Allen: Tell me something about yourself? How did you get your start in comic book industry? Also, how did you become associated with Darren Davis?

Adam: A connection that's what it's all about baby. Actually, what happened was my good friend and writing mentor Eric Arvin told me about a new writing job he had gotten doing the new Blackbeard Legacy series. Well naturally, I had to investigate. Eric introduced me to Darren and said if he had anything for me, he would let me know. Well, as luck would have it, it ended up that he had quite a LOT for me and now we have developed a really good working relationship.

Allen: Do you recall some of the first comic books you ever read?

Adam: Well that all depends on your definition of Comic Book. You see, when I was in elementary school, my local library had this big Superman book that had a collection of some of the best Superman comics from the 30's all the way up to 1980. Gosh, I must have checked that puppy out so many times, just pouring over all the stories in there. I think my favorite one would have had to have been the three issue story arc where Bizarro no. 1 and Lois Bizarro no. 1 have a child who appears to be (god forbid or allow if you are on Htrae) a healthy normal human baby. I thought that was so cool.

Now the first actual technical comic book I got was Uncanny X-Men Annual 97. Yeah, I was a freshman in high school. My parents weren't big on me reading comics so it was a while before I finally got to. It was a mystery about the disappearance of Jean Grey, who is probably one of my favorite characters simply because 1) I'm a bit of a feminist despite having a **** and 2) she's one of the very few characters in all comics that can kick Superman's ass. Nowadays, I just do the collection thing. Although I do have Infinite Crisis first editions and alternate sketch covers I like very much.

Allen: What is comic book Styx and Stone about? Who is Detective Mel Stone? What is Styx?

Adam: Ah: the nitty gritty: the GOOD stuff. I'm actually quite proud of Styx and Stone. I was kind of nervous when I first started writing because I wasn't used to putting my mind in the dark recesses that you have to be in to write material like this. Detective Melvyn Stone is this: I like to think of him as a bit of a wash out: not in the minds of the department he works with, but more in his own mind, which is extremely dangerous for him as he has to share said mind with this career criminal named James Wyatt. Now these two met in South Africa. James was there trying to find himself but found nothing, and on his way back him and James are somehow bonded, although neither of them know how, or why it happened. What they do know is that they were both supposed to die and cross the River Styx. What I wanted to do with Styx and Stone, as I like to do with everything I write, is create a mythos that surrounds all the parties involved.

This particular one centers on Detective Stone and why he and Wyatt never crosses the river Styx. I wrote it out so that over time and the River Styx would continue to play a more important role. I would say a lot more but hey, if I told you everything, then you wouldn't need to buy the book right?

Allen: When can we find this comic book on the stands?

Adam: I'll let Darren take this one.

Darrin Davis:There will be a 5 page preview of this book out in MAY on the SINBAD DVD from SONY home video. The book itself will be out in Sept 2008!

Allen: What did you feel when you saw art pages of your script drawn by Matias Basla?

Adam: Dude, I about had a frikken orgasm when I saw the first few pages. Matias is an incredibly talented artist and I really feel lucky to be able to work with him in this way. He really has a knack for capturing the raw dark and. in some cases almost sinister aggression that comes with this story. I've seen a couple of final pages and I know that this mini-series is going to be classic!

Allen: Is STYX AND STONE an original story?

Adam: Up to a point on my part. Darren is the one who created the concept. After Det. Stone, James Wyatt and them sharing a body, I took over.

Allen: How did idea for this story occur?

Adam: Oh man, I wish I could give specifics for the answer to this. I'm afraid if I say too much, 1) I'll give too much of the story away and 2) You might think I'm a bit insane: and not in the good way. Read issue four and then ask me again (laughs)

Allen: What conventions will you be attending

Adam: As many as I can. I plan on going to Wizard World in Chicago in June, of course I want to go to Comic Con in San Diego and see if I can make some contacts, possibly get some tail. I'll be going to I-Con in Des Moines Iowa, probably more as a spectator and hanging out with my good friend and collaborator on the upcoming PAPARAZZI book that will be coming out later this year, also from Bluewater (plug!plug!plug!) And who knows what else.

