By Millicent Mortificus - Special to DFG ONLINE!Superheroes are everywhere these day; in print, in film and as toy/food tie-in promotions at your favourite fast food restaurants. Daniel F. Graves is the President of the Canadian Small Press Juggernaut, DFG Comics. We were granted an exclusive interview, over breakfast, at Toronto's Fairmount Royal York Hotel to discuss the comic book industry and, more specifically, the present day goings-on at DFG Comics Corporate Head Office.
CCI: Thanks for meeting with us.
DFG: I must say, it is always a pleasure to do these interviews. Of the thousands that I've done over the past two decades, I've always enjoyed interviews with your esteemed publication.
CCI: With 25+ years of DFG comics in the DFG canon, do you have any intention to slow down?
DFG: Absolutely not! DFG Comics, and its subsidiaries are a lifetime passion and labour of love. As I've said in the past, one of the great things about DFG publications and productions is that they occur in "real time." Unline many of our competitors, and especially those south of the border, 25 years of DFG comics is 25 years of real time. That's why the Spymaster and Nepto have aged; that's why we've introduced a whole new generation of heroes; and that's why the DFG universe will forever remain full of surprises.
CCI: Has the success of DFG Comics surprised you?
DFG: Not really... I always knew we had something great on our hands. That's why we we've been able to outlast so many small presses, and as an aside, why we were able to acquire other small presses over the years. We're simply the best. I mean, come on, who has a hero like Captain Nepto in their stable. He can do most anything, fly, swing on a rope when he's tired of flying, go deep sea in that super-scientific sub of his, and don't get me started on the wig -- can you tell me any other company who has a superhero known for his wigs? Fanbloodytastic, I say.
CCI: The Spymaster has greatly evolved over the years, what's your personal favourite period?
DFG: My all-time favourite Spymaster period is the early-eighties, when his character and identity were just forming. He started out a bit grim, but eventually took on a more mainstream, brighter persona. I mean, falling in love with Nova, a voluptuous woman from another dimension? That's hardly grim and gritty, yet that period had a charm of its own. In the mid-eighties when I went dark with him again -- a period I also like very much -- I think we lost something, particularly his connection to the rest of the DFG universe. That was what was so great about the early period. He and Nepto were the two lead characters, and Darryl seemed to have them teaming up, all chummy and buddy-buddy every other issue or so. In the recent years I've tried to catch that flavour of he and Nepto remaining the leaders of the DFG stable of heroes. In Spy '96 they had one final team-up and in the recent story-arc, he and Nepto are adversaries as they have come to represent very different perspectives on what it means to lead the next generation of DFG heroes. I suppose when it comes down to it, I really prefer the Spymaster out of costume, as Julius Smithers. I feel that Julius has grown beyond the Spymaster role and has become the elder statesman of the DFG universe. Again, this is the result of naturally ageing our characters. You can't have a 70 year old running around in a costume.
CCI: Is there any particular storyline you would like to change?
DFG: Absolutely not. I am dead-set against retcons (retroactively changing continuity -- ed.). Some of our competitors take great pride in changing the origins and history of their characters every second month or so. If it's in the DFG canon, it's in the DFG canon! Period! However, I'm not opposed to going back and adding details here and there -- things that were not revealed the first time around that can be nicely added without contradicting old continuity. I made a mistake early in my career as a comic book creator and attempted to do that with the Spymaster. Faithful DFG readers will know that he has two different origins, one from the original Spy Comics series (1981-84), and one from the 1985 series. In the first series he gets amnesia and becomes a criminal called the Swift Mugger. When his memory returns he becomes the Spymaster in order to right his wrongs. In 1985, his wife is killed and he becomes the Spymaster to exact revenge and track down her killer. I have long wanted to resolve this discrepency and will be doing so in Spy Comics Annual #1 (the origin issue) due out later this summer. I can assure you that neither origin will be contradicted or wiped out! Those who are faithful to either version will be happy with the result, I think.
There are many things that I could regret doing. For example, the Radiation Master is probably the silliest villain ever created, but instead of ignoring him, I think that he has a great place in the DFG universe as a "loser villain." We can make gold out of whatever old crap we might find in the canon!
