With Creator Phil Foglio

On the 15th of Febuary 2010 LotsofInterviews.com interviewed a creator of the webcomic Girl Genius, Phil Foglio, as part of our "Web Comic Spotlight". We talk how the comic started, about its popularity, coming up with new ideas and how the name of the comic was chosen.

What made you want to move your comic to the web?

Comic books, as an industry, have been officially dying

since 1979. We figured it would be nice to get into an

industry that was growing instead of strangulating.

Are you a big fan of web comics yourself?

Absolutely. I must read 60 of them a day.

Where did the name of the comic come from?

We wanted to do a comic with a strong female lead character. I was just sketching around one day, and out it popped. Happens that way, sometimes.

Your comic has a very “steampunk” feel to it, why do you think this appealed to you?

Are you kidding? That stuff is fun to draw.

What makes your comic different from others?

We took a lot of time working on the story. We were writing it for 6 years before the first issue came out. Another difference is that both Kaja and myself have been writing and drawing for 30 some-odd years. Almost every other webcomic is done by an artist/writer who's never done anything else.

Who do you think has influenced your style of art?

Dr. Tezuka, Charles Schultz, Frank Kelly Freas, Vaughn Bode.

Does your comic support you financially?

Yes it does, and it did it right from the start. I've been supporting myself doing nothing but art since 1978. It's a great life if you don't weaken.

What is the process of actually making a strip?

Well we already have an idea of where the story arc is supposed to go. We break down each scene and work out what we want to show or say in a particular scene. How will it advance the story? Then I do a rough page breakdown. Kaja looks at it and we discuss it until we agree that it's good. Then I pencil the page. Kaja scans it. Then she sends a copy to our colorist, the fabulous Cheyenne Wright. Then she takes her copy of the scan and letters it, often tweaking the dialog. When she's done, I look it over and if I can think of anything, make suggestions. When the colour page comes back from Cheyenne, she lays in the dialog and uploads it to the web. Then we dance.

Do you have a favourite strip that you've done?

Sure, but it always changes. If I don't produce a page where I think "Oh yeah, that's the Best Thing I've Done", every couple of months, then I'm in trouble.