10 Questions with Bluewater Super Fan Crystal:
Chris Studabaker- Power of the Valkyrie Author!

QUESTION1:
SUPER FAN: HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH BLUEWATER PRODUCTIONS?
CHRIS: I started out lettering a couple books for Bluewater, and eventually starting lettering most Bluewater titles. They’ve all been great to work on for different reasons, but lettering the entire original line of “Ray Haurryhausen Presents” comics – Wrath of the Titans, 20 Million Miles More, and Sinbad: Rogue of Mars – was a real treat! Bluewater books are always fun and give me a chance to experiment and play with lettering while still delivering a strong finished product. Eventually I was asked to be Production Manager, so now I handle a lot of lettering, production on the entire Bluewater line, and even a little bit of writing!

QUESTION 2:
SUPER FAN: WHAT’S INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF COMIC BOOKS?
CHRIS: Production involves a lot of things – file preparation, an eye for detail, interaction with the printer. Plus, when you’re dealing with hundreds of files a month, even traffic management of creative assets becomes pretty important! When we’re creating art that has a very clearly defined finished product – the printed book – it’s really important that everyone in the process understands what our strengths and limitations are. Establishing clear, easy-to-follow processes and accompanying lines of communication is one of the most important things I’ve accomplished as a Production Manager.

QUESTION 3:
SUPER FAN: WHAT’S YOUR THOUGHTS ON COMIC BOOK CONVENTIONS?
CHRIS: Conventions are a lot of fun, but it’s always sad to see the focus of those conventions continually shifting away from the comics. The industry needs to grow, but it’s very disappointing to see that growth only coming from licensing material and other related media. Comics are seeping into other industries rather than expanding the relatively small and poorly represented comics-buying market. However, going to conventions does present an incredible opportunity to meet lots of new people and find new material, so they are a great chance to meet creators and fans from all across the spectrum.

QUESTION 4:
SUPER FAN: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT “VALKYRIE”?
CHRIS: “Power of the Valkyrie” is a Bluewater mini-series I wrote. It’s a follow-up to another PotV mini, but we tried to push this one in a really different direction, so reading the first isn’t necessary start out on this one. I researched a lot of Norse mythology in preparing for the story and throughout the Norse stories and lifestyle the idea of fate carries a really strong current. Stories about fate or destiny always bother me a little, so this series represents a different approach to a story about fate.

QUESTION 5:
SUPER FAN: WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?
CHRIS: Lots of stuff! Bowie, Dylan, Elliott Smith, Springsteen, Robyn Hitchcock, Iron & Wine, Regina Spektor, Damien Jurado, Bright Eyes, Rufus Wainwright, Schubert, Beethoven and other classical music...depends what I’m working on. Lately I’m listening to lots of Castledoor and the Sleeping Years.

QUESTION 6:
SUPER FAN: IN THE COMIC BOOK INDUSTRY, WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU MOST?
CHRIS: Some of the bigger name writers like Gaiman and Moore are very inspiring due to the work they’ve done and the way their writing has truly helping reshape a large part of the medium and the way it’s perceived. I think the independent creators are the people who truly inspire me, though...nothing’s more fun than going to a small indie convention and meeting people who truly love everything about reading and creating comics. And every now and again you discover some gem, like “Johnny Raygun” or “My Monkey’s Name is Jennifer”. Those books are great! It can be really hard to sort through all the material out there, but the passion and excitement people have at conventions are really inspiring.

QUESTION 7:
SUPER FAN: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FAST FOOD?
CHRIS: Mostly I try to avoid it. Those Chik-fil-A cows really scare me.

QUESTION 8:
SUPER FAN: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COMIC BOOK AND CHARACTER AND WHY?
CHRIS: Maybe Chunky Rice...he went looking because he thought there was something to see. It’s hard to do things that feel important but you aren’t sure about, and I admire that bravery.

QUESTION 9:
SUPER FAN: WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON?
CHRIS: I’m continually lettering new books, which keeps me very busy! On top of that, I’m currently writing two other mini-series for Bluewater, one that’s a series of interconnected single-issue science fiction stories (which I’m really excited about) and the other is an adaptation of a very well known adventure story. I’m also working on a full 300-page original graphic novel with Aaron Minier (www.aaronminier.com) that we’ll hopefully be starting on later this coming year.

QUESTION 10:
SUPER FAN: IF YOU COULD PHYSICALLY TELEPORT YOURSELF ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,WHERE WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
CHRIS: I don’t know if I’d go anywhere at all...it’s cold outside, warm by the fire, and I think the cat on my lap would be more than a little unhappy if I left :)