It’s Thursday which brings us a new interview and our 17th “Women of BOOM!” feature, spotlighting the many kick-ass women that work at BOOM!, Archaia and KaBOOM! We’re focusing on everyone, editors, designers, writers, artists, you name it! We’re making sure to include the hard-working folks whose contributions are often overlooked in the process.

BOOM! (and KaBOOM! and Archaia) has given us unprecedented access and the chance to ask questions to their staff, and creative teams, to find out why the publisher is so successful in hiring women and their experiences in the comic industry as women.

Grace Randolph is a writer and the creator of the excellent BOOM! series Supurbia. She’s also written for the comics Muppet Peter Pan, and Fraggle Rock and is also an avid blogger.

Graphic Policy: How did you get involved in the comic book industry?

GR: I don’t just write comics, I read ’em! Like many comic book readers, ultimately I had a desire to contribute to the medium I enjoy so much. Thus began my letter and email writing campaign to various editors, and it was DC Comics Dan DiDio who gave me my first gig – writing Justice League Unlimited #41.

GP: Did you read comics growing up? Do you read them now?

GR: As a kid, I got into comics via Archie and Uncle Scrooge – both of which I read voraciously! Then, when I started to get annoyed that Archie didn’t simply choose between Betty and Veronica, I knew it was time to move over into mainstream adult comics – DC and Marvel.

GP: How did you come to work with BOOM!/Archaia?

GR: I did some work over at Tokyopop and a few of their editors transitioned over to both companies actually, back when they were separate. I was invited to pitch for the Muppet fairytale line over at BOOM! and Fraggle Rock over at Archaia, and luckily they liked my pitches!

GP: How would you describe your job for people?

GR: Comic books are produced by a group of people working together, which is very important to remember. But the writer is the only one who starts at zero. It’s my job to peer into the darkness and pull out the story, creating the skeleton that the rest of the team will layer their work over. And as a creator, I get to weigh in on those layers as well, which results in what I originally had in mind – but even better thanks to the talented people I’m working with!

GP: For people who want to pursue a career in what you do, what advice would you give them?

GR: Get ready for a long haul. Any kind of career, especially in the arts, takes a long time to establish – not to mention get to a point where you can support yourself financially. Luckily, a career in the arts is usually fueled by passion, and that passion will keep you going during the many, many rough parts.

GP: Did you have a mentor to help you break into the industry? Do you mentor anyone yourself?

GR: As I mentioned above, Dan DiDio got me my first gig and was the first one to believe in my talent as a writer. His assistant at the time, Jann Jones, is the one who told him my spec script was worth reading, and I owe her a lot as well. Plus those editors from Tokyopop who moved to BOOM! and Archaia who agreed to hear my pitches, Paul Morrissey and Tim Beedle. And of course, I’ve learned an incredible amount from working with Ross Richie, BOOM!’s publisher and founder, on Supurbia.

GP: Do you think women have a more difficult time breaking in and making it in the comic industry, if so why? And if yes, how do you think that can be overcome?

GR: Well, there’s a new fad where male comic book readers like to question is women really DO like comics, or if it’s just an act to get attention. It’s true that a small number of women do that, which is unfortunate in and of itself, but even more so because it makes it difficult for true female fans to be involved in the community. And exact same thing goes for female creators. Look, I think it’s amazing that JK Rowling felt – just recently – that she had to initially hide the fact she’s a woman from readers. And even when she published under a pseudonym this year, she picked a man’s name, Robert Galbraith. Women will have more success as creators when consumers are more willing to try their work – who knows when that will happen, or what it will take…

GP: We notice that when it comes to women in the comic industry, BOOM!/Archaia has a lot of diversity present. Why do you think have they succeeded when so many other publishers struggle with this?

GR: BOOM! is very special in that they have tremendous faith in ideas, and in making sure those ideas are realized in tact and to the best of everyone’s ability. That’s very rare in comics, and in any business sadly. So I think the fact BOOM! values ideas means they don’t particularly care who’s head those ideas come from, and that’s great. Favoritism is just as bad as discrimination.

GP: We’ve heard horror stories concerning women in the industry, have you ever seen or been discriminated/harassed and if so, how did you handle it?

GR: I was really disappointed to hear that a number of comic book stores didn’t carry Supurbia, and still don’t, because they felt it was too “girly” or perhaps because it had my name on it, a female name. First off, it’s not girly, and such an assumption means they didn’t even give the title an honest look. Second, for a store to make assumptions about what their readers want and don’t want to read is ridiculous, and quite frankly bad business. Every title should be presented to readers and if they don’t buy it, THEN you can stop ordering it.

GP: What advice do you have for women looking to break into the comic book industry?

GR: Hold your head up high, and let your work speak for you.  Good luck!

Related:

• Read more “Women of Boom” Interviews