Kanga exclusive! Interview with Superfriends writer Sholly Fisch!

You’ll recall how a glimpse of Superfriends 14 sent me into a paroxysm of kanga-glee, yes? Well! I interviewed the brains behind the operation, comic writer Sholly Fisch, to get to the bottom of this! And it’s hot news for any kanga-fan! In fact, I’d say this makes Bottle City of Kanga the world’s premiere kanga news resource! Great Hera!

The kanga in question is indeed Wonder Woman’s golden age pet kanga Jumpa! And issue 14 involves Ch’p (the chipmunk Green Lantern) assembling the super-pets to defend Earth against Kanjar Ro!

When did you encounter your first kanga?
Well, it’s a little-known fact that, as a boy, I was actually raised by wild kangas…Truthfully, I probably encountered my first comic book kanga when I was a kid and read a reprint of the Golden Age origin of Wonder Woman.

Did you think 'wow! How cool!' or 'Good grief! What a kitsch extravaganza?
Amazon warriors battling each other while riding pseudo-kangaroos? Of course I thought, “Wow! How cool!”

Will we be seeing Jumpa again in Superfriends?
No immediate plans, but I’m a big fan of super-pets, so you never know. Actually, back in issue #2, when Wonder Woman was riding a dinosaur, I had her remark that it reminded her of riding kangas back on Paradise Island. So now that Jumpa is appearing in the series, I guess that becomes retroactive foreshadowing or something…

Do kangas get the respect they deserve?
It seems like it’s been an awfully long time since we’ve seen one in comics. Admittedly, though, I’m only an occasional reader of the regular Wonder Woman series; for all I know, there might be kangas all over the place.

Which is your favourite Super Pet?
Personally, I’m partial to Ace the Bat-Hound and Beppo the Super-Monkey, but I love them all. Incidentally, one of the fun things in this Super Friends story is that the two Green Lanterns (John Stewart and Ch’p the alien chipmunk Green Lantern) use their rings to link the heroes and pets telepathically, so that they can all communicate with each other. That gave me the chance to give individual personalities and speech patterns to all of the pets. I wondered what Jumpa’s would be like, and finally decided that she’d “talk” like an Amazon. You’ll see what I mean when you read the issue.

What was the first comic you read? Did it shape your comics tastes for years to come?
Funny you should ask. When Super Friends editor Rachel Gluckstern first e-mailed to ask if I’d be interested in writing the series, I grabbed the phone, called her, and said, “Did I ever mention that, when I was five years old, the first comic book I ever bought was an issue of Justice League of America?” Specifically, it was JLA vol. 1, #62. And yes, it absolutely shaped my tastes for years to come – even though I’ve got a pretty broad range of tastes that run the gamut from Watchmen to the Inferior Five.

What was the first comic script you sold? What do you think of it now?
Back in the ‘80s, I simultaneously started writing promotional articles for Marvel’s in-house magazine, Marvel Age, and also sold a script to DC’s new talent program. Unfortunately DC’s New Talent Showcase got cancelled before my story saw print. So my first “real” published comics story was a couple of years later – a Spider-Man vs. the Thing back-up story for Marvel Tales. I’m still kind of fond of it but I’m pleased to say I’ve gotten better in the 20-odd years since then.

What tips would you give to aspiring comics writers?
Besides “keep your day job?” (Which is a joke, but also true – I’ve always written comics late at night while working during the day on educational TV shows, Web sites, magazines, etc. for kids. Comics are fun, but with extremely rare exceptions, they ain’t gonna make you rich.) Other than that, I think they’re probably the same tips anyone would give: Write and write and write, because it’s the only way you’ll develop your skills. Read lots of different kinds of stuff, and analyze the things you like, so that you can figure out what makes them work effectively. And, if you want to write for one of the big companies, remember that the competition is steep and it’s extremely hard to get your foot in the door. No matter how good you are, it’s also a question of being in the right place at the right time; an editor can’t buy your stories unless they happen to arrive at a time when one of his/her comics has space available to publish it. Polite, gentle persistence is the way to go.

Thanks Sholly! What top news!!! Not only is Jumpa wearing a tiara, she'll also be thinking 'Merciful Minerva!' Make sure you order your copy of Superfriends 14 ASAP!