Den of Geek: The collaboration between you and Matt Fraction…
Chip Zdarsky:Uck, that guy… Um, each issue tends to be a little bit different just based on time.
There was a bit more back and forth on issue one.
That was my next question.
Thats like 90% me.
Hes pretty good with that.
He just kind of lets me do what I want in terms of background stuff.
How did you two come together to work on this?
Im trying to remember how it happened.
Youre clearly a writer.
I wish our kind of hook up story was a bit more exciting…
Its still a meet-cute.
(Laughs) Just a couple of middle aged white guys emailing each other.
How hasSex Criminalschanged from the original pitch?
The initial response to the book, which ones stand out, which ones surprise you good and bad?
The fact that there was any response was shocking.
I was kind of worried because I felt like it was a bit of a bait and switch.
and not read it.
It was an hour into our day and people were already talking about it and it sold out.
Its been overwhelming since it came out.
Like, since that day, every day I am overwhelmed by it.
So at that point, I was super worried.
Its just not there.
Because the way Comixology works is… Like, its a weird setup.
Which is fine, you know, I can wait it out.
I can just wait it out.
(Laughs) I mean, people are going to get off.
I cant stop that from happening.
(Laughs) Oh, thats just another one of those back and forths.
How did he know about the picture, was that your Christmas Card?
He knows an opportunity when he sees it to put it in the book.
(Laughs) He knows what sells.
(Laughs) Yeah.
Well having Matts name attached to it helps you be able to weather that storm, obviously.
I truly dont understand the rule, especially considering, you know, what Apple allows.
Its so… theres no consistency.
Its just weird what raises the flag and what doesnt.
And they wont tell you, either.
Theres never going to be anything like that from them.
It basically shows up on a persons screen and if they decide its that its okay, its okay.
Born out of necessity because he wrote it with the song, Fat Bottom Girls.
Oh, so you actually wanted to use the song and then ran into an issue?
Its a blessing, because its so much better than what the song would have been.
I know, thats the thing.
So, when we came to the trade, we went through it all again.
And thats where it ended.
What about your affair of the mind with the Applebees Facebook.
The coverage that came out of the media FIRESTORM…
Oh man.
Did that take away the innocence of that?
Yeah, I mean, as soon asBuzzFeedcontacted me, I knew it was over.
Like, it was just done.
And it was nuts.
Its a great image.
What makes you angle that in that way to play with those shadows?
Just to pick out one random image from the book that kind of hit me.
Yeah, I was really fucking up drawing their legs.
So I covered it all in shadow.
(Laughs)
Theres an adage, its like, the greatest art comes from improvisation or something…
I dont know, something.
(Laughs) Let me open up a copy and take a look.
Yeah, I liked the idea of kinda grounding the page.
(Laughs)
(Laughs) Well, it works.
That they may squash their relationship?
Is that what youre saying with that cover or am I reading too much into it?
That is exactly it.
The pill looms large, metaphorically [and I] like it to show that figuratively on the cover.
From the moment the script is handed to me to the moment we upload to the printer.
So thats kind of the plan.
I dont see me ever abandoning that fully.
But, yeah, Ive been doing it for ten years, it would be hard to leave.
Chip Zdarsky, thank you very much.
Sex Criminals Volume 1is available where both paper comic books and digital comic books are sold…usually.
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