Welcome to “Fangirl Rampage” number fourteen. Today I’m talking with Melody Glass, the creator of the comic, Earthgirl. I met Melody on MySpace quite a while ago, and we started chatting about comics and our love of all things geek related. It didn’t take me long to realize that I absolutely had to interview her for my column.

Name: Melody Glass
Age: old enough to know better, but young enough to still do it anyway.

Location: Dallas, TX
Local comic store: Zeus Comics

Thanks for taking the time to be part of my column, Melody. Would you mind starting out by telling us a little bit about yourself?

I’m just your regular sci-fi loving, super-intelligent goofball. I’ve been known to be a free-spirit, a flower child, an artiste, a word weaver, a muse, a philanthropist, an energetic ball of fire, a mentor, a peacemaker, a rabble-rouser, an instigator, an entrepreneur, a trusted friend, an intense lover, a joker, and a bitch (you know, somewhere, someone is sick of my s**t ). I’m all that and more. I love life. Every moment of every day is precious. I am very blessed.

What’s your favorite TV show?

Currently it’s Lost. The writing is what holds my attention.

Do you have any speculations on the next season of Lost?

Well, now that they don’t have to push the buttons down in the hatch, it will free up more time for golf. But, seriously, there is going to be some major shake-ups with the storyline considering all the deaths, captured lead characters, and electromagnetism (did they crash another plane again?). At least the question of “Are the characters in Purgatory?” was answered with the Polar Research outpost discovering the electromagnetic disruption. Yay! Also of interest, will Him be Widmore? And I think we’ll see finally Jack and Kate hook up. Did you see the look they shared before the hoods went on? Tasty!

That was a great look between Jack and Kate. =) What are your favorite movies?

I also write screenplays, so pinning down favorite movies can sometimes be overwhelming; the category is vast. Recent favorites include Primer, Ridicule, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, 40 Year Old Virgin, Pirates of the Caribbean, and A History of Violence. Old favorites are The Quiet Man, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Matrix, Fight Club, The Shawshank Redemption, Labyrinth, The Princess Bride, Young Frankenstein, and Caddyshack.

What would you say your favorite books are?

Six books within arms reach are Bach’s Illusions, Annie Rices Beauty novels, Choose Your Own Adventure: The Cave of Time, Ellison/s The Invisible Man. (This doesn’t do my favorites list justice, but gives you a clue into my psyche.)

And how about your favorite Web site?

I’m such a MySpace whore—yikes.

Check out Melody’s Myspace blog to learn more about Earthgirl and all her crazy adventures. It’s filled with great stories and pretty pictures.

Name five things you couldn’t live without.

1. love
2. sex
3. food
4. clothing
5. shelter

What is your dream career?

WRITING and getting paid for it.

What steps are you taking to make that a reality?

In January, I started scripting out the adventures of Earthgirl and Atomic Adonis via a MySpace blog that I update weekly. It seemed logical to me to create a fictional character who uses MySpace to tell her story. Hell, it was MySpace that helped her get into her crazy adventure anyway.

Now, Earthgirl is going pulp, baby! Issue #1 will be out in May 2006. (and yes, I’m taking orders at elytracomics@yahoo.com). Adam Talley of Pleasant Hymns is illustrating. The comic book issue is in the here and now, whereas the blogs are back story. Like I said, I have the greatest friends.

Could you tell us more about Earthgirl?

Shes a modern-day Barbarella meets Lost in Space—at least that’s the tagline a fan suggested. I love it. The story is a combination of sci-fi, sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll, sophistication, and spirituality. You know, girl meets boy, they fall in love, boy is from another planet, boy abducts girl, girl lands in an alien harem, and girl is pissed.

Stuck in the Nyebo Star System, Earthgirl is on a quest for rare stalpik that will buy her way on an intergalactic cruise ship home. She’s got Maleovians and bounty hunters on her tail thanks to her boyfriend, Atomic Adonis. Luckily, she’s got her brilliant cat, Cynister Kitty, with her. Although something happened in the transport from Earth, because her cat can now talk and wants to rule the galaxy . . . talk about high strung. The story is intended for mature audiences.

