Women In Comics Month: Interview with Molly Mahan

In honor of Women in Comics this March, PREVIEWSworld talks with editor Molly Mahan!

PREVIEWSworld: Tell us a little bit about yourself! What are you currently working on?

Molly Mahan: I am Molly Mahan, an associate editor at Dynamite Entertainment. I just wrapped up Vampirella: Feary Tales last week and am focusing on our upcoming event, Swords Of Sorrow. I also work on Vampirella, Red Sonja, our CHAOS! Comics line-up (which includes Evil Ernie, Chasity, Lady Demon, and more), Twilight Zone, and our Legenderry spin-offs.

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

Molly Mahan: I’ve been working in comics about two years now, all at Dynamite Entertainment. In that time, I have worked with a ton of creators, including my high school and college heroes: Gail Simone (Red Sonja), Ed Benes (Warlord of Mars), Devin Grayson (Legends of Red Sonja), Mark Waid (Green Hornet), Matt Wagner (Django/Zorro), and Bill Willingham (Legenderry). I have also worked with industry legends such as Roger Langridge (Li’l Ernie), Roy Thomas (Red Sonja #100), Howard Chaykin (The Shadow: Midnight in Moscow), Ramona Fradon (Red Sonja), J. Michael Straczynski (Twilight Zone), Alex Ross (The Six Million Dollar Man) and Garth Ennis (Red Team), as well as phenomenal talents like Tim and Steve Seeley (Evil Ernie), Emanuela Lupacchino (Chaos), Nancy A. Collins and Jenny Frison (Vampirella), Michael Moreci (The Shadow), Francesco Francavilla (Reanimator), Kelly Sue DeConnick (Legends of Red Sonja), David F. Walker (Shaft), and many others.

PREVIEWSworld: Did you have a mentor or hero in the industry that inspired you to pursue a career in comics?

Molly Mahan: You bet: Karen Berger. I remember the day I noticed her name in an issue of a Vertigo comic (probably an issue of Sandman). I always had an inkling that I wanted to work in comics, but it wasn’t until I saw her name and title that I realized in what capacity.

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

Molly Mahan: There’s certainly a consciousness about it now that probably didn’t exist before—there are even MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) taught on the subject now, in addition to websites that make gender issues their primary focus when discussing comics and other elements of pop-culture. Personally, I’ve attended a few “Ladies Night” events at local comic shops, which are becoming more common. You don’t have to be a lady to attend, but the focus of the events is to have a safe space for women to explore comics with other likeminded individuals.

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

Molly Mahan: It’s certainly hard to fight against a stereotype like “Women don’t read comics,” when it’s so clearly false and yet some people still believe it wholeheartedly. During my college years, I once found myself in an argument over Batman with a fellow, and when he realized I was winning, he began to accuse me that I only read comics “to get boys.” Which is an interesting theory, since I’ve been reading comics since I was five (my mother would buy me Betty and Veronica Double Digests at the grocery store checkout if I behaved), and I don’t think I was interested in romance then. Hah! Not entirely sure how to fight that kind of blatant ignorance and prejudice, other than for women to just keep buying and reading comics; for the men in the industry—fans and professionals—I suppose the thing to do is to not allow those kinds of comments to go ignored when conveyed. Another myth out there is the idea that there are only X amount of jobs available “for women” in the industry. To kick that idea to the curb, we should focus on building each other up rather than breaking others down to make sure those jobs are “mine” instead of “ours.” Women helping women is always the best way to go.

PREVIEWSworld: How do you want to see women represented in comic books 10 years from now?

Molly Mahan: I’d like for us to get to a point where we needn’t qualify “female creator”—either for a selling point or to consciously obscure the fact. 

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

Molly Mahan: Keep your goal in mind and constantly be driving toward it. Go to conventions and talk to industry people and try to ensure they’ll remember you, but for a good reason, so be conscientious and professional. We’re all there to do business, including you if you’re serious about getting into the industry. Also, don’t get discouraged if it takes a while. We are always on the lookout for bright, new talent, but we don’t always have the projects available for Person A or B yet. Which is why it’s important to make a good impression, so when the right project does show up, we remember who to give it to.

PREVIEWSworld: And lastly, are there any up-and-coming women creators who you would recommend readers check out?

Molly Mahan: If you aren’t reading Shaft with art by Bilquis Evely, you are doing yourself a disservice. The art is beautiful, with colors by Daniela Miwa to boot! They previously worked together on Doc Savage last year as well. Mirka Andolfo’s work on Lady Demon is also worth checking out (tip of the hat to Tim Seeley for bringing her to our attention). As for writers, Erica Schultz’s M3 is a must read.

Check out more Women In Comics Month interviews in our special section on PREVIEWSworld!