Every Friday, Stately Beat Mansion invites round a comic creator or two for a cup of tea, complementary Kit Kat, and a chat about their work in The Phoenix. The Phoenix is a UK series which features a range of the best all-ages comics available, from all kinds of wonderful creators – all compiled into a single issue each week! If you want to find out more, then try an issue of The Phoenix for yourself!
This week The Phoenix have…have….
I’m sorry, but a Penguin with a big luxurious cape just strolled into the house, accompanied by a squid. This is an occasional hazard at Stately Beat Mansion, but the Penguin appears to be indicating that HE will be answering the questions today.
Well, this is highly irregular. HIGHLY irregular! But I guess we have an open door policy, so we may as well have a biscuit and chat. Let’s see what happens…
Steve: So, erm, hello. What is Evil Emperor Penguin about? Who does it star?
Evil Emperor Penguin: ME.
I will be answering the questions today…
Since my creator Laura Ellen Anderson answered these same questions a few weeks ago, I think it’s about time I had MY say.
You can call me EEP for short, and as you may know already, my main aim in life is to TAKE OVER THE WORLD. (It WILL happen… a few of my attempts have been a little ‘shabby’ in the past). My octopus sidekick NUMBER 8 is the only one I trust to guard my world domination plans. He’s just a giant squid thing with a curly moustache. And the abominable snowmen minions aren’t bad… they’re just insanely cute most of the time.
Especially Eugene, who always wets himself.
Steve: Oh. Right. Erm, so… what inspired the series, Mr EEP, Sir?
EEP: Well, my awesomeness of course.
Laura drew a tiny menacing penguin in a cape as a silly doodle a few years ago, and low and behold, Evil Emperor Penguin was born! Everyone at the Phoenix Office loved the look of this cute but ominous penguin. Thus, I was one step closer to taking over the office… then the WORLD.
I think secretly, Laura would love a red cape just like mine.
Steve: How does Laura make such awesome comics? How does she create your stories?
EEP: Is this the part where I have to talk about my creator?
Sigh.
Fine.
Laura usually has a new idea concerning my world domination plans pop into her head at unexpected times. Even at 1am in the morning when she should be sleeping. When this happens, she usually pounces upon her ideas book and writes it all down as quickly as possible.
(Are you bored yet…? I’m much more interesting than Laura).
ANYWAY… once a new world domination plan is in the works, Laura then begins to lay out the comic in pencil, and neatens up the rough stage on computer using a fancy device called a Wacom Cintiq. Snazzy.
She then sends the first draft to the Phoenix Editor who sits upon a huge red chair and JUDGES it. No, no, he’s a very nice guy. Honestly. Laura then inks and colours the whole comic to make it look pretty, ready to hand in on deadline day. There’s usually a sub-title with every episode that reflects the nature of the story. If she can think of a good enough pun, she will.
Steve: So… what’s your favourite part of this week’s story, if you don’t mind me asking?
EEP: Well, this is a silly question…
NONE of it. Because I STILL haven’t taken over the world. I have no idea why Laura feels the constant need to have me fail!
But if I MUST have a favourite part, then it’s probably getting to fly my newest device, the ‘Flying Pod of Evil’. It’s a beautiful drive, and gets me from my headquarters in Antarctica to Metropolis City in less than an hour.
Nifty, eh?
Steve: Ooh, can I have a go?
EEP: NO, you can’t have a go in my ‘Flying Pod of Evil’. Plus there’s only enough room for myself and a minion. Usually Eugene. He’s the only one with a flying license.
Steve: Sorry. Where else can we find you? What else do you have coming up?
EEP: If I told you that, everyone would be stealing my world domination plans wouldn’t they?!
Oh, you meant my creator, Laura… It’s all about her these days isn’t it!
Well, I’ll tell you just this once…
She’s mostly known as a children’s book illustrator as well as a comic artist. And actually, her debut picture book has now been let loose into the wild bookshops! It’s called ‘Snowflakes’ and is published by Scholastic. Laura is also working on a bunch of new picture books, all to be released over the next two years and beyond.
Other than that, she’ll be focusing on ME, Evil Emperor Penguin, and coming up with more world dominating craziness. She’ll be attending the upcoming Thought Bubble event this November with the Phoenix Comic crew. So, watch this space.
I, Evil Emperor Penguin, WILL take over the WORLD!!! MWAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAR.
*cough*
[At this point Evil Emperor Penguin stole a cookie and strutted out]
Many thanks to Evil Emperor Penguin for his time! And, well, for not vaporising me. You can find his latest story, by Laura Ellen Anderson, in this week’s issue of The Phoenix. And special thanks to Liz Payton… for giving Stately Beat Mansion’s address to a known supervillain?