What do you most enjoy about working on a comic?

I think, for me, one of the most exciting things that has come from creating a comic in this way is the interaction with the fans. Not only do I have the most wonderful of friends, but many are other creators in the industry. It really is a great way to network. My fabulous CGI creator, Raul Reyes, loved my story and began collaborating with me on conceptualizing the characters. This is also how I met my illustrator for the comic, Adam Talley.

Tell us a silly story that helps give us an insight into who you are.

I’ve been writing stories since I was eight. They’d invariably be of the fairy-tale/action/superheroine/comedy genre—go figure. Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman was my hero. You should have seen me sport my Wonder Woman Underoos at the time; I used to wear them like real clothes to the grocery store. My mom was so embarrassed; she made me at least wear a skirt over the panties. Though, I would spin around and flash the surrounding customers. I wonder if I could still get away with that today? By the way, I still have my original Wonder Woman Barbie doll.

What comics do you read?

Mostly indie stuff. I dig noir, horror, sci-fi, action, and fantasy stuff, especially those with an erotic edge.

If you could have any superpower, which would you pick and why?

I don’t know if it’s a superpower but I think its pretty cool: I’d see things others couldn’t, kind of a mystic-Buddhist-semi-trance state that reveals the true nature of things. It’s discovering how to use it appropriately that would be the trick.

What are your favorite comic series that are running?

Hellblazer and Strangers in Paradise

What is your favorite comic that is currently running?

I’m giving props to my friend, Drew Melbourne’s new series, Archenemies. Roommates that want to kill each other, which are also superhero archenemies that want to kill each other. The fun is endless. Ha!

If you could recommend any series to someone who doesn’t generally read comics, which one would you suggest?

Anything they can relate to or that interests them. There really is something out there for everyone’s tastes. Say you like monkeys, so Google monkey comics and Viola! Your result is Space Monkey Comics—quite funny, too.

What is your favorite team book?

Uncanny X-Men, baby! I will forever be indebted to mutant superheroes.

Which Uncanny X-Men story arc has been your favorite?

The entire arc of Jean Grey has been one of my all-time favorites. Who else would sacrifice her life to save the lives of her friends on a doomed shuttle returning to Earth during a solar storm (Uncanny X-Men #101)? Her continuing story was amazing as Phoenix, then into Dark Phoenix (“The Dark Phoenix Saga”), and then committing suicide to save others from herself. And then she’s back again and again and again. Come on—the creative team had balls. She is the epitome of self-sacrifice and rebirth. Dig?

Who is your favorite female comic character?

My Earthgirl of the adventures of Earthgirl and Atomic Adonis.

Why is she your favorite?

She embodies the balance of feminine sexuality and strength that I’ve always admired. She’s sarcastic and sexy.

How about your favorite male comic character?

John Constantine of Hellblazer.

What makes him your favorite?

Any guy that can stare down the devil and God and blackmail them both has my vote. He also has a knack for making acerbic remarks at the most inappropriate moments. I love a guy with wit!

Who’s your favorite artist?

Salvador Dali. His surrealism will always move me.

What’s your favorite piece by Dali?

The Fashion Designer

How about your favorite writer?

Do I have to only pick one?? That is so hard. I’m going to go with my friend, Terry Rossio. That guy can write scripts that will blow your mind—his action sequences alone are brilliant (Shrek; Pirates 1, 2, and 3; Déjà Vu; et.al.). If he ever starts writing comics, I’ll be his first fan.

How did you first get into comics?

Funny, it wasn’t until my brother got into reading Uncanny X-Men back in the ’80s that comics really started appealing to my inner creative soul. I was hooked. That series was a great introduction to the world of comics, at least for me. People ask, “What appeals to girls?” It’s girls in/with power (this is a very “broad” category), and you must have one hell of a story.

What conventions do you attend if any?

Dallas Comic Con, Wizard World, and San Diego Comic-Con. San Diego is by far the best. If you can go to only one con, go to this one.

With San Diego fast approaching [this interview was conducted prior to Comic-Con 2006], what are you most looking forward to about the convention?

