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Interview with...
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MS:Michael Sacal: Please tell ComicBookInterviews about yourself.
Andrew DelQuadro: My name is Andrew DelQuadro, I am 29 years old and I am the President of 215 Ink LLC.
MS: How long have you been writing comics?
AD: I formed 215 Ink in 2007. I published the first comic under the 215 Ink label shortly after.
MS: Have you written other creators' characters, or only your own properties?
AD: I only publish at the moment, I don't write.
MS: What is 215 Ink, and what is the company’s focus?
AD: We are a comic book publishing and merchandising company. Our focus is on giving creators a chance to showcase their talents, while at the same time providing a place to let them perfect their craft. We believe that the industry needs a publisher that allows creators to develop and improve.
“Our focus is on giving creators a chance to showcase their talents, while at the same time providing a place to let them perfect their craft.”
215 Ink is an independent comic book publisher known for such publications as Jesus Hates Zombies, Massive Awesome, Brian & Bobbi, and Vic Boone, to name a few. All of 215 Ink’s publications are available for digital download from Wowio.
MS: What inspired you to become a publisher? And where does the name 215 Ink come from?
AD: I always wanted to build a business, and decided to make one of my hobbies be the focal point of that. I originally had plans to write stories myself, and then realized how many steps where in the process. So I switched gears and decided to build the foundation first.
We are based in Philadelphia, and 215 is the area code for the part I grew up in, so it has a significant meaning for me, but is simply a random number for anyone outside of the area.
MS: 215 Ink has an open submissions policy for writers and artists. What has the response been so far?
AD: We think that keeping an open door policy is the best way to build a solid line up that ranges in style and genre. We receive a few submissions daily, and at times we are overwhelmed with submissions and it takes a few long nights and weekends to review everything and send out responses. We have a steady flow of artist and writers that we match up for different titles.
There are times we like a project, but don't think we have a fan base that would be into it; when that happens, we try to find other publishers that are better suited for the project.
“We think that keeping an open door policy is the best way to build a solid line up that ranges in style and genre.”
MS: Publishers that are open to submissions from writers with no artists attached to the property are rare. What made you decide to open your doors not only to artists and complete teams, but also to writers who only have their words to get them started?
AD: It seems that finding artists is at times difficult for writers just breaking into the industry. We want to be a publisher that allows creative teams to develop, which I think is something that the industry really is lacking right now, so it helps that process if we can match up an experienced artist or writer, with someone less experienced and let them learn together.
“We want to be a publisher that allows creative teams to develop, which I think is something that the industry really is lacking right now.”
MS: Besides yourself, who else helps you out with the editorial aspects of 215 Ink?
AD: As far as the direction of titles and story arcs, we leave that completely in the hands of the creative teams and never interfere. For our digital titles, we generally let the teams self edit. If there is a problem, we can quickly update and push out the new files. For print, we have a review process internally, and our printer checks for typos.
MS: I read on ComicVine that 215 Ink may soon be looking to merge with another publisher. Is there any truth to this? If so, is it something you can talk to us about, like who this publisher might be? If not, can you think of anything that might have led the person responsible for writing this blurb to believe that there is?
AD: We were briefly in talks to purchase Marvel Comics, but Disney came in at the last minute and bought it out from under us.
No, there is absolutely no truth to this, and I have no idea where it came from. 215 Ink is and always will be creator owned.
MS: Are there any properties or creators - big or small - that you would like to publish or work with?
AD: So far, working with the creative teams we already have in place has been fantastic. We couldn't ask for a better group of guys that have all come together to help build this into something special. I do my best to make everyone feel like they are a huge part of the company, since without them we don't have a thing.
However, if I could bring in someone not already on the roster that I think would fit well with what we are doing, I would love to work with Eric Powell, Robert Crumb, Rob Schrab, Brian Wood, Angel Medina, Gregg Capulo, and R. Grampa
MS: What other mediums or genres have you worked in?
AD: I am a digital media buyer and producer by day, comic publisher by night.
MS: What future projects do you have in the works?
