GRAPHIC NOVEL CLUB: Stephen R. Bissette on how his name snuck its way into the credits of SWAMP THING

Plus, Bissette’s horror inspirations and a community of collaboration.

0

The Beat is a proud sponsor of Comix Experience’s Graphic Novel of the Month Clubs, which bring comics fans a curated mix of the best of new release graphic novels and conversations with the creators who make them. Each month, the staff of Comix Experience votes on three sets of upcoming books they are most excited about—one gets presented to adults, another to middle readers, and the third is a classic. Each club provides swag like original signed custom bookplates for adults or buttons and magnets for the kids (in this case, the former, to support the featured Comics Masterpiece book, Saga of the Swamp Thing).

saga of the swamp thing

Most excitingly, the Graphic Novel Clubs bring in the creators of selected books to talk exclusively to GNC members in interviews conducted by Comix Experience owner Brian Hibbs, who brings 30 years of experience in comics to the table. These talks are livestreamed to members all over the country and are a fun and informative mix of conversation on craft and form, as well as on the business of making comics. The Graphic Novel Clubs make a point of being inclusive, inviting creators from a wide variety of age, race, sex, and cultural perspectives to speak to members.

Membership is what propels these conversations, so if you like what you see, please support these discussions of comics, and the creators who make them, by joining the club.

Today: Brian Hibbs talks to Saga of the Swamp Thing illustrator Stephen R. Bissette. He discusses a few of his inspirations, as well as the community of cartoonists he was part of when his name snuck into the Saga of the Swamp Thing credits. In those days, when artists landed work on a comic, it was common to collaborate. One artist may handle the foreground while, for instance, another may work on a dinosaur in the background and the primary artist would sneak initials into the art. Find out the story on that in the clip above.

Make sure to check out the full interview on Comix Experience’s official YouTube page.

Graphic Novel Club Banner