Women In Comics Month: Interview With Kit Caoagas

In honor of Women in Comics this March, PREVIEWSworld talks with Publishing Coordinator Kit Caoagas!

PREVIEWSworld: Tell us a little bit about yourself! What are you currently working on? 

Kit Caoagas: I'm Kit Caoagas. I started at Devil's Due as an intern in 2012 and then was hired on an an assistant the same year.  Now, I am the Publishing Coordinator at Devil's Due/1First Comics in Chicago, but I tend to do more outside my role as well. I get my hands dirty taking care of publishing tasks, running Kickstarters, and figuring out convention logistics. Currently, I am working on making sure a lot of books are at your LCS from DD/1F including Squarriors, Badger , Plume, Mercy Sparx, Witchfinder General, and Public Relations to name a few. Not only do I handle our print titles, I also make sure that Devil's Due Digital Firsts (Galaxys For Hire, Tales of Mr. Rhee Volume 3) are published online as webcomics.

Outside of working in comics, I'm a graphic designer and do photo styling work on the side for work and for fun. I love dogs. If you ever find me at a convention, I will more than likely show you pictures of my dog Moo.

PREVIEWSworld: How long have you been working with sequential art? What titles, companies, and creators have you worked with over your time in comics?

Kit Caoagas: Like I mentioned earlier, I've been working with Devil's Due since 2012. It's sort of like a dream come true. I was really eclectic in junior high and high school and definitely had this goal of working in comics since I read a lot of graphic novels and watched a lot of cartoons. But, as soon as I started college, I was going toward a more fashion and advertising career route and abandoned the goal I had when I was a kid. Then I started the internship at Devil's Due and I am very invested in this industry now. Devil's Due and Devil's Due/1First are the only companies I have worked for. I know. I'm pretty much like a baby in this industry. But, in the past 4 years, I've worked with Dirk Manning, Josh Blaylock, K. Lynn Smith, C.W. Cook, Ash Maczko, Ashley Witter, Shawn Depasquale, Sherard Jackson...the list goes on. Sorry, if I missed anyone!

PREVIEWSworld: Did you have a mentor or hero in the industry that inspired you to pursue a career in comics?

Kit Caoagas: I guess my mentor would be Josh Blaylock. I feel like I have definitely learned so much from him about the comic book business and that business knowledge can be used in any other industry.

PREVIEWSworld: In your opinion, how has the comic book industry evolved in terms of gender?

Kit Caoagas: This is an interesting question and I can answer this in so many ways, but I would just be writing an essay. Here is the shortest answer I can give you. I think the definition of gender is being explored more in comics, but I would like to see gender identity and gender & society be the subject  of  more comics in the future. I think Bitch Planet is awesome. It really raises the question – How can any woman form her own identity in a society that pressures her to alter herself physically and mentally? If we could find more comics like this and comics that raise awareness of how ridiculous gender norms are  and get them in the shops, that would be great.

At the same time, I don't think publishers should be forcing writers to explore gender  or force the creation of stories that have characters that are gender fluid (just an example).  It would just  feel artificial and look like the comic industry is just trying too hard to get with the times.

PREVIEWSworld: What stereotypes do you see surrounding women in comics? How could people of all genders go about breaking those stereotypes?

Kit Caoagas: I can't say there are stereotypes that surround women in comics. But whenever I do tell people I work in comics when I go out, they think it's really cool (even though I'm more behind the scenes). So, I would say people think anyone who works in comics is really cool. Let's not break that stereotype.

If you're a woman that just likes comics, I still don't think there are  stereotypes. There are so many different kind of people that go to conventions, read comics, see the movie, and go to the comic shop that there isn't really a way to categorize them.  If I had to categorize these women, they're women who don't care what you think about them. They know who they are and they know what they like. Women that are into comics are confident if anything.

PREVIEWSworld: How do you want to see women represented in comic books 10 years from now?

Kit Caoagas: Ten years is far away. There are plenty of women being heroes, villains,  and damsels dressed in various ways and that are various shapes and sizes. So that is already done. In 10 years, I hope my answer to question 4 comes true. I would hope that the women that appear in  comics question society's expectations of them or mock the unrealistic ideology  we have for women. I hope all genders are present in comics and that kids reading comics 10 years from now can name at least 5 books that focus on gender & identity.

PREVIEWSworld: If you could give advice to any aspiring editors, executives, writers, or artists, what would you tell them?

Kit Caoagas: If anything, hard work and having good work to show is the best way to get noticed in comics. Also – don't be afraid to introduce yourself. A simple hello and introduction really can take you places!

PREVIEWSworld: And lastly, are there any up-and-coming women creators who you would recommend readers check out?

Kit Caoagas: I like Cathy G. Johnson a lot. Her art style is very gestural. Her stories focus more on internal philosophical issues. You know, like some times you think you hate everyone and they all suck, but it's really just you or it might be them. If you don't want to commit to a series, I advise you check out her comics. They're all nice reads and good for self-reflection.

See more Women In Comics Month interviews in our special section on PREVIEWSworld!