CCI: What's you favourite cover and why?
DFG: I always loved the Spymaster/Nova wedding cover from the original Spy Comics series. It was just so silly. I never drew the inside story until last year when I did the story for Retro-Spy #2. Instead of having them actually get married, it was just a hook to draw in the reader and serve as the plot point on which the Invincibles come to be! Other favourites include the very first cover Spy Comics #1 (1981) cover, which I redrew for #1 of the second series (1985). I'm planning on doing it again, with a twist. I always loved Darryl Andrews' cover for Captain Nepto #1 (1981) and have recently recreated it for Spy Classics #3! My other favourite is Captain Nepto (original series) #9 from 1984 (the last issue of the original series) that Flora just coloured as part of our collectors' series.
CCI: Have you had any experience with the big American publishers like Marvel or DC trying to cherrypick some of DFG's talent?
DFG: Repovski did some work for Dark Horse, but that was with my blessing, of course. I never want to hold anyone back from following their dreams. If working for DC or Marvel is their dream, well then let them go, I say. The truth is, most of our creators love DFG so much that you couldn't pay them enough to work anywhere else!
CCI: Does DFG still obtain all filming rights or are some characters already optioned for possible film productions?
DFG: We are very protective of our film rights. As you know, DFG has its own production studio and has done several television series and big-screen films (as well as some made for TV films). Perhaps our biggest success was the Bates & Holden TV series. This is one example where the film characters made the transition to the comic page. This is why we retain all rights -- it's called synergy, my friend. If we let the rights go, then we can't capitalize on such cross-over possibilities. Another area that we will be moving into is toy production. Watch for DFG Action Figures Series One which will be hitting toy stores for Christmas. Figures will include the golden age Spymaster, Nepto, Redman, the original Sy Clopps, Killer Shark, the Blaster, and the Radiation Master.
CCI: Would you like to be the 'Stan Lee' of DFG with walk-ons in every movie?
DFG: What? Are you kidding me? Haven't you seen any of our films? I'm in every one of them! I was doing that before Stan Lee even thought of the idea. And by the way, missy, I have much more substantial roles that Mr. Lee.
CCI: You have two brothers, yet neither has produced a comic...any reason for that?
DFG: They can't draw. But they are award-winning actors. Again, watch the movies.
CCI: Which villain is your favourite?
DFG: The original Sy Clopps. You'll understand why next year when the 2009 Spy Classics Annual #2 finally tells his origin. If you want a hint, check out the Sylvester Clopps family photo posted elsewhere on this page. I've also recently developed a real soft-spot for the Radiation Master, just because he's so absurd. I mean, the guy has no head!
CCI: Which character do you think has the greatest potential that to date remains a secondary character?
DFG: Freddy.
CCI: Tell me a little about the upcoming finale of Spy Comics Presents The Invincibles.
DFG: It will all wrap up in Issue #5. While it is a battle between Julius' team and Nepto's team, it really is the culmination of the psychological battle between Julius and Nepto. It will set the stage for the next major era of the DFG universe, changing it forever.
CCI: In terms of sales, which DFG title is the most successful? The most popular?
DFG: Spy Comics Presents and Captain Nepto Prime seem to always go head-to-head in sales, with Spy Classics coming third and Retro-Spy in fourth.
CCI: Spy Classics is one of my favourite titles , what can fans expect to see in the upcoming year?
DFG: Well, you know about the "all-origins" annual, and I've mentioned plans for next years' all-villains origin annual. Issue three retells Captain Nepton #1 (from 1981) and includes story and art by Andrews, Repovski and myself. I'd like to retell the first Cap/Spymaster team-up... watch and see!
CCI: Any plans for a special Christmas Holiday edition?
DFG: Oh yes, you must be psychic. It will actually be an issue of Retro-Spy and will take place in DFG Golden-age period. It will be entitled, "The Invincibles Save Christmas!"
CCI: Are you and Todd Abbot friends?
DFG: No.
CCI: Describe your best day.
DFG: Every day is a great day at DFG!
End of Part One of Interview
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