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Interview with: Don Smith
job: writer
comic book:
Political Power: Ronald Reagan
Publisher:Bluewater Productions
Interviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets
www.jazmaonline.com
Allen: Tell me about some of the things that will
help readers know about you.
Don: First, Allen, let me thank for this! You are
the first person to interview me, so I really appreciate it!
My name is Don, I currently live in Hawthorne,
NJ with my wife Laura and our three cats, Bobby,
Merlin and Banjo, and I have been writing since I was a kid.
I was actually born in Portsmouth, VA in 1974 but moved
to NJ in 1979 where I grew up in Bergenfield, which is in
Bergen County, NJ about 20 minutes outside New York City.
Growing up, I used to joke that Jesus Christ was not born in
Bergenfield because they could neither find three wise men
or a virgin.
However, I do not recall seeing any shepherds in Bergenfield
either, go figure.
Anyway, I attending local Christian schools my life and in 1992
I went to a Christian college called Cedarville University,
which is right outside of Dayton, OH. I graduated with a
degree in broadcast production and a minor in English.
By August of 1997, I moved to Virginia and worked a year at the Christian Broadcasting Network, which was a
rather...eh...interesting experience. In August 1998, I moved back up to New Jersey and moved to Rochelle Park,
also in Bergen County, and I met my wife-to-be Laura.
We dated and by 2001 were engaged and by 2002 we were married and settled in Hawthorne. Here I wrote my first
book, Hawthorne, which is a local history book from Arcadia Publishing.
I am working on my second book, also a local history book, called The Goffle Road Murders, and it should be out in
2010.
I worked as a freelance writer and editor for several local newspapers and publications such as the North Haledon-
based Main Street magazine, Essex County Local Source and NJ Cops magazine.
Comic book wise, I have been a contributing writer to Wizard Entertainment’s Toy Fare magazine and Wizard’s own
website, Steve Younis’s Supermanhomepage.com , Andrew Modeen’s www.TheGreenLanternCorps.com web site
and several others. Currently, I am the managing editor of www.CosmicBookNews.Com which is published by Matt
McGloin, hands down one of the nicest guys in the industry.
Allen: What kinds of comics did you read in your youth?
Don: I tended to stick to the super hero comics. I loved Quasar, The Avengers, The New Warriors, Spider-Man and
Captain America.
But as I got older, I tend to fall into DC Comics like the Justice Society and Green Lantern.
Allen: How did you become interested in writing comic book stories? Tell me about some of your influences.
Don: I have always been interested in writing and comic books. So it was only a matter of time before the two
collided.
I have to say that a lot of my influences for writing come outside comic books, such as Douglas Adams, Stephen
Lawhead and Frank Peretti, just to name a few.
But within the comic book world itself, hands down Kurt Busiek. His comic Astro City was a defining one for me and
to a huge extent, so has Alex Ross’s artwork. I mean I was able to see for the first time, how a super hero could look
without the comic looking outlandish.
But right now, my favorite writer is Geoff Johns. I happen to think his resurrection of Hal Jordan in Green Lantern:
Rebirth should be literature it is that good! I once had the fortune of meeting Ethan Van Skiver, the penciler, and
told me what I thought of it. That was so cool!
Allen: How did you get your start in comic book industry and how did you become associated with Darren Davis at
Bluewater Productions?
Don: I got started in the comic books field back in 2006. Because I was working as a reporter for a local newspaper
for a year, and I felt I had had enough experience under my belt to attempt an interview with my biggest hero, Stan
Bush (he sang the songs “The Touch” and “Dare” from the 1986 The Transformers: The Movie) and I pitched an
idea to ToyFare to do an interview with Stan.
Well, that led me to writing articles and interviews for the magazine and I was able to meet Neal Bailey, through his
reviews on the www.Supermanhomepage.com .
Neal was kind enough to introduce me to Darren about a year ago and one thing led to another and now Ronald
Reagan is about to come out in October.
Allen: What is the purpose of Political Power comic books?
Don: Ever see Biography on A&E? We are doing that for comic books. We want to tell people the stories of the
behind the scenes events that shaped them to be the persons they are.
