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The Vampire Is The More Emotionally/Mentally 'Healthy' Character – Nancy Collins

Nancy Collins has wrapped up her writing on the Swords of Sorrow: Vampirella / Jennifer Blood miniseries and talked to Byron Brewer about being part of an event and brainstorm with a new generation of female writers. Cover art by Billy Tan.

SoSVampiJB003CovATanBYRON BREWER: Nancy, how has it been being a part of this most unique summer comic book "event"?

NANCY COLLINS: It's been both fun and educational! This was my first event comic series since Neil Gaiman's Children's Crusade cross-over that involved the Vertigo titles. I got to meet (at least online) an entire new generation of writers and brainstorm with them.

BB: During all this, with all the diverse female heroes, did you discover any characters new to you that you might like to take a crack at as a writer?

NC: Definitely! I wouldn't mind trying my hand with Jennifer Blood, Jungle Girl, Lady Zorro & Lady Rawhide, Pantha, and Lady Greystoke (that's a lotta ladies, now that I think about it).

BB: Has it been more difficult or easier than you thought "teaming" Vampirella and Jennifer Blood in this Swords of Sorrow tie-in?

NC: It was pretty easy. My creator-owned Sonja Blue series combines the supernatural and hardboiled crime noir. All I had to do was separate those two genres into their respective characters.

BB: You are Vampi's regular writer and have certainly made your impression on this iconic brand. Do you think Jennifer Blood lost anything in a book with such a powerful and dominating character as Vampirella?

NC: No, if anything, I think Vampirella's character helped define Jennifer Blood's for first-time readers, as she is closer to a traditional 'hero', while Jennifer Blood is more a vigilante/anti-hero. As for myself, once I got up to speed on Jennifer Blood (I admit I didn't know anything about the character before hand), it wasn't hard to find her 'voice'. Of the two, I would say the vampire is definitely the more emotionally/mentally 'healthy' character.

BB: How has it been working with artist Dave Acosta?

NC: Dave's been wonderful. He's been good about incorporating the photo reference I give him into his work, while at the same time giving it his own spin. I'm always eager to see how he interprets my scripts.

BB: I know in series like this there are limitations and give and take. As the miniseries comes to a conclusion in August, did you tell the story you set out to tell?

NC: My goal was to pair up characters that would never otherwise interact in a gritty yet fun 'urban fantasy' style story and introduce both Vampirella and Jennifer Blood to readers that might not be familiar with them in a way that illustrated their unique backgrounds, abilities, and differences without it being yet another: "Hey! We've never met before! Let's punch each other out for the next 15 pages!" team-up story. I think I succeeded at that, but it's up to the readers to make that final call.

For more on Swords of Sorrow: Vampirella / Jennifer Blood #4, click here.


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Dan WicklineAbout Dan Wickline

Has quietly been working at Bleeding Cool for over three years. He has written comics for Image, Top Cow, Shadowline, Avatar, IDW, Dynamite, Moonstone, Humanoids and Zenescope. He is the author of the Lucius Fogg series of novels and a published photographer.
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