BOOM! Studios continues it’s expansion by hiring big names in the entertainment industry. Following the appointment of Mark Waid as Editor-in-Chief last year, and Chip Mosher as Marketing and Sales Director, last month BOOM! appointed Wendy Wallace as General Manager.
According to the press release:
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“Ms. Wallace started out at Universal Studios in the cable television department, ultimately becoming involved with the development, production, and distribution of many television series, movies-of-the-week, miniseries, and DVD releases. Some of her efforts include USA Network’s MONK and PRANCER RETURNS, as well as The Sci-Fi Channel’s INVISIBLE MAN series and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA mini-series. Since leaving NBC/Universal, Ms. Wallace has worked on such diverse projects as UPN’s AMISH IN THE CITY, USA Network’s DC SNIPER: 23 DAYS OF FEAR and the cable comedy hit, PSYCH. Most recently, she served as Co-Producer on The Sci-Fi Channel’s number one series to date, EUREKA. She has also functioned as a producer and consultant for feature films, music videos and various Internet-exclusive and print projects.”
The folks at BOOM! were kind enough to allow me to ask Ms. Wallace a few questions about her work and future with comics.
Matt Knicl: Have you always liked comics or the medium?
Wendy Wallace: Absolutely. I’ve always been an avid reader of all kinds of books, comics included. I’m more of a general consumer, though, than a serious collector, so I probably haven’t read as many as some people—although you can bet I’m reading a lot more lately!
Matt: Are there any specific properties, titles, or books that you like?
Wendy: Anything you put in front of me. Seriously, there’s so much good stuff out there, I love it when people recommend to me books they’re passionate about. I find a lot of gems that way. Persepolis is an amazing look into a world I’m not exposed to much, which is exactly what’s so great about comics. The Middleman cracks me up every time, plus how can you go wrong with a hero almost named the same as me? And I absolutely adore the Bone series—it appeals to both kids and adults alike, which is a very tough line to walk. A couple weeks ago I stumbled upon the charmingly brilliant The Claws Come Out by Pat Lewis. It’s chock full of strong, capable female characters speaking very smart, very witty dialogue. Also, there are monsters!
Right now, I’m working my way through BOOM!’s extensive back catalog. It’s amazing, there really is something there for everyone. Zombie Tales is a fascinating, continued exploration on the human condition cleverly masked in a tasty, zombie-shaped treat. “Potter’s Field,” wow does that ever start with a bang. Completely grabbed me on page 1. I also just got a peek at our upcoming Scream Queen series—horror plus comedy (horromedy!) equals good times all around!
Matt: How is the transition from TV to comics?
Wendy: So far so good! In comics, just like in film, TV and the Internet, it’s all fundamentally about telling a great story, and producing is the business of getting a story told and out to the audience regardless of the platform. There’s always a learning curve to some degree from one medium to the next, of course, but thanks to the patient folks here at BOOM! I’m quickly getting up to speed on the nuances particular to the comic industry.
Matt: What do you look forward to working with comics and BOOM?
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Wendy: Definitely the people. There are a LOT of talented, creative folks working in comics these days and I’m looking forward to getting to know them.
I’m very excited the opportunity came up here at BOOM! to work with Ross Richie and Andy Cosby again. There are a lot of smart and creative people here, from our marketing team, helmed by Chip Mosher, to our editors, designers, and of course the inimitable Mark Waid. Mark is a blast to work with—we have tons of fun. I enjoy coming to work, how many people can say that?!
Matt: Are there any positive/negative trends you’ve noticed in comics today?
Wendy: The industry has taken great strides of late to reach out to those historically underrepresented in comics, like women and minorities, but there’s still a long way to go. I look forward to a continued increase in unique stories and perspectives from diverse voices in the community.
Matt: Did you have a favorite moment with the television shows you worked with?
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Wendy: When the credits roll! There is a lot, I mean a LOT, involved in getting a TV show from the script to the broadcast. With hundreds of people involved and hundreds of moving parts, stuff’s bound to go wrong along the way. It’s an exhilarating process keeping an eye on that big picture and solving problems on the fly, but it can also be quite intense. It’s always a nice feeling when the show makes it to the air pretty much in one piece.
Matt Knicl: My name is Matt Knicl. I'm a U of I alumn and one of those unemployed English majors Garrison Keillor likes to make fun of. I've been reading comics since high school and one day I would like to write them. My goal is to expose readers to what is out there in the world of comics and using my English powers, show what is worth reading or not. I can be reached at buzz.comics@gmail.com.
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Matt Knicl
My name is Matt Knicl. I'm a U of I alumn and one of those unemployed English majors Garrison Keillor likes to make fun of. I've been reading comics since high school and one day I would like to write them. My goal is to expose readers to what is out there in the world of comics and using my English powers, show what is worth reading or not. I can be reached at buzz.comics@gmail.com.