Number 21 - - April 1997

The Very First Comics Page "Cover/Homepage"

The Comics Page's Past and Future

To celebrate The Comics Page being one year old, we thought you'd like to find out a little about how we started and were we're going. So, here's an interview with the creators of The Comics Page.

Interviewer: How did The Comics Page come into being?

Mark Monroe: At the time, I was working for company that was doing Web Pages and was thinking of the type of Web pages that I felt would work the best. I thought a comics information source would be both entertaining and attract a lot of readers.

Later, this company was attempting to get a comic dealer here in town into a web site and I felt my comic information source would be a great addition to this dealers site. It looked like this dealer was going to go for the idea so the push was on. I'm not an artist and this being a very graphically oriented site, I needed an artist. Scott Sauer happened to stop by the office that day for some reason or another and I had seen Scott's work and knew he was a talented artist (he was there), so I, in my infinite wisdom (luck), asked Scott if he would be willing to do the artwork for this crazy idea I called "The Comics Page"

Interviewer: Scott, what did you say when you were asked to do the artwork for The Comics Page?

Scott Sauer: I said, "okay"

Interviewer: Was there anyone else you got involved The Comics Page?

Mark: Yes, when I started working on the idea of The Comics Page I wanted to put together a group of people who could produce an entertaining and informative web site. There was Scott who is a very talented artist and has done an incredible job on The Comics Page so far.

Scott (interjects): Faster! Harder!

Mark: (laughs) I also asked Rick Dodd and my wife, Beth who are also both very creative and their input has been valuable.

Interviewer: Rick, what was you reaction when Mark asked you to be involved in The Comics Page?

Rick Dodd: Honestly, I was a little skeptical if there was going to be enough to put up. I wasn't sure if we could get the connections needed. But, Mark has surprised me in what he's been able to pull off.

Interviewer: And Beth, what was you reaction when Mark told you about The Comics Page?

Beth Monroe: Well when I first heard about it, I thought, "Yeah, okay, it might be a good idea. But, it's really surprised me in how successful it's been and I have a lot of optimism about the future.

Interviewer: Scott, what have you gotten out of the Comics Page?

Scott: The enjoyment of having the world view my work.

Interviewer: You're the man responsible for Captain Purple. Where did you get the idea for him?

Scott: Well it all goes back a few years ago I had started this character and his name was "Really Big Super Guy" then I saw this cartoon and there was a character who had almost the same name. So I put him in the back of my mind and then The Comics Page came along. So, I used the same basic character for the the site's mascot. We wanted the same initials as the Comics Page "C.P." so I came up with "Captain Purple"

Interviewer: What do you use to do the artwork for Captain Purple?

Scott: Well, when we started out I would draw them on paper and then Mark would scan them and I would then color it on the computer. Now, I do it all digital and use different modeling and graphic programs. But, mostly I use Adobe Photoshop.

Interviewer: Mark, what did you originally intend for The Comics Page?

Mark: The initial idea of The Comics Page was to be a comics information source and that was why we included a price guide in the very first issue. We also wanted reviews and interviews and our third issue I was able to get our first interivews with Mike Baron and Tom Veitch.

Interviewer: What prompted you to include a collectible card game section?

Mark: As we talked to dealers they kept telling us that these card games like Magic: The Gathering were very hot. So, after some research we decided to include a section on the card games.

Interviewer: It's been a year since you started, what has been the most successful part of this venture

Mark: I don't know, what do you think, Scott?

Scott: I think way to pawn off the question, Mark. Actually I think the price guide has been successful. From my side, the comic has been real successful. It started out very simple and now it's 3D.

Interviewer: Scott, what would you like to see in the future on the Comics Page?

Scott: Possibly another on-line comic. I'd like to get together a comic artist and writers alliance. I'd also like to be able to showcase fan artwork being able to give fans a place to get their work seen.

Interviewer:How about you, Mark?

Mark:I'd like to see more interviews. I'd like to get an interview with Todd McFarlane, Mark Hamill, Mark Wade, and many more. I'd also like to interview some of the classics. I'd love to get an interview with Stan Lee. I'd also like to get where we're having quick time movies of comic related movie and cartoon previews. But what I really hope for our future is that we're always an informative, fun and interactive site that people enjoy.