Interviews

Exclusive Jesse McCann Interview

[Date: December 2006]

By Steve Younis.

Jesse McCann is the writer of the first 6 issues of the "Krypto The Superdog" comic book, amongst other comics, children's book and novels.

The Superman Homepage would like to thank Jesse for agreeing to do this interview, and for fitting it into his busy schedule.



Krypto The Superdog #1 Q: Can you please tell us a little about yourself and what you do?

A: My name is Jesse Leon McCann. I live in Los Angeles with my wife, two kids and four cats, and I'm a writer of published works, including comics, children's picture books, activity books, novels, media-related books and even trivia games. If you want to learn more about me, visit Wikipedia or an often-updated checklist of my work.

Q: Can you describe your backround in writing? Can you name some of your creative influences?

A: When I was little, I would write saucy dialog in my step-dad's men's magazines. I'd write out full scripts to go along with my favorite record albums--these were big tomes!  I wrote plays and newspaper stories while in high school, in college, I did the same. Later, I was part of a stand-up comedy team and also wrote TV material and stage shows. For a while I wrote a humorous corporate newsletter for the Los Angeles branch of a major comics company. I became Editorial Director and head writer for a small press comics publisher, which led to me getting my first comics published. Doors opened after that at several larger publishers, which leads up to now. Influences: sixties TV and comics, Ray Bradbury and other sci-fi writers and artists, Bill Cosby, The Smothers Brothers, The Firesign Theatre and other comedians and stage artists, Pink Floyd and other wonderful musicians we had in the seventies, too many playwrights to mention...

Q: Did you read comics as a kid? If so which titles?

A: Yes, I read ravenously. Batman, Superman, Archie, and almost every Marvel title published in the early to-mid sixties.

Q: When did you first decide you wanted to work on comic books?

A: When first offered the opportunity to do so. I said, "Yeah, that's something I can do, something I'd enjoy doing."

Krypto The Superdog #2 Q: How did you go about becoming a comic book writer? What was your first big break in comics?

A: The publisher of a now defunct, yet excellent small press comic line asked me to work for him. He later went on to become an editor at a major publisher. He hired me for my first paid comics gig, writing a story for ANIMANIACS. When other editors at other publishers saw that I did a good job, they asked me to work for them.

Q: Where did you go to college?

A: El Camino Junior College in Southern California, USA

Q: How did you land the job as writer on the "Krypto The Superdog" comic book? Who contacted you?

A: My wife owns a comic shop. Last year she was invited to a retailer roundtable meeting with DC and other retailers, and she took me with her. During one of the Q&A sessions with DC president Paul Levitz and other upper-management folks, Fran McGarry from ACME Comics in Iowa, USA stood up and suggested strongly that there be a Krypto comic. She said that families had been coming into her shop, fans of the TV show, looking for Krypto comics. So why wasn't there a Krypto comic? Paul agreed that, yes, there should be a Krypto comic right away. I was sitting in the front row with my wife, and I mumbled, "I'll write it." Paul must have very good hearing, because he looked at me and said, "Well, okay. Send me a pitch when you get back home." Which I did, and it was soon approved by executive-editor Dan Didio.

Q: Had you seen the TV animated series before you started working on the book?

A: No, but I'd heard of it.

Krypto The Superdog #3 Q: Are you a fan of the animated series? Would you like to write for the show as well?

A: I'm a fan of much of it, especially the character design, voice acting and the art in general. Some of the writing doesn't float my boat, but that's true of most shows I watch. And, YES, I'd love to write for the show!

Q: What contact (if any) do you have with the creators of the TV animated series?

A: Only Paul Dini, but never on a professional basis. We have a mutual friend, and have met at parties and such. Krypto TV show director Scott Jeralds penciled all the wonderful covers of the Krypto comic, though I've never met him.

Q: Your website states that you are only scheduled to write up to issue #6 of "Krypto The Superdog". Would you like to write more issues beyond issue #6?

A: Yeah, I would. Very much. But, as far as I know, #6 will be the last issue.

Q: Do you have any other Superman related projects in the works?

A: Not at this time.

Q: What do you think of the Superman Homepage website?

A: Man, it's epic! Truly wonderful.

Q: Thanks for allowing us to interview you, and continued success on "Krypto The Superdog".

A: Thanks much.



This interview is Copyright © 2006 by Steven Younis. It is not to be reproduced in part or as a whole without the express permission of the author.


Interviews

Introduction

The Superman Homepage has had the pleasure of interviewing various Superman Comic Book creative people about their work.

Question and Answer Interviews:

Interviews/Articles:

Krypton Club Interviews:

Lois When “Lois & Clark” started production in 1993, there was an obvious relationship between the comic book people and the Hollywood people.

A trade paperback “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”, was published, with Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher on the cover. It included reprints of comic book stories that were the inspiration for “Lois & Clark”, helping to define the characters. Comic's included are: The Story of the Century (Man of Steel miniseries #2), Tears for Titano (Superman Annual #1), Metropolis - 900 mi (in SUP #9), The Name Game (SUP #11), Lois Lane (in ACT #600), Headhunter (AOS #445), Homeless for the Holidays (AOS #462), The Limits of Power (AOS #466), and Survival (ACT #665).

A number of comic book writers and artists had roles as extras in the episode “I'm Looking Through You” (Season one, episode 4). Their presence was immortilized in the Sky Trading Card #34.

Craig Byrne, president of the online “Lois & Clark” fanclub The Krypton Club, carried out a series of interviews with comic book writers. The interviews are reprinted with permission of the Krypton Club.

Check the Television section of this website for some “Lois & Clark” Interviews conducted by The Krypton Club.