Women in Comics Month: The Jen Broomall Interview

PREVIEWSworld: Please introduce yourself! Tell us where you currently work and what you do in the industry.

Jen Broomall: I'm Jen Broomall, I currently work as a Cover Illustrator (Pencils) and Lead Character Designer for Big Dog Ink. I have also done cover work for Aspen, Blue Rainbow Online, Devil's Due Publishing, and Zenescope. 

PREVIEWSworld: How long have you been working with sequential art? What titles, companies, and creators have you worked with over your time in comics?

Jen Broomall: I have not been working in sequential art for very long. I started backwards as a Cover Artist but am working closely with Big Dog Ink to get into sequential art because I would like to be able to tell a story and create stunning visuals.

PREVIEWSworld: How did you get interested in comics? How did you find your way into working with larger companies?

Jen Broomall: I got interested in comics in the 90's. I found some of my cousin's comic books and devoured them! I got hooked on books like Spawn, Gen 13 and the like. My first and main employer, Big Dog Ink, was a chance I took after years of submitting art to other companies. I had gotten a name from a friend and wrote an email. By then I was about to give up trying. I had not made it and felt I was too old to start trying for a career in comics. So I sent an email basically stating, "I'd love to draw covers for you, here's my stuff." I got a reply saying,"Show me." And so I did.

That submission was my first published cover. From there I worked off and on until I proved I was reliable and became one of their steady artists. BDI helped me grow; they supported me trying new things, guided me and nurtured my creativity, which was something I needed as I was new to the industry. I worked for other companies as well, landing a few jobs with Zenescope, and am now also working with Aspen for some covers for them. It's a small community. I love meeting fellow artists and companies because it's so close-knit. If I don't land a job now, you never know, something could happen in the future, and I'm not sprinting. I take my time and am here to stay. 

PREVIEWSworld: What's your current project? What are you reading right now?

Jen Broomall: Currently I have two trade covers and several character designs to finish for BDI, one cover for Aspen, and I need to get in some practice on drawing interiors for an upcoming project.
I'm not really reading a lot of comics because if I started I wouldn't get any work done. Some of my favorite titles are Elf Quest, Skydoll, and Artifacts (SEP100528), to name a few.   

PREVIEWSworld: In your opinion, how has the comic book industry evolved in terms of gender?

Jen Broomall: It's still evolving. There are more female creators than people realize and it will continue to evolve.

PREVIEWSworld: What stereotypes do you see surrounding women in comics? How could people of all genders go about breaking those stereotypes?

Jen Broomall: HA! Well, one I find interesting is believing all female creators are against what they are drawing. I draw pin ups and I draw them well, for some reason people assume I'm being forced to draw this. Like my arm is being twisted and they are saying, "Draw sexy or you're fired!" No, this is not the case. If I am asked to draw something I am not comfortable with I refuse.

Another assumption is that I'm male. I don't have a strong face presence in the community right now, due to having a baby, so people assume I'm a man. The thought is that men draw better, or that I'm drawing in a man's style. But this comes from years of men being the main artists in this genre. I believe the more folks see women doing this it will become old hat. Right now it's still new and so it's shocking.  
To fix this? Approach with an open mind and if you see a female creator who has amazing art, stories, etc., don't be shocked, just embrace it - they love it, you love it - it's all good. 

PREVIEWSworld: Have you noticed a trend in the type of comic books women buy? How do you want to see women represented in comic books 10 years from now?

Jenn Broomall: Women buy all types of comics! They have eclectic taste when it comes to what they read. Some love horror, others love super heroes, and some love adult - honestly women love comics as much as men. Ten years from now I just want to see good stories. Representing women in comics will get strong with great writing and character development - hell, if it's too hard, just stop thinking of them as female characters and write them as people. Like how Ripley from Alien was a character that was originally male and was gender-swapped into a kickass lady in space! When we stop restricting our views, we can create anything.  

PREVIEWSworld: What do you feel the benefits are for the larger industry by having a better mix of genders at all levels of comics production? Did you have a mentor or a hero in industry?

Jen Broomall: More perspectives. By having a good mix there is a better balance of perspective on projects. But this doesn't come from filling a quota, this comes from hiring someone for their work. To me the work has to speak for the person not their gender. I do have a hero: Joyce Ballantyne is one of mine. Everyone remembers Gil Evergreen for his pin ups; he was a great artist. Not too many folks know Joyce, even though she worked very closely with Gil.  
In fact, they used to finish each other’s projects when they were in a crunch.

I do have a mentor or two in the industry. As I said before, BDI has been my strongest advocate. The CEO's, Tom and Kim Hutchinson, have been incredibly supportive. I've also met some incredible artists and editors in this industry, and I admire all of them for their skill and their amazing personalities. We just love making comics. 

PREVIEWSworld: If you could give advice to any aspiring editors, executives, writers, or artists, what two things would you tell them?

Jen Broomall: It's never too late to give it a go. Be humble: the work is what is most important.