weeks. I tend to do it in stages: outline the story arc, sketch out the panels, and then revise heavily and add dialogue.

 

Q: The issue of women (and diversity) in comics has become a major issue in comics. What is your take on the situation? What do you think publishers and retailers need to do to attract women?

A: I’ve never had that perspective.  I’ve always found the comic book industry extremely welcoming to anyone who has talent.  I don’t believe it’s necessarily gender-derivative.  But then, Minx has a high female readership.

 

Q: Why do you think comics are viewed as a turn off to women?

A:  I think that idea was more prevalent a few years ago, when there were a lot of vapid comics with no substance that just featured a hot girl acting as a model for a character without contributing creatively to the project.

 

Q: Something I’ve noticed is that women tend to read comics when published in a graphic novel format as opposed to monthly periodicals. What’s your take on this? Do you think the graphic novel format is the key to bringing in female readers?

A: I think it’s just easier for people to read a consolidated series.  It’s the true collectors who experience joy in hunting down the individual issues.

 

Q: What’s your opinion on digital comics?

A:  I think there will always be print collectors, but we are in the digital age.  It’s necessary to evolve.  Distribution is always a challenge, and digital platforms will perhaps allow more readers to access more indie comics.

 

Q: Are there any similarities between the world of fashion and comics? Which is more demanding?

A: Both industries are inspiring, demanding, and hyper-real, but the rhythm is quite different.  In fashion, designers spend months preparing for their S/S or F/W collection, then there is a show that lasts a few minutes, the press junkets and a million other details, and they go right back into the studio and work on the next collection.  Comics feel like they take a bit longer to produce…a graphic novel can easily take a year.  But perhaps the fact that a high-end designer’s clothes always retain their value and can be re-sold in the vintage hemisphere is somewhat comparable to the longevity of a graphic novel that does well and continues to sell copies for many years.

Thank you very much to Andrea Grant for taking the time to speak with me.