While by no means to we claim these are all inclusive. I mean, we just would not have the time or the space for that,
but what we do is give readers an introduction to their lives and if the reader wants to do research, I know every
library in America has a nice biography section the reader can look into.
Allen: Tell me about Political Power: Ronald Reagan comic.
Don: Ronald Reagan is the story of a B-movie Hollywood actor, who followed a particular line of political ideals to
the American Presidency. And as President, he dared to what Presidents between Harry Truman and Jimmy Carter
did not do, and that was beat the Soviet Union.
Allen: How did you decide what to put in issue? How many pages will issue contain?
Don: I turned in a script with 24 pages (and to be honest, I do not know how many that will be with ads and the like
when all is said and done).
To be even more honest, Reagan had about 90 years of living, not to mention his time in Hollywood, post-
Hollywood, Governor of California, first run at the White House in 1976, second run for the White House in 1980,
then his two terms in Office, followed by his post-Presidency, followed by his time with Alzheimer’s, all the way to his
death in 2004. That is a lot to cram into 24 pages.
And believe, I begged Darren for more pages, but he had to decline.
Heck my Reagan comic would have been a four issue series, 30 pages an issue, but that is just me.
Allen: Have you ever worked on biographical comic book stories before Ronald Reagan issue?
Don: No I have not. But thanks to my previous history writing, I was prepared for it.
Allen: How did the concept for this story come about?
Don: More or less, you needed a hook to kind of branch off from there. I started with his famous, “Tear down this
wall” line, which happened in 1987, and worked backwards to his assassination attempt, in 1981, and then from
there told his story from Illinois to California and so on.
Allen: How long did it take for you to write Political Power: Ronald Reagan comic and how did you research the
story?
Don: Wow. It did not take that long to write, believe or not, but what took a long time was the research.
I got my hands on just about every Reagan movie I could see (and stomach...I am sorry but some of his movies
were terrible!) and as many documentaries on his life I could watch. Not to mention, I read his autobiography and
some of the books that had edited versions of his letters and diaries from his time in the White House.
Allen: Whose eyes is story going to be presented to readers? Will it be told through Nancy Reagan or another
inventive 3rd person device?
Don: That is a real good question!
But the Political Powers and Female Forces had a structure, where the writers wrote themselves into the story.
Almost the way the Stage Manager was in the play Our Town by Thorton Wilder.
So basically, an inventive third person that was based on me that was omniscient of the past, present and future in
the comic.
Allen: Tell me about the artist for Political Power: Ronald Reagan comic.
Don: Rob Jones is really good! He really reminds me of the 1950s EC Comics style of artist that would do Tales
from the Crypt or Vault of Terror or something like that.
And he really has done a nice job bringing these characters to the comic book world to life.
Allen: Do you find it easier to write non-fiction stories than fiction stories?
Don: It is so much easier to write fiction. With non-fiction, you have to check and re-check your facts and there is a
fine line between putting yourself in the comic without putting too much of yourself in the comic.
With non-fiction, the subject matter (i.e. Reagan) dictates the parameters of the story. Had been fiction, I could do
whatever the heck I want to. And basically I have to follow the rules I establish in “my” universe that I make up as I
go along.
Allen: Why do you feel there will be audience for Political Power: Ronald Reagan comic?
Don: Okay, I’m going to get political with this one.
The Republican Party is a laughable joke at this point in time. The Democrats control Congress and the White
House and a good chunk of the governors’ mansions in the U.S. For years, the Republicans claimed they would
govern under the Reagan style of governing, which is less government intrusion, cut taxes and so on.
However, President Bush (43), and not to jump on the “trash Bush bandwagon” that has overplayed itself the heck
out for my liking, increased the government and created a new office. And the Republicans running Congress kept
increasing the spending and would come up with these asinine programs (i.e. The Bridge to Nowhere that nobody
wanted) and because of their idiocy and spinelessness, the Republicans lost Congress and the White House in the
last two elections.
