Percy Carey Interviews Jason Aaron & Tone Rodriguez

Percy Carey: Where were you born?. and when did you realize you wanted to work in the comic book industry?

Tone Rodriguez: I was born in the year of our lord nineteen hundred and sixty eight; I arrived in time for the summer of love. In Los Angeles California, at Glendale Hospital…not sure what the palace is called today…anyhow, I guess I always wanted to work drawing funny books, I just didn’t realize anyone actually did that for a living. So, I got
into the Biz late, but hey…better late than never.

Percy Carey: What are some of the titles you have had the opportunity to work on?

Tone Rodriguez: My first book was Violent Messiahs, printed by Image Comics'it ran about thirteen issues over two and a half years. I followed that with the Snake Plissken Chronicles, that was produced with Cross-Gen Comics. I then drew The Covenant at Top Cow/Space Dog'that book was produced as a motion picture through Sony Pictures. I then did a book I created with my pals Scott Reynolds and Will Wilson called The U.T.F. (Undead Task Force). After that I did a book here, a story there, but the work I’m really happy with is several stories that I drew for Bongo Comics'they produce The Simpsons Comics. I’m currently preparing work for a three issue mini-series with Bart and Radioactive Man…plus a bunch of top secret stuff I’m not sure I can talk about yet.

Percy Carey: You had a small role on the show Dexter. How did that come about?

Tone Rodriguez: The acting stuff isn’t what I’m really doing…it’s just fun, I got to do some background stuff on E-Ring and Numbers'I also drew some artwork that showed up on a Fox show called The Inside a few years back'but when I got a call from my pal Scott Reynolds [a writer on Dexter], it was only to help out the production by drawing some comic book art. I met with the costume designer and the head of the art department and I was asked to help work out the look of the comic book character “The Dark Defender.”

About a week into the production I guess they needed some fellas to play the Killer and the Dead Guy, so they gave me a call and asked if I would be interested in playing either of those parts. I jumped at the chance to play the Killer…the characters name was Benjamin Alvaro, aka “Corn Dude.” If any of your readers are interested in seeing the episode, it’s Dexter Season Two, Episode #5 “The Dark Defender.”

Percy Carey: I love the Simpson’s character Krusty The Clown'he’s a true hustler. Who’s your favorite Simpson’s character and why?

Tone Rodriguez: I always liked Homer. He’s fun, and he always seems to have his family’s unconditional love by the end of every 30 minute episode, regardless of what he’s done. The world would be a lovely place if that could really happen…but the guy I really like the most is Radioactive Man. I’ve been lucky enough to have been involved in a couple of his stories so far, and the mini-series is all about him…so I’ve been really lucky…I’m a huge RM fan.

Percy Carey: Can you explain to the readers about the comic book U.T.F.?. It’s creator owned correct?

Tone Rodriguez: Yep, lock stock and barrel, its me, Will and Scotty…I hope to get more of that book going, but producing a creator owned book is a huge task…anyway, the book is about a group of government vampire slayers,
zombie hunters, and and plain ol’ bad people that just happen to be a monster or demonic in nature…they locate them, they neutralize them, and they destroy them, and do their very best to keep it all a secret. Cause you know, we regular folk just can’t deal with the ramifications of monsters walking the earth. And that’s the basic outline. The first story arc is about one low on the totem pole vampire wimp that isn’t very important in the big world. He gets this wild idea to get arrested and thrown into L.A. County Jail, where he figures he’s going to create his own Army of The Damned by infecting the general population in lock up, to take over the world…just starting with Los Angeles first. Our guys do their best to stop them…and that’s the first story arc’s premise.

Percy Carey: Would you mind giving some words of wisdom to the readers who are interested entering in your profession?

Tone Rodriguez: Don’t do it…any job a newbee takes in the comic book business could prevent a Nick Cage or some other Hollywood actor to make their car payments…[Laughs]. Just kidding, not really…All I can really say is be good, be reliable or be fast…heck, if you can manage to only be two of those, you should be okay. But if you’re only one of them, you might just want to stay at the job you got right now, cause we already got a bunch of artists that are only one of those three things.

Percy Carey: Do you recommend any books about how to become a comic book illustrator?

Tone Rodriguez: Nah, I don’t think so. I figure you either got it, or not…you can always become better, but that comes with some experience…if you like comics and you’re looking for some great books to read, I’ll suggest Marvel Visionaries, Chris Claremont, it has my favorite story ever in it. Avengers Annual #10…I’ll even suggest the Daredevil Frank Miller Omnibus Vol. 1 and maybe The Dark Knight Returns…those are some of my favorite comics, and they all look great…good reading and good looking…a perfect set of comic books.

Percy Carey: Name one comic book store you recommend people to visit when in Los Angeles?

Tone Rodriguez: ill actually suggest two…if you’re in the San Fernando Valley, I suggest a little shop in the shadow of Universal Studios…DJ’s Universal Comics. The guy that owns and operates that little shop is the world’s most helpful comic book shop owner. If he doesn’t have it, he’ll get it for you. The other is in Pasadena, way on the other side of L.A. It’s called The Comic Factory on Colorado. These guys are some of the most knowledgeable comic book guys in all of L.A. They also specialize in…well, everything! Anime, graphic novels, and toys, as well as statues, and t-shirts…awesome place, and awesome people.

Percy Carey: Can you inform the readers about any of your upcoming projects?

Tone Rodriguez: I already did, I thought, but I love sharing…I have an upcoming Radioactive Man mini-series from the guys at Bongo. and I have some Spirit The Movie Sketch Cards from Inkworks, and that secret thing I mentioned earlier…I’m not sure about talking about that…Also there’s a re-release of the Violent Messiahs books through IDW coming in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for it…there you go!

Percy Carey: How can the readers get in contact with you?

Tone Rodriguez: www.tonerod.com. or you can find me on myspace or facebook…its always plain ol’ Tone Rodriguez, really easy to find…just search Tone Rodriguez, love to hear back from you all.

Percy Carey: Who would win a fight between Batman and Moon Knight and why?

Tone Rodriguez: Simple, Batman…Marvel’s Batman-lite can’t hold Bruce Wayne’s utility belt…Batman wins!

Native New Yorker Percy Carey is a hip hop recording artist (aka MF GRIMM), a journalist, and an award winning writer. His first comic book was a gritty and sensational story that retold his experiences growing up into a hard life, and turning it around. It was nominated for several Eisner awards, the highest achievement in the comic book/graphic novel world. That book, a graphic novel entitled Sentences: the Life of MF GRIMM is published by Vertigo/DC Comics. Percy continues to write and produce music, always trying to push the envelope and break new boundaries in all his endeavors. www.percycarey.com (coming soon)

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