A staunch supporter of Minnesota sports teams. A drinkin' buddy of Wizard's bunny that walks like a man. The writer who made that magazine's letter column a must read. The man known as Jim McLauchlin has been many things to many people. And as of January 1st, he's also the new editor-in-chief at Top Cow.

So how does a guy go from interviewing artists to hiring them? From writing about comic books to steering an entire line of titles? One thing that certainly didn't hurt was the fact that Jim's a product of the hardworking and straight-shooting morals of his midwest upbringing. A guy who helped found ACTOR (A Committmet to our Roots, check them out at http://www.actorcomicfund.org), the only charitable fund that raises money for this industry's legends in need. A fella who many key players go to for reaction to their publishing decisions, because he always tells you what he really thinks. A man who loves pie.

So, with a new year and a new job before him, let's go Behind The Curtain and talk to Jim McLauchlin, the guy who now has Sara Pezzini and Lara Croft on speed dial!

BTC: First, some background. Tell me about your education and work career. What's led you to the captain's seat at one of the industry's most high profile brands?

McLauchlin: Like everyone else on Earth, my education has nothing to do with my job. I was a political science major in college. So I became a sportswriter. Writing led to a job at Wizard, where at one time or another, I handled everything from writing to editing to promotions and publicity, to aspects of our convention business. I'll still be working on the Wizard World conventions in a contracted consultant-type capacity. In nine years at Wizard, I got to do damn near everything but this -- run the publishing division of a comic book company. So here I am.

BTC: As one of Wizard's most well known personalities, you had the chance to meet a wide array of industry insiders. Can you name some key people that you've worked with that have helped you rise through the industry? And what did you learn from each?

McLauchlin: Is this where I say, "Bill Rosemann taught me everything I know?" I dunno. I tend to think I've been less helped along and more just influenced by certain people. I've picked up probably a million small tidbits from a million different people. I like to think I have very strong friendships with some very creative guys, such as Adam Kubert and Joseph Michael Linsner. I've learned stuff about artists and how they think just by talking to them.

On a business level, I've learned a lot from Matt Hawkins here at the Cow, and Nick Barrucci at Dynamic (so now you can get a raise after this column runs). But seriously, Hawkins has one of the most well rounded business minds I've even encountered. And Nick is a bulldog. If he comes up with an idea to make a dollar, but can't do it, he'll find a way to make 20 nickels instead.

Editorially, I always enjoy talking to Axel Alonso. He's got a lot on the ball.

BTC: Many people would say, after watching you host your McLauchlin Group panels at the Wizard conventions, that you get along well with all types of people. What's your secret to handling the "extreme" personalities that this industry is famous for?

McLauchlin: Just be honest. Flat-out honesty is always the best policy. Let somebody know exactly where they stand with you, and they tend to appreciate it. I like to think that I do get along with most everyone. I probably need only one hand to count the enemies I have in this business.

BTC: Why did you take this job at Top Cow? What appealed to you about a position that many see as possessing a high stress factor?

McLauchlin: More than anything, it's what I alluded to earlier. It's something I haven't done before. It's a chance to work in the same industry I'm familiar with, but use a new skill set and stretch some different muscles. And I'll get a chance to work with people on a different level than I have before, and learn a lot of new things as well.

BTC: What are some of the necessary traits an editor-in-chief should possess?

McLauchlin: A giant pair of steel toed boots, a crash helmet, a 10 ton winch, an ice pick, and suicide capsules if necessary. I'll let you know more as I learn more about the job. Oh, yeah -- and a calendar.

BTC: And what are some of the top tasks an editor-in-chief should tackle?

McLauchlin: Making the trains run on time is kinda job one, and really, once you get the system in place, it's almost automatic. It's just a matter of building the system. After that, it's steering publishing -- deciding what the company wants to publish and why, and finding the appropriate talent and properties to execute that.

BTC: What would you say the Top Cow brand stands for? When readers spot that symbol on the cover, what kind of entertainment experience should they expect?

McLauchlin: I think for its entire history, Top Cow has meant top-flight visuals. The art, coloring, and production on the books has been first rate. In terms of content, the Cow has been a bit of a chameleon, and rolled with the changes in the business. It started out superhero, made a brief foray into sci-fi, then hit a heavy supernatural patch. Right now, it's a bit of everything. Darkness fills that supernatural niche, Battle of the Planets is sci-fi, Witchblade is supernatural-meets-crime fiction, and Tomb Raider is just flat-out high adventure. It's a nice mix right now.

