TALKING SUPERGIRL WITH AMANDA CONNER

**MattBrady** · 12-12-2006, 04:47 PM

Last week saw the return to the stands of an artist whose stops in mainstream comics have become somewhat less frequent than they used to be, but nonetheless, a welcome change in style. Yeah – we’re talking about Amanda Conner and Supergirl #12, henceforth known as the “fun” issue.

For Conner, the issue marked her return after last year’s opening arc of JSA Classified starring Power Girl, which served to lay part of the foundation upon which Infinite Crisis was built. While Supergirl didn’t have as serious overtones as the Power Girl one did, the issue also served a larger purpose, that being an introduction of the new Terra, who will star in her own six issue miniseries in early 2007, written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, with Conner on pencils.

We caught up with Amanda to talk some more about what she’s been up to.

Newsarama: Last week’s Supergirl #12 was your most recent comics work, and before that, it was JSA Classified…

Amanda Conner: Yeah – aside form some smaller stuff here and there, the Power Girl story in JSA Classified was my last full-blown comic series work. Since then, I’ve been doing little things here and there – some little illustrations for tv…

NRAMA: Like what?

AC: I think it’s supposed to come out this Friday for the show Cover Shot on TLC. It was where they take a regular girl and make her a supermodel for a day. They wanted to do a superhero-themed photograph of her, because her husband is a big comic book fan. I haven’t seen it yet, so I haven’t seen how big of a fool I may look like.

NRAMA: So they came in to your studio and filmed you drawing the image?

AC: Actually, I went into their studio, and I drew it there. Well, I drew a lot of it there, and then I brought it home, but they were filming me while I was working there.

NRAMA: How in the world did you get hooked up with them?

AC: They called me. I don’t know how they got my number. So I did that, and I’ve also been doing the “Ask Vinnie” column in Revolver Magazine. Hm – I’m trying to figure out what the hell else I’ve been doing to keep busy. I know there was other stuff, but I can’t put my finger on it right now. I got a little bunred out after the Power Girl story, so I went and did some other stuff – worked on my house, and things like that. So there was Power Girl, a break, and then small things here and there, and here we are.

Oh – I did some MAD Magazine work a while ago, too…and a letter column for Legion of Super-Heroes. And of course, a lot of sketches at cons.

NRAMA: In the midst of this, when did Supergirl come in?

AC: I had already started Terra, and I didn’t want to step on any editorial toes, but I think Eddie Berganza, Tom Palmer and Dan Didio had discussed it among themselves and asked if they could add an issue of Supergirl to my schedule while I was working on Terra, in essence, stop Terra, do the Supergirl issue, and then start Terra again. As long it was all harmonious between the editors, I was game, so it worked out.

And it’s Supergirl. Who doesn’t want to draw Supergirl?

And I got to draw Supergirl partying at a rave.

NRAMA: If anything, that scene has caught the most attention of your work of the entire issue. There were some readers here that were saying they were upset that the rave scene only lasted three pages…

AC: I was too! I wanted to do the whole book like that.

NRAMA: Supergirl’s Night Out Special is always beckoning… But back to what you did in the rave scene – obviously, you, Jimmy and Justin work closely, but how does that work? Do you get a plot? A script? Or does Jimmy just tell you over breakfast that there will be a three-page rave scene? And how much detail did it have?

AC: Oh, a lot of the detail was me – I love drawing all the crazy stuff like that. I didn’t think of Big Barda in there until jimmy said I needed to add a drag Power Girl into it. I already had the Power Girl in there, with more enormous boobs than what Power Girl has, so I had to figure out what other super heroine would work really well as a guy in drag. Barda came up pretty quick – a hairy, Big Barda with balloons for boobs. Yeah – that was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the rest of the book, but I really enjoyed the start of the issue with the party. I so wanted to do that for the entire book.

NRAMA: Well, that said even though there was a dinosaur monster to fight, this issue really played to your strengths in that there was enough room for the characters, especially Supergirl and Terra to emote and show expression.

AC: Yeah – and that’s the stuff I like doing the best. Fight scenes are always fun, but my favorite thing is making actual superheroes seem like they’re people who could actually live next door. That’s one of my favorite things to do – to make them seem very, very real.

There are times when they’re not hitting other people and monsters, and they have to be doing something. Trying to make those situations as interesting as the times when they come out fighting – that’s some of my favorite stuff to do in comics.

NRAMA: Speaking of the emotional portions of the story – the final four or so pages of the issue where it was just Supergirl and Boomerang talking. While not outlandish like the rave scene was, it was still…well, it wasn’t the punching and the hitting, and you had a lot to get across that wasn’t al going to come through with the words…

AC: Having her lying on the couch was the only way I could figure out to make it super-interesting. There was a lot of dialogue – a lot of “lying on the couch” dialogue. In the past, the idea was to just do camera shots from a lot of different angles, which I think works really well, but I wanted to do a similar thing to what I did in the Power Girl story when she was talking to Jimmy Olsen – keep the imaginary camera in one spot, and let the characters make it interesting with their faces and body language. Let the characters act, and see how interesting you can make a long conversation just by showing a lot of emotion in the characters. I really enjoy doing that – you get to stretch a little bit, and sometimes work harder, to approach the character from the point of, “How would I be feeling if I were going through that?”

