You know in this business it’s hard to sell ideas or get people to rally behind you. Very seldom do you meet people who actually give a crap about an idea you have or want to see you succeed. Everyone is usually trying to push their own idea or opinion. And don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad thing. It’s just, in comics things are extremely competitive. Everyone’s racing to the top with the next big idea. So, a human rights idea? I didn’t think would have a chance, honestly. But, then interesting people got involved. People to whom this day, shocked the crap out of me.

So, almost a year ago I started talking with Matt Hawkins [You know, this Matt Hawkins – Ed.] online via chat and posts. [I’m convinced Phillip’s superpower is his charm. – Ed.] Asked how he got started and so on. He’s a really honest guy and it always amazed me how he answered without hesitation. Of course this was when I saw him online. Don’t misunderstand, I don’t know the dude on a personal level. He’s just a guy who I have come to respect and admire. Someone I look for knowledge about the business from, when he has a free moment, which to be honest, isn’t that often. But still, he’s a cool guy and didn’t have to answer any of my questions and yet he did.

So, I did the craziest thing. I emailed him venting out my frustrations over not getting a creative team together for Trans* Planetarium because most thought its transgender protagonist and subject matter too controversial. Why? I have no idea. Hell, at the time it made sense. Why not vent to the guy at the top of Mount Olympus and see if I could get his advice? In two minutes flat, Matt told me some cool stuff about comics that I hadn’t thought of. How tailoring a comic to a specific audience sometimes works better and so on. Then he asked me something I didn’t expect. Matt asked, “Phillip, do you need an editor?”

Man, I about jumped up from my desk with a heart attack of excitement. I told Matt yes, and next thing I knew I was talking to Renae Geerlings, the Managing Editor at Darby Pop Publishing. Renae was awesome. Even though when I met her she was busy with a 100 different things like a book expo and managing things at Darby, she really gave me her time when she could. I only had the three synopsis points and the first draft of the script , Renae worked some real magic. I often tell people I gave Renae a shotgun buckshot blast of ideas [You have no idea how true this was. – Ed.] and she, being an amazing editor, knew right away what points should be there and what was truly missing. And what was the most important thing I was missing? Authenticity. It was cool, I wanted to help. But, it wasn’t enough. Renae was really busy and couldn’t commit due to her already hectic schedule, but, she wanted to see this project succeed. Believe me, Renae  saved this project when she got me the perfect person to give that authentic voice to be Trans* Planetarium’s editor. In fact here’s what Renae gave me for this article:

Phillip had been talking to Matt Hawkins (Top Cow), who referred him to me as a possible editor, but given my full schedule, I couldn’t take on another project. I did, however, happen to be working with someone whom I thought would be a perfect guide for the project given her own experience: Kristine Chester.”

–Renae Geerlings

So, enters Kristine. A talented, strong woman who has a deep passion for comics and who has worked with the LGBT community for years on facing hard social issues because she herself is transgender. Now this part of the story gets hilarious.

So, Kristine jumps in and gives me a great view into the trans* world and begins to edit dialogue and such, as a working interview so to speak. I never worked with an editor before and just thought, “Hey, she is hired and can do this awesome!” So, I make the changes and send them back to her thinking she already knew she was hired, thought I said nothing of the sort. I just assumed she knew. So, I laughed out loud when she called me and asked “So, am I hired?” Which I replied, “I thought you knew that you were?” And from there we have been doing our best to bring this comic to life. [In my defense, I usually get a “You’re hired,” “Welcome aboard,” or “Get to work.” – Ed.]

Kristine, has been amazing. She definitely gave me insight that Google search just couldn’t give and an understanding that I want our readers to get after they read our comic. Kristine is definitely the perfect editor for this project for so many reasons. Which is why our next article is going to be from her perspective. About being transgender and about working on this project. I truly believe you, the readers, will admire her courage and strength as I have. Thank you for reading and hope to entertain you soon.