I think we can and will publish anything, provided we keep that commitment to top-quality stuff. Right now, I'm looking at publishing a brand-new superhero/adventure book, some almost "art house" small press type stuff, a humor book, and even reaching back into the 1970s and '80s to do new editions of some classic stuff that I know new fans would love all over again, if only they knew it existed.

BTC: Looking at the Cow's January offerings, I see a small line-up of a one-shot and four ongoing series. Likewise, in February, I see two one-shots, one limited series and three monthlies. Moving forward, do you see the company's output increasing -- or is the limited number of offerings an essential part of the brand? In other words, is this an intentional "quality over quantity" plans and will it continue?

McLauchlin: I'd say 5-6 books a month is the minimum. By the end of 2003, I see us publishing a consistent 9-10 books a month. I think we can easily maintain quality over that kind of increased quantity.

BTC: If you are interested in launching some new titles, would these be revamped properties or all-new characters?

McLauchlin: A little of both. I'm looking at new stuff right now, republishing old stuff, and the Cow has a pretty large library of properties just lying fallow, waiting for a new treatment -- Weapon Zero and Cyberforce spring immediately to mind.

BTC: Let's play a little fantasy football for a moment. Say you could work with anyone from the entire industry -- even if they're under exclusive agreement elsewhere -- who would you like to see come to Top Cow?

McLauchlin: My first three choices would be Alan Moore, Alan Moore, and Alan Moore. After that, I really dig Paul Dini, Steve Skroce, Kevin Smith, the aforementioned Joseph Michael Linsner, Jim Silke, Steve Niles, Mark Millar, a little-known guy you've probably never heard of named Troy Hickman -- Troy, for the love of God, please call me! -- David Lapham, Simon Bisley, Terry Moore, Dan Jurgens, Kyle Hotz, Bernie Wrightson, Erik Larsen, Joe Kubert, Tim Sale, Steven Platt, John Romita, John Romita's kid, Mark Steven Johnson, Phil Noto, Neil Gaiman, Alan Davis, Terry Dodson, Darwyn Cooke, Dave Johnson, Bill Willingham, Brian Azzarello, Frank Cho, Kaare Andrews, Adam Warren jeez, the beat just goes on.

I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention Bill Sienkiewicz. He's my all-time favorite comic artist.

And Joe Quesada is just friggin' brilliant. The guy can design and execute a cover better than anyone in the business. If he ever wants to give up his current dead-end job, he'll always have a home here.

BTC: Getting more specific, say you wanted to leave the current ongoing creative teams intact, and instead publish some one-shots or miniseries, whose version would you like to see of Witchblade? The Darkness? Tomb Raider? Battle of the Planets?

McLauchlin: Witchblade seems like a very Alan Moore/Greg Land kinda book. Moore is great at the supernatural aspect, and Land can draw just the most beautiful women, which is what Sara Pezzini is.

God, it sounds hokey, but the current team of Paul Jenkins and Dale Keown on The Darkness is about as good as it gets. The only other thing I can really think of is a reprise of the original guys, Garth Ennis and Marc Silvestri.

Tomb Raider should be just flat-out high adventure, with a leggy babe. There's no one better at that than J. Scott Campbell. I'd love to have him write and draw a one-shot.

Battle of the Planets? I dunno. For some reason, every time I think "space opera," I think Jim Starlin.

BTC: Variant and alternate covers: harmless fun for collectors or the work of Satan?

McLauchlin: Harmless fun. Look, pie is pie, and when I go to Marie Calendar's, there's apple pie, cherry pie, pumpkin pie, and probably 53 other pies I can't think of right now. I've never seen anyone at Marie Calendar's rail on about the horrible pie industry and its damnable variant pies. They just say, "Oooh, I like cherry. $7.95? Sold American."

BTC: Which leads me to my final question. Pie: cake's inbred cousin or nature's perfect food?

McLauchlin: Actually, bratwurst is nature's perfect staple food. Pie is nature's perfect desert food.

Mmmmm... bratwurst. And now that this interview is done, we can go eat!

Okay, friends, see ya next week when we once again go Behind The Curtain!

In the meantime, check out some of Top Cow's best products:

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During a 10 year run as "Your Man @ Marvel," Bill Rosemann met many of the industry's most talented and cool creators... including several that don't like pie. Now living in Miami, Bill can be reached at: WilliamRosemann@aol.com.