Interview with: Aaron Stueve
Job:Writer
Comic book:  Legend of Isis
Company: Bluewater Productions
Interviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets
www.jazmaonline.com































Allen: I want to know something about you. Tell me a little about yourself. How old are you? Where do you live?
Where did you go to school? What’s your present family life like?

Aaron:      My name is Aaron Stueve.  I am 31 years old but will turn 32 on July 28th this year.  I went to school in
Davenport, IA.  But for college I went to Northeast Community College in Norfolk, NE, then Augustana College in
Rock Island, IL (where I earned a degree in English and I minored in gender studies—which might make me a good
candidate for writing ISIS), I also went to St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA (where I earned a degree in
secondary education and an endorsement in language arts teaching/instruction).  Right now I am a few months
away from getting my MFA in creative writing from the University of Nebraska.  Right now I teach in Bellevue, NE
which is a suburb of Omaha.  I live with my wife, son, daughter, two dogs, and a cat.  I’m living the dream.


Allen: What kinds of comics did you read in your youth?

Aaron:     I read ALL kinds of comics.  I got started on SPIDER-MAN and BATMAN and when I discovered X-MEN I
was hooked.  From there my tastes have only expanded.  Being a teenager in the 90s I was reading the SANDMAN
books and all of that lot of books.  Right now I read a lot of Marvel books but I am also reading literature constantly.  
I think my favorite piece of writing of all time is Junot Diaz’s BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO—it is a
great, great, great novel.

Allen: What were some of your favorite writers?

Aaron:     I like Neil Gaiman a lot, of course, Junot Diaz, I like Brian Michael Bendis purely because of what he isn’t
afraid to do.  He may need to work on characterization, but considering the scope of a lot of the stuff he writes, that’
s not a huge complaint for me.  Plus, he is writing the only SPIDER-MAN comic worth reading right now if you’re an
adult.  I really like THE WALKING DEAD too—like a lot—the whole package, art, writing, everything.

Allen: How did you get your start in comic book industry?

Aaron:     I originally worked for a company called Unknown Comics that went bankrupt or something so none of my
stuff really saw the light of day except for a preview issue we released at Chicago-con a few years ago.  When that
went under my buddy Gregg Paulson became an artist for Bluewater Productions and when Daren needed some
writers, Gregg threw him my name, I sent him some sample scripts, and a couple weeks later he called me and here
I am.

Allen: What were some companies and comic books that you have worked on in past?

Aaron:          See above answer.

Allen: Tell me about how you began working for Bluewater Productions?

Aaron:          Again, see above.

Allen:  I am curious about Isis. Can you tell me her true origins? Who actually created Isis? When did this occur?

Aaron:     Isis is Daren’s creation.  The book was originally published in the early 21st century by Image.  I’m really
not sure of a lot of the origins.  Briefly, she was a woman who was going to marry this very powerful guy, her sister
was jealous, cursed her, and boom she is here, in the 21st century.  The Staff of Luxor—which is like her power
source, is imbued with the a goddess’ energies and now she uses it, in theory, to help people, but actually, the way I
write, she is more often pulling her own fat out of the fire than helping people.

Allen: What kind of comic book is Legend of Isis? I am sure there are some readers that have not heard about Isis.
Is she hero or villain?

Aaron:     Isis is a hero.  But like I said above, she is more concerned with keeping her own self safe right now
because the villains I am sending against her are seeking her out to hurt her, no one else.  She will and does save
people that get mixed up in what goes on with her.  So ultimately she is a hero—a bit dark, but a hero nonetheless.  
I don’t know if Daren will let me make her a killer.  I’ll have to talk to him about that . . . .

Allen: What is it that attracted you to work on Legend of Isis comic book?

Aaron:     A pay check, also the fact that there is some history attached to it, some things about gods and
goddesses.  It is a very interesting set-up.  I think writing her will be fun.  The fact that she is a woman protagonist
attracted me too—it could be an interesting experience to write from that point of view.

Allen: Are you student of ancient Egyptian history?

Aaron:      I have recently become one.  There is in fact, this one story where Isis turns a guy’s head into the head of
a jackass because he kind of is a jackass, ala A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, but he eventually proves himself
and gets turned back.  I’d like to incorporate that somehow into my work.

Allen: How many issues are you going to be writing for Legend of Isis? Will stories be new or based on older Isis
material? Also, what is setting and time period for Legend of Isis?

