Women In Comics Month: Interview with Hilary Thompson

In honor of Women in Comics this March, PREVIEWSworld talks with writer Hilary Thompson!

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

Hilary Thompson: Hello! I’m a graphic designer at Oni Press and absolutely love what I do! I’m currently designing logos, covers, and page layouts for some exciting upcoming titles, as well as a few marketing goodies.

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

Hilary Thompson: Oni Press is my first gig in this particular industry, though I began studying design when I was quite young and have been working in the field for some time now. I’ve been at Oni for around three months and couldn’t be happier! My little fingers have (literally and figuratively) touched the majority of our titles by now, as well as a few recent books I got to design from the beginning like Part-Time Princesses, Ares & Aphrodite, and Junior Braves of the Apocalypse.

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

Hilary Thompson: I don’t have a particular person in mind, no, but the general expressive, artistic, and eclectic nature of the culture is what draws me in. I’m very lucky to be able to come to work and share my enthusiasm on many--perhaps too many--topics with similarly-jazzed, great-minded individuals every day.

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

Hilary Thompson: Being new to the industry, I haven’t had a lot of time to notice these changes as much as I’d like to yet, but being an active participant in other forms of media (newspapers, magazines, blogs) I notice that women have definitely made their purpose and abilities known more now than in the past. That doesn’t mean everyone is happy about it, and there is still so much farther to go, but I’m very proud to be a weight in this social tipping point and will continue to grow unrestrained.

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

Hilary Thompson: Physical assets are a lot of times drawn “enlarged” or prominently shown, as well as the usual tropes of a female being nothing more than a supporting role to a dominantly male cast or particular character. I suppose this is true in almost all media as well, and I think writers and artists should really stop and think about the potential impact their story may have on different people before they finalize a plot or character(s).

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

Hilary Thompson: I want more women to have the chance to rise into top positions, be respected, and have their efforts recognized the same way a leading man’s actions would be praised.

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

Hilary Thompson: Have enthusiasm! Put the same passion into everything you do and it will pay off. Also, don’t be afraid to fail. As long as you’ve kept a steady mind throughout your process and a goal is in sight, all will come together in the end.

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

Hilary Thompson: Definitely! I recently worked with the wonderful artist Megan Levens on her book Ares & Aphrodite, which turned out beautifully. I also had a blast working on Monica Gallagher’s Part-Time Princesses and recently started designing the logo for The Lion of Rora, in which Jackie Lewis’ art shines!

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