Obviously we have a lot to thank him for, not only did he set up the Kickstarter campaign that got our first anthology published, but he was also present at many American comic conventions to further promote our work.
And so it comes with great sadness to announce that he has had to step down from his position as Creative Director for the upcoming Ages Anthology. I recently asked him to give me a mini interview to find out his reasons and what he’ll be doing in the future.
So why have you decided to leave the Sleepless Phoenix team?
“It was a tough, tough decision. I had such a great experience the first time around and really believe in the motivating factors behind the collective. I mean, it's a good group of people making comics--what's not to like? Ultimately, I had to make some tough choices concerning the frantic pace of my life; there's simply been too much on my plate, and when that happens, no one wins. I invest myself fully into what I'm doing, and I didn't think I could do that with Sleepless Phoenix anymore. So rather than put myself in a position where I'd be skirting responsibilities and not pulling my weight, I decided it would be best to step down and let someone else take over.”
Sounds like your very busy then, what projects are you working on?
“Quite a few, hence my reason for stepping down. I have Hoax Hunters, a backup running in the pages of Hack/Slash with Image Comics, appearing monthly. My first graphic novel, Quarantined, comes out in the Spring. The promoting and marketing behind that has been an immense task. The Fall will see the release of my mini-series Reincar(Nate) with Viper Comics. And I have three more projects in various stages of production. I'm spinning a lot of plates right now.”
Now that you’re leaving, what do you think were the best bits of working on The Sleepless Phoenix?
“The comics industry is filled with amazing people--accessible, friendly, and always willing to lend a helping hand. The Sleepless Phoenix group really took those qualities to heart; so many people pitched in to make the first Kickstarter drive and anthology release a success, and that was really rewarding to be a part of. And the finished product is something I'm really proud of--we collectively banded together, overcoming the adversity Insomnia put us all through, and produced an excellent book.”
And a question we’re all dying to ask. Will you be submitting to the Ages Anthology this year?
“I hope so! It's just a matter of finding the right idea and coming up with a script. I intent to though, for sure.”
So its not all doom and gloom. With any luck we'll see his return with a strip in the Ages Anthology. Now we bid farewell and good luck to Michael in his new endeavours.
