Broken Frontier

This edition of Indie Spotlight features the artist and co-creator of Hero Happy Hour Chris Fason! 

The Mighty 10 Questions!

1. Who are you and what is your book?

CHRIS FASON: I'm Chris Fason, the artist and co-creator with Dan Taylor of HERO HAPPY HOUR from Geekpunk.

2. What's your book about? Can you compare it to any other books out right now?

The best analogy we've been given is that it's like a cross between JLA and CHEERS. It's about super-heroes and how they spend their down time. They cruise on over to the local pub and drown their sorrows and bitch about their day jobs, just like the rest of us. There's a good deal of humor and a light-hearted look at super-heroes and comic book archetypes.

3. Who are some of your major influences?

Mike Oeming, Jim Mahfood, Scott Morse, Humberto Ramos, Sam Keith, Tom Beland, Skottie Young... there's a lot.

4. What inspires you?

Artistically, clean lines and great inkwork - hard black against hard white. A great script.

5. Would you ever like your book to be mainstream, or are you pleased with where it is?

I'm happy with where it is. Of course, it'd be great to be huge and make tons of money and be able to quit the day job and be a full-time cartoonist, but realistically, comics is a difficult market to be in with all the choices out there.

6. Do you aspire to make it into the mainstream? For instance, if you were offered a job at Marvel or DC would you take it?

Duh. Yeah, I want to work at the Big Two. I don't care if I was offered some 5th-rated character, I'd jump on it.

7. Do you aspire to stay in comics? Or do you just want to tell a few stories and be done with the medium?

I'd love to stay in comics. I don't think that I will ever be full time as my "real life" responsibilities grow in raising my son and my family. Who knows, maybe that animated series will finally happen for Hero Happy Hour and Dan and I can make tons of books for ever and ever.

8. Do you have any other projects lined up?

Yeah, I always keep my plate too full.

9. What books are you into right now?

Um, I've gotten to be a trade paperback kind of guy. I don't have the time or money to hit my local comic shop every Wednesday. I just try to follow guys whose work I enjoy (see HHH #3).

10. Where can folks go to see more of your work and purchase your comics?

Always pre-order your indie books from your local comic store! Hero Happy Hour is solicited through Diamond, FM International, and Cold Cut distributors. Or, you can order online at www.GeekPunk.com.

BONUS QUESTIONS!

If you were given permission, what already well-known character would you love to have show up at the Hideout?

I think from a story standpoint either Batman or Daredevil. Who else needs to drown their sorrows more than either of those guys? Batman lives a lonely and tormented life because of witnessing the death of his parents. And Daredevil is probably the most abused character at Marvel with his love life and career and body always at the mercy of 'sickos' like Frank Miller and Brian Bendis.

What's been the coolest thing to happen to you since working on Hero Happy Hour?

Attending big cons like San Diego's Comic Con International and getting to meet so many cool creators and being acknowledged by some of these guys as a fellow pro. It's like joining a fraternity, except no one scores unless they're married. 

Best of luck in the future Chris! This is a really fun book people, and if you haven't read it yet you should hit Chris and Dan's site and pick up a couple issues. Also, check out some of Chris' pin-up art below:

And to all you other slackers, don't forget we're always taking submissions for Indie Spotlight. Just copy the list of ten questions on top and send your answers to me at JPDorigo@brokenfrontier.com.

- JP Dorigo