AMA — Commissions, non-EI EiAD stories, and older "rookies"

Q.: I've noticed the change to commissions where they are less of a pin-up piece and more like a one-panel mini-story.  I definitely think they're fun, but I was curious what brought about that change.

A.: I saw an opportunity to amp up the spice level on some of the scenes by adding story elements. This one is a good example.

It's also a chance to sneak in a little more Evil Inc backstory. For example, in EiAD #16, a number of Lightning Lady's parallel-universe equivalents enter the main Evil Inc universe. However, it's never explained how they got back! I always wanted to go back to that plot point, but I never got the chance. So, when a commission came across that paired Lightning Lady and her Greystone Inn version, I saw the perfect opportunity to tie up those loose ends.

The same goes for this commission...

I realize that sharing this information with you is going to bring up the topic of canon, so I'll go ahead and address it. There are two factors. First, the final arbiter of canon is the eventual printed book. So if one of these commissions gets included in a chapter in a print collection, it becomes canon. If it gets used in the book but outside of a chapter — say, in a gallery or pin-up section — it's not necessarily canon. Secondly, if I wrote it, it can become canon. Nothing written by anyone else can ever become canon. That's for personal — as well as legal — reasons.

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Q.: Your After Dark stories all tie in the Evil Inc characters.  Have you though of doing standalone stories that aren't part of that world? Well, it is called Evil Inc After Dark but I meant non-Evil Inc After Dark stories.

A.: I'm afraid your premise is a little flawed. There have been a couple of EiAD stories that have taken place outside of the Evil Inc universe. These include the Monster Hunter story and all of the Real Housewives of Transylvania pieces.

I may do more in the future. Currently, I have my hands full trying to keep up with the planned Evil Inc content. But I have a number of other outside projects that I'd love to develop!

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Q.: What are the challenges older "rookie" talents over 40 will face when breaking into comics or games industry? How should we deal with employers or HR who thinks we're too old for their studios?

A.: In regards to giving you advice on working for studios, I'll have to decline. As I said earlier, I have absolutely zero experience in that regard. I've been a professional artist for 30+ years, and a pro comics creator for 20+ years. For the past ten years, comics (and comics-related activity) has been my full-time job. All of that has been outside the comics industry.

So I have very little to say about "breaking in" to the comics or games industries. 

I will say this: If you're trying to enter an industry that doesn't value the quality that comes with experience, maybe that fact should tell you a little bit about the field you're trying to join. To me, it says they'd rather have young, cheap workers who aren't able to say no to outrageous requests from their managers. But that's just me. I could be wrong.

• If you have a question for the AMA column, feel free to message me through Patreon, place it in the comments below, or send an email to bradguigar@gmail.com.