AD: We are currently working on Stephen Lindsay's Jesus Hates Zombies: Jurassic Kinda Life and BUCK, Adam Wilson's Brian & Bobbi as well as GCD, Shawn Aldridge Vic Boone, Kurt Belcher's Winter War, David Pinckney's Laluelle, Jeff Winstead's The Alternate, and, to round it off, we have a super secret series in the works from Rolf Lejdegård.
Breakneck (Diamond Order Code: JAN111349)
Brian & Bobbi (Diamond Order Code: DEC101071)
Jesus Hates Zombies (featuring Lincoln Hates Werewolves) (Diamond Order Code: NOV101047)
MS: If you could write any company’s character (s), which one (s) would it be and why?
AD: The Silver Surfer, I always liked the cosmic characters, and I think the Surfer is an extremely under used character.
“The [Silver] Surfer is an extremely under used character.”
MS: For anyone who wants to be a writer, editor, or publisher, what can you tell them about the craft?
AD: Being a publisher takes a lot of business sense and negotiation skills. Keeping everyone on schedule and reviewing submissions is just the tip of the iceberg; without a solid manufacturing chain in place that can deliver a consistent, high-quality and low-cost product, matched with a robust and far reaching distribution network, the odds of being successful are even lower.
Writers' need to focus on reading as much as writing. Your knowledge of language is your tool set, you need to research and consume as much literature as possible at every chance and continue to perfect your story telling. Volume of writing is also important. Writing one script and sitting on it for years is not a good way to improve your abilities. The story will tell you when it is finished, and what you do next is what makes you a writer: starting a new story.
“Writing one script and sitting on it for years is not a good way to improve your abilities.”
Artists are very similar to writers from the perspective of perfecting the craft of telling a story with sequential art. If we were to remove the words from a comic, would we be able to tell what the story was about? Consuming as much art as possible and looking at different regions and styles is a great way to add to your skill set.
“Consuming as much art as possible and looking at different regions and styles is a great way to add to your skill set.”
MS: Everyone at ComicBookInterviews.com would like to thank Mr. DelQuadro for taking the time to answer our questions. For more from 215 Ink and their wide-range of publications, please visit 215 Ink.com.
AD: Thank you, Michael.
Discovery 215ink's comics here:
www.215ink.com
Andrew DelQuadro: My name is Andrew DelQuadro, I am 29 years old and I am the President of 215 Ink LLC.
MS: How long have you been writing comics?
AD: I formed 215 Ink in 2007. I published the first comic under the 215 Ink label shortly after.
MS: Have you written other creators' characters, or only your own properties?
AD: I only publish at the moment, I don't write.
MS: What is 215 Ink, and what is the company’s focus?
AD: We are a comic book publishing and merchandising company. Our focus is on giving creators a chance to showcase their talents, while at the same time providing a place to let them perfect their craft. We believe that the industry needs a publisher that allows creators to develop and improve.
“Our focus is on giving creators a chance to showcase their talents, while at the same time providing a place to let them perfect their craft.”
215 Ink is an independent comic book publisher known for such publications as Jesus Hates Zombies, Massive Awesome, Brian & Bobbi, and Vic Boone, to name a few. All of 215 Ink’s publications are available for digital download from Wowio.
MS: What inspired you to become a publisher? And where does the name 215 Ink come from?
AD: I always wanted to build a business, and decided to make one of my hobbies be the focal point of that. I originally had plans to write stories myself, and then realized how many steps where in the process. So I switched gears and decided to build the foundation first.
We are based in Philadelphia, and 215 is the area code for the part I grew up in, so it has a significant meaning for me, but is simply a random number for anyone outside of the area.
MS: 215 Ink has an open submissions policy for writers and artists. What has the response been so far?
AD: We think that keeping an open door policy is the best way to build a solid line up that ranges in style and genre. We receive a few submissions daily, and at times we are overwhelmed with submissions and it takes a few long nights and weekends to review everything and send out responses. We have a steady flow of artist and writers that we match up for different titles.
There are times we like a project, but don't think we have a fan base that would be into it; when that happens, we try to find other publishers that are better suited for the project.
“We think that keeping an open door policy is the best way to build a solid line up that ranges in style and genre.”
MS: Publishers that are open to submissions from writers with no artists attached to the property are rare. What made you decide to open your doors not only to artists and complete teams, but also to writers who only have their words to get them started?
