Some eagle eyed readers of the MLP Comics published by IDW might have noticed that there is a new name added to the list of credits. For the first time in the history of the MLP Comics, there is now an Assistant Editor working on the book. And Equestria Daily was honored to have the opportunity to sit down and interview Megan Brown!
You’ll be able to find the full interview with her after the break. It’s a little eye opening to find out what an Assistant Editor does for a comic book. But you don’t have to talk my word for it.
The Illustrious Q: Thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed by Equestria Daily. I know IDW keeps their editors busy, so it means a lot that you're taking time out of your schedule to sit down with us. A tradition I have with these interviews is to start off with a very specific question. So to start things off, who is your favorite My Little Pony character?
Megan Brown: Hi Q—first off, thanks so much for reaching out! I’m so excited to chat about My Little Pony!
MB: As for who my favorite Pony character is—I think you started out with the hardest question! I’d have to say that I’m really fond of Capper, because I enjoy characters with a heart of gold; I also really love Zephyr Breeze, because he’s such a great example of overcoming your fears.
TIQ: When I interviewed Bobby, he had mentioned that he was first an intern at IDW before he was hired on full time. Can you tell us a little bit about how you came to work at IDW?
MB: I came on to IDW as a full-time employee—I had been actively seeking jobs in a more creative field, and I was so excited when the Editorial Assistant position opened up! Prior to that I had studied English in college, so getting to read and edit stories was—and is—an amazing opportunity.
TIQ: When was the first time you encountered My Little Pony?
MB: My earliest encounter with My Little Pony had to have been in the mid-nineties—I remember owning a cassette tape with a Pony adventure on it. I also had one of the original toys! She was orange, so she must’ve been Applejack...
TIQ: Were you aware of the Brony fandom before you started working for IDW Publishing?
MB: I was, yes!
TIQ: How aware of the My Little Pony comics series were you prior to being hired by IDW Publishing?
MB: Before I started working at IDW my comic-scope was pretty narrow, so I tended to read the same two or three titles revolving around my favorite characters. But I’m also a huge fan of all-ages work, so to come to IDW and be able to jump in to the Pony stories—which are so fun!—was a huge thrill.
TIQ: I know from previous interviews that a comic editor is a project manager for a comic company. It is their job to make sure that each and every single comic which is their responsibility is published on time every single month. They oversee the entire book from the initial idea pitch from a writer to sending off a final print ready PDF to the printer. What isn't quite as well-known, and varies from comic book company to comic book company, is what an assistant editor does for the comic book. So, Megan, could you tell us a little bit about what you do as an assistant editor for the My Little Pony comics?
MB: I’d love to! So, it’s often an assistant editor’s job to move pages between the artist and the colorist on a book, and to balloon those pages once they come in. When I balloon, I get to place the dialogue where I think it best fits on the page, which can be a lot of fun! I also format and copy edit scripts.
TIQ: The first credited appearance you have on the MLP comics is with Friendship is Magic #70. Can you tell us a little bit about your experience on working on the "Extreme Bingo" comic?
MB: It was quite a blur! A lot of “Extreme Bingo” was done in my first or second week at the company, so I was still quite new and learning my way around. It was the issue where I really began to learn a lot of the ropes and the general process of making a comic book. Needless to say, it was very surreal seeing my name in the credits!
TIQ: In that same month you were also credited as the assistant editor for Ponyville Mysteries #5. This was the final wrap up issue for this 5 issue mini-series. So what can you tell us about working on the final issue of a comic series that you have found is different from working on an ongoing comic series?
MB: I would say the biggest difference comes at the story level—by the end of a five-issue mini you want to make sure all the loose plot threads are wrapped up, so that when someone sits down to read the issues in order they can have a complete and fulfilling experience. With the ongoing comic titles, it’s a little bit different—you’re dealing with plots that are a bit less intricate, and easier to open and close in twenty pages. It’s definitely fun to work on both!
TIQ: My Little Pony: Nightmare Knights is the first MLP comic series you have been working on from the series conception to the series conclusion, with issue 5 scheduled to be published in February. What were some of the key takeaways you found that have been different from working on either an ongoing series comic issue or the final issue of a comic series?
MB: “Nightmare Knights” was a great experience, because it expanded on a previously unseen part of the Pony universe, using characters we don’t often get to follow! I think that’s one of the key takeaways from a mini-series—you aren’t necessarily tied to any preconceived notions, so you can go in a lot of different directions and utilize a lot of different personalities. In NMK, we got to experience a heist with a cast of redeemed villains—could anything be more fun?!
TIQ: In February, the 75th issue of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic will be released. This will be the fourth milestone issue for the My Little Pony comics, but the first one you've worked on. What have been some of the differences you have found in your work for this issue that have been different from the other MLP comics you have worked on?
MB: I think the preparation for milestone issues is a bit different—looking back to creative talent who helped establish the series, things like that. Here, it was a no-brainer to bring back the amazing powerhouse team of Katie Cook and Andy Price—and let me tell you, readers are in for a treat!
TIQ: What are some of the other titles you have been working on for IDW Publishing and what have been some of the differences you have found with working on those books that aren't present when working on MLP?
MB: Some of the other titles I’ve been working on for IDW Publishing have been Jem and the Holograms, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Avengers—in addition to helping with some of our other imprints, like BLACK CROWN. So, in all, quite a wide variety!
I think the biggest difference between them would be how the stories themselves are told—TMNT and Avengers have ongoing stories that span multiple issues, which is not always how My Little Pony works, so you often have to change up the way you’re thinking about and approaching plots.
TIQ: Is there anything else you would like to talk to the readers of Equestria Daily about?
MB: I just want to say… thank you for continuing to support My Little Pony!
The Illustrious Q
