Zan: No, I don't think so. I'm much more likely to give an LGBT comic a chance than I might a non-gay comic, but once I'm reading it, I want it to reach me on an artistic level, or I won't keep reading. Granted, LGBT comics might, by their very nature, present stories I'm more likely to identify with, and characters that I find interesting.

But, I have been in a very active role as an advocate for going on five years now, and Prism's guiding principle is always to promote LGBT creators and comics. We're not a watchdog group, so we don't organize boycotts or send out press releases about negative portrayals, or any of that. So part of my role is definitely to promote, to say nice things about other creators working in LGBT comics, because there's certainly enough people out there ready to say negative things.

But when it comes to reading comics, I read what I like. And I hate what I hate. In fact, I just wrote a scathing review of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's The Boys (recently nominated for a GLAAD award) that has been published at Prism. Just because it's got gay characters doesn't mean it's good.

PK: In other words, even if it's LGBT and it's crap, you won't read it. But will you still promote it?

Zan: The way I look at it is: Prism's goal is to promote LGBT comics creators, period, and so we do. We'll run the press release, we'll talk about your convention appearances, we'll invite you to come and sign books at our convention table. There's no restrictions in that regard other than you have to be publishing work.

But there are definitely creators who do work that we find exceptional, either because of their community impact or their artistic merit or what-have-you, and we'll usually go the extra mile to help out even more. If I really don't think a book is good, then I won't recommend it. Personally, I mean.

I do have to say, though, that when you've seen as many LGBT comics go by as we have, you start to appreciate different things. Five years ago, I wouldn't have looked twice at a book like So Super Duper, just because my initial impression might have been that the art was amateurish or not up to what I expect from a superhero comic. But when you're actively advocating and you *want* to understand how something might appeal to readers different from yourself, you start to see a lot of value in a wide variety of material.

PK: That's true. A lot of what we cover takes a second look or that proverbial "chance" that you referred to. We also advocate diverse books to show how wide a spectrum LGBT content can be. Hence our So Super Duper recommendation.

Zan: It's fantastic!

PK: That's the beauty of the diverse LGBT titles out there...I think in this interview alone we covered erotica, teenage superheroes, and general off-the-wall wackiness.

Zan: And singlets! And olive oil!

PK: [Pauses] Sorry you distracted me there for a sec...

Zan: [laughs]

PK: Now before we get to the fun stuff-- as in fun silly PK questions-- I wanted to ask you about your most recent project. I believe it's called Eleven Pages? Can you talk a little more about it?

Zan: Well, a few years back, I was going to work on a comic with two artistic collaborators I'd met at conventions and become friends with. They wanted to work on a character I'd already created, but I wanted us to have something we could own together and share equally, so I tried to write something tailored to their artistic tastes, and generally encouraged them to get involved in shaping the book more.

They punted it back to me, saying they trusted me to write something good, and when I came back with a script I liked, they didn't like it. I got a bit frustrated. Mind you, I'd tried to get a lot of projects off the ground by this point, and was having trouble finding someone to work with who would stick it out. I've since discovered that I had a lot of growing to do as a writing collaborator, so I don't fault them for it, especially.

But...I decided to try something I had never done before, and that's to try and create a book where I didn't need to collaborate: a prose novel. I used the story I'd concocted for the comic book and fleshed it out completely, breaking it up into short chapters (so I wouldn't get discouraged) and started writing.

PK: are the chapter lengths the eponymous source for the title?

Zan: You got it. Originally it was ten pages a chapter, but tenpages.com was taken. [Laughs] I'm almost a third of the way done--and in a bit of a lull at the moment-- but there's eight chapters posted to the site right now, hopefully enough to get readers interested in the characters enough to pester me for more.

I shifted away a bit in order to finish up the second Mark of Aeacus script, but now I can get back to Matt and Jake and their monster-hunting adventures.

PK: When can readers expect the next update?

Zan: Oh, no, you're going to nail me down and hold me to it, aren't you...

PK: Well...yeah! I guess it's just the editor in me

Zan: I need an editor to kick my ass a bit! Are you available?

PK: {laughs} Sure...though I guess I won't hold you to a date...I'll leave it as "soon"...but I'm watching you!

Zan: I have another chapter almost finished, actually... let's say end of the month. I like having a deadline.

PK: All right, PK will call you up around that time just to make sure!

Zan: And really, if you take a look at the book and you like it, the best way to get more is to bother me. I'm just a people pleaser at heart. So register on www.ElevenPages.com and post some comments!

PK: All right, now on to the fun stuff! Are you ready for a PK flash round of questions?

Zan: Let me just put on my Pink Kryptonite sweatband. Available at fine LGBT comics retailers everywhere. [Editor's note: Nope, sorry] Okay, ready. Sometimes the fast questions make me sweaty.

PK: Gross. Moving on!

Zan: [laughs]

PK: What's your current favorite mainstream comic book?

Zan: I'm not reading anything regularly at the moment, though I picked up the 52 trades and really liked that series, actually. Countdown doesn't look as good, though.

PK:Trust us, it isn't. What about indies?: Anything tickling your fancy?

Zan: It hasn't been released yet, but I just read Jon Macy's adaptation of the Victorian gay novel Teleny. It was intense. It's one of the advantages of being an insider in LGBT comics. [laughs]

PK: Who's publishing that? And more importantly, when is that out?

Zan: I don't think he's got a deal yet; he's putting the finishing touches on it. But it's a magnum opus, a huge volume and really ambitious. Beautiful artwork.

PK: Well we're certainly jealous. OK, let's get smutty. Hottest superhero out there?

Zan: I'd say either Sadowski's Ted Grant AKA Wildcat (preferably wearing just a towel) or Carla Speed McNeil's Jaeger Ayers, from Finder. Not strictly a superhero. But he is super hot.

PK: Hang on I have to Google them...Oh wow... good choices! Let's move on before I get too distracted. What's your favorite mainstream comic creative run?

Zan: I have to go back to the late eighties, when I was starry-eyed and just discovering comics. I loved, loved, loved George Perez' run on Wonder Woman, and nothing has touched that since. Also was a rabid Claremont X-Men fan for years. Not so much the Byrne years, but the John Romita, Jr. ones around issue 200. And a dark horse candidate: Young Heroes in Love. Another DC book, which was completely unlike any other book I was reading and went, alas, completely under the radar of most people.

PK: What do you think of Claremont's stuff now?

Zan: Hmm... let's just say I think I liked Claremont's writing because I was 15 years old and leave it at that.

PK: Good call. Well, excellent choices sir! And finally our last question...we save the dirtiest for last! If you could be a voyeur to any two heroes making out, who would those be?

Zan: Hmm... I think it would be hot to watch Wolverine make out with someone, going all feral. Maybe some Wolverine/Cyclops action?

PK: Oh there's some slash fiction on that...let me just refer you---Oh I'm sorry our interview is over! Thanks very much Zan, for taking the time to answer our questions

Zan: Any time! It's been a pleasure.