Wearing my Earthgirl costume (yes, you can find me on the convention floor walking around whoring my comic book). I’m so excited to meet new friends, renew old acquaintances, load up on sketches, and take home free booty! Woo-hoo!

Do you have any interesting convention stories that you’d like to share with us?

Being interviewed at SDCC by Kevin Pereira of G4 and being told “You’re smoking hot!” while I was dressed as a beetle. ;)

What is it about comics that you enjoy?

I enjoy losing myself in the story.

What has been the most memorable moment in comics for you?

Realizing that my stories connect on some level with others. The feedback/comments on my blogs make me feel like I am home.

What are your thoughts on the way females are portrayed in comics?

I’m glad there is such diversity. I’m always appreciative when a female character is real and fully developed with a natural, multifaceted persona readily apparent. Here’s a little kernel of knowledge I’ll share for writing great female characters: Even in the most subservient of positions, a woman can dominate.

And finally, have you noticed any challenges being a female in an industry dominated by male fans and professionals?

Yes and no. It is a double-edged sword to be female in the industry. It can gain you access, but you can find yourself not being taken seriously if you are not professional about your business. Always have a plan.

Thank you so much for being a part of the column, Melody. I can’t wait to read more of Earthgirl’s adventures! It’s going to be awesome to finally get the chance to meet you in San Diego. Be sure to send Melody an e-mail and order her comic at elytracomics@yahoo.com. See everyone in two weeks. =)

(All of the artwork in “Fangirl Rampage” is done by Chris Moreno , the artist for Dracula vs. King Arthur, Super Frat, Sidekick, andMonkey in a Wagon vs. Lemur on a Big Wheel. If you’re a female fan and you’d like to be interviewed for “Fangirl Rampage,” please feel free to send me a message here on PopCultureShock, or e-mail me at sareara at yahoo dot com.)

Welcome to lucky number thirteen of “Fangirl Rampage.” Today I’m going to be interviewing Melanie Barnes, a dear friend of mine who is one of the most interesting and fun women I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. Mel’s been in my life for about four years now and I was thrilled when I found out that she’s an avid comic book fangirl. I’ve been looking forward to interviewing her and delving deeper into her particular interests as far as comics go.

Name: Melanie Barnes
Age: 30
Location: Lancaster, PA
Local comic store: The Comic Store Lancaster

Thanks for chatting with us today, Melanie. I’d like you to start off by telling us a little about yourself.

I’m a daydreamer. You could say I don’t have my feet firmly planted in reality. I’m a diva. I’m a dancer. I write really bad poetry. I read way too much. I participate in roller derby for the Dutchland Rollers. My visual and sensory tastes lie in a Bohemian style. I love unique, creative people.

Would you tell us more about the Dutchland Rollers and what it’s like to be a derby girl?

Dutchland Rollers is the new flat track roller derby league in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It is so much fun. The girls are great and offer so much support to each other and the community. We do work for charity. I can’t wait until we start to take on other teams. It certainly is a workout and improves your agility. My derby name is Gypsy Witch #XO.

Readers, be sure to stop by and check out the Dutchland Rollers Web site and show your support. Melanie, what are your favorite television programs?

12 oz. Mouse, Perfect Hair Forever, The Winx Club, The OC, Gilmore Girls, Dharma and Greg, The Munsters, Bewitched, The Addams Family, and shows about ancient history and science.

Which ancient civilization is your favorite?

I know it sounds cliché, but I love Egypt.

What is is about Egypt that you love so much?

There is such a mystery around that culture. It almost seems like they started at their peak and have been working backwards since. They were advanced in so many of the arts and sciences. But even more fascinating than their history sometimes is the speculation of the history. I’ve heard some pretty incredible theories. I find every time I research this topic I turn up something new and exciting. I could write a book on this, so I’m going to stop here and you’ll have to wait for it to be published to find out more.

How about your favorite movies?

The Giant Gila Monster, Dream a Little Dream, Romeo and Juliet.

What are your favorite books?

Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Adventure’s in the Imagination of Periphery Stowe by Joshua Wagner, Focault’s Pendulum by Umberto Ecco, The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, and anything by Laren Stover.

