EA: I’d just seen the indie film City Of God and was inspired to create a story around young people of color that was as vibrant, sexy and dangerous as that film. I knew from my time in TV that ideas surrounding minorities seem to devolve into stereotypical settings and personalities, but if it were in space or on another planet we could surpass these issues and create something new.
MN: You and your husband come from a television and movie background. He is a well-known screenwriter, and you are a prolific actress. When did you decide to enter the graphic novel medium?
We are screenwriters, so to that end Concrete Park was initially developed as a TV series. After an unfortunate, racist encounter with a studio head during a pitch meeting, we had a come-to-Jesus moment and were inspired to do our story as a comic book. Of course, thinking it is one thing, doing is a whole other thing. Tony got to work and started to draw the comic and sent a few pages to Mike Richardson of Dark Horse. Mike saw it, liked it, published it. And after a lot of excitement, learning, and elbow grease, here we are today with Concrete Park Volume Two: R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
MN: You’ve hit the convention circuit. How has CP been received by the graphic novel fandom? What have you learned through that process?
EA: The decentralization of showbiz is recalibrating everything. It’s all in flux, and everything is up for grabs. Netflix, Hulu, Xbox, and YouTube are gearing up to be the new Warner Brothers, MGM, Fox, and Universal. They will succeed. The question is: Will they reproduce the same types of shows, casts, and storylines? Or will they really make something new?
Here’s the problem: More access to more channels and programs does not, by itself, mean more diversity. Even if we do get more diversity, who’s to say it will make an impact? We are all still competing with powerful, rich companies with vast networks and old ideologies.
MN: What is your role, as well as your role in the creation of Concrete Park?
EA: I write, but Tony is the superhero here; he does the majority of the heavy lifting—drawing, inking, coloring, and lettering the comic. Tony and I both co-created and write the book.
MN: Now that the daunting task of getting published is behind you—where do you see Concrete Park in the future?
EA: Getting published is difficult, staying published is back-breaking. We work hard every day to make the best comic we can for our fans and friends who supported us and champion our cause. If we do that, build our skills and maintain our story quality, then we can attract new opportunities in the future.
The series is printed in soft cover and hardcover volumes. All five soft cover issues will be featured in Volume 2, out this month!
MN: You’ve conceived dozens of characters for the Concrete Park world. Who are your favorite characters in the graphic novel? And why?
There are scores of characters. My favorite is Concrete Park‘s badass, Silas. Tony drew him sexy, so Silas is one sexy alien! I also love his Las Cruces henchman, Samad; Lost Hill’s scheming despot, Jean-Pierre; The beer magnate, The Potato King; and Hard Guy. Hard Guy is part of the hive gang, Sir Guy, a crew that moves as one body. I love them all for the same reasons: They are hella sexy!
Tony, obviously, LOVES the women. Look at how he draws them; full-bodied, sensuous, multi-colored and dripping with personality, but his all-time favorite is Luca. Tony wishes he was Luca. Have you seen her? Heck, sometimes I wish I was Luca!
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