Our Creator Interview series returns with Charlie McElvy of @Xion Studios. With multiple series in the works as well as experience in crowdfunding, Charlie has some serious knowledge that is valuable to creators and publishers alike. Add in a consistently positive attitude and a love for comics and manga, and he was an easy choice for an interview.
Don't forget to check out his active Kickstarter campaign for American Yakuza, which is incredibly close to funding with about 2 weeks left. Good luck and let's dive into the interview!
GlobalComix: Tell us a little bit about your work, yourself, and how you got into making comics!
Charlie McElvy: Wow, is there a character limit to this answer…? 😂I’ve been attempting to make comics since 1997. I wrote a story then called, “The Covenant of Avalon,” and it was a fantasy tale featuring my character Asa, a mystical-elemental character who is friends with the gods (Norse, Greek, Egyptian, Gaelic, etc.). I wrote a 5-issue treatment and 1 full script when I befriended Andy Smith. Andy wanted to work with me and we were off!
Through Andy I met Steve Ellis (who did the first-ever professional drawing of Asa), Andrew Dalhouse (who colored that same piece and was planned to color the series), and Steve Dutro (who was not only the proposed letterer but the logo designer -- I still have that hand-drawn logo!), and then I reached out to Erik Larsen (then-Publisher of Image Comics) who agreed, after a 2+ hour phone call together, to publish the book. Well, things then took a fun turn: Andy and Andrew were hired by CrossGen Comics on exclusive deals, and Erik was replaced by Eric Stephenson as Publisher at Image Comics. Stephenson wanted all books not already on contract to be re-submitted for review -- including mine.
After review, Image Comics opted not to take my book under its banner, but it didn’t matter: I had no art team. Undeterred, I kept creating though I shelved any plans for a book in the meantime -- I was quietly waiting for CrossGen to release my art team back to me, haha. And… I was raising a young family. Fast-forward to 2007 when I created most of the WatchGuard characters -- because this is where my origin story begins to take shape. Maybe I’ll share more about that in a later Q&A.
GlobalComix: What inspired the character and story of Spider-Squirrel? Are you going to expand that world more than it is now?
Charlie: Spider-Squirrel, the name, is borne out of an argument between two young guys named Alex (yes, both were named Alex). I was preparing for American Ninja Warrior, practicing in my local parkour gym, Polar Fitness. I overheard the boys arguing over what kind of animal I looked like -- one firmly believed my long limbs (I’m 6’3”) and climbing style made me look like a spider; the other Alex noted my leaping and agility and said I look like a squirrel just, “less annoying.” The fact is, I’m twice as annoying as any squirrel… Anyway, to settle the argument, I joked, “Guys, guys! I’ll just be… a spider-squirrel!” And as soon as it left my mouth I had a vision for a logo which I designed and printed on my training pants. Then someone (probably Vito Delsante) said that would make for a fun comicbook character. And then I got to work! With Ray-Anthony Height’s talents and Vito’s guidance and my vision, Spider-Squirrel was born! I’ve written 3 regular issues, a special, and a 4pg feature in an upcoming anthology (Pots & Panels), and I’m in the middle of polishing the plot for Volume 2 (issues 4-7 or 8) so I can start scripting that set of books! Spider-Squirrel (and Trash Panda) continue on…!
GlobalComix: You recently have started expanding into manga with your new American Yakuza title. What drove you to make that change?
Charlie: OMG I’ve become such a manga and anime geek in the last two years! I went from having read no manga to reading numerous series voraciously: Kaiju no.8 (my fave), Dandadan, Sakamoto Days, Gangsta, The Boxer (manhwa by JH), Fight Class 3 (another manhwa), Reborn as a Space Mercenary I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship!, Strange Adventures of a Broke Mercenary, The Most Notorious TALKER Runs the World’s Greatest Clan, Rooster Fighter, Crazy Food Truck, and so many other (of course the usual suspects, MHA, JJK, Demon Slayer, etc.). Let’s not forget the amazing Vagabond by Inoue-sensei.
I instantly fell in love with the medium as soon as I started with that first English tankobon of Kaiju no.8. Anyway, that passion, much in the way comics did, led to a desire to create in the same “space.” American Yakuza seemed the most appropriate start for that (although it’s not my only manga planned).
GlobalComix: Are there any manga in particular you are taking inspiration from?
Charlie: The Boxer and, to a lesser extent: Vagabond, Solo Leveling, and MHA. I’m splitting my writing philosophy between manga and Western comics for this one, so we’ll see how well that plays. Initial response has been positive. I’ll be releasing this title exclusively on GlobalComix first -- one page at a time, on a weekly schedule. Watch this space! Haha! (That’s likely a surprise for the GC team, too, as I haven’t publicized this intention much until now.)
GlobalComix: You’re currently running a Kickstarter for that manga for Acts 1 and 2 of American Yakuza, has crowdfunding worked well for you in the past?
