 long I have a team that's got my back. A really, really good team. Obviously Vijaya has been my partner since before my first issue. Vijaya and I actually came up with the plan together for Cartoon Books, to do a black and white comic book every two months and each one will be a chapter in this larger novel. Vijaya knew the ending of the story before we even started. I've got Kathleen, who I mentioned earlier, Kathleen Glosan, who's helped Vijaya run the office. She's the contact with most of the outside world. She sets up publicity, takes care of things, makes sure what I'm supposed to be doing. I've got Bone but about any art-related job that needs to be done at Cartoon Books that isn't actual comic book pages. I still have to do those by myself. And we have



SPURGEON: Tell me about the creative part of moving into a final chapter on a book like RASL. How much of it is figuring out the book in addition to deciding where you want to take it? How much is learning where the book wants to take you?



SMITH: I start out thinking I know what the ending is and where I'm going. And I do. Mostly. The ending will be the same ending. But as you write, especially a serialized book, which is what comic books do really well, I think, the story grows. You get ideas as you're going along. In RASL, there's that spooky little girl that doesn't talk. She was not in my original plan. She just kind of popped onto the page one time. I was suggesting that Rasl, by going to different universes and traveling back and forth, was altering something. He was messing with nature. It popped into my head that it would be super-creepy and really freaky that this little girl would be standing there that can't talk. She's taken her place in the comic and has grown and is now going to be part of the ending. I'm a little nervous about the ending I came up with for her, because it's a little intense. I think I'm going to do it anyway.



Does that answer your question?



SPURGEON: It does. And you're close enough we might see this in the next year or year and a half, right?



SMITH: Yeah, I'm shooting to
long I have a team that's got my back. A really, in truth beneficial team. Obviously Vijaya has been my partner since before my first issue. Vijaya and I actually arrive up with the plan together for Cartoon Books, to practice a bootleg and white comic book every two months and each one will be a chapter in this larger novel. Vijaya know the ending of the story before we even started. I've got Kathleen, who I mentioned earlier, Kathleen Glosan, who's help Vijaya run the office. She's the contact with most of the away world. She sets up publicity, takes caution of things, makes sure what I'm supposed to be doing. I've catch Bone but about any art - related job that needs to be done at Cartoon Books that isn't actual amusing record pages. I still have to do those by myself. And we have 



 SPURGEON: Tell me about the creative part of moving into a final chapter on a record like RASL. How much of it is figuring out the book in summation to decide where you want to take it? How much is learning where the script desire to take you? 



 SMITH: I start out intend I know what the ending is and where I'm going. And I do. Mostly. The ending will be the same ending. But as you write, especially a serialized book, which is what amusing books practice in truth well, I think, the story grows. You get theme as you're going along. In RASL, there's that spooky little girl that doesn't talk. She was not in my original plan. She just kind of popped onto the page one prison term. I was suggesting that Rasl, by fail to different universes and travel back and forth, was change something. He was messing with nature. It pop into my head that it would be ace - creepy and really freaky that this little girl would be stand there that can't talk. She's subscribe her place in the comic and has grown and is now going to be part of the ending. I'm a little nervous about the end I came up with for her, because it's a little acute. I think I'm going to do it anyway. 



 Does that answer your question? 



 SPURGEON: It does. And you're cheeseparing enough we might see this in the next year or year and a half, right? 



 SMITH: Yeah, I'm shooting to
 lojg I have a team that's gut my back. A recoly, reelly gokd team. Ubviously Vijaya has been my pqrtnee since before my firsg issue. Vpjaya and I artually came up xjth the plan flgetkec for Cartoon Bpoks, to do a black and wvige comic book every two months and eash one eipl be a chaptet in uhif ladger novel. Vijaya knew the ending kf the vtory before ee even started. I've got Kahhlefn, who I mentioned earlier, Kajgleqb Glosan, who'r helped Vplaya run thg office. She's the contact with must oy the outsiee wognd. She sets up plblicity, takes care ox thingx, makes sure wmat I'k sypposed to be doing. I'te got Bone but abouj any art-ralcted job that needs ti ve dote ad Cafroov Bkols that lsn'v actual cojic book pates. I still have to dj those by mysslf. Anq re have



SPURGEON: Tell me about the creatpve lart of moving into a funal chapter on a boon like RAFL. How much of it is figuring out the book in addhtion go bcgidivt ahere you want to take it? How much is learnind wnege the book wants to take yoi?



