Taking Five with Lee Ferguson

Lee Ferguson is not widely known...YET!

From small beginnings, working on indy books like "Stranger Than Fiction" and a few short stories in the Comic Book Legal Defense Funds benefit book, "Occupational Hazards," Lee honed his craft, sending samples to publishers, in the hopes of getting a break. Then, when Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada, took a liking to Lee's work, he got him a small job doing a pin-up for "Millenial Visions." From there, Joe worked with Lee, and had given him the oppurtunity of a lifetime...working on a high-profile book with some high-profile writers. he book was to be "Mutant X" based on the Fox television show, and written by Howard Chaykin and David Tischman.

Unfortunately, the book was shelved, but Lee was able to do a pin-up in the sold-out "Heroes" tribute issue, and is currently gearing up for another Marvel series to debut soon

Congratulations to Lee, who was kind enough to do this interview with me,

and I wish him the best in his comic endeavors!

He's earned them!!!

1) Okay...I have to ask this! You've been to the Marvel Comics offices.

You've worked with Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada.

Tell me...does he really work naked from the waist down,

as he stated in the "T5w" interview I did with him?

(SEE THE ARCHIVES)

Lee: It wasn't the fact that he works naked from the waist down that worried me, actually. It's that they have this random drawing every Friday to see who has duty under the desk each week, and some of the guys felt that my name should be included in that list. An EiC perk, apparently. I really wanted a job, but c'mon! There's a limit...

2) Going from relative obscurity (no offense!) to a high profile,

monthly job like MUTANT X (based on the TV Series), and

working with Howard Chaykin...are you feeling any pressure?

Lee: Oh yeah. How many guys get the chance to work with writers like

Howard and David (Tischman) at any point in their career, much less

right out of the gate? I try not to think about it too much, honestly.

Otherwise, I'd probably just end up paralyzed with fear...

3) So...from here on out, when we see you at a comic convention, will you be more inclined to getting autographs/sketches, or giving them?

Lee: Y'know, I've never been one to GET signatures or sketches anyway, so that won't change. I usually buy a ton of comics at cons, though, and now I can actually afford 'em! The weird thing will be when somebody actually asks for an autograph...I'll probably make them re-read my name tag to make sure they aren't lost: "Whattaya mean this isn't the Joe Mad table?!? Who the hell are YOU...?!?"

4) What title would you most want to work on, if given the chance, and why?

Lee: Spiderman. Desperately. I grew up reading Spidey comics, and it's the only character I follow through thick or thin. I just love the character...everything about him works. I tend to follow particular creators otherwise. I'd HAVE to work on Spidey before I could ever retire.

5) Now for the kicker...You have to live the rest of your life with someone, on a deserted island.

You're choices are Warren Ellis, Dennis Rodman, or one of the Olsen Twins.

Who do you pick, and why?

Lee: Are you kidding? That's your easiest one yet, Glenn! I go into spastic convulsions whenever I see a commercial for a new Olsen Twins movie, so that rules them out. If I was on an island with Warren, it wouldn't be long before the place was overrun by Americans who were trying to act all pissed off and speaking with psuedo-British accents, so there's no chance of that one, either. Rodman, on the other hand, helped MJ win three titles to close out his career--and if the press the guy's parties seem to get is any indication, I'm sure he has some other stories to tell!