Indie Edge: Amy Chu

Please tell us a bit about yourself!

I got my start in comics by self-publishing. My friend Georgia Lee and I saw that there just wasn't a whole lot of female-friendly comics back in 2011, so we founded our own imprint, Alpha Girl Comics. I started writing short stories that became an anthology, Girls Night Out, and that led to writing short stories for Vertigo and the annual for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, which then led to some Wonder Woman and Deadpool short stories, and then Poison Ivy, KISS and Red Sonja. Georgia went on to write The Expanse for the Syfy channel so I think we did all right!

What are your favorite projects you’ve contributed to over the past decade?

I did an adaption of the Buddhist classic origin story of Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion, for the Baltimore Museum of Art with my friend Craig Yeung. Laura Martin colored it, and I think it's probably the most beautiful story I've ever worked on. Also, Wonder Woman with Bernard Chang. Who doesn't want to do a Wonder Woman story?!

What are you currently working on?

I'm really enjoying writing classic characters. I love that Dynamite is giving me a chance to write Green Hornet (from the '30s radio show) as you know, and the 100-year-old Edgar Rice Burroughs' Dejah Thoris. Of course, I'm doing more modern adaptations of the classic stories — I'm bringing Green Hornet to the present, but hopefully with a bit of vintage feel, kind of like James Bond if you will. Dejah Thoris is a prequel to the classic Princess of Mars. And I'm still plotting Red Sonja, but co-writing it with Erik Burnham.

What fun titles are you reading?

I don't know if I would characterize them as “fun”! I like stuff that gives me the feels, and that inspire me as a writer. There's so much good stuff out right now, like Motor Girl (Vol. 1: Real Life—MAR171184) by Terry Moore . I'll read anything and everything by Terry Moore, actually! Crosswind (Vol. 1—NOV170676) by Cat Staggs and Gail Simone is really THAT good. And Kaijumax (Vol. 1—OCT151567) by Zander Cannon from Oni Press. I know I need to read more. I've got a huge pile by my bed that I need to get through!

EDGE ESSENTIALS

Pick up these books to learn more about Amy Chu’s Indie Edge style!

• KISS: The Demon TP (MAY171482)
• Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death TP (JUN160347)
• Red Sonja Vol. 1: Worlds Away TP (MAY171516)