And now there is a grizzly of a groundswell out there of people who are saying “Elected Republicans have done
enough $#@!ing up, that we need to take matters into our own hands and get our voices heard, because they quit
representing us!” And this groundswell of people is saying, “Stick with the Reagan Model - lower taxes, less
government intrusion!” Which is why, in spite of their being insulted by many of the pundits on television, those Tea
Parties are being run by angry people.
I would argue that there is more anger from Tea Party Conservatives for the Republicans in elected office than
there is for the liberal leaning Democrats.
“You expect liberals to act a certain way. You don’t expect Republicans to grab their ankles and say, ‘Thank you!
May I have another?’” they say. And frankly, those Tea Party Conservatives are still invoking the name of Ronald
Reagan because he was the example of how to run a government right.
And because of that, I really do believe Reagan has a voice out there.
Allen: Thank you for honest opinion. Do you work in other fields than as comic book writer?
Don: Actually, I work as a freelance writer for local newspapers and the like. It helps pay the bills.
Allen: Would you like to do more new Presidential comic book stories? If you had to pick three other Presidents for
stories who would they be?
Don: Wow! That is another good question.
I would like to go after some of the more historical ones. Like I would love to do one John Adams, Andrew Jackson
and someone like Ulysses S. Grant, or even William McKinley would be cool.
Allen: What other comic book related projects are you working on?
Don: I am working on a couple of projects for Bluewater, I don’t know what I can and can’t say, but I will say this, I am
working with artist Jason Dube on a project. His art is fun and amazing and it can be seen at www.scatteredcomics.
com
And also, I still write and do reviews and interviews for www.CosmicBookNews.com
Allen: When is expected publication time for Political Power: Ronald Reagan comic? What is best way to get issue?
Don: The comic set to be out on Oct. 29th and people can get at their local comic book stores, TFAW.com, or
Amazon.com.
Allen: What kinds of novels do you like to read?
Don: I love science fiction, humor and, oddly, spy novels and mysteries. Like right now, I read Vince Flynn, Daniel
Silva, Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston and Jeffrey Deaver.
Allen: What are some of your favorite types of movies to watch?
Don: I run the gambit of it. Give me a Rated R comedy, a good sci-fi movie, a nice action film. Heck, the other night
my wife and I watched the Rated G “Kit Kittredge” and that was cool.
Allen: What are some of your hobbies?
Don: Basically, my hobbies are comic books, books and movies, but I have become a big history buff. Especially
19th Century American history. That time period for me after the 1820s and before the Civil War in 1860 is
fascinating!
Allen: Have you ever met any member of the Ronald Reagan family while working on biography comic book?
Don: No, I have not, but I would have liked to. I would like to meet his sons, Ron Reagan, Jr. or Michael Reagan.
Both of them are, politically speaking, polar opposites.
Allen: Do you have website? What is best way to contact you?
Don: Yeah, I am still trying to work on a web site at http://donsmith74.wordpress.com . They can contact me through
that or through www.CosmicBookNews.Com , web site. Everything will be forwarded to me.
Allen: I know you are a writer. Do you have much of your personal artwork that ever sell? Would you like to give a
free plug about one of your friends’ artwork that might sell commissions?
Don: If I did I would, but let me plug my friend Jason Dube’s artwork. He sells it and does commissions. That’s Jason
Dube at www.scatteredcomics.com .
Allen: What fuels your inspiration to create comic book stories?
Don: I love to tell a good story. And I love to hear or see a good story.
That is the basic concept I live by.
Allen: Thank you Don for taking time to do interview with me. Would you like to leave with any final thoughts or
words of wisdom?
Don: Yeah. I am going to sum my philosophy for life with two choruses:
Stan Bush’s “The Touch”:
You got the touch.
You got the power.
When all hell’s breaking loose,
You’ll be right in the eye of the storm.
You’ve got the heart.
You got motion.
You know that when things get to tough, you got the touch.
And David Meece’s “Once in a Lifetime”:
No matter where we’ve been
No matter what we’ve done
Today can be our once in a lifetime.
For Yesterday is gone.
Tomorrow may not come.
This moment is our once in a lifetime.
