Why do you love what you do?
I remember when I was a kid in high school, and people would ask what
I wanted to do when I grew up. I would answer that I wanted to own my own
comic book company. They would laugh. It didn't matter to me though, because
I lived and breathed comics even back then. I think what I love the best
about my job is that it doesn't feel like a job. Sure it's a hell of a
lot of work, but I get to draw all day. Best part is that I get to draw
characters I love and who have been with me for years, some even since
I was that kid in high school.
Why erotic art?
I love men. I find them beautiful, in all their shapes and sizes. I
grew up in a pretty Catholic environment, and I could never understand
the stuffy atmosphere. I think sex is a beautiful and natural thing, and
I love expressing that. It can also be very funny and entertaining, and
I'd like to think that in some of my work, that comes out.
When did you discover you liked to draw for an all-male audience?
That would be when I left my hometown and moved to Vancouver in British
Columbia (Canada). Before that, I had no idea what "Gay" was really about.
I had no gay friends until then, and I certainly had no positive reinforcement
or help to sort through all the questions and confusion I felt inside me.
When I arrived in Vancouver, I made new friends, people who were supportive,
and I discovered myself and the local gay community. I think it was then
that I felt it was finally okay for me to draw comics featuring all-male
casts. I loved doing so back in my hometown, but the ones I drew there
were for my "private collection." I've never felt I could share those at
the time. The move was sort of a coming out for myself as well as my comics.
Who is your favorite character from your works and why?
Well, I have a lot of characters I really love and adore, and a lot
of them for many different reasons. They have all come to mean so much
to me. I LOVE Locus. He's new to the recent Class Comics, and made his
modern debut in Rapture #1, but he's also a character I've been drawing
since 1992. He's this lean, green sex machine of a Sektan. (A race of grasshopper-type
aliens…and he's totally gorgeous!)
Then there's Jeanne Darque… one of my female characters that is also
a great treat to write and draw. She's beautiful and deadly. She's my answer
to greats like Storm of the X-Men and Wonder Woman.
But ultimately, my favorite creation is Camili-Cat. I mean; he's been
with me for 20 years now. That's a really long time to be working with
a character. It's been amazing seeing him evolve and change over the years.
He's served as a buffer for me when I began discovering my own sexuality.
He's been a means by which I could express myself, my desires and my fantasies
when I wasn't sure where else to turn. In so many ways, he is my oldest,
closest friend. That ends up making a pretty big impression on you as an
artist. Plus, he's beautiful, but isn't really aware of it. There is something
completely innocent about this character, and somehow through all the shit
I have put him thorough over the years, he's managed to remain a really
great and honest "person."
I've often said that the characters are the ones who dictate their destinies
and that we artists are just the means by which their lives get illustrated.
Camili-Cat is no different, in fact for me he is the perfect example of
this. He has always been driven by the loss of his mother and sister, and
of his entire race. For all these years, he has believed that he was the
sole survivor of a people slaughtered by invading forces. It's been amazing
writing him through all of that. And despite this immense loss and void
in his laugh, Cam has always had so much light in him; a real kindness.
I think that is what endears him to me the most. It doesn't matter who
you are, what you look like, if you're thin or fat, black or white... everyone
gets a fair chance with him. It's your actions that dictate who you are.
To me that's what a real hero is all about.
Who is your average fan and what type of feedback do you get from
them?
There seems to be 2 distinct types of people who are drawn to my work.
Either they are comic book fans who are Gay and have always wanted to find
comic books featuring gay characters and superheroes in sexual situations,
or they are fans of erotic artwork who are discovering that they enjoy
the comic book format. Mostly, the fans are really gracious and supportive.
My favorite feedback is when someone writes to me about the characters;
how much they like them or dislike them and why, that sort of thing. It
is always so cool to see that a reader is into the story as much as the
sexual content.
I sometimes get people sending letters directly to the characters themselves,
which is a bit odd I suppose, but always really fun to read. Camili-Cat
and Naked Justice get a lot of fan mail!
Growing up, who was your favorite superhero and why?
There were two superhero characters I really loved growing up. Both
were X-Men. First, I think I loved Storm the way maybe a lot of young Gay
comics fans loved Wonder Woman. I discovered Storm when I was six, and
I did not speak a word of English at the time, only French. She was so
beautiful to me, and I wanted to know what she was saying. In a way, Storm
taught me English! She remains a big fave of mine even today.
From a purely "Helllllooo Nurse!" point of view though, Nightcrawler
was definitely my favorite. I may noy have understood the feelings I had
at the age of six, but he certainly made me react! I still love Nightcrawler
today, and I still think he is one of the sexiest superheroes around.
If you could make any classic superhero gay, who would it be and
why?
A gay Spider-Man would be very interesting. He is so hot in his skin-tight
costume, swinging around doing all those splits. Plus, Peter Parker is
a really nice, normalguy underneath the costume. I think it would be refreshing
to see that sort of character, someone who is a really down to earth person
with real people problems, be a gay icon.
So often I find that gay characters created by the mainstream are such
caricatures, and sometimes even outright stereotypes. It would be cool
to see the mainstream create a gay character without trying so hard to
label them as "Gay," but just letting them evolve and acquire their gay
aspects more naturally.
But in general, I would settle for a few more gay characters, period.
It seems that the ratio of gay superheroes in mainstream comics to the
straight ones is a little bit on the slim side. Considering that these
guys are all total babes, my thinking is that in actuality, probably WAY
more of them SHOULD be gay! HA! HA! HA!
