Commitment and perseverance are definitely things you have to have when striking out on your own to produce quality comics. One thing that is overlooked is the strength in unity. When a group of liked minded people join forces, what happens next can be a beautiful thing. When those people are committed and have the perseverance to stick to what they are doing then only good can come out of it. Our next independent creator has been at it since the 90’s. He has been committed to his craft and has persevered, and we are reaping the rewards! We have Quincredible author David Gorden up next. Let’s find out more about him.
1. How did you get started in the comic industry?
I’ve been creating comics professionally since the mid 1990’s. I started out as part of an art collective known around St. Louis as Air Assault. We were a group of comic book heads and airbrush artists. During that time we formed another studio dedicated to creating comics called Mach One. We created our own stories as well as being paid to write or draw for different clients. Nearly three years ago members of Mach One went on to form the core of Lion Forge comics and I was brought on to write and draw and here we are today.
2. Who were your early influences?
Writing wise my three greatest influences are Chris Claremont, Peter David and Dwayne McDuffie. I think in a way all three of those dudes probably influenced 90% of the industry. Art wise my favorite artist and biggest influences are John Buscema, Joe Madureira, Humberto Ramos and Mike Wieringo. I’m kind of all over the place.
3. What project are you currently working on?
Right now I’m working on Trimaxx, Quincredible, Rampage Jackson, Bulletproof Knights, Crimson Baroness and we just wrapped up my first story arc for Airwolf.
4. What books did you collect or read growing up?
I didn’t start seriously collecting comics until my sophomore year in high school. That’s when I started collecting The Avengers and then I started collecting books like Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, The Incredible Hulk, and Spiderman. This was around ’87 – ’88 around the time when Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Jim Lee, Rob Liefield and all those Image guys were getting going with their classic runs on top tier Marvel books.
5. If you could rewrite any character which one would it be and why?
I guess the one character I would love to rewrite and kind of redefine would be Luke Cage. I think Luke gets a bad rap as nothing more than an exploitation character from the 70’s, just another shady black dude that could only get his powers after doing a stint in jail for you know being black…Yet if you look at the guy he’s got a lot of potential and I would love to take a crack at him and kind of removing the stigma from him.
6. Given the success of books like Watson and Holmes and Midnight Tiger, what other books do you see having mainstream appeal?
Pretty much our entire roster of books at Lion Forge. Quincredible is an amazing character and I think in the upcoming stories I have him in people will realize his appeal. Night Trap by Cullen Bunn could be made into a movie right now. Wonderous by Joelle Sellner is a super heroic romantic comedy with so much heart it’s crazy. Rampage is already a media darling and I think that Trimaxx and Roboy have huge cross over potential!
7. If there were anything you would say to someone looking to get into the comic industry; especially a person of color; what would it be?
Whatever you start finish it. That was a big deal for me. For a long time I wasn’t finishing my projects. Then when I started finishing what I started and seeing it through to the end things began to move forward. Basically finishing a project ties into you just believing in yourself and your ideas. Even if your idea seems like it’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever thought up it’s best to work it out and see it through to the end. You never know who may be looking at it.
8. Is there anyone in particular you would like to work with on a book?
Yeah I got a list (laughs)! Brian Stelfreeze, Larry Stroman, Mark Brooks, Sanford Green, Humberto Ramos, Dextar Vines, Marc Silvestri, Rick Leonardi, Stuart Immonen and Joe Madureira. Honestly the list could go on for days. Most are people that I have met or really admire and just would love to do something cool with.
9. Name three independent books that you would like to see as movies.
Well anyone of our books from Lion Forge but outside of that I would love to see Watson and Holmes as a movie or maybe a television series. Chris Walker’s upcoming Tiger Style would make a great movie. Concrete Park would be an interesting adaptation as well.
CONTACT INFORMATION daveg@lionforge.com – email @dgk72 – twitter & Instagram https://www.facebook.com/DavidGorden72 – Facebook
Learn more about David Gordon below!
Read our Review of Quincredible #1 HERE
Read the most in depth Quincredible biography HERE!
Read our Quincredible #2 Review HERE!
Read our Quincredible #3 Review HERE!
Check back next week as we continue to MEET THE INDEPENDENTS!
If your a black indy writer or have a series starring a black protagonist then send us an email at Worldofblackheroes@gmail with the subject “Meet the Independents” for your chance to be the next indy spotlight!
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