If a story isn't working, I'm simply unable to finish it. That's what usually tells me something is wrong.

I was a very sickly kid. While I was in the hospital at age seven, my Dad brought me a stack of comic books to keep me occupied. And I was hooked. When my eighth grade art teacher, Mr. Smedley, told me he thought I had actual art talent, I decided to devote all my efforts in that direction in the hope that I might someday get into the comics biz. I became an art major, took every art class my school had to offer. In college, I majored in Advertising Art and Design.

I always wanted to fire rays out of my fingertips.

I try not to violate what came before me and to leave lots of wiggle room for those who will follow.

I think every time you take a female character, a black character, a Hispanic character, a gay character, and make that the point of the character, you are minimalizing the character.

When I'm my own editor, there's very little difference between the first draft and the final. I write what feels right to begin with. I rarely make any major changes.

There are very few of us, who reach my advanced age, who are still working in the business, as writers. As artists, people can hang out longer.