Charlie: The campaign is for the graphic novel, a more Western formatted comic, not the manga (yet). The manga I’m actually funding out of publishing proceeds and my own pocket. I’ve been very successful on crowdfunding, particularly Kickstarter (but also Zoop). Spider-Squirrel #1 funded over 200% with 400+ Backers despite it being a previously non-existent property. All but one of my crowdfunding efforts have been successful, and that first one (waaaaaaaaay back in 2010/2011) was my first try at crowdfunding (and even then, crowdfunding itself was in its nascency.) But, 100% success since that first lesson!
GlobalComix: What advice would you give to folks who are looking to get into crowdfunding for comics?
Charlie: Recognize that marketing is as important a skill as writing, drawing, coloring, lettering, or anything else that one thinks makes up comics & manga making. Crowdfunding’s success has led to numerous new platforms (Kickstarter being the most mature, there’s also IndieGoGo, Zoop, Crowdfundr, FundMyComic, and probably 15 more since I wrote this…), and numerous new creators jumping into the fold. Plus, larger comics publishers are using these platforms now which is a double-edged sword for those who aren’t good at marketing their own projects and carving out a piece of that TAM. Always be building funnels!
GlobalComix: Of all the projects you’ve worked on so far, do you have one that’s been extra challenging? Why and what have you done to overcome that?
Charlie: Honestly, my currently-unpublished Spider-Squirrel & Trash Panda All-Ages Digest Anthology has been two years in the making and only about 25% complete, ROFLMAO. Part of that has been unreliable creatives, and part of that has been my own distraction producing my primary works (Spider-Squirrel, American Yakuza, GodQuest, Scott Fogg’s Nightcare, etc.).
GlobalComix: How are you approaching learning about manga? English resources can be a bit limited, and you’ve taken a lot of care with American Yakuza. Any tips you can share with aspiring creators would be great.
Charlie: I read and I listen. I’ve spent nearly two years learning Japanese to help fill the gaps, but I’m still learning. The most important tip I can give anyone about anything is, never get comfortable thinking you’ve got it figured out. Complacency, the status quo, are your biggest enemy, your biggest hurdle, and your inevitable bane.
GlobalComix: Do you want to keep making manga or manga inspired comics in the future? Any ideas that you’d like to tease us with?
Charlie: OMG, yes!!! I’m writing a sci-fi light novel that I’d love to turn into a manga one day. I’m working with a Korean artist (Jeunny, she’s dope!) who’s doing digitally painted cover art and a series of pinups for each chapter and it’s going to be so much fun! I think folks will like it as it has a little bit of all the fun stuff. It’s like if Top Gun, Gundam, Buck Rogers, Robotech, Starblazers, and the Justice League had a baby. No superpowers, necessarily, but we have aliens, incredible starfighter tech, an elite group of pilots, and a grisly vet who’s seen it all, plus a splash of the “fish out of water” trope that makes American Yakuza so edge-of-your-seat entertaining.
GlobalComix: What is your dream project?
Charlie: Damn, I’m not sure how to answer that! I’m working on all of my dream projects right now, in one manner or another…! Come back to me on that one sometime.
GlobalComix: You’ve got an incredible network of creators in the indie comic space. What things have you done to cultivate that?
Charlie: I have no idea, really. I feel incredibly lucky and super-grateful that anyone puts up with me, LOL. Mostly, I’m just me on socials -- the same me you’ll meet at a con or a bar or on the street. I reach out, ask questions, and listen for the answers. I try to be humble and realize that someone has more of this figured out than I do, so I keep that attitude very forward. It doesn’t matter if someone has done less work than I have, or is younger, or is from a different place (in the world, or otherwise), I feel like everyone has something to bring to the table and that matters to me. I think that sort of genuine kindness resonates with others.
The most important thing I can think of to tell someone is this: say hi. People are people no matter their stature, and most of them like to be treated like people. When my wife & I met Walter & Louise Simonson, we hit it off not because we talked for days about how amazing they are (and they are!) but because we engaged with them as humans, first. I mean, geez, Geoff Johns came by my table last year we chatted and he bought my book! Sure, I have a strong elevator pitch (heheh), but we met as people first.
GlobalComix: What advice would you have for creators who want to develop their own networks and communities?
Charlie: Be out there, active and alive. Social media is weird in that it has both a short memory and a long memory. If you don’t promote and execute and engage often, you’ll be forgotten. If you f*ck up and say something incredibly stupid, inflammatory, or ridiculous, they’ll never forget you and not in a good way. But, this is the key, IMO, don’t rely just on social media. Go to cons, either as an attendee, guest, or exhibitor, and get yourself out there. Put a face to the name, to the social media profile. Don’t be a douche (can I say that?) and listen at least as much as you talk. Go to dinners with others. Don’t drink too much at awards shows unless you want notorious immortality. Be malleable and treat others as mentors.
If you have something to offer, offer it, but don’t assume you have it all down. Pay attention to what others are saying, doing, and how they drive their success forward (if at all). Ask questions! That’s all probably overly simple, but I honestly don’t know any other way to do this.
Thank you so much Charlie for your answers and for sharing all that knowledge with us. Any time we chat I learn something new!
If you would like to keep up with Charlie online, here's a list of links for his social media profiles and website:
- Read Xion Studios Comics here
- Follow Xion Studios on GlobalComix here
- Support Charlie's Kickstarter for American Yakuza here
- Keep up with Charlie on Twitter here