Me: First off, can you tell us your name and what you do for the uniformed?

JAYMES: My name is JAYMES, and I have a blast writing character driven stories and entertaining as many people as I can. Writing good characterization, plotlines and interesting settings is the best thing anyone can ever do for the uniformed. The theatrics of flowing blood too often rule the funny pages and you could care less if anyone dies or not because they are so badly written , you'd think the writer never met 'people'.


Me: Tell us a little bit about Femme Fatale Studios?

JAYMES: I started FFS in 1995 after a childhood and adolescence of reading comics, watching comic TV and movies and writing other types of materials. This was the writing I HAD to do! Me and a few others did some ashcans and a regular book or three including "Hydra: Mistress of the Sea" and "Krystal #1" as part of our "education". Learning this craft is not easy! At present, we have plans to release the Cintara 6-part mini series this May, plus we are preparing in advance the first several issues of a regular series for each Krystal and Haley. Additionally, we are working on a Hydra one-shot called "Sea of Lust" possibly for 2005.


Me: What do you think will make your titles popular with women?

JAYMES: Sensitive storytelling. Most women I know don't give a crap about super secret government agencies, bloodbaths and/or the standard "superheroes". Women are intelligent beings and never like having those smarts insulted. Mix that with the fact I enjoy writing female characters that are like real women rather than a man's idea of what she should be makes this a genuine endeavor from my heart. I do display the occasional bloodbath, but normally it's a male protagonist who gives birth to the violence.


Me: DC and Marvel have been trying to attract female audiences for years, how are you going to succeed where they have failed?

JAYMES: Who said I was trying to attract female audiences? Granted, half our fan mail and message board posts are from women, the intention was never to promote a studio solely FOR women. That, and my feet are firmly planted, so I realize it would be difficult to succeed somewhere in which DC or Marvel already "failed". Though I believe saying they have failed is wrong. I think they've done a wonderful job! Perhaps independent artists such as Joseph Michael Linsner and Adam Hughes has succeeded more. My point is, for an industry that was made for little boys and is to this day predominantly male driven, the numbers of women reading now compared to even ten years ago astonishes me!


Me: What do you think of the "manga explosion?" Japanese manga has been the first type of comics to bring women back to comics in a long time. Why do you think that is, and what kind of effect do you think manga will have on American comics?

JAYMES: Manga has often reared its head into our culture over the last several decades in TV shows like "Speed Racer" and "Starblazers", but it now appears to have found a permanent niche and audience... as have many other styles! This is America, the Melting Pot-- and diversity is the spice of life. It's influence can only be positive. I don't personally favor it, but it definitely has a place here. Hell, some have said our Cintara mini series is heavily influence by Manga styles, so see? Even when not favored, it can find a place.


Me: Out of all the projects your company is working on, what series is your personal favorite?

JAYMES: KRYSTAL-- she was my first.It is the story of a rape baby who grows up to become a hero. She hates men. She hates guns. And she hates that crime which made her who she is. Set in 2040 Dalworth City, Krystal has already garnered quite a following for a fairly unpublished character. Her bad attitude towards those who would dominate and try to control her gender in a future world that has reverted back to its past is the driving force behind this series. Her mentor, Goldie Moore, the genius fugitive who built an underground mansion out of an abandoned bomb shelter and raised Krystal in it, also helps control a temper that often times cost a guy his... well, I'll say "clock". Chief Judge Winston, the head lawman in town, is a bit older, but represents the opposite of everything she grew to know about men, so we have the makings of an interesting tryst that I GUARANTEE will not fall back on some stupid revelation that she is a lesbian. She is not. And the villain? The crimeboss who had Krystal's prostitute guardian murdered when she was 10 and who she always swore to kill one day. All this set on a backdrop of high rises, flying cars and the most male dominated city in the world.


Me: Are there any comics or TV shows you remember that was a big source of inspiration? Like was there any particular show you remember that you were just wowed by (I know the show that got me into comics was "Batman: The Animated Series")?

JAYMES: "Quantum Leap": oh, the possibilities.


Me: There was a time in the mid 90's where the comic book industry almost collapsed, and comics, which were once the hot thing, were looked at as little more then collectable wads of paper (Ok, maybe everyone didn't look at them like that, but at least my dad felt that way). In your humble opinion why do you think comics took a dip in popularity, and what do you think has revived interest in comics recently?

JAYMES: The dip, I think, was caused by over-collectability. Too many #1's and solar powered, gee whiz cover variants. Too many card sets. Too many, too many, too many.... it's bounce back was caused by a natural comic phenomena... fans never left. They just quit buying three of everything. Comics weren't almost destroyed, but some comic publishers were :-)


Me: Any future plans for any of your properties that you have? Movies? Maybe a TV series or two?

JAYMES: I've always thought this would be great, and I'm sure I'm not the first to have fantasized seeing his work on film, but there are no present plans to promote our works for this. If I was approached, of course I'd consider it. Haley, our time traveler, would make a terrific series that would be mucho coolio to work on! It's in the spirit of "Quantum Leap meets Touched by an Angel meets Sliders".


Me: What is your favorite comic book/manga series and/or author?

JAYMES: Hands down, my favorite comics to this day are "Crisis on Infinite Earths". And if they change their histories one more time, I'll blow chunks of Barry Allen and Supergirl all over the place.


Me: Do you have any advice to the people who want to write and/or draw comics for a living?

JAYMES: Do something else. I suggest becoming a rancher... less bullshit.


Me: Well thanks for your time here today, and good luck with your future projects.

JAYMES: You're welcome, Kevin. I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me, as well. It's been groovilicious :-)

The above image is © JAYMES, and it cannot be taken or used without JAYMES approval. The above interview is © Kevin T. Rodriguez, and the interview cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without permission.

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