Allen: It is honor to welcome you Tom back for new Jazma interview. How have you been?

Tom: Thanks for having me back, Allen; these are always fun! I'm still in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and other than the stress I think I'm pretty healthy. I'm currently married (or at least engaged) to my drawing table at which I slave away almost 24 hours per day. Can't wait to break that relationship off... haha.

Allen: What comics from your youth do you wish you still owned?

Tom: Most of them are thrown away, which is the natural process of growing up and the parents wanting to clear up some space. When I was a kid, I played a lot of cards with my friends who also collected comics. Since we didn't have money to gamble, we gambled our comics. Sometimes the pot would get so big that we would be forced to throw in our more valuable comics in the hands that we lost. I wish I had those back! I remember getting very upset that I had to give up my first cameo appearance of Venom in Amazing Spider-Man #298 or #299. It was to make up my gambling debt. Not a great habit for kids to get into, lol.

Allen: Which creative people in industry really influenced your decision to work as professional artist?

Tom: Well I grew up right before and during the Image boom, so it was a very exciting time to be into comic books. I thought, Wow, what a cool job it would be to work as a comic book artist! I knew I had a knack for drawing. Around the same time my former art teacher introduced me to artist Doug Mahnke, who was working on The Mask for Dark Horse around that time period. He showed me what actual original comic art looked like, and what steps I had to take if I was serious about wanting to break into the business. At that formative age, it hit me that I didn't want to do anything else.

Allen: Did you watch many cartoons as kid? Which ones were your favorites?

Tom: When I was really little, I remember watching Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends every Saturday morning. Then it shifted to He-Man for a couple years, some Voltron, and finally Transformers until I grew out of cartoons.

Allen: Do you have any new projects planned with Doug Mahnke? It has been while since both of you worked together.

Tom: I actually did ink 2 pages recently of the Superman Beyond 3D issue that he pencilled. It was the first time I inked him since our Batman run ended 2 or 3 years ago. So that was fun to work with him again.

Allen: An artist needs art tools. What are your tools of choice?

Tom: Just your typical bristol board for comic work--smooth surface. A regular boring pencil and some india ink (HIggins Black Magic mixed with Rapidograph ink). The instruments I use to apply the ink are my Windsor & Newton Series #7 sable brushes and a crow quill pen. I've also been playing with a lot of Sakura's pens--from the Microns to the Graphic pens, the brush pens, and the Pigma Sensei (which is a great, less expensive alternative to the Microns). For painting, I use illustration board (cold press), an Iwata Micron airbrush, and Com-Art transparent acrylics.

Allen: Tell me about some of your recent past projects.

Tom: Last year I authored an instructional book called "Incredible Comics With Tom Nguyen," and right now, along with Ghostbusters, I'm writing my follow-up instructional book, "Incredible Comic Book Women With Tom Nguyen." It's been a busy last couple years!

Allen: I want to know all about your new Ghostbusters: The Other Side comic book. Also, when does this story happen in movie chronological time frame?

Tom: Keith intended for it to take place right after the second movie, but the series will stand on its own as a story and not really be a "sequel." It is just another fun chapter chronicling the ghost-busting lives of Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddemore. This will be a 4-issue miniseries with the first issue to hit the shelves in October.

Allen: How did IDW get license for Ghostbusters comic book?

Tom: I don't know; you'll have to ask them! I do know that we couldn't get likeness rights, however. So don't expect exact visual replicas of the original cast. I tried to come close enough without crossing that line.

Allen: Can you tell me about story you are drawing for mini series.

Tom: I'm not sure what I'm allowed to say; but expect the Ghostbusters to go deeper into the supernatural world than they ever have!

Allen: What is it you like most about drawing Ghostbusters characters?

Tom: I love giving them their own unique look. Keith's writing allows me to play with their emotions and facial expressions so much that it's really been a fun time drawing them. And this isn't even including the supporting cast of wacky characters that further allows and pushes me to draw different types of people as opposed to cookie-cutter figures.

Allen: You have history with Keith Champagne. Please talk about some of your past work with Keith.

Tom: After being rejected repeatedly by adult film studios, we decided to try comics. Ha! Keith and I have a lot in common in that we both began our careers and built our names through inking. But have used that as a stepping stone to pursue other creative areas in comics--he with writing, and me with pencilling. We started off getting our feet wet years ago with a small story called Metal Locus for an independent publisher called Across the Pond Comics. I don't think that ever saw print....and with any luck it won't, haha! Not because of his story, but because of my horrid art. Then he did a few things on his own, and so did I. Last year we did 4 issues of Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters for Dynamite Entertainment.

It was our first full series working together that was published. That was a blast, I must say. And it was an honor to work on the great Don Chin's creation! And now we're working on Ghostbusters for IDW. Keith's writing is very versatile; he can combine action, drama, and humor quite well. In fact, his humor writing is my favorite part--I'm a huge fan of humor and fun in comics, and Keith just nails it--whether through dialogue or descriptive scenes--without being lame. I should also say that we have a creator-owned story called Butterfly Samurai, which is about a teenage Samurai girl. He contributed a one-page script about her that I demonstrated the art for in my instructional book, "Incredible Comics With Tom Nguyen." (plug-plug) Finally, we'll both be appearing at Fall Con in St. Paul, MN, on October 4th and 5th this year. In essence, we enjoy using each other to get work/published.

Allen: How is it that you got to work with Keith on Ghostbusters 4 issue mini series?

Tom: Actually, Keith asked me if I was interested in early summer, but at the time I turned it down because I had too much stuff going on. Another artist friend of ours was then going to to do it, but that didn't pan out, so that brought it back to me.