NRAMA: With this issue of Supergirl done, are you back to Terra?

AC: Yeah – I’m working on it as we speak. I’m also wrapping up my last Revolver Magazine illustration, because Terra is going to be taking up so much of my time that I had to start ending side projects. I really did enjoy doing the “Ask Vinnie” stuff, and hope that I can help them find somebody to fill the spot. So I’m trying to think of anyone.

But yeah, Terra is the one big thing I’m working on now.

NRAMA: We talked about this back with your JSA Classified arc, but let’s hit it again – is a “monthly” – even say, eight to ten issues a year, something that you think you’ll be doing again on a regular series?

AC: Well, this is going to be six issues, and I’m looking forward to it. But I find that I have a hard time doing a book that’s not a miniseries. I tend to kind of lose focus after really long stretches, and get distracted, and that would result in the book slipping, and I don’t want that. So, in the end, it works out better if I do a job in a certain block of time, and then go on to another. I tried to do that with Vampirella, and a lot of times it came out late – that was pretty hard for me, that is, a constant, never-ending monthly book. I’s gots to know my limits [laughs]. But yeah, this is working out pretty well.

tralfaz · 12-12-2006, 04:53 PM

i liked the fact that Terra called Supergirl out on her attitude... the title isnt very good because the character isnt very good. the character is about 6 years behind the times in style and attitude. They need to get back to the core of Supergirl. She likes being the cousin of Superman, she's proud that she is. She isnt a slut or a whore, she's a good girl. You could be a good girl and still be sexy and hot. above all she loves being a hero, helping people. bring that Supergirl back, not this trampy skank we currently have

kingofcities · 12-12-2006, 04:53 PM

Amanda is amazing and keeps getting better with each project. This was a fun issue. Looking forward to Terra.

Charlie Hustle · 12-12-2006, 05:04 PM

she's a great artist but damn she's slow lol

Chuy · 12-12-2006, 05:20 PM

I loved the issue, and I love her art. Well the whole big dumb dinosaur bit was ... bad ... but Drag Barda and Supergirl being ... and Terra being ... and ... yeah, the art was beautiful. I'm sorry to hear she can't do a monthly book but I'd love to see her on more Mini's ... and I can't wait for Terra to come out ... I'm totally buying it.

Ultrasuperrealisticart all the time gets tired. Love her art. Now I have to pick up a copy of that Revolver mag.

MisterClock · 12-12-2006, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tralfaz

i liked the fact that Terra called Supergirl out on her attitude... the title isnt very good because the character isnt very good. the character is about 6 years behind the times in style and attitude. They need to get back to the core of Supergirl. She likes being the cousin of Superman, she's proud that she is. She isnt a slut or a whore, she's a good girl. You could be a good girl and still be sexy and hot. above all she loves being a hero, helping people. bring that Supergirl back, not this trampy skank we currently have

hey, I like this new attitude. After all, Supergirl is just a 16-year old girl, & from living with a pair of 16-year old sisters, you learn that girls that age need to discover who they are, even if they do things we grown-ups wouldn't approve of. Trashing a title because it doesn't match your narrow world view is sad.

Darthphere · 12-12-2006, 05:31 PM

Thats some great art, too bad its on Supergirl.

Spaz_Monkey · 12-12-2006, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterClock

living with a pair of 16-year old sisters

You poor, poor bastard....

tralfaz · 12-12-2006, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterClock

hey, I like this new attitude. After all, Supergirl is just a 16-year old girl, & from living with a pair of 16-year old sisters, you learn that girls that age need to discover who they are, even if they do things we grown-ups wouldn't approve of. Trashing a title because it doesn't match your narrow world view is sad.

im sorry but what? so i have a narrow view and im sad? this isnt Supergirl. i understand that 16 yr old girls may or may act like that, but the fact of the matter is that this isnt isnt the basic core of what Supergirl represents. I dont mind the raving and partying part of her, its the whole idea that she feels this overwhelming pressure that she thinks she cant live up to... thats crap. Supergirl is strong, sometimes acts without thinking, but at least she acts. this emo version just doesnt represent the character of Supergirl. even Terra knew who Supergirl was

khuxford · 12-12-2006, 05:38 PM

Amanda Connor with Jimmy & Justin on Supergirl would get me buying it. Let her do story arcs with breaks to recharge or something.

Shoot...give those three any characters to do mini-series on. Let them do a 4-6 issue mini on one character and then either switch to another character relatively soon after or let Amanda take a break and then (if financially viable) do the same character for a new mini.

If not for the whole "they are only on for one issue" and "this issue is largely used to intro someone" aspects of that Supergirl issue, I would have been all over it because there looked to be some fun elements and Amanda is an amazing artist.