AD: It seems that finding artists is at times difficult for writers just breaking into the industry. We want to be a publisher that allows creative teams to develop, which I think is something that the industry really is lacking right now, so it helps that process if we can match up an experienced artist or writer, with someone less experienced and let them learn together.
“We want to be a publisher that allows creative teams to develop, which I think is something that the industry really is lacking right now.”
MS: Besides yourself, who else helps you out with the editorial aspects of 215 Ink?
AD: As far as the direction of titles and story arcs, we leave that completely in the hands of the creative teams and never interfere. For our digital titles, we generally let the teams self edit. If there is a problem, we can quickly update and push out the new files. For print, we have a review process internally, and our printer checks for typos.
MS: I read on ComicVine that 215 Ink may soon be looking to merge with another publisher. Is there any truth to this? If so, is it something you can talk to us about, like who this publisher might be? If not, can you think of anything that might have led the person responsible for writing this blurb to believe that there is?
AD: We were briefly in talks to purchase Marvel Comics, but Disney came in at the last minute and bought it out from under us.
No, there is absolutely no truth to this, and I have no idea where it came from. 215 Ink is and always will be creator owned.
MS: Are there any properties or creators - big or small - that you would like to publish or work with?
AD: So far, working with the creative teams we already have in place has been fantastic. We couldn't ask for a better group of guys that have all come together to help build this into something special. I do my best to make everyone feel like they are a huge part of the company, since without them we don't have a thing.
However, if I could bring in someone not already on the roster that I think would fit well with what we are doing, I would love to work with Eric Powell, Robert Crumb, Rob Schrab, Brian Wood, Angel Medina, Gregg Capulo, and R. Grampa
MS: What other mediums or genres have you worked in?
AD: I am a digital media buyer and producer by day, comic publisher by night.
MS: What future projects do you have in the works?
AD: We are currently working on Stephen Lindsay's Jesus Hates Zombies: Jurassic Kinda Life and BUCK, Adam Wilson's Brian & Bobbi as well as GCD, Shawn Aldridge Vic Boone, Kurt Belcher's Winter War, David Pinckney's Laluelle, Jeff Winstead's The Alternate, and, to round it off, we have a super secret series in the works from Rolf Lejdegård.
Breakneck (Diamond Order Code: JAN111349)
Brian & Bobbi (Diamond Order Code: DEC101071)
Jesus Hates Zombies (featuring Lincoln Hates Werewolves) (Diamond Order Code: NOV101047)
MS: If you could write any company’s character (s), which one (s) would it be and why?
AD: The Silver Surfer, I always liked the cosmic characters, and I think the Surfer is an extremely under used character.
“The [Silver] Surfer is an extremely under used character.”
MS: For anyone who wants to be a writer, editor, or publisher, what can you tell them about the craft?
AD: Being a publisher takes a lot of business sense and negotiation skills. Keeping everyone on schedule and reviewing submissions is just the tip of the iceberg; without a solid manufacturing chain in place that can deliver a consistent, high-quality and low-cost product, matched with a robust and far reaching distribution network, the odds of being successful are even lower.
Writers' need to focus on reading as much as writing. Your knowledge of language is your tool set, you need to research and consume as much literature as possible at every chance and continue to perfect your story telling. Volume of writing is also important. Writing one script and sitting on it for years is not a good way to improve your abilities. The story will tell you when it is finished, and what you do next is what makes you a writer: starting a new story.
“Writing one script and sitting on it for years is not a good way to improve your abilities.”
Artists are very similar to writers from the perspective of perfecting the craft of telling a story with sequential art. If we were to remove the words from a comic, would we be able to tell what the story was about? Consuming as much art as possible and looking at different regions and styles is a great way to add to your skill set.
“Consuming as much art as possible and looking at different regions and styles is a great way to add to your skill set.”
MS: Everyone at ComicBookInterviews.com would like to thank Mr. DelQuadro for taking the time to answer our questions. For more from 215 Ink and their wide-range of publications, please visit 215 Ink.com.
AD: Thank you, Michael.
Discovery 215ink's comics here:
www.215ink.com
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