An AIPT Double Shot!
A Different Kind of Interview, Part 1
At the Superan Podcast, it’s our task, nay…our calling…to interview your favorite comics creators about what they are fans of, outside of comics. This Substack, we’re kicking off something a little different. We decided to interview the folks who usually do the interviews! We’re starting with an AIPT double shot, joining us this week are David Brooke and Chris Coplan from AIPT, which holds a special place in our hearts as they are the news outlet that first announced this little podcast that could! So without further ado…
SPFAN POD: Chris, what or who was the comic, writer, or artist that hooked you on comics? Why did you become a comics Superfan?
CHRIS COPLAN: I wouldn’t write about comics for years after it debuted, but the book that answers this question is Casanova by Matt Fraction, Gabriel Bá, and Fábio Moon. It’s one of the most unique and compelling books I’ve ever encountered -- it’s equally funny, insightful, heartfelt, and endlessly cool. It’s the thing that defines comics to me, and unwrapping that kind of pure genius is what makes me want to cover comics at all. What I do, even after some 7 years, is all about finding and celebrating big, beautiful books (like this one) that can change your heart and mind.
SPFP: David, let’s talk about your secret origin. What was the first comic you read? Set the scene for us. What year was it? How old were you?
DAVID BROOKE: The first comic I read was Amazing Spider-Man #362, 1992, and I was 8 years old. Comic shops didn’t exist in my area, but a small Cape Cod shop near the beach had a spinner rack. I haven’t looked back.
SPFP: When did each of you start covering comics? What, pray tell, was your motivation?
DB: I joined AIPT in December 2011 after years of writing movie reviews. They wanted a movie reviewer, but soon, I was asking if I could review comics. ComiX Weekly (what to spend your $10 budget on each week) was born, which eventually branched into single-issue reviews, then interviews, and features, and here we are. I love writing and writing about what I love.
CC: My first comics piece was published on September 12, 2017. (A decent-ish review of Now #1, FYI.) I was living in Chicago at the time, and I felt burnt out after years of pursuing music journalism. Leaping into comics felt like a great way to challenge myself and to take my lifelong love of the medium to new heights. It’s been a genuine dream for much of the last eight years. (In terms of writing about comics and not, like, being a human on Planet Earth.)
SPFP: David, let’s talk about your secret origin. What was the first comic you read? Set the scene for us. What year was it? How old were you?
DB: The first comic I read was Amazing Spider-Man #362, 1992, and I was 8 years old. Comic shops didn’t exist in my area, but a small Cape Cod shop near the beach had a spinner rack. I haven’t looked back.
SPFP: Chris, is there a whale you are chasing for an interview?
CC: Maybe not chasing actively, but I’d kill to talk with Alan Moore. Any devotion seems cliché at this point, but the man thinks about art, life, politics, etc., in such a massively unique way. I’d love to have an afternoon just to pick his brain and talk about whatever came up. Even if I never published a third of what we discussed, he’d be someone who could provide some truly wondrous direction and insight. Glycon, if you’re listening to this, please make it happen.
SPFP: Do you read comics websites? Do you listen to comics podcasts? Which ones are doing the work?
CC: The Comics Beat always has awesome general coverage every darn day. The Comics Journal has some of the most thoughtful criticism on the web. Comic Book Couples Counseling makes comics fun and exciting again. David Harper and SKTCHD always routinely drop cool interviews. And The Comics Courier only has 1 issue (soon to be two!), but that criticism is also extra, extra sharp. Spread the love, y’all!
SPFP: David, is there a career highlight you are especially proud of? Like the equivalent of the math test you aced that your mom hung on the fridge?
DB: Seeing quotes from my reviews in commercials on TV. It has happened a few times and is always a sweet surprise.
SPFP: Chris, if you could tell the general public one thing that you have been dying to get off your chest, what would it be?
CC: There are too many Batman titles and not enough Deadman books. I know that hurts to hear, but it’s true. Just the right amount of Superman books, though.
SPFP: What would you be doing if you weren’t doing what you’re doing now?
DB: I went to school for screenwriting, built a fairly large library of short films, and then got into film in my day jobs. I’d like to think I’d pursue screenwriting or filmmaking in a more serious capacity if I weren’t focused on comics.
CC: Probably my day job, a little more enthusiastically. (I kid, mostly.) But, really, I’d recommit to music journalism and running my punk-centric review blog, The Dredge. One day, I’ll find a balance between music and comics, but for now, comics seem to have won out.
SPFP: David, how many hours a week do you estimate you spend writing and/or talking about comics?
DB: Between writing news at AIPTcomics.com, writing reviews, conducting interviews, AND hosting the AIPT Comics podcast, I’d say 30 hours easily each week. More on convention weeks.
SPFP: Follow up to that…would you recommend that more people get into comics journalism as a profession? If so, what would you say the first step would be? If not, why?
DB: I’d recommend it if you love the medium, especially since comics journalism feels like a smaller and smaller niche within a niche as sites close or big corporations buy out sites. We need more voices raising awareness and reminding folks that comics are a true art form worth talking about.
SPFP: Chris, what cocktail, mocktail, or dessert would you pair with your site?
CC: AIPT is decidedly sweet, a little sharp/bitter/sarcastic (in a good way), and generally life-affirming. So I’d recommend the Italian Cookie, which is sweet and just a little spicy. That, or a handful of Nerds Gummy Clusters chased with a Pilsner.
SPFP: David, what is something more people should know about being a comics journalist?
DB: This is a very small group of people doing this, and we all know each other fairly closely. We don’t do this to be rich, but because we like writing, like comics, and like combining both at once.
Thank you both for joining us for this interview series that we’re having so much fun with! We’ll return next week with a new can’t-miss Substack.
A reminder that the Superfan Podcast hasn’t launched yet, but will soon in the coming weeks! You can find us on the socials at Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, and X! Soon, you’ll be able to see podcast clips on our YouTube channel as well. Follow it now so you don’t miss out. Please be sure to like, share, and subscribe!
Special thanks to our Season One sponsor, the amazing Fanbase Press! Fanbase Press is a GLAAD Media Award-winning and Eisner and Harvey Awards-nominated comic book publisher that celebrates super fandoms and creates new ones! #StoriesMatter.
Nice! Always good to have more comics focused journalists abound. Wasn't familiar with AIPT before this but will have to check them out