What character from Alice in Wonderland do you most identify with and why?

The Cheshire Cat. It fully knows and acknowledges the madness all around it and it chooses when to join in and when to sit on the side and just smile at it all.

Which Web sites are your favorites?

MySpace
eBay
Wikipedia

Name five things your couldn’t live without.

1. computers
2. my dog, Sachi Valdez
3. coffee
4. black eyeliner
5. Lauren Perry

Awww . . . love ya, girl. So what would you say is your dream career?

My dream career is to be either a socialite or a housewife.

What steps are you taking to make that dream a reality?

I haven’t figured out a game plan yet, but I’m pretty sure I’ll need to win the lottery to obtain it. I love to be domestic—cooking, cleaning, doing anything inside the home. But I would not at all be opposed to having a maid and a chef. Then I could spend more time reading. But for now I guess I have to get up every morning and go to work.

Tell us a silly story that helps give us insight to who you are.

Well, it’s silly but it’s not really an insight—more like a turning point in my life. One time, I went out to a bar in Philadelphia called La Tazza to see some bands play. A friend of mine hosted a night there once a month, so I always went to support him and he always had some great bands. I went to the downstairs bar and a band called The Lonesome Kings were playing. I thought they were really good, but mostly I couldn’t help thinking that the guitar player was hot and also an amazing musician. After the evening was over, everyone was out walking to their cars. I saw the guitar player across the street and blew him a kiss. The next night I saw him again at a bar in New Jersey called The Loop Lounge. We spoke for a while. Well, a friendship progressed from there and we are still together after four years. He now plays for The Butchers. If I never blew that kiss, who knows where I would be!

That must have been one hell of an air kiss! =) Now on to all the fun comic book questions. Which comics do you read?

Fables, Dracula vs. King Arthur, Vampirella, Razor, Tank Girl, Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Dead World, The Devil’s Panties, and Emily the Strange to list a few.

If you could have any superpower, which would you pick and why?

Teleportation. I love to travel—to be in different surroundings, see far flung friends. But I’m impatient. I want to get to having fun as soon as possible.

What is your favorite comic/series that is currently running?

Fables. I love fairy tales and it’s interesting to see the story lines in this series develop. I’m currently collecting old books of fairy tales from around the world.

Tell us about your favorite fairy tale.

“Jorinda and Joringel” from Grimms Fairy Tales.

This is a wonderful fairy tale. It features a boy and a girl (Jorinda and Joringel) who are in love and get lost while they are out walking in the forest. They come upon an old castle that is under a spell placed by the witch who lives inside. She turns all the girls that come near her castle into exotic birds and keeps them in cages in her castle. She captures Jorinda but Joringel escapes. He dreams of a red flower with a pearl in the center. He searches out the red flower and after nine days he finds a flower with a drop of dew that resembles a pearl. This flower has the power to remove all of the witch’s spells. He releases all the birds with the flower and they turn back into girls. He is reunited with Jorinda and as they are fleeing the castle, he touches the witch with the flower. It took all her magic away and she can no longer cast any spells to harm anyone again.

If you could recommend any series to someone who doesn’t generally read comics, which one would you suggest?

This is a hard question. I think to properly do this you would need to know where the person’s interests lie. I believe there is a comic out there for everyone. It’s like the prince finding the princess who fits the shoe best.

What is your favorite team book?

I don’t really go for teams.

Who is your favorite female comic character?

It used to be Razor. I loved that she had no superpowers. She was just a badass on a mission. Then they killed her and brought her back with powers. Thumbs down! Now I’m more into Emily the Strange. I feel like I can understand where it is coming from. I wasn’t a normal little girl either.

Do you have any interesting Emily the Strange merchandise?

I have a few things and I love them all. My favorite is my Emily lighter. It looks like a Zippo and it says “Don’t Bother Meow” on it. Because Emily is such a trouble maker it feels appropriate that I can set something on fire with her by my side. (Kids, don’t try this at home!)

So, who would you say is your favorite male comic character?

Happy Noodle Boy.

What makes him your favorite?

I am a HUGE fan of complete nonsense. People take the world way to seriously most of the time.