Aaron:     I will write as many issues of ISIS as Daren lets me.  Right now I have two arcs in the can and I am working
on a third.  I have some big plans for the future that I am excited about, so I hope I get to write her for awhile.  The
time period is present day, and the setting is LA.  However, there will be chances to see ancient Egypt . . . and other
places . . . .

Allen: Did you get chance to see old Isis television show?

Aaron:          Unfortunately, no.  I have heard about it though.

Allen: How did you decide what to put into issues you wrote?

Aaron:     Well, on the first arc, Daren said to build up her cast and include a new villain called the Scarab Queen.  
So that is what I did.  In the second arc he told me to introduce two new characters who will have a book out soon
(TONY AND ISIS).  Beyond that he told me to do whatever I wanted, so I did . . . .

Allen: Are there characters in new series from older stories of Isis?

Aaron:     Some of her supporting cast remains—Scott, the cop she lives with, his girlfriend, the employees of the
museum.  Beyond that, we are all new.

Allen: What did you like most about working on first story-arc? Tell me about Legend of Isis storyline.

Aaron:     I liked the freedom Daren gives me.  He tells me what he wants to happen and I get to make that happen
however I like.  The fight scenes are fun too—it kind of gives me freedom to go crazy with descriptions and whatnot.  
I don’t really know if I can pinpoint anything else specific.  Writing a comic that people will buy and read is awesome
in and of itself.  I used to work for a small press literary publisher and that was great seeing my occasional story or
poem in print, but a comic . . . man, that’s awesome.  Everywhere you look the nerds have razed the castle of
entertainment to the ground and now we’re dancing on the ashes of the old forms.  I’m just glad to be a part of that.

Allen: Tell me about people doing pencils.

Aaron:     These guys are great.  I’ve been watching their art as it comes in.  From pencils and inks to colors and
letters.  I’m working with some great artists.

Allen:  When issues will be in stores?

Aaron:          May 27th, 2009 is when issue #1 hits the stands.

Allen: Are there plans for annuals or other Isis comics?

Aaron:     There is an upcoming offshoot of ISIS.  I don’t know about annuals though.  Maybe I’ll talk to Daren about
it . . . .

Allen: Are there plans for Isis to crossover into other Bluewater stories?

Aaron:     Well, the TONY AND CLEO intro is in ISIS so that’s one.  I wouldn’t mind doing a crossover someday.  I
think Bluewater has to really get its little hero corner developed more before anything like that really happens
though.

Allen: What do you like to do with your spare time?

Aaron:      I teach high school English man, I don’t have any spare time.  Just kidding.  I read a lot—books comics,
fiction, non—everything.  I hang out with my kids and wife.  My life is pretty ordinary.  I like it that way.

Allen: Do you try to do book signings or do promotional convention appearances?

Aaron:     I haven’t had the opportunity since Unknown closed up shop, but I would be more than happy to.

Allen: Are you working on any other comic book projects?

Aaron:          A couple.  I am talking to some artists about submitting some stuff to Image, then I got this novel that
incorporates art that my buddy Chris Smith
click-trackheart.blogspot.com is doing the art for.  It is called THE ABCs OF DINKOLOGY: FIRST SEMESTER.  We
are looking for an agent right now.  We’ll see what happens.

Allen: When will Isis movie be coming out in theatres?

Aaron:          I have no idea.

Allen: Will you be offering any help on movie? For example, working on movie adaptation for comic book story?

Aaron:          I haven’t been asked . . . yet.

Allen: What kinds of tools to you use to write your Legend of Isis stories?

Aaron:          I use old comics, info Daren gives me, my brain, and my computer.

Allen: What kinds of novels do you like to read?

Aaron:     Like I said before, THE BREIF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO is my favorite.  Right now I am reading
a collection of short stories called IT CAME FROM THE DRIVE IN, and I just finished a book called THE PRIEST’S
MADONNA by Amy Hassinger.  I’m pretty eclectic in tastes.

Allen: What kinds of movies do you like to watch?

Aaron:          All kinds, again, my tastes are eclectic.

Allen: Do you work in any other field other than comic books?

Aaron:     Like I said before, I teach as well—English to 9th graders.  Next school year however, I am taking over
creative writing, video journalism, and video yearbook—should be fun.

Allen: What stimulates your creative ability to write?

Aaron:          Everything.  I’m always writing.  My wife gets sick of it actually . . . .

Allen: Well we are at the end of long interview. Would you like to lead us out Aaron with any closing thoughts?

Aaron:      Pick up LEGEND OF ISIS.  I don’t want to be a teacher forever!  Just kidding . . . kind of!