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Dean Haspiel

Case study: THOMAS ALSOP

by Palle Schmidt Leave a Comment

I met Chris Miskiewicz at the MoCCA Festival in New York in early 2011. The Devil’s Concubine was set to be published in the US that year but wasn’t out yet. I carried a print-out of the book with me, as well as a sample of my upcoming book STILETTO. I was blown away by the response. I wasn’t used to that kind of praise, and for the first time, people seemed to really GET IT. It felt like I’d been in a box for ten years and now someone had finally taken the lid off. I didn’t know what to expect from the show but I certainly wasn’t looking for work.

I met Chris as he and Dean Haspiel were setting up a booth. Chris and I clicked immediately. He gave me a copy of his Everywhere! anthology booklet he had printed for the show and asked me if I would consider doing an episode. We exchanged numbers and continued to chat for almost an hour. I walked back to the booth this Danish cartoonist had set up in the corner of the con floor and started reading the booklet. I texted Chris 5 minutes after we parted ways: “I’m in.” For a guy who wasn’t looking for work, I was totally failing after just one day in the country.

We stayed in touch over the next months via e-mail and texts. Chris sent me a great script for Everywhere! episode, a heist story that was more or less written with my taste in mind. It was a great experience and Chris continued to bring up Thomas Alsop, a concept he had pitched me on the con floor that first time I met him. I still figured it had nothing to do with me, not ready to commit to anything that major and not sure how to go about it.

Later that year I heard of New York Comic Con for the first time and figured I would try to fly over for that. I’d already been to San Diego Comic Con and did a few signings on the West Coast. I reached out to Dean and asked if I could come sit at his studio for a week or so before or after the con and he said sure. I went and got to know both Chris and Dean a whole lot better.

Scripts and photo references for Thomas Alsop started filling up our Dropbox and we did a little teaser episode for Trip City called The Case of Dead Uncle. Google it, I’m sure it’s still out there. Again Chris was smart enough to lure me in with something short and doable rather than a full script for 8 issues.

Chris had already written the entire 8-issue arc before I even drew a single page. It was crucial to have the ending (and wow, what an ending!) in mind even as I was working on issue 1. Whether it would ever go anywhere was still in the wind, but when Chris spent his own money creating a live action trailer (viewable on the front page of thomasalsop.com) I was floored. It looked like a million bucks! This crazy New Yorker meant business and he clearly knew what he was doing. 

In July of 2013 we pitched Thomas Alsop to BOOM! at SDCC. We’d bumped into a friend of Chris’ on the con floor who introduced us to Matt Gagnon and we chatted for like 20 minutes. Only after parting ways did we realize he was the editor in chief. 

BOOM! eventually picked up the book and I started breaking down the script and drawing issue #2. We did hit a small snag when the publisher suddenly wanted to discuss a key point in the story revolving 9/11. If it had been a minor element we would have probably obliged to change it but since it was in line 2 of the pitch they bought and was a crucial focal point of the whole series, Chris and I stood our ground. We eventually agreed to a add little essays as back matter, making it clear for the readers that Chris was not just some douche exploiting a national disaster but was himself a New Yorker, born and bred. The book went forward and the controversy never happened. On the contrary, the respectful handling of 9/11 in the story seemed to land us an even more committed fan base and the book was dubbed Best Mini-Series of 2014 by USA Today. So even though BOOM! decided not to do a second series due to lack of commercial success, we still have a book we can be proud of out there. And who knows, maybe some day…

Lessons learned:

If I have any regrets in my career, it is not going to a US con sooner. Where the US has an actual comics industry, Denmark does not. I learned a lot from working with Chris, and found out I don’t necessarily have to be the one behind the wheel to enjoy the ride. 