Who’s your favorite artist?

Chris Moreno is my favorite artist. That guy can do ANYTHING. He is truly amazing. I cannot wait for the next Monkey vs. Lemur.

Well he certainly appreciates your support. The next issue of Monkey vs. Lemur should be in the stores soon, so spread the word! =) How about your favorite writer?

I don’t really have a favorite comic writer. I love seeing what people can create. Imagination rocks my world. But if we are talking about just writers in general, I love Josh Wagner’s style in The Adventures of the Imagination of Periphery Stowe.

What is The Adventures of the Imagination of Periphery Stowe about?

This book is about a boy named Riggs Bombay who is not afraid of one single thing. He goes on an adventure with his hallucinations and makes new friends. The mission is to save Periphery Stowe from his endless sleep. I can’t tell you anymore because EVERYONE should read this book. It’s a wild story. The writing forces you to picture everything in your mind.

Be sure to keep an eye out for more of Josh’s work. His first comic project, Fiction Clemens, is scheduled to be released July 2007.

Where does your interest in comics stem from?

When I was in elementary school, every Tuesday my grandpa would take me to the local convenience store and buy me a cherry Icee and a comic book. I usually picked up things like Betty & Veronica and Casper. I was an only child and spent a lot of time alone. Reading and using my imagination were my favorite pastimes. The trips to the store with my grandpa are one of my favorite childhood memories.

What conventions do you attend?

I haven’t been to any comic conventions yet, but I am planning to go to San Diego Comic-Con this year. Generally I attend music festivals. I love Heavy Rebel Weekender in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I’m not going to make it this year for the first time since it was started. The first year I went as a fan; the next two years I was in a band called The Pits that played the event. I also worked on and acted in a haunted house there for two years by Dixie 666. My other favorite music festival is The Drive Invasion. Nothing beats camping in a parking lot with no shade in the Atlanta heat to relax!

What are you most looking forward to about your first San Diego Comic-Con experience?

It’s so big! I’m sure it will be a sensory overload. I love exciting chaos. I’m looking forward to having a great time and meeting lots of new people.

What has been the most memorable moment in comics for you?

Honestly, opening the cover on a newly purchased book. You never know what you will find in-between the pages.

Are there any particular story lines or moments from one of your favorite comics that stands out in your mind?

I really enjoy the Grendel comics. I like how Grendel comes back as different people with different lives. Each adds something unique to the legend. My favorite will always be the Hunter Rose Grendel, though I do have a cat named Zora, after the series.

What is it about comics you enjoy?

I love that comics can go anywhere. They can be very serious with rich stories or they can be completely ludicrous. Anything can happen. And you get to see it through amazing artwork. Full color or black and white, you get so many choices of stories and designs.

What are your thoughts on the way females are portrayed in comics?

This is a hard question for me to answer. I don’t consider myself a feminist. I look at comics as art, pure and simple. Art is meant to be enjoyed in all its forms. Art should make you think. If someone finds offense with a particular depiction of women, they do not have to purchase that book. We are given the free choice to both create as we choose, or to not purchase what we do not find appealing.

And finally, have you noticed any challenges being a female in an industry dominated by male fans and professionals?

I can’t really say that I have. I’m also not deeply involved on a professional level. I have noticed at some comic stores you have to “prove” that you know something to get a better level of service. It’s a shame, because those stores have lost me as a customer.

Any final thoughts?

Thank you for taking the time to dig through the sand trap that is my mind. Congratulations on your column and I wish you and all your readers the best life has to offer.

Thank you for being a part of the column, Melanie. It was certainly fun traipsing through the sand and finding out more about the comics you enjoy. I’ll be back in two weeks with the next installment of “Fangirl Rampage,” so be sure to stop by. =)

(All of the artwork in “Fangirl Rampage” is done by Chris Moreno , the artist for Dracula vs. King Arthur, Super Frat, Sidekick, andMonkey in a Wagon vs. Lemur on a Big Wheel. If you’re a female fan and you’d like to be interviewed for “Fangirl Rampage,” please feel free to send me a message here on PopCultureShock, or e-mail me at sareara at yahoo dot com.)