Allen: How can someone contact you?

Adam: MySpace:who doesn't have a MySpace anymore? That's where I try to keep up with my friends, readers, and fans, whatever! I just put up a new profile for all this so hit me up on it. The address is www.myspace.com/adamdavidgragg .

Allen: Do you still read comic books now? What are some of your favorite series or stories?

Adam: Well I rather get trade paperbacks and collections of comic books. I just find it to be easier that way:unless you are into Astonishing X-Men: which I am. That one takes FOREVER to come out! I can't get enough Emma Frost: man that is one COLD hot bitch! ANYWAY (laughs) I really enjoy Fables. I love new takes on old ideas, X-Men: as I said. For me though, it's more about characters than series. I will typically read anything that has Jean Grey or Emma Frost as main characters: oh and Power Girl. Besides the fact that her rack is legendary, I think the complexities of her character are so interesting and I want to delve into her mind. HEY DC COMICS! IF YOU DO A POWER GIRL MONTHLY, PUT ME ON IT!

As far as stories go, I like the Dark Phoenix saga, cuz I always get into good guys going bad and anything that deals with parallel universes: but not the DC crisis cuz man: trying to make heads or tails of that WHOLE thing (and when I say WHOLE I mean going back to the beginning all the way up to the present) gives me indigestion something FIERCE! Typically though, I like regular novels. Right now I am just getting into the insanity, absurdity and pure genius that is Terry Pratchett. The Discworld books are by far some of the most amazing, hysterical and poignant books in the fantasy genre ever.

Allen: What are your hobbies and recreational activities?

Adam: Well comics started out as a hobby, but now I am working on it as a career. Let"s see, I'm heavily into the gym. I may BE a comic book professional, but I will be DAMNED if I have to LOOK like one! (No offense to anyone ,just saying, eat a salad!) I used to model and act and still do from time to time when I'm feeling sexy, great way to make some extra money even if it is a bitch when you have to wax. I'm also trying to get my black belt in martial arts. I had to take some extended time off after a knee injury but now I am back and hoping to get it by the end of the year. Currently I am a low brown belt.

Allen: If you can have 6 dinner guests, 3 fictional and 3 real-life from any time period, who would those 6 people be and why?

Adam: Jesus Christ- Obvious but makes sense. I would then ask him why and being God, he would know what I mean. My Friend Matt- Hey, this dinner is a big deal! Why not having someone you know and like the share it with and then talk about later? Russell T. Davies- So I could convince him to put me on the Writing Staff for Doctor Who, Torchwood or the Sarah Jane Adventures The Doctor- Need I say more?

Hyacinth Bucket- Actually I want to meet Patricia Routlege because she is such a brilliant actress but seeing as I already have the three real life people I will just go with her. Macbeth- so I can ask him why he is such a bastard.

Allen: If you could go into any time machine, what year would you stop at and tell us why.

Adam: Shoot! The ONLY Time Machine I would step a foot in would be a blue box with the words PUBLIC CALL BOX On the top and IF I stepped into THAT particular time machine I wouldn't stop but rather go all over. Why limit yourself to just one time period?

Allen: What TV shows, movies, cartoons do you like?

Adam: In case you haven't picked up on it yet (and you'd have to be either blind or stupid NOT to) I'm an obsessive Doctor Who fan. The new series: the old series I love them all! My favorite Doctor would have to be Sylvester McCoy while David Tennant takes a VERY close 2nd. (McCoy wins because he was MY doctor) Allo Allo is my favorite sitcom. I like Neon Genesis Evangelion: GREAT story (but I couldn't show it to my bi-polar manic friend because I was afraid it would cause him to kill himself) Tale Spin, Ducktales, ALL those Disney cartoons from the late 80's early 90's, Gargoyles (THERE is a show that does NOT patronize its viewers, Kudos Greg Weisman!) Movies: oh hell, there are too damn many.

