Live Chat Here Monday, June 20th With JayJay

[JayJayJackson]

Is there a particular comic issue and/or series you are most proud of having worked on?

There is. But there's a story to it. When I was in high school I had stopped reading comics due to family problems (and BOYS) but a classmate of mine, the other artist in my high school, showed me Conan #1 drawn by Barry Smith. I was entranced. I borrowed it and only very reluctantly gave it back the next day. I started trying to get Conan every month after that which took me to the earliest direct market outlet in San Antonio, a comics stall at the flea market. I got into comics again in a pretty big way which let to me helping start Texas Comics and meeting Jim. So Barry was responsible for me getting into comics and I have stayed a huge fan of his work. When I was going to color Solar 0 I was so nervous and Barry didn't want any colorist but himself. We spoke and after a couple of installments he felt confident in what I was doing. To me Solar 0 id the most important thing I've ever done and I feel so blessed to have been able to color Barry's work. I think it's the best coloring I've ever done, even though some of it was overnight, all night after I had finished a full days work on other stuff.

[Ladakh]

AND ANOTHER THING... can you briefly tell us the story of Bo Blayton for those that don't know?!

[JayJayJackson]

Can you tell us how Don Perlin got the moniker "Uncle Don"??? Or is that off topic?

Not Uncle. Unca Donald. Because he wa like Donald Duck watching his crazy nephews. lol.

[JayJayJackson]

AND ANOTHER THING... can you briefly tell us the story of Bo Blayton for those that don't know?!

Bob? What story do you mean?

[turbod16]

Hello JJ , thanks so much for popping in

How and where did you meet Jim ?

[vikingspawn]

Did Plasm goo ever exist as a prototype from the toy manufacturer (Mattel?) or any action figures proposed? Cartoon series planned?

Was "Splatterbattle" an idea for a potential crossover or a planned video game?

[Ladakh]

AND ANOTHER THING... can you briefly tell us the story of Bo Blayton for those that don't know?!

Bob? What story do you mean?

Something about being in the South and looking like New Yorkers.... and one of the local yokels called him Bo Blayton, which Bo makes sense as a name in the south...

[Ladakh]

Did Plasm goo ever exist as a prototype from the toy manufacturer (Mattel?) or any action figures proposed? Cartoon series planned?

Was "Splatterbattle" an idea for a potential crossover or a planned video game?

I am sure I got lots of Defiant/Broadway signed stuff from Jim and JJ... all you need to do is ask...

[vikingspawn]

Did Plasm goo ever exist as a prototype from the toy manufacturer (Mattel?) or any action figures proposed? Cartoon series planned?

Was "Splatterbattle" an idea for a potential crossover or a planned video game?

I am sure I got lots of Defiant/Broadway signed stuff from Jim and JJ... all you need to do is ask...

I'd love to get a Defiant baseball cap....always wanted one of those...

Another question for JayJay, did you ever take part in the Home Shopping Network TV Segments in the 90s promoting the Defiant line? One of the Defiant Genesis (WarDancer/Org) posters look like they were sold through there....

[jmatt]

I dunno if this has been asked. Jim mentioned you did the colors on Harbinger one cover, and he spoke specifically about that wonderful 'explosion' happening behind the characters. Is there much of a story to that cover? Jim said he did an original take on it that then Dave Lapham and you took over.

[Ladakh]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMuBxUGGlH4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

JJ put it up... check it out guys!!!

[JayJayJackson]

Hello JJ , thanks so much for popping in

How and where did you meet Jim ?

My friends put on a comic con in Houston. I was helping out with various things and working as a security person. Nothing like a cute girl to back down a belligerent fan, they figured. And I'm a Texas gal, so some attitude goes with the territory. Jim was a guest at the con, but I hadn't paid much attention to the guest list and had no idea who he was. I was a fan of black & white indy comics more than Marvels (except for the Xmen). Friday night a bunch of comics guys had been hanging around the lobby making small attempts to chat me up, mostly because I was the only girl around, I think. lol. Jim came down to meet people for dinner and took the only chair left, right next to me at the table where i was checking in the vendors. We spoke briefly and I thought he was pretty cool. Still had no idea who he was. later my friends were telling me how impressed I should have been! lol.

