I consider myself the luckiest man in the world. I have spent a lifetime doing what I love.

The villain is always more entertaining because he has fewer limitations. The hero is bound by honor, by justice and by the law, sometimes.

Were there stories I wrote along the way that were terrible clinkers? God, yes. But they were all a product of their time, and I did the best I could.

The bottom line always remains the same: What is the basic humanity of the character? How do I make them resonate with the reader?

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

When I submitted samples, I had only written stories to give myself something to draw. I was told, "The art is good, but not quite professional yet. But, I like the writing." I've been a writer for almost a half a century. It's very cool.

I think jazz and comic books are probably the two uniquely American art forms.