Allen: What writers do you enjoy?

Adam: That's kind of like movies. There are so many. Off the top of my head I would say that I love Lewis Carroll. If you can figure out all the Easter eggs in his Alice books, more power to you. Terry Pratchett, as I mentioned, is a pure genius. (I mean, how in the world can you create a personification of death that you actually ROOT for? Rock on) Ronald Dahl I think is probably one of the most amazing writers I've ever had the privilege to read. I think in many ways he influenced me the most. His books, while may seem silly on the surface, were never patronizing to the children he wrote to. I never felt like my intelligence was insulted when I would pick up one of his books. Shoot, if I could become even a FRACTION of the writer he was I will have achieved my goal.

Now, as far as Comic Books go, Alan Moore is amazing. He's a living example that Insanity breeds genius. Chris Claremont, BEST X-Stories ever written, Frank Miller, amazing graphic novelist (and sure knows how to draw a rack!) Bill Willingham (you need a co-writer for fables buddy?) The list could go on.

Allen: What gives you your creative energy?

Adam: Well that all kind of depends on what I am doing. One of the great things about working with Bluewater is the fact that I get to write a wide range of genre's (Although I haven't done comedy ye: (hint hint) so certain things will trigger certain creative responses in my head. Sometime, just yelling at something will put me in an aggressive mood to be able to write intense scenes, or maybe watching something incredibly horrific on YouTube will put me in the mindset to write something gory and graphic: like Styx and Stone (laughs) There are countless ways for me to get the creative energy I need.

Another way (and this is incredibly bizarre but something that I found recently and don't SUGGEST other artists use it for this purpose: I'm just saying it worked for me) is Gaspari Superpump 250 which is a Nitric-Oxide supplement that gym rats use for lifting. There is something in it that just stimulates my mind in the right area. I think it has something to do with the way my brain is wired. Oh well: at least it's legal!

Allen: If your comic book became a movie, who would play the character parts and why?

Adam: Now THIS is a good question: not that the others haven't been. If Styx and Stone was made into a big Hollywood blockbuster, then I would have to cast Bruce Willis in the role of Detective Stone. He kind of has the right squint. The part of James Wyatt needs to be played by an unknown as I can't picture anyone playing him. Detective Claire Sanchez should DEFINITELY be played by Eva Longoria because a) She's actually a good actress and b) I think she would really get into the hardcore of the character. Sanchez may be this gorgeous woman, but she's not clean cut by any means.

Allen: What future projects are you working on completing or slated for publication?

Adam: Oh hell: where do I begin? I have two Ray Harryhausen mini-series coming out very soon, Sinbad and the Merchant of Ages, and Tenth Muse 800 which is some of my best work. I also am in the middle of a fantastic new series called Paparazzi which should be coming out hopefully in the summer. I will also be starting work on collaboration with the creator of the comic book Chassis about fast cars and fast women. I'm also doing a one shot for an adventure mystery book that will be the start of a whole new line of thriller books that Bluewater is putting out. I have a children's book in the works called Mr. Morton and the Wooly Witch, or Why your Dryer eats your Socks and a whole bunch of other stuff coming out! It's great!

Allen: This ends the interview, any encouraging words of wisdom?

Adam: Hell yeah I have words of wisdom! ALWAYS be prepared for the unexpected. Sometimes, the things that make you the most happiest are the last things you expect. Oh, and NEVER forget where you came from. It is ESSENTIAL that you ALWAYS keep the people who help you advance your careers close to you, even if things don't always go swimmingly. You never know when you might need them again. And as always, NEVER GIVE UP! Yeah, that's a sappy piece of advice that everyone gives but it's true. It's crucial to be able to make it. OH YEAH, another thing. NEVER let yourself get sidetracked by people who detour you from your goals.

If you want to be a writer, be around people who take you seriously as a writer, you want to be a bodybuilder, surround yourselves with people who encourage all the hard work it takes and ALWAYS cut lose people who detract you from that.