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Desperation. I was 10 and in a drug store looking for something, anything to kill the time as I faced the prospect of sitting in the back of my parents El Camino for three days as they drove from Canada to California. I discovered my first comic book rack. Two books stood out: Swamp Thing and Man Thing. They were chock full of monster and beasties. My favorites. I snapped them up and the rest is gravy.

2. Do you remember the first comic that you read?
Yeah, Swamp Thing and Man-Thing. The issue numbers are fuzzy. I think it was Swamp Thing 12 and Man-Thing 9....

3. Your work on past X-Men projects have been amazing! Is there a certain character or different team book that you would love to work on?
Maybe Cloak and Dagger. Deathlock. Batman. The Wolfman Perez Teen Titan line up would be fun. Spidey would be fun If I didn't have to draw the building and city parts.

4. Now, your to your upcoming X-Men series with Mike Carey. Can you tell us a little about this Super Nova storyline and what you've got planned for us?
I'll start off by saying that this is the best X-Material I've ever worked with and that's saying a lot considering the amazing writers that I've worked with. Starting with issue 188 Mike Carey will begin the process of redefining the line up.There will be a new leader and new mission statement not to mention a new line up of villains know as the CHildren of the Vault. We'll learn very quickly that they are a nasty bunch and, which I find refreshing, are neither mutants or aliens. Mike has a terrific grasp of story telling that I'm enjoying immensely. I 've read the first three scripts and if you like ensemble pieces with action and multiple sub-plots like the TV series LOST you'll be rewarded. I really like his handling of the characters. When I made the move to X-men from Uncanny, I begged Mike Marts to encourage MC to make Rogue, one of my all time favorite characters, tough and decisive. He said I have nothing to worry about. I'll say this, Rogue is one tough bitch in this series and has a terrific sense of humor. Great stuff!! My goal is to make the series as graphic and interesting as possible so that the readers never know what to expect from page to page. I'm a little bummed right now as i'll be skipping issue 191. Marvel is shipping two issues in July and we want to keep a nice lead time, but it's a great piece in which one of the Vault kids--they're not really "kids" BTW-- takes a liking to Cannonball and has her way with him in her own special way. Can't wait to read that one.

5. On an off day from drawing, what do you like to do? Any hobbies?
Well, there aren't very many of them. Most of my extra time is spent around the house or with the family. My son, Dylan, is five and I take him to school three days a week-- I'm at home so I get to handle many of the domestic duties. I get to hang with the moms at school and I get to read to the kids. They are such a blast. We're doing the soccer thing at moment and he likes baseball and is amazing at playing the Need For Speed Underground and Hot Pursuit video Games. We race one another. When I find a moment for myself I like digging dirt in the yard and watching the Angels, LA Kings and pro football. I watch a few TV shows, like LOST and my fav , 24, and I'm a closet "foodie" as my wife and I enjoy the restaurant scene.

6. If you were stranded on a deserted island, with a portable DVD player that had enough power to watch one last film, what would that film be and why?
Blake Edwards' The Great Race with Lemmon, Curtis, Falk and and Wood. Great looking movie with great stars. I love the Hannible 8 car with the cannon. My favorite line in a movie ever, "Push the button, Max".

7. With the popularity of TV series like Smallville, Lost, The Sopranos and many others, would you ever consider making Steampunk into an ongoing Television Series? If so, who would you like to see play as Cole Blaquesmith or Faust?

Yeah, though it would probably be better movie. Right now I think Hugh Jackman may be a good candidate to play Cole Blacksmith. Faust would have a lot make up so it would be most important to have someone that moves well in an athletic, martial arts kind of way...

8. Last but not least, What's your best advice that you can give to a starving artist who wants to get in the biz and do you recommend any books that he/she should read on how to become a comic book artist?
Comics and Sequential art by Eisner comes to mind. Scott McClouds books are terrific. How to get in the biz? That's easy. Draw really, really well, know how to tell a story with pictures, work hard and you'll get in like a snap. Getting in for artists is easy. Anyone can look at the work and right away know if you're any good or not. IF YOU ARE SERIOUS go to school and get an illustration degree. You'll learn a how to draw and design and, hopefully, run a business which is very important because, like it or not, you are a commodity in a business. The better you are at what you do the more valuable you will be and the more success you will have.