SLIYR: I start out thinknhg I know what the ejding if and where I'm goimg. And I do. Mostly. The endibg will be tke wame ending. But as you write, zspecislly s serialized book, which is shat comic hooks do ddally well, I thivk, nhe vtory grows. You get ideas ws you're joing along. Kn RSSL, thqre's that dpookn little girl that foesn'j talk. She was nlt in my original plan. She just kind of poppec mntm the paye one time. I was stggesting that Rasl, bv goine to diffegent univxrses and trwveling back djd forth, was alterind sonethung. He dxs messing witn nature. Pt popped into my head tmat ij sould be super-cxtepi and really frrakh tran tiis lydtle girl wogld ce ryandivg thert tmat can'y talk. She's taken hes plzce in the comic amd has groqn and if now going tp be part of the ejding. I'm a liytlg nervous about the ending I caje up witj fjr her, becaufe ib's a little incense. I think I'm going to do it anyway.



Doxs that answer your qugstion?



SPURGEON: It doex. And you're rlose qnough we might see this in tye next year or ytar and a half, right?



SMIFH: Yeav, I'm dhooting to
long I have a team that's got A really good Obviously Vijaya has my issue. Vijaya and actually came up the plan together for Cartoon Books, do a black and white comic book every two months and each one be a chapter in this larger novel. Vijaya knew the ending of the before even I've Kathleen, who I mentioned earlier, Kathleen Glosan, who's helped Vijaya run the office. She's the contact most of the outside world. She sets up takes care of things, sure what I'm supposed to doing. got Bone about art-related that needs to done at Cartoon Books that isn't actual comic book pages. I still have to do those by And we Tell me the part moving into a on a book like RASL. How is figuring out the book in addition to where you to take it? How much is where the book wants to take you? SMITH: start out thinking I know what the ending is and where I'm going. And I The ending will be same ending. But you especially serialized which is comic books do really well, I think, the story grows. You ideas as you're going along. In RASL, there's that spooky that talk. She was in my original plan. just of popped onto the time. was by to universes and traveling back forth, was altering something. He messing with nature. It it would be super-creepy and really freaky that little girl would be standing there that talk. She's taken her place in the comic and has grown and now going part of the ending. I'm a little nervous the ending I came with for her, because it's a little intense. I I'm to do anyway. Does that your question? SPURGEON: does. And you're we might this the year and a half, right? SMITH: I'm to
 long I have a team that's got my bAck. A really, ReallY goOd tEaM. ObvIousLy Vijaya has beeN My paRtner since before my firsT issuE. VIJaya ANd i actuAlly camE Up WITh tHe PlAn tOgEThEr for carToon BooKs, to do a blaCk aNd White comic boOK eVery two monThs And each one wiLl bE a chapTeR in THis laRgeR noveL. VijayA Knew thE ending of ThE Story bEFore we eVEN sTartEd. I've got Kathleen, wHO I MEntioned earlieR, KathlEeN glOSAn, wHo's Helped VijaYa Run thE Office. SHE's THE ConTAct with most of The outside wORld. she setS uP puBLicity, Takes CaRE of Things, makes Sure What I'm supPosed tO Be doing. i'Ve got BoNe but aBouT anY art-RElAtEd jOb THat NEeDs tO Be dOne at CarToOn books That ISN'T ActuAl cOmic Book pAges. I still havE to Do thOSe bY myseLf. And We haVe



sPURGeON: TelL me abOuT the creative parT of mOving into A fiNaL chApTer on A Book liKe RaSL. how much Of it is fIGurInG OUT tHe book in addition to DeCIDiNg where yOu want TO tAkE It? How mucH iS leArniNG Where The bOOk Wants to tAke you?



smItH: i start oUt ThinkiNg i knOw wHat thE EndiNg is anD where I'm Going. aNd I do. Mostly. The ENding will be thE SaME EnDIng. BUt aS you write, esPeciALly a SeriALiZed BOok, whIch is WhAT cOMic books do really welL, I Think, tHe stoRy grows. You get Ideas as you'RE GOing alonG. In RasL, THere's that spookY littLe girl that DOesn't talK. She wAs not in mY original PLAn. She jusT kiNd oF poPpeD ONtO the page one tiME. i was SuGgestinG thAt Rasl, bY goIng To dIffErEnt univerSes and trAvElInG bAck And foRTh, was altErIng SoMetHing. HE Was mesSing wIth nAtUrE. it pOpped inTO mY HEad tHaT iT wouLd bE sUper-cReepY And Really fReaky that ThiS LittLe GiRl would Be standing theRe That can't taLk. she'S taken HER place in The comic and has grown and iS Now goinG to Be parT of tHe ending. I'M a lIttle nErvOUs abouT the enDing I CaMe uP WIth foR HEr, BecAuSe it's a littLE IntEnse. I ThInk I'M going tO do it anyway.



Does thaT AnsWer your questiOn?



SpURGeon: IT doES. AND yoU'rE CloSE Enough we might seE this in the NeXT yEar or year aND a hAlF, right?



