Journalism 101: The first entertainment feature
A few days ago, I posted some advice to a copy editor in danger of having to write her first feature stories, if her freelancers flaked, as freelancers will do. Well, she ended up having to write a story. Writing what she knows, Mel interviewed comic book creator Mike Oeming:
Despite what he calls “horrible” grammar skills, Oeming has honed his writing to work in concert with his art.
“I’ve always been a storyteller and see writing and drawing as an extension of that, an extension of each other,” he said.
A comic-book reader since childhood, Oeming found his calling – and his inspiration – through a 1985 book drawn by legendary artist Art Adams.
“I saw ‘X-Men Annual 9’ and it changed my life,” he said. “It was the art of Art Adams, and he made me want to be an artist, just by looking as his drawings.”
Oeming got his start at 14, an inking gig on 1989’s “Newstralia 2” for Innovation Comics. Since then, he’s gone on to draw his own creations.Oeming works on independent books like “Powers” and “Hammer of the Gods” primarily for himself, though he hopes “others can share in the love of what I’m doing,” but he shifts priorities for company-owned or “work-for-hire” titles.
“When I write for Marvel, I’ve learned it’s both for myself and the fans – I have to please both,” he said.
Welcome to the life, Mel!
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