Marcos: Victor Gischler, thank you for joining me do this interview. Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
Source: Victor Gischler
VG: I am short and fat. But at least I’m losing my hair.
Marcos: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
VG: In first grade we had a arts/crafts project where we glued pages together and a cloth cover to make our own books. Naturally, the pages were blank, so part of the assignment was to fill the pages. I wrote and illustrated a story about a detective who tracked down dwarves who’d stolen some doughnuts. The climax was one of the most horrifying blood baths ever penned by a 6 year old. No social workers came to take me away.
Marcos: You seems to be well crafted in humor, crime and rated R stuff. If you could how would you describe your writing style and what are your favorite themes for fiction?
VG: I enjoy irreverence and WTF? moments in my fictions. I don’t want to read about regular people doing regular things. I like to go over the top.
Marcos: What are your influences?
VG: I could rattle off some books, but cable TV as a kid was a huge influence too. They didn’t have so much programming back then, so I was always watching old westerns and cheesy sci-fi movies. Huge influences. when I was 7 or 8 years old The Creature from the Black Lagoon was scary as hell.
Marcos: You’ve been writing for almost ten years. What brought you into the comic world?
VG: I’ve been writing longer than that actually. My first novel Gun Monkeys was published in 2001. As for comics, I read them a lot when I was younger and wanted to get back into them. My agent is a guy named David Hale Smith with an agency called Inkwell. He had good industry contacts and set me up to do a Punisher Max one-shot for Marvel.
Source: MAX COMICS
Marcos: In what ways does your writing process changes between writing a novel, screenplay and a comic book?
VG: Well, let’s set aside screenplays for the moment. I haven’t really made much headway there to be honest. I adapted my own novel GO-GO GIRLS OF THE APOCALYPSE into a screenplay and we’ve been through 4 different producers but just can’t get it to click. I’m looking for number five. But until then, I don’t really consider myself a screenwriter. A novel is very solitary. A comic is a team effort. I don’t know if I’ve really communicated when I’ve meant to until the art comes in. I like both.
Marcos: Where you a fan of Joss Whedon’s Buffy The Vampire Slayer before you too up the task of writing Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike?
Source: A Dark Place
VG: Huge fan, and I have my wife to thank for it. Back in the days of VHS, she left for the weekend but told me to record a Buffy marathon. I’m too dumb to figure out how to record one channel while watching a different channel, so I ended up sitting there and watching the whole thing. I was hooked.
Marcos: Your work on X-Men was very well received and you done a number of Marvel related properties. Of all your work for Marvel which one was your favorite to work on and why?
VG: Deadpool. That’s my kind of humor. I felt very at home writing that stuff. Punisher Max is a close second.
Marcos: How was your experience writing for Dark Horse Comics?
VG: Fantastic. They also let me do a couple of creator-owned books (Clown Fatal, and Kiss Me, Satan) and both experiences were very positive.
Source: captaincomics.ning.com
Marcos: What characters or stories would you like to tackle?
VG: I’m really leaning more toward creator-owned things these days, but I wouldn’t say no to Dr. Strange for Marvel or especially Challengers of the Unknown for DC.
Marcos: A couple of your novels have been rumored to be eyed by studios for a film adaptation. Can you confirm these rumors and have you met with studios heads?
VG: Almost every novel I’ve written has been optioned one time or another. We just got a nice offer on one last week, but I really can’t say anything until the paperwork is signed, etc. A very good TV writer is currently writing a pilot script based on my novel STAY for CBS. The idea was brought to me by Macmillan editor Brendan Deneen, and I wrote it. We all have fingers crossed on that one.
Marcos: How has your experiences at comic book conventions been so far? and funny stories to share?
VG: Very good. People are friendly. No outrageous stories.
Marcos: Are there any future novel plans?
VG: Well, Gestapo Mars just recently came out, and I’m supposed to be working on that sequel. Also the third installment of my fantasy trilogy A Fire Beneath the Skin hits in December. Always plenty going on.
Source: Amazon
Marcos: Any tips on what to do and what not to do for upcoming writers?
VG: Don’t talk about writing. Do it. Put your ass in the chair and start. Then finish. Then when you’re finished, guess what. You’re not finished. Go over that thing until you can’t stand looking at it anymore and then go over it again.
Marcos :How can readers discover more about you and your work?
VG: Just type my name into Amazon.com. Or visit me at www.victorgischler.blogspot.com Or follow me on Twitter @VictorGischler
Marcos: Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
VG: Mmmm. Buffalo wings.