Finally, Allen, thank you very much! I really appreciate it and it has been my pleasure! Long live Jazma!
job: writer
comic book:
Political Power: Ronald Reagan
Publisher:Bluewater Productions
Interviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets
www.jazmaonline.com
Allen: Tell me about some of the things that will
help readers know about you.
Don: First, Allen, let me thank for this! You are
the first person to interview me, so I really appreciate it!
My name is Don, I currently live in Hawthorne,
NJ with my wife Laura and our three cats, Bobby,
Merlin and Banjo, and I have been writing since I was a kid.
I was actually born in Portsmouth, VA in 1974 but moved
to NJ in 1979 where I grew up in Bergenfield, which is in
Bergen County, NJ about 20 minutes outside New York City.
Growing up, I used to joke that Jesus Christ was not born in
Bergenfield because they could neither find three wise men
or a virgin.
However, I do not recall seeing any shepherds in Bergenfield
either, go figure.
Anyway, I attending local Christian schools my life and in 1992
I went to a Christian college called Cedarville University,
which is right outside of Dayton, OH. I graduated with a
degree in broadcast production and a minor in English.
By August of 1997, I moved to Virginia and worked a year at the Christian Broadcasting Network, which was a
rather...eh...interesting experience. In August 1998, I moved back up to New Jersey and moved to Rochelle Park,
also in Bergen County, and I met my wife-to-be Laura.
We dated and by 2001 were engaged and by 2002 we were married and settled in Hawthorne. Here I wrote my first
book, Hawthorne, which is a local history book from Arcadia Publishing.
I am working on my second book, also a local history book, called The Goffle Road Murders, and it should be out in
2010.
I worked as a freelance writer and editor for several local newspapers and publications such as the North Haledon-
based Main Street magazine, Essex County Local Source and NJ Cops magazine.
Comic book wise, I have been a contributing writer to Wizard Entertainment’s Toy Fare magazine and Wizard’s own
website, Steve Younis’s Supermanhomepage.com , Andrew Modeen’s www.TheGreenLanternCorps.com web site
and several others. Currently, I am the managing editor of www.CosmicBookNews.Com which is published by Matt
McGloin, hands down one of the nicest guys in the industry.
Allen: What kinds of comics did you read in your youth?
Don: I tended to stick to the super hero comics. I loved Quasar, The Avengers, The New Warriors, Spider-Man and
Captain America.
But as I got older, I tend to fall into DC Comics like the Justice Society and Green Lantern.
Allen: How did you become interested in writing comic book stories? Tell me about some of your influences.
Don: I have always been interested in writing and comic books. So it was only a matter of time before the two
collided.
I have to say that a lot of my influences for writing come outside comic books, such as Douglas Adams, Stephen
Lawhead and Frank Peretti, just to name a few.
But within the comic book world itself, hands down Kurt Busiek. His comic Astro City was a defining one for me and
to a huge extent, so has Alex Ross’s artwork. I mean I was able to see for the first time, how a super hero could look
without the comic looking outlandish.
But right now, my favorite writer is Geoff Johns. I happen to think his resurrection of Hal Jordan in Green Lantern:
Rebirth should be literature it is that good! I once had the fortune of meeting Ethan Van Skiver, the penciler, and
told me what I thought of it. That was so cool!
Allen: How did you get your start in comic book industry and how did you become associated with Darren Davis at
Bluewater Productions?
Don: I got started in the comic books field back in 2006. Because I was working as a reporter for a local newspaper
for a year, and I felt I had had enough experience under my belt to attempt an interview with my biggest hero, Stan
Bush (he sang the songs “The Touch” and “Dare” from the 1986 The Transformers: The Movie) and I pitched an
idea to ToyFare to do an interview with Stan.
Well, that led me to writing articles and interviews for the magazine and I was able to meet Neal Bailey, through his
reviews on the www.Supermanhomepage.com .
Neal was kind enough to introduce me to Darren about a year ago and one thing led to another and now Ronald
Reagan is about to come out in October.
Allen: What is the purpose of Political Power comic books?
Don: Ever see Biography on A&E? We are doing that for comic books. We want to tell people the stories of the
behind the scenes events that shaped them to be the persons they are.
