A Talk With the Publisher /Writer of Masterpiece Comics
By James Jobe
I was recently approached via email by a guy with a small comic company that wanted to know if he could send out a press pack and one of their issues for me to review. I of course said yes, and was delighted once it arrived as the package was very well put together, and the comic was entertaining to boot. I decided right away to not just review the comic, but to track this guy down and see if I could get an interview.
The guy in question here is the owner, publisher and head writer of Masterpiece Comics, Ace Masters. I had the pleasure of first chatting with him off the record on an instant messenger and found that he had many great things to say about both his company and the comics they were creating. I knew that he'd make a great interview. He graciously accepted the offer. Here are the results of the questions I sent him.
James Jobe: Please tell us a little about yourself.
Ace Masters: I’m a writer. That’s all you need to know. :)
I always hate this question as I feel like I’m answering (or writing) a personal ad or something. Here’s the short version. I was born and raised in Europe, while my dad served in USAF (United States Air Force). I’ve lived in Glendale, AZ since 1989.
I’ve spent the last decade working on my writing and having some small successes. I have a few dozen short stories published, written a number of underground comics and three screenplays on commission (unfortunately, they haven’t been produced yet.)
Right now I’m focusing on Masterpiece and a few other projects with my Rebel Dawn Company that I’m hoping to announce soon.
JJ: What comics did you read as a kid, and what are you reading now?
AM: I probably started with the Archie digest books. The first super-hero title I ever read was Amazing Spider-Man 239, the second appearance of Hobgoblin. For a long time all I collected was Spider-man and Star Trek and Jonah Hex. Keep in mind, when I first started reading I was living in Europe and it was back in the 1980’s and I was limited to what the Air Force base bookstore and local stores carried.
Right now I read a lot of stuff, I really don’t care who publishes it if it appeals to me.
A Partial Pull list is:
A lot of Marvel Titles - No Need to list them all. Battlestar Galactica (classic), Conan, Highlander, Jonah Hex, Lone Ranger, Phantom, Star Wars, TMNT, Transformers
I’m sure there’s other titles I’m not thinking of right now and I’m always adding things to my list. Unfortunately, there are a number of really good small press titles out there that are hard to find.
JJ: If you had your choice of any artist, living or dead, to work with you, who would you choose? Please also tell us why!
AM: Only one, huh? Actually, even though there are a number I’d like to work with, I’d have to go with Russ Manning, creator of Magnus: Robot Fighter. Mostly because Magnus is one of my all time favorite characters and titles. I’d love to write Magnus if there was ever a legit revival of the character again. Magnus went a long way in influencing my love of comics and sci-fi, and the original series basically set the bar for sci-fi comics at the time.
JJ: What other comic professionals have influenced your work?
AM: When I'm talking of being influenced, I usually mean people whose work I honestly like or love and who inspired me to want to become a writer. I don’t mean that I’m influenced and I want to write like that person. I don’t want to be the “the next (fill in the name)” or copy anyone’s style. I just want to be me, and I don't want to write like anyone else.
That said, those who influenced me in my love of comics are probably the same as everyone else: Stan Lee, Alex Raymond, Russ Manning, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, John Romita, Marv Wolfman, Michel Fleisher, Mark Texeria.
Even though there are a number of artists and writers I am a fan of today. Not many of them were working in the industry when I first started reading comics and didn’t really have an influence in me wanting to get into the industry.
JJ: What (or who) inspired the various characters you've created?
AM: Keeping with just Fireblast and Wild Boys for the moment?
That’s a hard one. As much as I’d like to say no one inspired them, no matter what I always see something in the characters.
With Fireblast, there are, honestly, a number of inspirations, Flash Gordon, James Bond, Mike Hammer, etc. Basically the idea was taking an old school ‘Pulp’ type character and placing him the future. A future that in many ways is retro.
With Wild Boys, the main inspiration was what if characters like this were real, and things that normally happen in comics really happened. Would the characters remain self-less and self-righteous as they are usually written, or would they act like normal people? If placed into a warlike situation, would they fight and take life if need be?
JJ: What made you decide to publish your own comics rather than pursue other publishers?
AM: My ultimate goal in life was to always own my own comic publishing company. So I was going to go this route no matter what.
