Women In Comics Month: Interview with Jody Houser
Mar 18, 2015
In honor of Women in Comics this March, PREVIEWSworld talks with writer Jody Houser!
PREVIEWSworld: Tell us a little bit about yourself! What are you currently working on?
Jody Houser: My name is Jody Houser and I'm a writer. I'm currently co-writing Orphan Black (DEC140468) for IDW and have a few other fun things in the works. I also have a webcomic, Cupcake POW!, that updates weekly.
PREVIEWSworld: How long have you been working with sequential art? What titles, companies, and creators have you worked with over your time in comics?
Jody Houser: I started in webcomics in 2006. My first published work in print was a story in Womanthology: Heroic (NOV110296).
Since then, I've been lucky enough to work with a slew of great artists, including Fiona Staples, Eric Canete, and Nathan Fox. I also contributed to some awesome Kickstarter projects like RISE: Comics Against Bullying (JAN151522) from Northwest Press and Dead Roots. Most recently, I wrote stories for Vertigo: CMYK (MAY140412) and Avengers: No More Bullying (NOV140749).
PREVIEWSworld: Did you have a mentor or hero in the industry that inspired you to pursue a career in comics?
Jody Houser: There wasn't really a specific person, but I've been reading comics since I was a kid and have always loved the format. Considering I'm the type that has to try her hand at writing anything and everything, it was only a matter of time before I gave comics a shot. I found it to be a good fit.
PREVIEWSworld: In your opinion, how has the comic book industry evolved in terms of gender?
Jody Houser: I think there's a definite push to reach outside the long-standing core comic readership. You're even seeing it in the Big Two with books like Gotham Academy and Ms. Marvel. I think in order to survive, the industry has to draw in new readers and push into new arenas. It's the only way for a business to stay relevant (and for everyone working in that business to still have jobs).
PREVIEWSworld: What stereotypes do you see surrounding women in comics? How could people of all genders go about breaking those stereotypes?
Jody Houser: I think there's this idea that women only want to tell certain types of stories, that they aren't interested in writing superheroes or sci-fi or horror or whatever. I think the main thing people need to remember is that women and minority groups are comprised of very different individuals with very different tastes and stories to tell. We're not a hive mind.
PREVIEWSworld: How do you want to see women represented in comic books 10 years from now?
Jody Houser: I want questions like "What's it like being a women in comics?" to be seen as pointless and obsolete.
PREVIEWSworld: If you could give advice to any aspiring editors, executives, writers, or artists, what would you tell them?
Jody Houser: As soon as you actually make a comic, you go from "aspiring comic creator" to "comic creator." Don't wait for permission. If you have a story to tell, tell it. The easiest way to get into the comic industry is to just sit down and make comics. Also, don't be a jerk.
PREVIEWSworld: And lastly, are there any up-and-coming women creators who you would recommend readers check out?
Jody Houser: I'd keep an eye on writer Mairghread Scott, who moved into comics from animation and has been killing it on licensed books like Transformers: Windblade (AUG140466). Her first creator-owned series is in the works and it looks amazing.
Check out more Women In Comics Month interviews in our special section on PREVIEWSworld!