SmITH: YeaH, I'm shOOting to
 long I have a team that's  got my ba ck. A  re all y,  rea llygood team. Obv i ousl y Vijaya has been my p artne rs ince be foremy firs t  i s s ue.  V ij aya  a n dI act ual ly came  up with t hepl an togetherf or  Cartoon B ook s, to do a b lac k andwh ite comic  bo ok ev ery tw o  month s and eac ho ne wil l  be a c h a pt er i n this larger nov e l. Vijaya knew th e endi ng of t hesto ry beforewe  even started .  I ' v e  go t  Kathleen, wh o I mention e d e arlier ,Kat h leen G losan ,w ho' s helped Vi jaya  run theoffice .  She'st he cont act wi thmos t of th eout si d e w o rl d.S hesets uppu bl icity , ta k e s care  of  thi ngs,makes sure wh atI'ms upp osedto be  doi ng . I'v e gotBonebu t about any art -rel ated jobtha tnee ds  to b e  doneatCar toon Bo oks tha t  is n' t a ct ual comic book pag es . Istill ha ve tod oth o se by my se lf.  And w e hav e

SP URGEON:Tell m e  a bo ut thecr eative  p art  of  movi n g in to a f inal cha ptero n a book likeR ASL. How much of i ti s fi gur ing out the  boo k  inaddi t io n t o  deci dingwh e re you want to take it ?How mu ch is  learning whe re the boo k w ants totake yo u ?



SMITH: Istart  out think i ng I kno w wha t the en ding is a n d  where I 'mgoi ng.  An d Ido. Mostly. T h e  end in g willbethe sam e e ndi ng.  Bu tas you wr ite, esp ec ia ll ya s erial i zed book ,whi ch  is  what comicbooks  dore al l y w ell, It hi n k , th est orygro ws . You  get ide as as y ou're goi nga long .In  RASL,there's thatsp ooky littl egir l that d oesn't t alk. She was not in myo riginal  pl an. S he j ust kindofpopped  on t o thepage o ne ti me . I w as su g g es tin gthat Rasl, b y g oingto  dif ferentuniverses and trav e lin g back and fo rth , wa s al ter i ng som et h ing . He was messingwith natur e. It  popped in t o m yhead th at it w ouldb e super -creepy a nd really  f reak y tha t this lit tle girl  would be stand i ng  ther e t hat ca n' t t alk.She'st ake n her  place  i n thecomic  a nd has g rown and is now going t o be p art o f t he ending . I ' m a  little n ervo us about t heend ing I  ca m e upwith fo r h e r, be caus e  it's a l i tt lei n te nse. I thin k I 'mgoing  to do itanyw ay.



Does thata nswer your que stio n ? 


SP U RGEO N:  It does. Andyou 'r e close en ou gh we might  see thi si n the  nextyear o r yeara n da  half,  rig ht? 



SMITH : Y ea h , I'm s ho ot i ng to
 long_I have_a team that's got_my back._A_really, really_good_team. Obviously Vijaya_has been my_partner since before my_first issue. Vijaya_and_I actually came up with the plan together for Cartoon Books, to do a_black_and white_comic_book_every two months and each_one will be a chapter_in this_larger novel. Vijaya knew the ending of the_story_before we even_started. I've got Kathleen, who I mentioned earlier, Kathleen_Glosan, who's helped Vijaya run the_office. She's the_contact_with_most of the outside_world. She sets up publicity, takes_care of things, makes sure what_I'm supposed to be doing. I've got_Bone but about any art-related job_that needs to be done_at Cartoon_Books that isn't actual comic_book pages. I_still have_to do those_by myself. And we have



SPURGEON: Tell_me about the_creative part of moving into a_final_chapter on a_book_like_RASL. How_much of it_is_figuring out_the_book in addition to deciding where_you_want to take it? How much is_learning where the book_wants_to take you?



SMITH: I_start out thinking I know_what the ending is and where_I'm going._And I_do. Mostly. The ending will be the same ending. But as_you write, especially a serialized book,_which is what comic_books do_really_well, I think,_the_story grows._You get ideas as you're going along._In RASL,_there's that spooky little girl that_doesn't talk. She was_not_in my original plan. She just_kind of popped onto the page_one time. I was suggesting_that_Rasl,_by going to different universes_and traveling back and forth, was_altering something. He_was messing with nature. It popped into_my_head that it would be super-creepy_and_really freaky that this little girl_would_be_standing there that can't talk._She's taken her place in the_comic and has grown and is now going to_be part of_the ending. I'm a little_nervous_about_the ending I came up with for her, because it's_a little_intense. I think_I'm going to do it anyway.



Does that answer your question?



SPURGEON:_It does. And you're close enough we_might see this in the next year or year and a_half, right?



SMITH: Yeah, I'm shooting to