DAN CROSIER (DC):For BARTHOLOMEW OF THE SCISSORS, I would illustrate using mixed media, and wood burning, on inexpensive pine lumber from Home Depot - my art supply store. I decided for the sake of time to really simplify the look and use much graphite, ink, color pencil, etc., and use wood burning to accentuate aspects of the story.

DC: I was able to knock out an issue within about a month and a half. Some days I could hammer out 3 pages in a day. Might take a couple nights to knock out the covers, because they were mostly wood burned.

DC: Actually, not hard at all. Like geology, it's time and pressure. And whatever the hell tool might be within arms reach. It was kind of schizophrenic actually.

DC: I've been illustrating on wood, poplar, plywood, and such for some time, due to adding such elements into previous constructivist wood assemblage works. After doing covers for Positive Brand and Pandemonium Comics with Mike Heronime, Elizabeth Breitweiser, Marvel Comics artist Mitch Breitweiser's wife, and fellow artist, made the suggestion to try wood burning at a convention in Texas. Months after that Darren Davis offered me the BART book that was a b-movie horror genre story. I felt the wood burning thing would be a good approach and stand out.

DC: Bluewater was easy since I already had the job. Since wood burning was outside their arena of understanding, they let go of the reins and allowed me to experiment and occasionally burn my thumb. Burning human hair smells something awful.

I have sent small portfolios to DC using characters like Swamp Thing - it did get me early responses, which was nice.

DC: I was sending in the occasional pinup for Valkyrie and other books. Anything to develop a relationship with a publisher. I basically annoyed Darren Davis at Bluewater, and was trying to get onto a Ray Harryhausen book, which he didn't think I was appropriate for. Darren suggested I take a look at Chad Helder's BARTHOLOMEW story, which I thought was fun.

DC: Actually, I did have a problem with mice. Thank god for feral children abandoned in the Rocky Mtns. Just lured one to my studio with Reece's Pieces, and let 'im hunt down any rodent protein snack he could grasp. Now he is enrolled in Harvard Law.

DC: I have a VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS issue coming out this summer with co-writer Zach Meyer, inker Peter Palmiotti, and cover painter Alex Meyer. I am working on illustrating a future issue of VINCENT PRICE with writer Stan Yan, that is hilarious. I am in the middle of a DISTORTIONS UNLIMITED book through Bluewater with inker Peter Palmiotti, illustrated all on wood too. This is based on the halloween animatronic company's catalog of monsters, fictionwww.distortionsunlimited.com. They will also be featured in a future episode of HOW IT'S MADE on the Discovery Channel.

Working on a ton of submissions for other publishers. Most note-worthy is the LAZARUS PAPERS which is a comic book adaptation of the feature film by Jeremiah Hundley, starring Danny Trejo. Some short & feature film projects, and designing characters for a possible Comedy Central pilot. I am still producing and directing my samurai demon performance group OdAm fEI mUd, which is available for bookings! I try to keep busy, but am open to other projects, and birthday parties!

DC: Thank you!

Ambush Bug is Mark L. Miller, reviewer and co-editor of AICN Comics for over seven years. Check out previews to his short comic book fiction here and here published in MUSCLES & FIGHTS 3 and MUSCLES & FRIGHTS on his ComicSpace page. Bug was interviewed here and here at Cream City Comics. Look for more comics from Bug in 2009 from Bluewater Productions, including the just-announced sequel to THE TINGLER for their VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS ongoing series.