Allen: I want to welcome you Debi Hammack to Jazma Online for interview. Would you like to tell us a little bit about yourself and your family life.

Debi: Originally from outer space, I'm still waiting for my ride back home. They are taking their sweet time. Until then, I'm just spending my time watching the human race, getting bossed around by a rescue house rabbit and am still happily single.

Allen: Did you win many awards for your creativity in your youth?

Debi: Not that I recall. I was more the "doodle in the notebook" artist in school. I do have the honor of having my first comic strip banned from the elementary school newspaper because it was deemed inappropriate.

Allen: Did you read many comic books growing up?

Debi: Oh yah. I was a big Nightwing/Robin fan. Batman, Justice League Europe, Teen Titans or anything else that caught my eye in the bargain boxes at used bookstores.

Allen: What did you study at University of North Carolina at Wilmington?

Debi: Oddly enough, Marine Biology. I got my B.S. there and I was aiming to get a PHD to study aquatic animal behavior, specifically sharks. Turns out getting a job in art is easier.

Allen: What were some of your first comic book related jobs?

Debi: Penciling gigs on some very small indy comics. Sadly, the only one to make it to print was "Treetz" from Delta Comix.

Allen: Tell me about A'pertua comic book.

Debi: A'pertua is a sci-fi/fantasy space opera that deals with the many themes from war and freedom to what family is. It centers around a group of misfits who are forced to become freedom fighters when the expanding human empire tries to take over their planet.

Allen: were you only person creating comic book?

Debi: Yep, just me, my computer and a pencil. And some very good friends/family willing to help me proof read.

Allen: Did you have studio or publishing firm that was imprint?

Debi: No studio, but I printed A'pertua through ComixPress. Great people to work with. They not only print your book, but list it on their online comic store.

Allen: Tell me about characters in A'pertua and setting.

Debi: The main characters are all misfits in their world who found each other to form a lovely dysfunctional family group. We have your headstrong human, a mysterious female elf, a broken fairy, a kind, fatherly Ogre, and your comic relief in a monkey/human mutt-like creature. They are all not quite what they seem and are twisted versions of the classical mythic creatures. The world they all reside on is Tenebrus, a far away planet that for some (yet unknown) reason is inhabited by all of earth's mythical creatures.

Allen: What did you like most about working on A'pertua?

Debi: Creating and playing in a universe I create and had total control of was definitely the high point.

Allen: What were creative tools you used to create A'pertua?

Debi: A good old fashion pencil/eraser and then for the toning and lettering, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator with a Wacom tablet.

Allen: What do you miss most about not working on series?

Debi: Just being able to escape into creating all aspects of the comic. I lived in the world of A'pertua for nearly 2 years. That I miss.

Allen: What is audience rating for A'pertua ?

Debi: I would say Mature. It deals with some heavy subjects.

Allen: What is the best way for readers to see issues of A'pertua?

Debi: There's a few ways. You can order the individual or the compilation printed comics on the ComixPress.com website. Or you can find the electronic versions on Wowio.com. There are links to both sites along with previews on the A'pertua website: http://www.debihammack.com/apertua/

Allen: How many issues were there of A'pertua? How long has it been since last issue was published?

Debi: There were 4 issues and the last one was done in October of 2006, so it's been a while.

Allen: What has been response since you started putting A'pertua on WOWIO?

Debi: So far, it's been good. It's not ranked in the top ten or anything, but it is getting views. It's nice to know that people are reading and enjoying it. I must thank Mike Penny and Dakuwaka Productions for getting A'pertua on Wowio. He does an amazing job promoting the comics.

Allen: Would you ever return to world of A'pertua?

Debi: At some point, I would love to. I still have a bible for the comic that has 3 years of stories in it. So there is much more to tell.

Allen: I noticed you are presently doing storyboards on lots of small independent films. How has working on comic books helped with your ability to do story boards?

Debi: Basically, storyboards are just comics that filmmakers use as blueprints for the film. For comics you need to know how to set up a scene, composition, lighting, where to place people (blocking), as well as how to tell a story visually... which is also all needed for storyboards. It's been a very seamless transfer of the skills.

Allen: What were some of films that you have worked on?

Debi: So far, they have all been small independent films. Some were "Storage" directed by Lin Fahrenheit, "Extinct" by Denise Jones, "X" and "Tannis" by Emile Meyer, "Mourning Motives" directed by Sam Kessie and "Secret of the Black Cat" by Oliver Oertel. One of the fun ones was working with my friends (Jo Weiss and Jill Ubdegrove) on their prospective TV series "ALTESC"

Allen: What is best way for someone to see examples of you work?

Debi: My website: www.debihammack.com

Allen: Your Résumé shows you have worked on many different projects. What are some of your most prized accomplishments?

Debi: A'pertua is on the top of the list since it was my baby. Next would have to be one of the first films I storyboarded, "Secret of the Black Cat". It was my first time working with a director and was a great experience.

Allen: Do you have time for any hobbies?

Debi: I try to. Besides pestering my best friend and trying to get her fired from her day job, I'm a big tv/movie geek. I love watching my DVDs with all the commentary and behind the scenes parts. It makes me just giddy. Also reading when I get a chance (fiction and non-fiction, usually science books). Lately I've been trying to feed my need for road trips too. I'm a bit of a news junkie as well.

Allen: Do you read many comic books at present time?

Debi: Not much recently. The latest ones were Negation, Y: The Last Man and Strangers in Paradise. And Enemy Ace by George Pratt. His art is just amazing.

Allen: Do you have any novels that you really like to read?

Debi: Anything good! I recently found Steinbeck and feel in love. Also, "The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad" by Minister Faust was a favorite, or anything from Douglas Adams or Neil Gaiman. All time favorite was "Johnny Got his Gun" and was a bit of an inspiration for A'pertua.

Allen: What are some recent theatre movies that you really liked seeing?

Debi: Most of my movie watching is through DVD's at home (usually smaller independent films), though I did see Wall-E and really liked that one. The new X-Files movie is on my list to see before it leaves theaters. Apparently, any movie with a hyphen in its title is a winner for me.

Allen: If A'pertua was turned into cartoon would you be willing to do storyboards?

Debi: Of course! Though seeing how A'pertua is my baby, I'd better be doing more than just the boards. It would be a dream come true to see it made into a cartoon or a live-action film/series.

Allen: What inspires your creativity?

Debi: Music, great tv/movies, and just life in general. There's a story in everything if we look hard enough.

Allen: What future projects are you working on?

Debi: I'm working on illustrating the new "Eerey Tocsin" children's book sequel by Kevin Noel Olson, finishing up work on two indy films ("Feed the Beast" by Jack Cook and "Love and Money" by Emile Meyer and Louise Cochran Mason), and am also working on a short animated film I'm doing myself that I hope to put on YouTube when it's done.

Allen: What is best way for someone to contact you?

Debi: Email: debi.hammack@gmail.com

Allen: Thank you so much for participating in this Jazma interview. Would you like to lead us out with some words of wisdom?

Debi: "Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." Thank you, Groucho Marx. And thank you Allen for the interview!