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What brought you to Impact?
Brian Augustyn, who was previously our editor for Trollords,
the self-published comic I did with Scott Beaderstadt.
How did you find out
about the Impact project?
Through Brian.
Had you worked with
Len Strazewski before the Fly?
Yes, Len replaced Brain as editor of Trollords
when Brian moved on to DC.
Had you worked with
Mike Parobeck before the Fly?
Yep. I inked a Secret Origins Karate Kid story
Mike penciled, as well as the last several issues of El Diablo as a warm-up to
The Fly.
What are your
thoughts on the late Mr. Parobeck?
Mike was one of the friendliest, genuinely nicest
people I ever met. He was dedicated to his craft and his art. He’d work
tirelessly, spending hours and hours redrawing pages with which he was
dissatisfied. He had a classic style, drawing from the best, and making it his
own, even when it wasn’t in vogue. Many will be forgotten, but Mike’s work
will stand the test of time.
What did you feel you
brought to the series as the inker?
To reinforce the simple and fun style of the
stories and of Mike’s pencils.
Were Mike's pencils
usually really detailed, or did you get the opportunity to add things as they
were needed?
Mike’s pencils were simple, but everything was
right, and everything was there. With most pencilers I inked, I tended to
simplify and remove detail, while remaining faithful to each penciler’s style.
Just my personal preference; less is more. Mike was the only penciler with whom
I worked where I needed to add detail. I’d send him copies of newly inked art
each issue, and he’d rave about some details I added around a villain’s
eyes. It was fun.
Did you have any
input into character designs for the series?
Nope. Mike’s job, based on Kirby.
What was your first
introduction to the Mighty Crusaders (pre-Impact)?
I came across the occasional reprint while
reading Archies Digests.
What do you think was
the cause of Impact's cancellation?
Good stuff, bad timing. I think the line was
trying to recapture an innocence and simplicity sorely lacking in the industry
at the time. Given recent popular trends, Impact, along with Mike and Len’s
JSA, were ahead of their time.
How was Al Bigley's
art style as opposed to Mike's?
Just different. Al’s stuff was all there, too.
He was a bit more flamboyant and stylized than Mike. I always tried to remain
faithful to the penciler, no matter who I was inking.
Overall, what did you
think of the Fly as a series?
It was a lot of fun. I liked the character, the
villains and my collaborators.
How were you told of
the cancellation?
Probably a call from Paul Kupperberg, who had
taken over the editorial reins.
Paul, I thank you for
your time, and your willingness to help me out on this project of mine.
My pleasure!
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