1. What initially drew you to comics?
I had an aunt who used to babysit for my brother and I, and she'd read comics to us to keep us entertained. She'd do different voices for the various characters, sound effects, etc, basically gave it a real audiobook treatment. This helped me learn to read before I even started school.
Our family used to do day trips to Lake Lanier, which was about a 45-minute drive. My father would tank up at the local Mom & Pop station, and he'd buy a stack of comics to keep my brothers and I quiet in the back seat during the journey. It generally worked, though we would occasionally get into fights acting out the scenes from our favorite stories.
When I got a little older, I was allowed to ride my bike to the same Mom & Pop to buy comics and goodies.
For a dollar, I could get a pile of comics, a Coke and a candy bar. The guy who owned the store knew my father, so when I picked out more comics than I had money for, he'd say, "Hell kid, just take 'em."
At age 13, I decided I was too old for funny books, and stopped reading them. But one day when I was home sick, my mother brought me a bunch of comics from the Rexall drug store. It was all the usual stuff, unexciting to me until my eyes locked onto one particular title, Forever People #4, a chapter in Jack Kirby's 4th World opus for DC Comics. I was mesmerized by the wild story and art, and embarked on what turned out to be quite an odyssey to find all the related back issues. No comics shops back then!
2. Please tell us about the vital role of inking in comics.
The role of inking is less vital these days than it once was, between the extreme tightness of the pencils being produced, and the increased role of the colorist in the look of the finished art. Gone are the days when names like Terri Austin and Joe Sinnott helped to sell millions of comics.
3. You’ve worked on a variety of notable titles and characters — any particularly positive experience to share about?
My year-long run on the Flash storyline "The Return of Barry Allen" was a stand-out. Even though it was not a hit, I also enjoyed co-writing and inking my Epic comic "Tomorrow Knights" with co-creator Rod Whigham. More recent projects that have been fun are "Captain Ginger" from Ahoy Comics, and a yet-to-be released "Power Pack" mini, both done with my wife, penciller June Brigman.
4. Are there any storylines/characters you'd like to tackle next or revisit?
June and I have always wanted to tackle some of the 4th World properties, we'd love to write and draw a series with any of the New Gods characters.
5. Where can we find more information about your work?
My online portfolio can be viewed at www.artwanted.com/royart.
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