Do you think mainstream Hollywood will option your work for bigger
productions (i.e., South Park or Aeon Flux)?
That would be really cool, but I seriously doubt it, mostly because
mainstream Hollywood doesn't seem to do "gay" all that well too often.
I think it is more likely that we might eventually see an independent film
featuring my characters, or maybe even a well produced adult film version.
Why do you love science fiction and where do you think its going?
Sci-fi is a great and infinite source of inspiration to me. Obviously,
almost anything can be done in the world of science fiction. The sky is
truly the limit. From a story point of view, my characters can get into
so many different kinds of situations, and some of it can lend itself very
nicely to the kinkier side of story telling. Plus, the variety of characters
is endless.
I think that science fiction is a big seller because of the day and
age we are living in. I mean with all the crap going on in the world, I
think most of us need a little escape now and then. Sci-fi provides that
escape, in one form or another. For some of us it's Star Wars or Star Trek,
for others its comic books. Those universes hold so much wonder and provide
a positive way to fantasize.
Also, it seems that the future is here in the real world. In some ways,
people want to see what lies ahead of all of these new technologies, discoveries
and developments. I think Sci-fi offers a little glimpse of what is to
come, and that fascinates most people.
Are other comic artists open to your gay perspective and your works?
A lot of gay erotic artists are very open and friendly, and enjoy networking
and sharing works with one another. I have truly enjoyed my communication
with most of the other gay artists out there. I've become really great
friends with a lot of them.
Mainstream comic artists can also be very nice, but some of them are
a little put off by the type of material I draw. It seems that the mainstream
comic world can be a very exclusive club. It does not matter if I COULD
be drawing mainstream, all they seem to see is the cock. That is their
issue, I suppose. For the most part though, artists just like sharing the
love of their craft. That is really invigorating to me.
What advice would you give to aspiring gay or bi comic artists or
sci-fi writers?
Don't give up on your stuff. I know that sounds kinda cheesy, but it
is so true. It is really important to keep believing in your work and to
keep on being open to growth. I almost stopped drawing Camili-Cat some
years ago after an editor completely TRASHED him and my work. I was pretty
devastated. I mean this was my baby, and artists get so personally involved
in their work. But then I realized that one person's opinion was not necessarily
another's. So I kept going, refining my craft and putting my work out there
as much as I could.
In the end, belief in yourself is your best weapon.
Do you think your work is intentionally erotic?
You know, it seems that even when I am NOT trying to draw something
erotic, a little sex appeal sneaks into the mix. I swear I do not mean
to put it there!! HA! HA! HA! I think it is simply that I am very open
to sexuality, and so it tends to come through in my work, whether I am
drawing Naked Justice blowing his load, or some generic-style illustration
for a college textbook.
But if I had to try too hard to make things sexy, then I think I would
be in the wrong line of work. What makes a character hot is not the way
you draw him necessarily. It has to transcend your line work. It has to
be an overall feeling, something that smells more of attitude than of being
forced.
I see a lot of sex in your comics, but is it safe? If so, why? If
not, why?
I am a big advocate of safe sex, but comics are fantasy, and NOT to
be mimicked. So much of what I draw would be SOOOOOOOO unsafe if done by
real people. I don't deny that. But what I will say is that I am catering
to people's fantasies. I think it is important for people to have an escape
from the harsh realities of real life once in a while. I'd like to think
that I can provide that through my comics. In my stuff, there are no sexually
transmitted diseases… but as I said, it is purely fantasy. I would never
encourage someone to go out there and reenact the things I draw.
I think we need a place where sex can still be free and fun without
consequence.
Do you think your characters are role models to younger gay or bi
men?
If anything, my characters are proud to be who they are, and make no
excuses for their sexuality or their way of life. They accept themselves
openly and completely, and do not look down on others for being different.
In this sense, I think they should be role models for the entire world!
HA! HA! HA!
Sexually speaking, I think it's as I said earlier. I do not think that
they should be considered role-models from a purely "do what they do" point
of view. However, I think that their love of sex can be very healthy. So
embrace your erotic side the way they have, but do it SAFELY and WISELY!
Make smart decisions and have fun.
Do gay critics think you put too much emphasis of sex?
When my stuff was just starting to be made available to the public,
some critics did pooh pooh the sex, but you can't please everyone. I draw
erotic Gay comics, so the sex is an integral part of what I do. As more
comics became available though, a lot of those critics changed their tune,
stating that they were surprised that there was actually a good story underneath
all the cum, and characters you could admire and maybe even relate to on
some levels. That was pretty cool. Ultimately, you can't always get the
full picture from the first issue of a series.
Who is your favorite artist?
That would be the amazing Alan Davis. The man is truly a master of
craft. His work is beautiful and sensual and exciting. He draws comics
like no one else in my mind. He has drawn the sexiest Nightcrawler I have
ever seen and certainly, I think I have learned a lot from him, growing
up and reading the books he'd drawn. I will always admire this man's talent.
He is brilliant.
If you could have sex with an alien species featured in a sci-fi
movie or TV show; what species would it be and why?
That's an interesting question. I think it would be a Nautolan, like
Kit Fisto from Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. What can I
tell you, my favorite color is green! But seriously, I think there is a
real sexiness to him…or maybe he just reminds me of Locus! HA! HA! HA!
I think I would be curious to discover his body. To see how we are similar
and how we are different, and then to play with all of that green goodness! |