Abstrakt · 12-12-2006, 05:48 PM

i love this characterization of supergirl, i had heard alot of bad things about the comic and i also foudn it boring before the one year later thing took place so i didnt bother with it but im a amanda conner fan so i checked it out...then checked out all the issues before it and i have to say i love it

honestly no 16 yr old girl would act in any way (in my opinion) like what tralfaz wants supergirl to act...just picture yourself going up to a random 16 year old girl and telling her she has to lkive up to the most powerful and respected super hero in the world, that she is now a symbol to all mankind...its alot of responsibility and its just completely unnatural for anyone to be able to live up to that S symbol at such a young age, not many superheroes if any in the DC universe could live up to the S in seriousness

anyways for DC to have the balls to do something like what they are doing is great and im def picking up supergirl from now on, whos taking over as the artist tho?

Impulse2k1 · 12-12-2006, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tralfaz

im sorry but what? so i have a narrow view and im sad? this isnt Supergirl. i understand that 16 yr old girls may or may act like that, but the fact of the matter is that this isnt isnt the basic core of what Supergirl represents. I dont mind the raving and partying part of her, its the whole idea that she feels this overwhelming pressure that she thinks she cant live up to... thats crap. Supergirl is strong, sometimes acts without thinking, but at least she acts. this emo version just doesnt represent the character of Supergirl. even Terra knew who Supergirl was

Kinda reminds you of the flash dont it

Cully Hamner · 12-12-2006, 05:51 PM

Who's better than Amanda Connor? Nobody I can name...

tralfaz · 12-12-2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abstrakt

honestly no 16 yr old girl would act in any way (in my opinion) like what tralfaz wants supergirl to act...its alot of responsibility and its just completely unnatural for anyone to be able to live up to that S symbol at such a young age, not many superheroes if any in the DC universe could live up to the S in seriousness

acting like what? a girl proud to be the cousin of Superman? A girl that likes being a hero? A girl that likes to help people? funny, she seems to be ok in Legion of Super-Heroes (dispite the fact she thinks shes in a dream world) The character didnt seem to have a problem before, the animated version didnt seem to have any problem.
I understand doubting one self, i get that, but the character shouldnt be engrossed by her doubt as much as she does.
this isnt Supergirl, this is a poorly conceived characterization of Supergirl and I hope they fix it.

tralfaz · 12-12-2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Impulse2k1

Kinda reminds you of the flash dont it

please, dont remind me of that crap theyre still trying to pull with the Flash.

Andrew.T · 12-12-2006, 06:01 PM

Amanda's art is such a treasure, a real feast for the eyes.

But I'm passing on Terra and I'll just wait for Amanda's next series.

PS. There's no shock that Eddie Berganza was one of the editors who headed up the new Terra fiasco, considering he was the editor behind all the new Supergirls of the past decade, all the different Donna Troys...

Davy · 12-12-2006, 06:23 PM

I enjoyed this issue of Supergirl very much. If this team were on Supergirl every issue, I'd be buying it monthly instead of just when the mood hit. Regardless, it makes me much more jazzed about the upcoming Terra series than I was before this issue.

Davy

CodeGuy · 12-12-2006, 06:44 PM

I wish they'd get back the original Supergirl. The one who had a regular flirtation with a horse when she wasn't considering the legality of marrying her own cousin.

Good times, good times.

Kolimar · 12-12-2006, 06:54 PM

Amanda's art is an excellent example of what I consider good art. Simply great.

Ghost · 12-12-2006, 07:10 PM

I really enjoyed this issue of Supergirl, it was a lot of fun. Amanda Conner's art is simply beautiful.
I'll be picking up the Terra mini only because of the art. And I've always been a big fan of Terra, I just don't care for the redesign and new identity (it appears she's a new character) but Amanda's work is so good I can't pass it up.

sephiroth617 · 12-12-2006, 07:29 PM

Amanda gets a big thumbs up from me. This issue of Supergirl was good and the art made it better.

Abstrakt · 12-12-2006, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tralfaz

acting like what? a girl proud to be the cousin of Superman? A girl that likes being a hero? A girl that likes to help people? funny, she seems to be ok in Legion of Super-Heroes (dispite the fact she thinks shes in a dream world) The character didnt seem to have a problem before, the animated version didnt seem to have any problem.
I understand doubting one self, i get that, but the character shouldnt be engrossed by her doubt as much as she does.
this isnt Supergirl, this is a poorly conceived characterization of Supergirl and I hope they fix it.

i dont wanna argue over this since its obvious it wont resolve anything but about the legion of superheroes, like you said its a dream world. its one thing to wish to be super without thinking of any responsibilities, its another to actually truelly face a whole world looking up to you

have they explained the whole supergirl being in 2 places at once yet?

mrorangesoda · 12-12-2006, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abstrakt

have they explained the whole supergirl being in 2 places at once yet?

She's not in two places at once, one takes place in the 31st century... sheesh...

Mike Hayden · 12-12-2006, 07:52 PM

I can only say one thing. YUM YUM. LOVE IT. LOVE IT

tralfaz · 12-12-2006, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abstrakt

i dont wanna argue over this since its obvious it wont resolve anything but about the legion of superheroes, like you said its a dream world. its one thing to wish to be super without thinking of any responsibilities, its another to actually truelly face a whole world looking up to you

have they explained the whole supergirl being in 2 places at once yet?

its not a dream world, she thinks shes dreaming the whole thing