This post is an excerpt from my book SOLO – Survival Guide for Creative Freelancers – Pre-order now on Amazon.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: #SDCC, BOOM! Studios, Chris Miskiewicz, collaboration, comics industry, community, Dean Haspiel, Hang Dai Studios, New York, New York Comic Con, NYCC, SOLO, Thomas Alsop

Thomas Alsop released!

by Palle Schmidt 1 Comment

Thomas-Alsop-2014-ad

Big day for me, as the monthly book I’ve been working on for almost a year is finally released TODAY from BOOM! Studios.

Thomas Alsop is the current Hand of the Island. A title that’s been passed down from generation to generation of the Alsop family since Richard Alsop was cursed in 1699 by an Indian tribe to become the supernatural protector for all of New York. Ever since that day, members of the Alsop Family have battled against every type of darkness in the service of the Island, a mysterious woman who guides them all, but only reveals herself in their dreams. The book is written by Chris Miskiewicz and illustrated by yours truly.

Here’s what the first review of issue #1 says:

Thomas is a whiskey-soaked hipster who just happens to also be a warlock… In a great twist of irony, in order to remain inconspicuous, Thomas must be part of a reality TV show with a supernatural theme. It’s a great premise and this comics series looks like it’s up to the challenge.

Read the rest of the review at Comics Grinder.

Thomas Alsop is for sale in comics stores in the US and everywhere else. If your local store can’t order it for you, you can order it directly from BOOM!. If you’re in New York tonight, be sure to swing by Forbidden Planet and get a signed copy from the writer, Chris Miskiewicz, who’ll be there alongside Paul Pope, Nick Bertozzi and Dean Haspiel.

Follow TheRealThomasAlsop on Facebook and visit thomasalsop.com for the live action trailer and more news and reviews.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: BOOM! Studios, Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, news, Nick Bertozzi, Paul Pope, press, release, review, Thomas Alsop

Seth Kushner and Nathan Schreiber – Comics for Beginners podcast episode 18

by Palle Schmidt Leave a Comment

Seth Kushner (http://www.sethkushner.com/) is a photographer and writer, known for his awesome portraits in Leaping Tall Buildings: The Origins of American Comics and his Schmuck series and photocomics on Trip City. Nathan Schreiber (http://www.nathanschreiber.com/) is an Eisner and Harvey Awards nominated artist, whose own book Power Out won a Xeric award in 2009.

I talked to both Seth and Nathan about the art and craft while I was in New York this fall, only later realizing what a great double feature the two interviews would make, as they worked together on Seth Kushners Schmuck! Their collaboration on the Schmuck series can be found at http://welcometotripcity.com/2013/10/schmuck-14-size-11/

Seth Kushner and Nathan Schreiber's collaboration on Schmuck : Size 11
Seth Kushner and Nathan Schreiber’s collaboration on Schmuck : Size 11

Filed Under: Podcast, Pro Tips Tagged With: Brooklyn, career, collaboration, comics, comics industry, creativity, Dean Haspiel, drawing, Frank Santoro, Hang Dai Editions, Hang Dai Studios, how to, improving as an artist, Leaping Tall Buildings: The Origins of American Comics, learning, making comics, Nathan Schreiber, obscure, photocomics, pro tips, Schmuck, Seth Kushner, storytelling, Trip City, workflow, Writing, writing for comics

Dean Haspiel Short Cuts to Making Better Comics – Comics for Beginners podcast episode 15

by Palle Schmidt 2 Comments


Emmy-award winning artist Dean Haspiel gives some insights on the craft and business of comics, the benefits of being part of a studio community and his current work on the series The Fox with writer Mark Waid. Dean also shares what he believes to be the secret to making better comics: It’s all about hair! For more about Haspiel’s work, check out http://www.deanhaspiel.com and http://www.tripcity.net .

Dean Haspiel sketching on napkins at an after NYCC event, New York 2013.
Dean Haspiel sketching on napkins at an after NYCC event, New York 2013.

Filed Under: News, Podcast Tagged With: career, comics, community, creativity, Dean Haspiel, Hang Dai Studios, improving as an artist, learning, making comics, Mark Waid, New York Comic Con, NYCC, studio, The Fox, tips for making comics

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