As far as the MLP Comics go, Andy Price is the artist who defined them. His art is instantly recognizable, extremely expressive, unbelievable detailed, and just screaming with artistic choices from the old school of comics.
Part of that might have to do with him creating all of his comic art by hand, but I like to think it's more of a personal choice of his to continue to make use of the tools that built the comic industry.
Anyways, Andy was kind enough to take a few during the convention—while he was working his booth and sketching away—to conduct an interview with Equestria Daily. You'll find it after the break!
Andy I'd like to thank you for agreeing to this interview with Equestria Daily here at BABSCon.
Andy Price: You're very welcome, thank you.
It looks during the month of May, you won't be spending a weekend at home. What are your feelings about all that travel?
AP: Well to be honest, I overbooked and didn't realize that I had. I rarely try to do so many conventions during a month but it's also good for me to get up and get out of the house. It'll be nice to meet fans.
Awesome, which of course leads to the next question. When you're on travel, how do you get work done?
AP: I don't. *laughs* I often will bring work with me. It also means really cracking down when I am at home and concentrating on the work. It's not the easiest thing to do, so there are some conventions that I have to pass up or that I have to cancel due to deadlines. Unfortunately some of them just fall at the wrong time and it's hard to know what's going to matter or what's going to be more prevalent when the time of the convention comes around: the deadline or the show. So I just do what I can.
Okay so you're a very hard working professional and inspiration to everyone.
AP: Delinquents everywhere. *laughs*
Speaking of little delinquents, last week the cover that you did for Betty & Veronica number one was revealed by Archie comics. How did that variant cover end up coming about? I'm going to walk around a little.
AP: It was kind of a favor for some people. I've always wanted to work with Archie, it's always been on my bucket list. I talked with Archie and I know some of the people that were involved in some of the project that they have coming up. They asked me if I would like to be involved and I said yes. I was very exciting to be part of Archie Comics especially in something new. Very exciting!
As clearly evidenced by the fact that Betty and Veronica were both armed with very deadly weapons.
AP: Yes.
I'm convinced those weapons are saved for Reggie Mantle.
AP: Well they're taking a new approach with Betty and Veronica. They're actually doing a more progressive story line. So the theme was kind of “Betty versus Veronica.”
Hmm.
AP: While that's not the title of the book, it's kind of the theme of what's going on.
Interesting.
AP: I can't say really anything else other than that.
Well, looking forward to the book when it comes out.
AP: Yes, me too.
Rainbow Dash's Very Bad Day released last week to a very positive critical and fan response. What are your thoughts on that being so well received?
AP: I was ecstatic because the whole project was very much a labor of love, both for myself and Katie Cook. It was very, very hectic getting that art done; very different schedule, not a normal comic book. I mean everything was either hand painted or done with markers or done with acrylics or done with art colors; some of them are cut out paper. It was very, very old school traditional approach. There was no digital work whatsoever within that book aside the lettering. It was a really exciting project to do and I was very, very happy with the positive response that we got.
Would you consider doing another comic like that in the future?
AP: Sure, if time allowed. Like I said it is a very labor involved project, but if time allowed I would love to.
Next month we get to take a look inside Pinkie's head while she creates her own comic. What can you tease us with about that particular issue?
AP: I can tell you that there are some also some non-traditional pieces in there, little bits and pieces, not to the extent of issue forty-one but there are some extremely eclectic moments, some very unusual things going on. It is not a traditional comic book by any stretch of the imagination.
Well it's Pinkie Pie writing a comic book, I would expect it to be.
AP: Right. It stars Pinkie and Rarity and it's the two of them putting a book together basically with Pinkie in charge of everything. So craziness ensues.
Sounds like a real winner right there. That issue is also going to be Katie Cook's last comic on the series for at least for a little while. She's been your constant partner on these books for the past four years; what are your thoughts about not working with her on the book anymore?
AP: She's not permanently gone as a lot of people believe, so it's just a matter of when she's ready to come back. She's got other projects that she's working on right now. I have other pony plans for the books, so I don't really have a lot to say about that. That's on her end.
Hopefully your paths will across again soon in comic books.
AP: We have a project together that we are working on that is not pony related.
Ooh!
AP: We've been working on for a little while and it's time for us to get it stirred up and going. That's where her efforts are really focused right now, along with some other projects she's got going on.
Nice.You're a veteran of various comic conventions and Brony conventions. What are some of the key differences you observe between these two different types of cons?
AP: Well the pony shows are very concentrated in one specific genre so you really don't have the criss-cross of various fans. For me, it's a lot busier. People come looking specifically for pony artwork, so people know to come looking for me.
Other shows like New York or Chicago, it's a much wider fan base. So you're answering to pony fans, you're answering to Batman fans, you're answering to Spider-Man fans; much more eclectic tastes. This show is a little bit more personal, you can be a little more one on one with people here, and you get to talk with them a little bit more. That's a lot nicer and a little better than the bigger busier shows. It's a little bit more relaxed, but they both have their ups and downs.
Alright, that sounds good. What is your favorite movie moment from going to these various conventions?
AP: My favorite moment is meeting the kids. To have parents come up to your table with their children and their children are carrying this beat up, taped together, stapled together edition of your comic book and they love it: that's incredibly flattering. It's incredibly humbling to see a kid come up and love your artwork. It's great for me because I know that I've sparked a new comic fan! We've got the next generation coming to comics! That's very important, and when you hear parents say she's learning to read on your comics, that's incredible flattery. It's very humbling to know that something you did is reaching out to somebody in such a manner rather than somebody who reads your book and throws it aside. It's very nice to know that somebody out there appreciates what you do.
I can only imagine how that feels. Is there anything else you want to talk about?
AP: The new X-Files were good. Unfortunately if I'm not chained to my art table, I'm cleaning the house and taking care of cats. I don't know what the hell is going in the world. Something about the Clinton's. I don't know, Bill's done something, I don't know. *laughs*
Yes, I believe that was about twenty years ago. Thank you for your time Andy, it was a true pleasure.
AP: Alright, thank you very much.
That's it for me folks. Be sure to check in with ABagOfVicodin tomorrow and his BABSCon interview with Josh Haber!
Twitter: The Illustrious Q
