By Noam Steinerman
Scott Hoffman is new on the comics scene with his debut Nostalgia and Wag Comixology Originals. A author, composer, and performer, Hoffman is an award-winning musician who goes by the stage identify Babydaddy and is a part of the glam rock band Scissor Sisters.
This interview has been edited for readability.
Noam Steinerman: Scott, it’s nice to have you ever. Let’s dive into your newest ComiXology series, Wag. Issue #4 left us on a cliffhanger, and seeing the story unfold is thrilling.
Scott Hoffman: Thanks for having me. It’s been a journey, and I’m thrilled to focus on it.
Steinerman: Absolutely. I revisited difficulty #4 earlier than our dialog, and it received me serious about the numerous influences on your work, particularly in animation.
Hoffman: For certain, animation has performed a major position in shaping my method to storytelling.
Steinerman: How do you see these influences coming by way of in Wag?
Hoffman: Well, it’s all about capturing that dynamic and thrilling motion you typically discover in animation. I goal to convey that power to the panels.
Steinerman: You revealed Wag at San Diego Comic-Con this previous summer season on the “Music and Comics Collide” panel. How was the comic-con expertise?
Hoffman: It’s been a blast. I’ve loved interacting with the group and sharing insights about my work. I noticed you interviewed Jock at New York Comic-Con. Jock is unbelievable. I’ve been tempted to collaborate with him, however you need to method these items thoughtfully, particularly with an artist of his caliber. Right now, I’m targeted on constructing my presence in the comics world.
Steinerman: Absolutely. It’s a journey. On that word, let’s speak about your transition from music to comics. How does the artistic course of differ for you?
Hoffman: It’s a shift. In music, you get fast reactions from stay audiences, however in comics, it’s extra about releasing the work and hoping readers join with it over time. I’ve at all times loved that non-public connection, whether or not by way of music or comics.
Steinerman: What comics influenced you rising up
Hoffman: I had a comics drawer and learn every kind. I at all times picked up Batman single arcs right here and there. I found a love for sci-fi and horror in comics, particularly with Alan Moore and Vertigo titles. Preacher was pivotal, exhibiting me comics might be loopy, violent, and considerate. It felt like grownup storytelling.
Comics had been certainly one of many issues I’d fall into and get obsessive about. That’s why typically I say I don’t know if I’m the typical comics fan as a result of I wasn’t obsessive about a specific story. I simply cherished selecting up a whole graphic novel and studying it. The weirder, the higher.
Steinerman: What made you notice comics had been greater than superheroes?
Hoffman: Preacher, positively. It was loopy, violent, considerate, and felt prefer it wasn’t for youths. The non secular themes had been on the edge, and it felt like I used to be studying one thing I shouldn’t be.
Steinerman: In Wag, you sort out actual fears, like the worry of shedding entry to important treatment. What impressed that?
Hoffman: The pandemic made me confront actual fears. The thought of the total system breaking down and not having entry to requirements was a real worry. Stories assist us confront situations in our heads and put together for them.
Steinerman: How does storytelling in music differ from comics?
Hoffman: In music, you have got restricted time to convey a sense. Songs are about temper and emotion. Writing long-term tales is like making an album. Engaging individuals for an prolonged interval is a problem. Music permits extra summary considering. There’s extra freedom; you don’t want to have interaction for so long as you do with written tales. Stories, even in webcomics, require a dedication to maintain readers .
Nostalgia #1-5 and Wag #1-4 can be found to learn on ComiXology. Wag difficulty #5 will probably be out there on January 9, 2024.
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