An DC:UNG Email Interview with Craig Rousseau
DCUNG: What first got you interested in comics, both as a hobby and as a career?
CR: Well, as a kid i really enjoyed reading comics ( the Avengers was a long time favorite) and I loved to draw. I went to college with a double major in Painting/Illustration - I had thought I was going to do freelance illustration, not comics, but I ended up drifting back towards comics before I graduated.
DCUNG: What was your first professional work in comics?
CR: I did a few odd jobs for some folks over at Marvel's Creative Service Department (pogs, children's books) and my first published piece was actually one page in Marvel's Saturday Morning comic ( a tie-in to a CD covering cartoon theme songs) . . .after sending samples everywhere, I got a fill-in issue of IMPULSE (22) and was asked to do 21 as well . . .next thing I knew, I had a fulltime gig (which suprised me, 'cause those books looked TERRIBLE)!
DCUNG: What's in store for Impulse? Life Story of the Flash hinted at some dark things to come for Impulse.
DCUNG: What's this about an evil twin and Impulse losing a friend?
DCUNG: Will Arrowette be returning soon? An Internet rumor says that she'll join Young Justice. You thoughts?
CR: Answering those questions together . . .I JUST read Life Story of the Flash yesterday, so that was all news to me . . .Impulse is gonna butt heads with the Trickster, go to a Parent/Child day withOUT Max, hang out with Arrowette , play with Virtual pets, and then tie in to DC 1,000,000 . . whew! (with more cool stuff to come)
DCUNG: Will he and Carol ever hook up and date?
CR: I personally think they're really just best friends. . .
DCUNG: How will having Impulse in Young Justice affect the tone and stories of his own book?
CR: I don't see it affecting the book, but what do I know?
DCUNG: Since you and Loebs took over the book, the comedic level has started to overshadow nearly every other element of the book, to the point that I couldn't really envision Impulse appearing in Flash or vice versa. Will that be changing anytime soon? I noticed with the Glory Slasher story that it was a change, with a comedic main story but a more substantial, somber story underneath. Will this become the norm?
CR: Bill does seem to mix slapstick absurdity with serious issues in the last few stories I've worked on. . . and I know Impulse is showing up in Pop Mhan's Flash books ( he showed me some really BOFFO pages . . .and a killer Chained Lightning promo!)
DCUNG: On that note, there's an Internet rumor that Waid and Ramos are returning to the book soon. Is that true, or will you and Loebs be will us for a while?
CR: I know Humberto did some (great) work on Young Justice, but besides that . . .
DCUNG: Since this site focuses on the teen heroes of the DCU, let's find out your feelings on some of DC's teens heroes. Robin? Damage? Wonder Girl? Impulse? Jurgen's Titans? Captain Marvel Jr.?
CR: Robin -a great character - the quintessential sidekick
Damage, Titans - not familair with 'm, honestly
Impulse- a bit biased, but I think he's a GREAT comic character with loads of story potential
WonderGirl - can't wait to see more, actually
CM3 - not sure about the new name, but a great character ( the whole Marvel clan are really great teen characters, when it comes down to it)
DCUNG: Why do you think teen heroes (especially sidekicks) are becoming popular again?
CR: They're characters who are easy to relate to for most readers . . and they're fun
DCUNG: Which comics or characters would you most like to have a chance to do?
CR: I'd LOVE to do something with the Marvels (Capt., that is, not the company), Batman and/or Robin, and some really edgy Vertigo stuff would be a hoot. . .
DCUNG: Who do you consider the biggest influences on you art style? Do you get sick of people comparing you to Ramos (in either negative of positive ways)?
CR: Geez, there are lots of guys whose work I like and try to take something from and use it in my own way - Art Adams, Mike Mignola, Walt Simonson, Teddy Kristianson, 'Ringo, and lots more . . .I look at a lot of classical artists/illustrators, too - Rockwell, NC Wyeth, Aubrey Beardsley, Egon Schiele, Mucha, etc.
DCUNG: Any future plans or projects we should be looking for?
CR: I did a 10 page story for the Flash Giant, and I'm looking to do a project with Jason Hernadez-Rosenblatt in the near future. . . and IMPULSE, of course .. . whew.