Interviews - Chynna Clugston-Major

Last modified: March 1, 2004, 10:33 PM
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An Interview With Chynna Clugston-Major

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An Interview With Chynna Clugston-Major

Chynna Clugston-Major is the type of creator you wish you were. No! Do not argue with us now! We know these things. We have our ways. Trust us. Through her comics, both written and drawn by her, she has introduced herself as a strong new talent in the field. Of course that was years ago. With each new work though, she manages to remind us exactly why we said that about her in the first place.

2HC: Name, occupation and favorite Adam Ant song

CCM: Chynna Clugston-Major. Mocker.* Antmusic.

*I also create comic books.

2HC: Now see, I didn't know that "Mocker" was an occupation. They never told me that one in vocational training. How does one become a professional mocker?

CCM: By dealing with clever people like yourself on a regular basis. Now lean in a little closer so I might slap you.

2HC: What is a normal day for Chynna like?

CCM: For the last several years it's consisted mostly of constructing Voodoo Dolls and casting evil spells on my regular editor, Jamie S. Rich, in the hopes of causing his early demise. So far I've been unsuccessful, but I'm thinking that 2004 should bring me a little more luck. He is quitting this year, after all, so I must be doing something right.

And of course, now and then I draw... and drink several beverages, some caffeinated, some not... I putz around on the internet, listen to music, and hang out with my bulldog, Buster. That's a typical day. The evenings are a bit more entertaining if I say so myself. They at least involve booze and other delights.

2HC: How did you start writing and drawing?

CCM: Probably about the same way I started breathing, it's what I've done since I was very small. I can't remember a time when I wasn't drawing something or writing a story, or thinking up stuff that I would write and draw in the future. It seems to pass the time pretty nicely.

2HC: What creative influences helped shape your style, both writing and art?

CCM: Films, books, music. Experiences, everything. I try to absorb whatever I can. Most of the time there's just too much, but obviously I'd rather it was that way.

2HC: Given how musically rich your work tends to be, with soundtracks given and such, have you ever thought of actually producing a soundtrack to BLUE MONDAY or SCOOTER GIRL?

CCM: Compiling one, yeah. I've already burned a few mixes for friends, but something large-scale hasn't been an option yet. I'd love it if I could do it, though.

2HC: You obviously listen to music while you work, what are your favorite albums to create to?

CCM: Any Depeche Mode album, any Cure. I especially like Disentegration and The Head On The Door from the Cure, as well as Violator and Ultra from Depeche Mode. I love to listen to New Order's Substance... and Oingo Boingo, mainly the Boingo Alive album. But really, I listen to so much. I guess I can say I work best to New Wave, that's what I listen to the most.

2HC: If you had to choose only one, would you rather write or draw?

CCM: I'd rather be dead than not be able to do both, to be honest.

2HC: Do you want to work in other mediums besides comics? If so which ... any movie or novel ideas lurking around to share?

CCM: Not really, my heart is in this medium. I thought I'd liked to have been a film maker at one point, but I don't want to make films badly enough to put up with movie industry people for very long. Or actors in general. Actors grate on my nerves most of the time. I've had contact with too many, I suppose. Once I thought that being a playwright would be a good choice as well, but again the idea of actors put me off. I think I'd like to get into doing books, though. Abnormal children's books, stuff geared for younger people that aren't typical and boring. I think a lot of the books children get ahold of tend to insult their intelligence... to do something like Roald Dahl did would be ideal.

Writing novels for adults would be fine, too, as long as I kept on drawing at the same time.

I have no idea what I might do in the future, and seriously, no matter how I sound here, I wouldn't limit myself. I like trying new things, as long as they aren't completely appalling and/or dumb.

2HC: Has anyone approached you with an idea that was completely appalling and/or dumb yet, and if so can you share it with us?

CCM: Nah, not really. Nothing worth mentioning, anyway. There was something once involving flash animation, but I hate the choppiness of flash- I wanted to be involved with traditional animation. Problem is, no one seems to be doing that anymore. So, screw it. I want nothing to do with that, unless it's on a website. I think that's the only place flash really belongs, with few exceptions.

2HC: What new projects do you have down the line staring you in the face with their evil evil looming and deadline rich texture?

CCM: Well, at the moment I have the new Blue Monday mini series coming up fast, which is called Painted Moon, after the song by The Silencers. (Great tune!) I'm also working on developing a story about the London punk scene in the 70's, before it exploded, which is called Brains On Vacation. I'll be working on that with Marco Pirroni (best known as the guitarist from Adam and the Ants,) so long as he continues to have the time to do it! It should be a really good time, albeit hard- compiling all the information is going to be a real bitch, I just know it. I'm looking forward to it, though.

