I SAID WE'D HAVE AN INTERVIEW...
by Brandon Jerwa

I’m only human.

This is a biological fact, if not a statement of truth regarding my ability to keep on track and stay focused on a hundred different things at once. It’s the perfect excuse for any perceived shortcoming, and I use it on myself as often as I do anyone else who might come to me seeking an explanation.

Last week, I suggested – not promised, mind you – suggested that we might have an interview for this week’s Jerwa Report.

That suggestion was promptly forgotten in a haze of pitches, TV immersion and the occasional afternoon nap.

As I sat down to write this week’s Report, I realized I had nothing to write about AT ALL, never mind an interview. So I ran to the nearest person of interest…STEVEN SAUNDERS, the current rumor hunting king of “All the Rage” over at www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com. I figured “what the heck”, since we comic book professionals rarely take the time to shine the light on the people who are usually interviewing us…

Let's start with your name, age and job description, Steve.

My name is Zordak, Bacon Wielding Over-- Okay, fine... Steven George Saunders, I'm 31 Standard Terran Yearly Cycles of age and my occupation is "house-wife" at the time being, with a current secondary occupation as a writer and columnist. A very long winded writer and columnist. But my primary position in life right now is as a devoted father to a pair of dynamite sons.

And I change a mean diaper, let me tell you that right now.

So those FBI reports aren't true at all. Good to know!

No, not true... at all. Never-- "What FBI reports?" I always say.

You currently run All The Rage for Silver Bullet Comic Books.  How's that going?

Pretty damn good so far! I'm still pretty surprised I have the gig, but it's very cool. I get to rumage around in the latest comics new and rumor, as well as communicating with all sorts from friendly to downright cagey…mostly friendly, though.

Ha! “Mostly” is an interesting word. I use "mostly" a lot in this industry.

Yeah. So is "awesome". And I like to use the word "awesome" a lot myself. I enjoy demonstrating my awesome vocabulary to the unwashed proletariat.

Always a good choice. So, what was the first life-changing comic book for you?

I'd have to say Amazing Spider-Man. I learned how to read reading that, Uncanny X-Men and Star Wars.

Count me in on all three. I came into X-Men late, but Spidey and Star Wars were my big hooks.

I loved Spider-Man as a kid (still love him). I remember this one time I went to this mall and got to meet him! It was totally rad. I showed off my new Hulk shirt to him. He was mightily impressed. Spidey was very nice and polite and he picked me and a friend up for a photo. I'll never forget that moment.

I always hoped for a Star Wars / Spidey crossover... but little did I know that I was a few years too early for that kinda stuff.

I'll go ahead and put that one down as "never in a million years".

Ha! Can't you see Boba Fett and Shocker duking it out with Han and Spidey? It'd be brilliant.

What are you reading these days?

Oh, man... I'm reading quite a bit!

Some titles off the top of my head: Knights of the Dinner Table, Dork Tower, Moon Knight, The Boys (well, when it gets picked up again), the BSG comics (all of them!), Age of Bronze, The Walking Dead, Deadworld, Punisher MAX, Punisher War Journal, Thunderbolts, Nextwave, Hulk (Planet Hulk is awesome), Warhammer 40, 000, Ultimate Spider-Man, The Ultimates, Fear Agent, Athena Voltaire, Black Coat, Evenfall... Damn, so many!

I can go on and on... Cable/Deadpool, Xena, Army of Darkness, lots more interesting indie stuff and a few more Marvel and Vertigo titles. Hellblazer is great and 2000AD is one of my all-time faves. My list changes from time to time, but that pretty much sums it up. Oh, and Starship Troopers is another title I salivate over.

I'd also like to say that I just read an advance issue of Dark Tower #1 and I can see it becoming a new fave title of mine.

Switching to the boob tube, let's talk about "Heroes", which I know you're a fan of. I have a very specific question, however...when you look at the pristine execution of that show, what ONE COMIC SERIES does it make you want to see on TV?

Ooh! Good question!

Hellblazer, hands down. I think Constantine was an awful botch job of a "film" and I think Hellblazer would be a terrific HBO or Showtime show (and yes, I'm excited for Preacher). I guess Dresden Files comes close.

Another book that would make an AWESOME sci-fi show is Fear Agent. As for superheroes...hmmm. The Boys *laughs heartily*. Yeah, that would scar kids for life. Thunderbolts, or something along those lines would be a nice change of pace as far as the idiot box goes.

That's not one, is it? Damn. Sorry, dude.

It's perfectly fine!

Let's close with one last question here. You've come into the industry first as a reviewer and now you're manhandling a well-known column. What's the ultimate goal here? Any writing aspirations? Want to fill Joe Quesada's seat someday?

You know, up until...let's see…September (2006), I think, I didn't have any hard ambitions in the comics biz. I mean, I love comics, don't get me wrong. But then I started doing the reviews and got the column. And I have other columns (Manga Hunter S and the upcoming Indiephile).

Anyway, my mind started wrapping itself around the industry in a new way. I've always wanted to write comics, like many folks out there, and I like to think I have some good ideas. As for other jobs in the industry, I know I wouldn't turn down an editorial job or public relations gig. Same goes for marketing or something like that. I would like to make my profession in the comics industry, that's for sure; preferably with writing.

I've met and made contact with a huge load of great people and interesting types that make waking up every day and doing my thing with this biz worth every freaking second. I finally found an industry that I love and love to be a part of.

Whatever it is, I'll make sure it includes the word "awesome" somewhere in the script.

I’d like to thank Steven for dropping by to talk to me on such short notice, and for working hard to keep the news and rumors flowing every week at All The Rage on www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com . On that note, let’s close with a visual tribute to Steve’s Holy Grail of food items.

I GIVE YOU…BACON!
Send your bacon to brandonjerwa@gmail.com – but make sure it’s EXACTLY between crispy and chewy, please.