While by no means to we claim these are all inclusive. I mean, we just would not have the time or the space for that,
but what we do is give readers an introduction to their lives and if the reader wants to do research, I know every
library in America has a nice biography section the reader can look into.
Allen: Tell me about Political Power: Ronald Reagan comic.
Don: Ronald Reagan is the story of a B-movie Hollywood actor, who followed a particular line of political ideals to
the American Presidency. And as President, he dared to what Presidents between Harry Truman and Jimmy Carter
did not do, and that was beat the Soviet Union.
Allen: How did you decide what to put in issue? How many pages will issue contain?
Don: I turned in a script with 24 pages (and to be honest, I do not know how many that will be with ads and the like
when all is said and done).
To be even more honest, Reagan had about 90 years of living, not to mention his time in Hollywood, post-
Hollywood, Governor of California, first run at the White House in 1976, second run for the White House in 1980,
then his two terms in Office, followed by his post-Presidency, followed by his time with Alzheimer’s, all the way to his
death in 2004. That is a lot to cram into 24 pages.
And believe, I begged Darren for more pages, but he had to decline.
Heck my Reagan comic would have been a four issue series, 30 pages an issue, but that is just me.
Allen: Have you ever worked on biographical comic book stories before Ronald Reagan issue?
Don: No I have not. But thanks to my previous history writing, I was prepared for it.
Allen: How did the concept for this story come about?
Don: More or less, you needed a hook to kind of branch off from there. I started with his famous, “Tear down this
wall” line, which happened in 1987, and worked backwards to his assassination attempt, in 1981, and then from
there told his story from Illinois to California and so on.
Allen: How long did it take for you to write Political Power: Ronald Reagan comic and how did you research the
story?
Don: Wow. It did not take that long to write, believe or not, but what took a long time was the research.
I got my hands on just about every Reagan movie I could see (and stomach...I am sorry but some of his movies
were terrible!) and as many documentaries on his life I could watch. Not to mention, I read his autobiography and
some of the books that had edited versions of his letters and diaries from his time in the White House.
Allen: Whose eyes is story going to be presented to readers? Will it be told through Nancy Reagan or another
inventive 3rd person device?
Don: That is a real good question!
But the Political Powers and Female Forces had a structure, where the writers wrote themselves into the story.
Almost the way the Stage Manager was in the play Our Town by Thorton Wilder.
So basically, an inventive third person that was based on me that was omniscient of the past, present and future in
the comic.
Allen: Tell me about the artist for Political Power: Ronald Reagan comic.
Don: Rob Jones is really good! He really reminds me of the 1950s EC Comics style of artist that would do Tales
from the Crypt or Vault of Terror or something like that.
And he really has done a nice job bringing these characters to the comic book world to life.
Allen: Do you find it easier to write non-fiction stories than fiction stories?
Don: It is so much easier to write fiction. With non-fiction, you have to check and re-check your facts and there is a
fine line between putting yourself in the comic without putting too much of yourself in the comic.
With non-fiction, the subject matter (i.e. Reagan) dictates the parameters of the story. Had been fiction, I could do
whatever the heck I want to. And basically I have to follow the rules I establish in “my” universe that I make up as I
go along.
Allen: Why do you feel there will be audience for Political Power: Ronald Reagan comic?
Don: Okay, I’m going to get political with this one.
The Republican Party is a laughable joke at this point in time. The Democrats control Congress and the White
House and a good chunk of the governors’ mansions in the U.S. For years, the Republicans claimed they would
govern under the Reagan style of governing, which is less government intrusion, cut taxes and so on.
However, President Bush (43), and not to jump on the “trash Bush bandwagon” that has overplayed itself the heck
out for my liking, increased the government and created a new office. And the Republicans running Congress kept
increasing the spending and would come up with these asinine programs (i.e. The Bridge to Nowhere that nobody
wanted) and because of their idiocy and spinelessness, the Republicans lost Congress and the White House in the
last two elections.