The next night I was setting up a hospitality room for a party and Jim was the first to arrive. I had planned to leave and go home but Jim and I ended up chatting until late into the night. We dated some for a while, but mostly we've been good friends since that night.

[JayJayJackson]

AND ANOTHER THING... can you briefly tell us the story of Bo Blayton for those that don't know?!

Bob? What story do you mean?

Something about being in the South and looking like New Yorkers.... and one of the local yokels called him Bo Blayton, which Bo makes sense as a name in the south...

I guess I haven't heard that one, but there are so many funny stories about Bob.

[eschnit]

You from H-town?

[JayJayJackson]

Did Plasm goo ever exist as a prototype from the toy manufacturer (Mattel?) or any action figures proposed? Cartoon series planned?

Was "Splatterbattle" an idea for a potential crossover or a planned video game?

I am sure I got lots of Defiant/Broadway signed stuff from Jim and JJ... all you need to do is ask...

I'd love to get a Defiant baseball cap....always wanted one of those...

Another question for JayJay, did you ever take part in the Home Shopping Network TV Segments in the 90s promoting the Defiant line? One of the Defiant Genesis (WarDancer/Org) posters look like they were sold through there....

I had some Defiant caps, but I don't know if I still do. A while back I sold all of my comic book collection and most of the promotional stuff I had left. The recent years have been a rollercoaster.

[JayJayJackson]

I dunno if this has been asked. Jim mentioned you did the colors on Harbinger one cover, and he spoke specifically about that wonderful 'explosion' happening behind the characters. Is there much of a story to that cover? Jim said he did an original take on it that then Dave Lapham and you took over.

Jim drew the first cover for an ad. David used that drawing as the basis for the Harbinger 1 cover and I like to color explosions so I got them to leave tha background open. I seem to recall that David may have sketched in a pencil explosion that I used as a guideline, but I'm not totally sure about that. He did that on some of the interiors. It was wonderful having David working in the same room. Fantastically collaborative.

[Ladakh]

JJ- What are you doing these days?

[vikingspawn]

When you were at Broadway, did you have free access to attend any of the Saturday Night Live tapings or meet some of the cast?

[JayJayJackson]

You from H-town?

I was born in San Antonio, went to high school in Boerne, Texas and moved to Houston to further my art career. I did illustrations, maps and graphic design for the oil industry and later for a couple of Houston ad agencies.

[jmatt]

Speaking of working in the same room, Jim said that the Marvel 'Bullpen' was largely a myth, but that the real thing went on at Valiant (Knob Row). Were you considered a part of that group, or was it just the more junior creators?

I guess my question is: was knob row a geographic space and anyone who worked in it was considered a member? Or was it some kind of seniority status differentiator?

[JayJayJackson]

When you were at Broadway, did you have free access to attend any of the Saturday Night Live tapings or meet some of the cast?

We did! But not because we were us. lol. Jim got Broadway Video to allow us to invite Steve Geppi and his wife to an SNL taping. I went with them. We were fortunate enough to be at a season finale hosted by Jim Carrey. We got to go to the wrap party afterward. Very cool.

[JayJayJackson]

Speaking of working in the same room, Jim said that the Marvel 'Bullpen' was largely a myth, but that the real thing went on at Valiant (Knob Row). Were you considered a part of that group, or was it just the more junior creators?

I think Knob Row was in actuality what people thought the Marvel Bullpen was. When I worked at Marvel 1984-88 the Marvel Bullpen was mostly production, lettering corrections, art corrections, graphic design, stuff like that. But over Marvel's history the Bullpen changed and evolved. I've heard stories of the early days that sound more collaborative.

[Ladakh]

JJ- What are you doing these days?

[jmatt]

I am looking at your website now. Did you design the Defiant logo? I've always loved it!

[Ladakh]

Which website??

http://seriousdesign.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.jayjayjackson.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://jayjayjacksonsblog.blogspot.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.facebook.com/jayjay.jackson" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://twitter.com/JayJayJacksonDH" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://diysilkscreenprinting.blogspot.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
A new website for my books I’m working on (unfinished):
http://seriouspublications.seriousdesign.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;