Brian Andersen is the underground, indie comic creator behind such polarizing gay comics as “So Super Duper”, “Reignbow & Dee-Va,” “Sex and the Superhero” and the upcoming, sure to be made into a basic cable movie on the SyFy network, “Friend of Dorothy.” Brian has read and loved comics since he was 8 years old and has never “grown out of them” – take that Mom! He lives in San Francisco with his hot, boy-toy, hairstylist, studly man of 10 years and their bratty kitty cat Isley.

GLT: Do all of your comics or characters have a GLBT spin to them?

BA: Yup! All of the comics I have created to-date, from “So Super Duper” to “Reignbow & Dee-Va” to “Sex and the Superhero” to the upcoming “Friend of Dorothy,” have lead characters that are of the gay persuasion. I’m an openly gay man who loves comics and so I create the type of comics that I want to read: ones with big old super-gay superheroes. (Laughs)

GLT: Who is your favorite super hero or heroine and why?

BA: Uh, Wonder Woman, duh! (Laughs) I actually don’t care much for any male superheroes, despite their six-packed abs and melon-sized biceps. As sexy as all the guys are drawn, (hello bulges!) I just adore the lady heroes the bestest.

Wonder Woman being number one (the bracelets, the lasso, the wonder-spin), followed closely by She-Hulk (big, green fists and bigger and greener hair), Spider-Woman (venom blasts and sexy pheromones), and Dazzler (roller-skates, face make-up and light-show powers!).

I’ll take a confident, strong woman in a skin-tight outfit with gorgeous hair any day over some doof who sticks to walls and shoots webs out of his wrists (gross).

GLT: When you create a comic do you already have an idea for that comic or do you just go with it?

BA: Generally I have a pretty solid idea when I create a comic, and more often than not, a full story that goes along with it. But I find once I sit down to write out the sucker I’m surprised at how much the story changes and where it goes.

GLT: In your opinion who is the gayest or most lesbian mainstream comic book hero and why?

BA: Oh gee, the gayest?? Without being a certified, fully-fledged, totally out, raging homo? Uh…I’d say Nightwing (the former Robin and teenage sidekick to Batman) aka Dick Grayson. Although he’s now the current Batman (Bruce Wayne is presumed dead – long story) back in his Robin days, Dick (hee hee) worked those short-green shorts and bare legs a wee-bit too well. And, hello, those little green pixie booties he sported with his outfit? I’d kill for a pair of those!

GLT: Do you think that it is harder for a GLBT person to break into the industry or be accepted?

BA: I really can’t say, to be honest, as I still haven’t “broken in” yet. (Laughs) I’d like to think it’s all based on talent and the ability someone has to tell compelling stories, but at the end of the day, who knows?

As I said, I’m still on the fringes doing my own little line of underground, indie comics, so I can’t speak from personal experience. It may have something to do with my own lack of discernable talent, but I’d like to think it’s just I’m still a diamond in the rough (fingers crossed) and my ticket to the big time is just around the corner.

Personally, I believe a lot of it has a lot to do with who you know. If editors like you and think you’re groovy, then you’ll probably get some jobs. (Hello editors, if you’re reading! I’ve very groovy!)

GLT: Do you also do all of your own inking, writing and drawing?

BA: I started off doing it all, actually. With my first comic, “So Super Duper”, I wrote, drew, inked, colored, lettered, and practically stapled the damn thing myself. But I soon realized that my artwork kind of sucks (and not the good type of “suck” either) - despite the few fans I have who actually enjoy and like my rough pencils. I figured it would be better if I had someone step in and handle the art chores for me, someone who can like, actually draw well. (Laughs) So for now I stick to writing.

GLT: Do you ever use people that you know or things in everyday life for material to create comics from?

BA: I don’t tend to pull from people I know, aside from myself. I guess I’m too much of a narcissist that way. (Laughs)

All my friends tell me that my characters are “totally me” and they can see me reacting the way my characters do and talking the way they do. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not, being that my characters are often called “stereotypical and annoying” - it appears I have some personal stuff I might need to work on…

My main character in “So Super Duper”, named Psyche, is pretty much me. He looks like me, he’s super fruity and queeny like me and he’s a bit of a lazy bastard like me. Basically Psyche is me if I one day woke up and had superpowers.

GLT: Who is someone you look up to in the industry?

BA: So many people. My biggest fan crush is on Trina Robbins, an amazing long-time comic creator and herstorian (yeah ‘her’storian). Trina was an underground comic creator who’s worked for decades and so is brash, funny, and totally talented that I can’t help but adore her!

I also look up to a lot of great editors in the comic world who champion gay characters in the books they edit, like Joan Hilty. She’s kind, honest and someone I super admire.

I also look up to anyone who can surprise me and make me laugh when reading their work, so Fred van Lente is a writer who’s comics always entertain and move me. I wish I could be a third as creative and smart as he is.

GLT: As comics are becoming looked at more and more as real art and literature, where do you see the industry headed?

BA: Anywhere and everywhere. Comics will never die. Whether that means we’re reading comics online, in the newspaper, through the printed monthlies, in graphic novel/book format or having them beamed directly into our heads, comics will continue to be a part of our culture and our society.

GLT: If people want to check out more of your work where can they go?

BA: My website is the best and most glorious place to find out more about little old me: www.sosuperduper.com.

You can also find me on the always amazing GLBT comic book site: www.prismcomics.org, along with a slew of other super talented indie and mainstream gay comic creators.

And you can read “So Super Duper” twice a week on the blog on www.newsarama.com.

GLT: The Gay & Lesbian Times thanks you for your art and information along with pushing GLBT art into the mainstream. Good Luck with all future projects!

BA: Thanks for taking the time to interview me and for being willing to hear my boring, drawn-out, meandering responses! Kisses!

Pullout quote:

“I’ll take a confident, strong woman in a skin-tight outfit with gorgeous hair any day over some doof who sticks to walls and shoots webs out of his wrists (gross).”