Profile: Jim8ball

Jim8Ball is such a prolific author we couldn’t decide which of his work we liked best. Don’t miss the slideshow after the  questionaire- it has a story preview for his "Samurai Cat" series and covers to many of his other books.

 

::: Artist(s) Name:::
Jim8ball

::: Title of Work(s):::
Samurai Cat

::: Publisher::: (self-published?)
I self publish as Eight Ball Graphics

::: Website:::
http://www.jim8ball.blogspot.com/

::: Q ::: Tell us about yourself.

Jim8ball aka Jim Coon was raised in the dark mines of evil dwarves living in Poland. He was fed only oatmeal and licorice. On Thursdays he was given the task of entertaining the dwarves by reenacting scenes from Fred Astaire movies. Do you know how hard it is to dance like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers at the same time? At the age of 15 he was able to escape the mines and book passage on a small freighter headed for "parts unknown". Those parts turned out to be an island full of dinosaurs and a large gorilla. After a short stint on the island (the natives loved the Fred Astaire routine ) Jim found himself on the docks of the greatest city in the world! New York City. It was in New York that Jim discovered he really didn’t like people so he moved to Cortland NY where he now resides. Okay, that’s not how things really happened, but it’s way more interesting than the truth.

::: Q ::: Did you read comics as a kid?

Not until I was 13. I had hundreds of comics…I just never read them. I used them as a tool to learn to draw from. I just recently gave up on the monthly pamphlet style comics. I mostly read graphic novels and trade paperbacks now. Favorites are FABLES EX MACHINA THE WALKING DEAD and SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE

::: Q ::: What are you watching now?

TV is CRAP! Though I do love HOUSE and I try and watch LOST on DVD when I have time.

::: Q::: What comic book genres interest you the most?

None more than others. If it looks interesting to me I’ll give it a try.

::: Q::: Who is your favorite comic book artist and/or writer? How have they influenced your work?

Writers right now would be Brubaker, Vaughn and Bendis. Steve Epting’s stuff on Captain America is fantastic. Always love Chris Bachalo’s work but I wish he was doing something other than Spider-Man and X-Titles. I won’t buy those. Justin Madson is one of my favorite small press artists. Scott Morse, Rob Ullman and for what it’s worth Charles Shultz and Chuck Jones.

How have they influenced your work? I think Chuck Jones has influenced me more than anyone with the way I draw nowadays. If you look close, every now and then you can see a little of Jones’ influence creeping in. I’ve always loved the little boy character Ralph who would imagine himself as a jet pilot or deep see diver. I try to make my child characters similar to Ralph in expression and proportions.

::: Q::: How did you get involved in comics?

My Grandfather bought me my first comic when I was 4 and I was hooked! Bright colored costumes and even at 4 the Scarlet Witch was a BABE!

::: Q ::: What was your first comic?

AVENGERS 114

::: Q::: What is your favorite story you’ve ever drawn? Favorite character?

Don’t have one really.

::: Q::: How did you come up with the concept for Samurai Cat?

I woke up at 3 in the morning and I had this image in my head of this little cat with a samurai sword. That image became the cover to Samurai Cat #1

::: Q ::: Who is your favorite character in Samurai Cat?

Well, Samurai Cat right now. He’s the only constant character that I get to mess with.

::: Q ::: What was the hardest part of creating your comic book?

The hardest part is drawing it. After issue 1 I decided I wasn’t interested in the character, but it got so much positive feedback I decided to continue writing it, but I would have someone else draw it. In stepped my good friend Terry Flippo. He’s been the regular artist since issue #2.

::: Q ::: How does being self-published change your apraoch towards your work?

Well, I’m kind of my own comics code. I’m not saying I won’t do risque pieces but I try and make sure the appropriate audience gets the appropriate comic. I also have to think about the bottom line, What will this cost to print as opposed to this. Do I have time to do this to a cover? It all depends on how much time and money and energy you have at any given moment.

::: Q ::: How do you promote your book/website/comic?

Just at shows and Etsy

::: Q::: Other than ETSY, where is your book available for sale?

Other than comic shows Esty is really the only place to pick up my books.

::: Q::: What is one stereotype about comic book writers/artists that is absolutely wrong?

That all of them are big fat smelly sweathogs who weren’t popular with the girls.

::: Q::: What one stereotype is dead on?

that one I’ll leave up to wittier comic creators than I.