Gotham's Graphic Guru

Earlier this week I had a chance to chat to Jeremy Bishop, comic book aficionado and manager of the well known Auckland shop, Gotham Comics. I took the opportunity to ask Jeremy a few questions about his enduring passion for comics and to see if he had any hot tips for Create Readers about engaging with graphic novels and what's going to be big for 2008 in the world of comics.

Q. When did you first become interested in comics?
A. I've read comics from about the age of 7, but really got into collecting
comics from about 14yrs old. I'm now 32.

Q. What is your all time favourite comic?
A. Really, James O'Barr's "The Crow". This comic got to me, the creator
being a self taught artist and his use of the medium as a way to deal with the grief over his girlfriend's death, and after that the Brandon Lee movie. It just cemented into place for me. Also Daredevil, this one started off with Frank Miller's (Sin City, 300) first run in the late 70s/ early 80s and the introduction of Elektra, but more so with the modern run by Kevin Smith
(Clerks, Mallrats), Brain Micheal Bendis (Powers, New Avengers) and Ed
Brubaker (Captain America). These modern stories just bring forward a
non-mutant superhero into difficult and trying situations. Daredevil is one
of my only titles I have to read as soon as the new issue is in store.

Q. What are your hot picks and predictions for 2008?
A. Iron Man (Movie due out May 2008), Thor, Ultimates 3, Y the Last Man, Echo (New Terry Moore comic - Strangers in Paradise), Watchmen (movie due out 2008/9), Star Wars Vector storyline & Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Q. Do you have any other words of wisdom regarding reading comics and graphic novels - especially relating to reluctant readers?

A. Reluctant readers, I've found both in Libraries and in the store
environment - like to browse, with a good selection of well-known comic
characters and some of the better written "out-there" material, everyone will
find something to spark their interest. Good examples for me in both
environment's has been Jeff Smith's "Bone", which is an easy story to start reading as it has basic art and design, but the story builds into an epic adventure and so brings the
reader along with it.