Taking Five with Chris Yambar

From his beatnik, bongo playing creation Mr. Beat, to the wonderfully produced Comic Library International books, to his present job of writing Bongo Comic's Bart Simpson, Chris Yambar has always been on the top of his game.

Between his pop-image gallery art, to writing and drawing some of the funniest and intriguing comic stories, Chris is busy all the time, with one project after another. To say the least, Chris is probably one of the hardest working talents in the industry, and he is still hard at work, lining up even more secret projects.

With the Simpson's comic's as popular as ever, and with the enthusiasm that was shown in San Diego for his latest book, SANTO!, it looks like Chris is on a roll, with plenty of diverse, enjoyable stories to please readers of every genre!

Chris was able to take some time from his busy schedule, to answer a few questions, and fill us in on what he's been doing, and what's coming up next.

I always look forward to getting a chance to talk with Chris at different conventions,

and I appreciate him taking the time for this iterview.

1) I have to ask this..."The Mr. Beat Experience"...What's that all about?!?

Chris: Due to the hands on nature of Mr. Beat, and his link to art, music, and social commentary, we decided to roll them all together and go public. We've done quite a few Mr. Beat Experience's in the Heartland, and on the East Coast, and they've been a big hit.

Imagine going into a coffeehouse, club, or micro-brewery, and seeing walls covered with Mr. Beat related art, everyone dressed in beat attire, candles are burning,and the band is made up of musicians

who are jamming together and they have no tip sheets or notion as to where they are going, because there has been no practice session. All they've got to go on is the feel of each other's vibe and wherever the music moves them. It's all freeform in the classic beat-jazz flavor.

Now, add an open mic for spoken word artists, ranters, and poets smacked out of their minds on coffee, and you've got an offical Mr. Beat Experience!

Fans can get a taste of this, this January, when the third collected Complete Mr. Beat book comes out from Comic Library International. It will include a free CD containing live and studio samples of such events, that will only be available during the initial direct market printing.

2) Mr. Beat has recently appeared in Elfquest #27. Where else can we expect to see him popping up?

Chris: Mr. Beat has appeared in in far more places than in Elfquest (twice!). Most of his team-up adventures and cameos are way out of print. They are all collected in his trades from CLI.

If you pick up The Complete Mr. Beat vols. #1-3, you've got every Mr. Beat appearance printed between 1996 and 2001!

3) How scary is it, writing a pop-culture icon like Bongo Comics "Bart Simpson?"

Chris: The hardest thing about writing for Bart is thinking up original things for him to do.

He's been on TV for 11 years, and has been in at least 100 comicbooks. Actually,

once I get an idea, it's pretty easy because you know how the characters are going to

act. They're that strong.

4) What other pop-culture characters are you interested in writing or drawing?

Chris: In addition to working on Bart Simpson Comics and Mr. Beat,

I'm working on el Mucho Grande - Wrestler for Hire and Suicide Blonde

for CLI, SFA Atomic Mouse for Shanda Fantasy Arts, the last two issues of

Levi's World, a Space Flea Field Guide, and the adventures of the most

famous masked man in the world: SANTO! I've also got three other series I'm

working on for next year that will surprise a lot of people. I can't go into them now,

due to contract agreements...but when I can, we'll talk more!

5) And now...the serious question...If you were Jeannie's master, you would...?

(and please, no sexual depictions!)

Chris: I'd make her shovel the walk.