And now there is a grizzly of a groundswell out there of people who are saying “Elected Republicans have done
enough $#@!ing up, that we need to take matters into our own hands and get our voices heard, because they quit
representing us!” And this groundswell of people is saying, “Stick with the Reagan Model - lower taxes, less
government intrusion!” Which is why, in spite of their being insulted by many of the pundits on television, those Tea
Parties are being run by angry people.
I would argue that there is more anger from Tea Party Conservatives for the Republicans in elected office than
there is for the liberal leaning Democrats.
“You expect liberals to act a certain way. You don’t expect Republicans to grab their ankles and say, ‘Thank you!
May I have another?’” they say. And frankly, those Tea Party Conservatives are still invoking the name of Ronald
Reagan because he was the example of how to run a government right.
And because of that, I really do believe Reagan has a voice out there.
Allen: Thank you for honest opinion. Do you work in other fields than as comic book writer?
Don: Actually, I work as a freelance writer for local newspapers and the like. It helps pay the bills.
Allen: Would you like to do more new Presidential comic book stories? If you had to pick three other Presidents for
stories who would they be?
Don: Wow! That is another good question.
I would like to go after some of the more historical ones. Like I would love to do one John Adams, Andrew Jackson
and someone like Ulysses S. Grant, or even William McKinley would be cool.
Allen: What other comic book related projects are you working on?
Don: I am working on a couple of projects for Bluewater, I don’t know what I can and can’t say, but I will say this, I am
working with artist Jason Dube on a project. His art is fun and amazing and it can be seen at www.scatteredcomics.
com
And also, I still write and do reviews and interviews for www.CosmicBookNews.com
Allen: When is expected publication time for Political Power: Ronald Reagan comic? What is best way to get issue?
Don: The comic set to be out on Oct. 29th and people can get at their local comic book stores, TFAW.com, or
Amazon.com.
Allen: What kinds of novels do you like to read?
Don: I love science fiction, humor and, oddly, spy novels and mysteries. Like right now, I read Vince Flynn, Daniel
Silva, Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston and Jeffrey Deaver.
Allen: What are some of your favorite types of movies to watch?
Don: I run the gambit of it. Give me a Rated R comedy, a good sci-fi movie, a nice action film. Heck, the other night
my wife and I watched the Rated G “Kit Kittredge” and that was cool.
Allen: What are some of your hobbies?
Don: Basically, my hobbies are comic books, books and movies, but I have become a big history buff. Especially
19th Century American history. That time period for me after the 1820s and before the Civil War in 1860 is
fascinating!
Allen: Have you ever met any member of the Ronald Reagan family while working on biography comic book?
Don: No, I have not, but I would have liked to. I would like to meet his sons, Ron Reagan, Jr. or Michael Reagan.
Both of them are, politically speaking, polar opposites.
Allen: Do you have website? What is best way to contact you?
Don: Yeah, I am still trying to work on a web site at http://donsmith74.wordpress.com . They can contact me through
that or through www.CosmicBookNews.Com , web site. Everything will be forwarded to me.
Allen: I know you are a writer. Do you have much of your personal artwork that ever sell? Would you like to give a
free plug about one of your friends’ artwork that might sell commissions?
Don: If I did I would, but let me plug my friend Jason Dube’s artwork. He sells it and does commissions. That’s Jason
Dube at www.scatteredcomics.com .
Allen: What fuels your inspiration to create comic book stories?
Don: I love to tell a good story. And I love to hear or see a good story.
That is the basic concept I live by.
Allen: Thank you Don for taking time to do interview with me. Would you like to leave with any final thoughts or
words of wisdom?
Don: Yeah. I am going to sum my philosophy for life with two choruses:
Stan Bush’s “The Touch”:
You got the touch.
You got the power.
When all hell’s breaking loose,
You’ll be right in the eye of the storm.
You’ve got the heart.
You got motion.
You know that when things get to tough, you got the touch.
And David Meece’s “Once in a Lifetime”:
No matter where we’ve been
No matter what we’ve done
Today can be our once in a lifetime.
For Yesterday is gone.
Tomorrow may not come.
This moment is our once in a lifetime.
Finally, Allen, thank you very much! I really appreciate it and it has been my pleasure! Long live Jazma!
