Photography & Interview by Denise Vasquez ©2024
Where are you based?
I work primarily in Culver City at our studio, Aspen Comics, but also freelance write and edit projects at my home in West Los Angeles.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up not too far from where I currently work, in a small city in West Los Angeles called Mar Vista. Not many people have heard of it, as it’s nestled between Venice Beach and Santa Monica.
What made you move or stay where you are?
I’ve been told I’m not daring because I still live in the area where I grew up, haha! But I’ve traveled to a lot of other cities and countries and honestly feel Los Angeles is still the place I want to live—for right now. It offers me everything I need when it comes to creative outlets, great restaurants and social activities, a strong comic book industry community, and most importantly friends and family that still live nearby. I feel blessed that my parents live right down the road from me, which can be rare in a big metropolitan city.
How old were you when you started reading comics?
I was about six years old when I first got into comics. My parents would drop me off the three local comic book shops in the area—Hi De Ho Comics in Santa Monica, Golden Apple Comics near Hollywood, and a shop that doesn’t exist anymore, Comics Inc. in Culver City. It was fun because each shop offered different experiences. I would go to Hi-De-Ho and look for any EC Comics Horror comics like Tales From the Crypt to collect. At Golden Apple we’d go on Sundays and they always had fun collectibles like toys and discounted graphic novels to try out. And since Comics Inc. was our closest store we’d go there for our weekly titles. I was big on Amazing Spider-Man back then. I suppose I still am to this day as it’s the one comic book series I still follow from issue-to-issue. These days I mostly stick to graphic novels since with my busy schedule I prefer to read the entire story in one sitting.
Did you always want to work in the comic book industry?
Not really! In fact, the thought never really crossed my mind until my brother Tim started working for a small independent comic book publisher called Top Cow, and imprint of Image Comics in the mid 90’s. Their studio was located on the Third Street Promenade near where I went to High School, so occasionally after school he would let me come to the studio and see the behind-the-scenes fun. It definitely struck me then that working in comics was much more accessible—and exciting—than I imagined. A couple years later I was working customer service for a store called Pavilions when Tim asked if I was interested in applying for a marketing assistant job at Top Cow. At the time I was pretty over working for a grocery chain so thought it would be a nice direction change for me, and of course I was lucky to have a brother working there that could vouch for me! I started working at Top Cow on my 18th birthday and have been in comics ever since!
Who or what influenced or inspired you to want write?
I wanted to write stories from a very early age, but the one memory I have that really stands as the spark of my writing journey was an experience I had as a kid with a writer, Michael Fatah. He was a friend of my father and a children’s book author. We visited his home one day and it was the first time I met a published author and really put it together that you could make a living writing fictional stories. He was so gracious to me and my father, and even signed one of his books for me. I still have that book to this day and it’s one of my most cherished items and serves as a reminder of where I started and where I’ve ended up to this point. Michael unfortunately passed away from a medical condition and it also taught me at an early age that life is precious and to take advantage of the time you have. It’s a lesson I’ve learned many times over sadly, as several of my colleagues throughout my professional career have also passed away too early in their lives.
How did you end up at Aspen Comics?
I was working at Top Cow for three years in 2003 at the time Michael Turner founded Aspen Comics, and was close friends with him and his co-founder, Frank Mastromauro. When I left Top Cow I worked briefly in the entertainment industry for several different companies, doing freelance writing for video games and other jobs that I could find. Since I was good friends with those guys, it was a natural fit for me to join the Aspen team given my skill set and knowledge of the industry at that time, and twenty-one years later I’m still here with the team!
What was it like working with Michael Turner as the writer of FATHOM?
One career regret I have is that I started writing the main series of Fathom after Michael had already passed away from cancer, so while I’ve edited every Fathom issue starting from the second volume, I didn’t get to see his reaction to my stories of his popular creation. However, I did begin writing the spin-off series, Fathom Kiani, while he was still alive, and it was amazing to be able to work directly with the creator on my first published comic book series. I can’t lie and say it was all peaches and cream, as I was a total newbie then, and we definitely had some creative differences on the story that I wanted to tell. But it was always a positive experience, and his notes and guidance ended up making the story even better than I what I had anticipated.
What is it like being a producer & Editor in Chief at Aspen Comics?
Working in comics, and especially at Aspen Comics, has always been more like working with your pals and creating fun stuff more than a job. Yes, there are times that are packed with deadlines and immense pressure—like all things in book publishing—but I can’t say I’ve ever felt like it was a tough gig. I’ve been lucky enough to work at two comic book publishers, which is rare, so I never take that for granted. As an editor, it’s always a balance of daily pressure and working with immensely creative artists and creators from all walks of life, so I can honestly say I love the position I have.
What do you love the most about being an editor? A Producer?
The funny thing is, being a comic book editor or a producer are basically the same roles, and I’ve done both in my time. Working for a publisher as an editor, everything stops with you at the top, so it’s exciting and also scary at times, because your job is always reliant on the talent you hire and put on projects. As a producer, I’ve been in the same role whether it’s getting my books off the ground in other media, or simply putting together a project from start to finish. A lot of people don’t know I’ve had my hands in many roles—I’ve even put together a successful rap battle here in Los Angeles that I’m immensely proud of, as we shined the light on some amazing local talent in the hip hop scene. I firmly believe you learn and grow from every project, big or small.
How do you find your artists?
When I first started editing comics, it was much more difficult to find great artists, since the industry was so insular and publishers mostly stuck to the same talent for every project. But, now it’s much easier with various social media platforms. You simply have to be on as many of them as possible and keep your eyes peeled for who is connecting with their audience. Luckily, since I’ve been in the game for so long, I have a long list of contacts I can pull from when we start a new project. But I also use my trusted creators whenever possible, since many of them are already proven in my book. It’s a mix of using every tool at your disposal to find and maintain an abundant contact list.
How many comics has Aspen Comics produced?
Oh, wow, I couldn’t give you a specific number but I’d estimate it’s between 500 and a thousand standalone issues, books and projects. A lot of people don’t know that we don’t just publish comic books but also have produced artwork and design for commercials, print ads and more. One notable project that surprises people is that we were responsible for the Beyonce American Express commercials where she was drawn onto the page in real time on camera. It was one of many different projects that we’ve done in our over two decades.
What advice can you offer to aspiring comic book creators, artists & writers?
My favorite phrase is always “just start.” To me, that’s one of the most difficult aspects of getting any creative endeavor off the ground, just taking the first steps towards your goal. Your brain will by nature always give you reasons for why you’re not ready, but it’s the ability to get started that will push you to succeed. Another lesson that’s big for me is that failing is not a failure but rather a step in the journey that is necessary to become better. We generally don’t get better through our successes, it’s the failures and our response to them that builds our character.
Any new projects in the works that you are excited about that you are able to talk about?
I’m blessed to always have something in the works but a few that come to mind are the Ekos Kickstarter campaign we’re launching at Aspen later this month [September], my own personal comic book Siria Underworld Pimp Hustla, that is coming in early 2025, and several graphic novels I’m consulting on for a foreign publisher Sandstorm Comics. These three projects have consumed my time lately, and I’m equally exciting for all of them. Please look into each if you’re as excited about fun stories as I am, as each offers something different in the comics world.
Where can people find you online?
I’m usually very active on Facebook and Instagram, as that’s where I release most of the updates on my work to my fans. I’m easy to find on there, just search for my name, and on IG : @vince_aspen
Anything else you want to add?
Thanks for taking the time with me to explore my career, I’m honored to be a part of Promote Magazine's awesome content and I hope your readers will find some informative insight into comics and entertainment from this interview—or at least had some fun as I did!
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