Allen: When are the anticipated dates those copies will be able to be bought from store? Will issues be released monthly?

Tom: The first issue will be released on Wednesday, October 15th. In fact, I'll be doing a signing at Graham Cracker Comics in Wheaton, IL that day to help promote the Ghostbusters comic book release. The series will be monthly for 4 issues.

Allen: Will you be doing more Ghostbusters work for IDW?

Tom: If this series does well, I don't see why not. Keith and I would love to do more for IDW.

Allen: How hard was it for you to draw Venkman, Egon, Ray, and Winston? It must be> difficult to create character images that conform to above mentioned likeness rights.

Tom: I just kind of did my own thing...since we didn't get likeness rights, there was actually much less work for me to do as far as drawing them. As I mentioned before, I tried to come close enough without crossing that line; I was more concerned about capturing the spirit of the characters.

Allen: What other comic book projects do you have in works?

Tom: Right now it's just Ghostbusters and trying to wrap up my instructional book.

Allen: If you could have any super powers which ones would you like to have?

Tom: Stop time, because you can literally do anything you want when you do. Of course, I would want to "unfreeze" friends and some family so I would be bored to death. And as long as I don't age while the time is stopped, that would be icing on the cake.

Allen: How are you presently doing with weight lifting?

Tom: I'm doing well; I'm feeling healthy and strong. I have entertained the thought of coming back to compete in bodybuilding, but it's just that--entertaining. Never say never. Now I know certain people will read this and will hold me to that comment!

Allen: How has been response to instructional DVD's The Doug Mahnke Style of Pencilling and the Tom Nguyen Style of Inking. The Doug Mahnke Style of Pencilling and the Tom Nguyen Style of Inking. How can readers order copies of DVD?

Tom: It's been good...I still get orders and usually sell a few at every show. Perhaps it's time to put out a new video....what do you think? All the instructions to order are at http://www.tomnguyenart.com/page8/page8.html

Allen: How has reaction been to Incredible Comics with Tom Nguyen: The Ultimate Guide to Creating Kick-ass Comic Art?

Tom: I haven't gotten one complaint yet, but maybe that's because people who dislike it most likely wouldn't say it to me or email me about it. But I'm very flattered at the reception it's gotten, and I promise my follow-up book on drawing women will be even wilder and sexier!

Allen: What is easiest way for readers to get copies of your instructional books?

Tom: They can go to their local book store like Barnes & Noble or Borders. Or they can order it online via Amazon or straight from the Impact Books website, www.impact-books.com.

Allen: Tell me about your pin up art and where featured.

Tom: This is something I wish I had more time to do; I simply work with beautiful models and paint them as pin-up works of art. My paintings have been published and shown at galleries. There will be a demo of one of my paintings in my instructional book. There are more plans for my work to be featured, but I'll let that news out when my life is a little more organized.

Allen: Tell me about your art renditions for Miss Iowa, Miss Minnesota, Miss Wisconsin pageants. How long have you been prize sponsor? Who are you doing rendition of at present time?

Tom: I've been their prize sponsor since 2005--providing a painting of each state's winner. Officially I'm the prize sponsor for 3 states, but in actuality I've only done Minnesota. That's because I have this rule that I have to do the shoot myself. I'm not a big fan of working off of other's photos that are provided to me because of 1) the lack of control for posing and angles, and 2) I don't want to deal with any potential copyright issues. So yes, it might be a little inconvenient for Mrs. Iowa and Mrs. Wisconsin to stop by for a shoot, but them's the breaks, I guess. This is also why I hate it when models email me and want me to do a painting working off their photos. No way.

Allen: Do you have many comic book appearances planned for yourself?

Tom: Yes! I have the annual Fall Con here in St. Paul, MN coming up on October 5th and 6th. You can find all the info and guest list at www.mncba.com . I will also have 5 hot models signing at my table that weekend--that's worth it alone! :D

Allen: What kind of music do you like listening to when drawing?

Tom: I tend to listen to television when I'm working, and it's usually documentaries on National Geographic and the History Channel because I can keep my head down working and still get something out of listening to the shows. Although I have been enjoying the latest Metallica album, "Death Magnetic," quite a bit.

Allen: What are some of your favorite activities you like to do when not at drawing board?

Tom: Other then weightlifting, I enjoy sleep. Oh, and eating. That is, if I even have the time to do any of those. But on the rare case that I have time to myself, I'll go to the batting cage or will try to gather a couple friends for a game of home run derby if the weather permits.

Allen: What kind of theatre movies have you recently seen?

Tom: I've seen only three so far this year (can you tell I don't get out much?): Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, and The Dark Knight.

Allen: Do you have website? What is best way to contact you?

Tom: www.TomNguyenArt.com . Anyone can email me from there. I also have a MySpace page at www.myspace.com/tomnguyenart . I have a Facebook page as well, but that's a little more private, and I don't want any of you hoodlums befriending me there. Find me on Myspace for that.

Allen: What inspires your creativity?

Tom: I love looking at great photography. And art, too, of course. Great artists. On the flip side, horrible, successful artists stir up the rage and bitterness in me and drive me to create a lot as well. Hey, I'm man enough to admit it :)

Allen: What would you say were some of your favorite characters to draw during your career?

Tom: I actually quite enjoyed drawing the Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamters because they were just pure fun to draw. The different body types and I can let loose with the poses and action.

Allen: When do you find time for sleep?

Tom: I sleep in my daydreams when I'm working.

Allen:Thank you Tom for participating in this interview with me. Would you like to leave Jazma readers with some words of wisdom?

Tom: Don't do drugs. The legal ones (prescription) are fine, though. Go nuts with those.