JJ: What obstacles may still lie in Masterpiece Comics' future?
AM: The biggest obstacle is getting more exposure and getting more readers and retailers to take notice. Especially with there being a lot of competition in what is, essentially, a limited market.
Finances, of course, are always an obstacle. Unfortunately I don’t have deep pockets or millions of dollars backing me up.
JJ: Fireblast: Adventures in the 30th Century #1 just came out recently. Can you tell us a little about that?
AM: Fireblast chronicles the adventures of Private Investigator Mack Fire and his holographic assistant Perfecta in the 30th Century. Just as the title indicates.
Anyone expecting ”hard sci-fi” maybe be disappointed. Fireblast is an action/adventure title in the vain of the old Pulp novels. It is basically “Pulp Science-Fiction.” And to keep with that feel, the title purposely has a “retro” feel to it with many things looking like they do today. Or even more specifically like the 30’s, 40’s or 50’s.
In his review for Silver Bullet Comic Books, Bruce Logan likened it to a “Futuristic Dick Tracy”, which isn’t all that far off from what I am going for. Of course Mack Fire isn’t Dick Tracy, nor do I want him to be.
JJ: Wild Boys #1 was also set to release this month. Please tell us about that, too.
AM: Wild Boys is much different than Fireblast. The artwork is more gritty and moody than the streamlined, smooth artwork for Fireblast and the story is more serious, edgy and violent.
Imagine an alien invasion meets a super-hero team book. Now throw in a World War feel. Lastly consider that the “super-hero team” hates both sides, doesn’t care who wins and refuses to fight against the aliens.
In a nutshell you have Wild Boys. Not exactly a super-hero title, even though the main characters are super-powered. They aren’t “heroes,” aren’t clean cut, don’t wear costumes and don’t look out for anyone other than themselves. And they don’t give a damn about the human race.
The first issue showcases the back-story of the creation of the Wild Boys by the government and how the government betrayed them due to public uproar over their creation. Because of this the Wild Boys don’t give a damn about the Human race or their fight against the alien conquerors, a lizard-like race called the Jovarn.
The mini-series is about how the Wild Boys are forced into taking action and joining the fight against the Jovarn, despite themselves.
We’re hoping this serves as a good launching pad for future stories.
JJ: If buyers or collectors have missed any of the issues you've already released, will you be offering back issues through your website or possibly trade paperback collections?
AM: Fortunately I can report that the Zero Issue of Fireblast is completely sold out, including our over run. Issue One of the series is on the verge of being sold out, with a few re-orders from Diamond since the issue hits the shelves.
While it is a good thing for us, unfortunately it means that we can’t offer those back issues. However trade paperbacks are being planned.
As for selling online, we are currently looking into the logistics of that. We also want to have a few more issues and items out before going that route. We’re also looking into offering subscriptions.
JJ: What plans do you have for future releases from Masterpiece?
AM: A lot. But of course a lot of plans are contingent on how things going over the course of the rest of 2007.
For this year, what we are focusing on Fireblast, Wild Boys and in the second half of the year the Full Moon Craze and Rushmore: Fallen Shall Rise mini-series. With a one-shot or two along the way.
In 2008 we hope to launch a couple of more ongoing series, a few more mini-series and at least six or more graphic novels. Most of these are already in the works as we speak.
JJ: Ace, thank you for giving us a bit of your time, and here's hoping that the future will see many more successful publications from Masterpiece Comics.
Want to see more from Masterpiece Comics?
Visit their website --> CLICK HERE
FINAL THOUGHTS
This may sound a tad funny coming from me as I'm the guy here reviewing a ton of comics from the big two every month, but I want to take this opportunity to say that they aren't the only game out there. For those of you who have yet to test the waters of the indy comics world, I sincerely hope that you'll broaden your scope and have a go at some of the little guys. To me its the same idea that you don't have to go to a Wal-Mart to buy everything when you probably have a mom and pop store close to home that likely deserves your business more than the conglomerates. Take a chance, and pre-order some indies through your local retailer. You won't be sorry.
Big fatty thanks to Hoss @ the Comics Corral for the editing help!
I'm accepting any and all comic related submissions for review! Please e-mail me HERE for my policies and snail mail address. THANKS!