2HC: What kind of environment do you find most conducive to writing? Noisy cafe? Quiet home office? Mall food court?

CCM: I find that music playing quietly on my headphones tends to be the best, while I'm at home in my office. Sometimes I need absolute quiet in order to do it, though. I have to be in a very controlled environment to do the scripting itself. Coming up with ideas for the scripts is done everwhere, however- especially in pubs, with friends. My boyfriend is full of jokes, he's where I get the majority of my inspiration from.

And, the mall? I'm not twelve, for cryin' out loud! I hate the mall. I never hung out there as a kid, and now that I'm an adult, I tend to avoid it like the plague. Well, not the plague. At least I find the plague interesting.

2HC: Well I assume everyone hates the mall but there must be people who like it, they seem to be crowded enough the few times I get dragged to one. So scripting is must be controlled, do you ever sketch out character designs and such while outside?

CCM: No, I do all of my work inside, now that I think of it. Doing almost anything outside is far too distracting, I think. The wind blows and suddenly I'm zoning out, eyes glazed over, staring at the clouds or something.

2HC: What's your favorite method of procrastination?

CCM: Doing interviews. Oh... you said favorite. That'd be making out, then.

2HC: Who are a few of your favorite creators, both in terms of art and writing?

CCM: Posey Simmonds, Rumiko Takahashi, Evan Dorkin, Scott Morse, and Daniel Clowes, to name a few.

2HC: Any good stories about getting to meet any of these folks, or others whom you admire for their craft?

CCM: Hmm. Well, I somehow managed to get a ticket to stand in line to meet Rumiko Takahashi at San Diego one year. The tickets are always very limited whenever she visits, and she has a whole group of specially trained monkeys to kiss her butt while she's sitting and signing. I've never seen anyone get treated like such a superstar, except maybe Todd MacFarland or something. I think she only signed at most, for 50 people. IF that. And that was it. It made me think, "why bother at all?" All I could get from our brief meeting is that she is never so disinterested as when she has to sign at conventions. I can't blame her, really. Plus, I don't think she speaks English but rarely. However, it was pretty boring and disappointing. I prefer visiting with Evan Dorkin above all others whom I've met- he will actually insult you if he gets the chance. I like that much better. He has this great way of making you feel incredibly stupid yet love him to pieces, which I greatly admire. I wish to have that power someday. He's by far my all-time favorite creator. (He won't really insult you as soon as he gets a chance, unless you're a dork like me.) But I'll tell you, the first time I ever met him, I caught him in one of his worse moods (probably spawned by him having just get off a plane and trying to wind down) so I thought he was a dick for the rest of the day. Then, later that evening, I was at a party for a magazine called Hypno (do you remember that one? I don't think it exists anymore, or am I wrong?) He was there with one of his friends, and he called me and my boyfriend over and started chatting at us. He was totally cool, and I was much relieved. That was when I realized for the first time that you can't judge a creator (or person) just from the first time you meet them- everyone has shitty days. You need to give them a chance. Especially if they're stuck at a convention working. That's the problem with most fans, they don't realize that the creators are WORKING. They're not having fun. These people are usually very introverted, then they're thrown into a convention packed with people slobbering all over them. They probably loathe the cons themselves, and just look forward to drinking and socializing with their peers afterwards. It's something to take into account- I know that's always the case for me, at least. "Just get me the hell out of here and feed me some beer, someone, please!!!"

2HC: Do you see the internet as helping or hindering your interaction with fans? Is it too much or not enough? Can it in fact get in the way of actually creating?

CCM: It helps interaction with readers, but it can get in the way of creating if you sit there answering every e-mail that comes through to you. I find I have to limit it, and wait until Jamie compiles the letters column before I actually respond to most queries. It's not that I don't care, it's just that I am easily distracted and already have a lot on my plate. Maybe I need some Ritalin or something.

2HC: Do you have any cats? If so, names and occupations please.

CCM: I have one, named Mr. Darcy. (Name swiped from Pride and Prejudice.) He is pure furry, black evil, and I love him. He considers himself a lover. I know this because he lets my bulldog hump him all the time, primarily at parties. It's rather embarassing, what a slut my cat is. He's fixed, even.

2HC: Rant, anything you like, this will not be graded

CCM: The first thing that came to mind involved Tijuana Bibles, so I think it's wise if we just stopped now... it's for the best, trust me.

You can go bug Chynna yourself (and tell her we sent you, even if it means she smack's us again (I'm liking this royal 'we' use here, I might keep doing it) at http://www.onipress.com - where you can not only find out what she's up to bug you can join their message board and get us slapped more. For even more Chynna you can go see her Blog. Hopefully, Painted Moon #1 will be out this April, look for it in stores everywhere!

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