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<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3><STRONG>COLUMBUS,
Ohio</STRONG> -- One of comics' longest-running teams, Mark Evanier and Sergio
Aragones, held <A class=kLink oncontextmenu="return false;" id=KonaLink0
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at Mid-Ohio-Con on Saturday.
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>The panel was titled Brave
Groo World, and the barbarian was often the focus of discussion, but the veteran
tandem also talked about their history, working relationship and upcoming work.
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>Following are highlights:
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>* Following the Groo: Heaven
on Earth mini-series will be a Groo/<A class=kLink oncontextmenu="return false;"
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mini-series. Aragones is drawing the Groo part, with Yeates drawing the Conan
parts. "It's a very strange story," Evanier said.
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>* Aragones and Evanier are
teaming to write DC Comics' The Spirit, starting with #14 in February. Mike
Ploog is drawing #14 and #15, with Paul Smith targeted for future issues.
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>"We'll kind of alternate
Ploog and Smith with some other artists mixed in" Evanier said.
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>* Aragones continues to work
for MAD; his current project is a MAD Look at Death.
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>* Who do they keep it fresh
and funny? Aragones said each process is different, but he likes to find a
situation as a satirist.
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>* The second issue of Groo:
Hell on Earth was colored by Michelle Madsen, stepping in for Tom Luth. Aragones
said computer coloring has allowed for greater detail.
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>"We were very lucky to have
Stan Sakai letter the book and Tom color it," Evanier added. "Stan has his own
strip, but likes lettering Groo and we're lucky to have him."
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>* Aragones said he's worked
for MAD for more than 45 years. Evanier said they visted the MAD offices last
week, and when Aragones arrives, it's like royalty.
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>* Aragones comes up with the
plots of The Spirit and Evanier does the dialogue. Groo is much more of a mix-<A
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collaboration, Evanier said.
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>"Mark is master at oral
humor, talk humor, and is very good with words and puns," Aragones said.
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>"There are a lot of cases
when he says, 'You came up with that,' and I say, 'No, you came up with,'"
Evanier said.
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>* Aragones said he has
always been an admirer and friend of The Spirit creator Will Eisner for many
years. "He was very influential to me and how I write," Aragones said. "I love
the short story.
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>"I am not Will Eisner by
far. But we are going to do our best to do the <A class=kLink
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of The Spirit."
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>* Aragones said his
interaction with readers results in "a barometer for the way I write."
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>* Evanier, who is on strike
with the Writers Guild, is writing a new <A class=kLink
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series, attending a recent summit in Muncie, Ind.
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>* A Groo movie? An offer
from DreamWorks was turned down, Aragones said. Evanier said a screenplay has
been developed and is being shopped, but the pair are being very cautious to
maintain control.
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>"I don't want to sell the
rights to Groo and suddenly it becomes a duck," Aragones said. <BR
clear=all></FONT></P></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Check out AOL Money & Finance's list of the <A title="http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001" href="http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001" target="_blank">hottest products</A> and <A title="http://money.aol.com/top5/general/ways-you-are-wasting-money?NCID=aoltop00030000000002" href="http://money.aol.com/top5/general/ways-you-are-wasting-money?NCID=aoltop00030000000002" target="_blank">top money wasters</A> of 2007.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>