Full name
Thomas Lee Allison

Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
Born in Geneseo, Illinois, Grew up in the Quad Cities, and surrounding areas.

Schooling? Art training?
Took Art History, and one 2 art classes in college. About 95% self taught.

How long have you been working professionally in comics?
I used to do a lot of pin-up art for different indie comics, ghosted for some people, and am currently drawing my own book currently. Over all, about 14 years.

What things -- both in art and otherwise -- have you worked on, besides comics? Are comics a full-time gig for you or part-time?
Comics right now is a part time thing, I work mainly as a sculptor.

Talk about how you broke into the business --was it easy? Hard? Ups? Downs? Any interesting anecdotes? When you held your first published work in your hands, how did you feel?
Comic Work is a harsh mistress. Have think have been paid twice working in comics from indie publishers, but had a great time ghosting for other people. As far as holding my first published work in my hands, it was a comedy book that written, and it was a pretty proud moment. I got work through an advertisement in a magazine to paint a cover for a book called “Styphonâ€�. It paid a whopping $75.00. I couldn´t have been more proud. Not sure whatever happened to the book though. Gave the original to a lady that worked at the college I went to.

As far as breaking into the business, I will likely always feel like I am breaking in. This way I never get complacent.

Did you work as an assistant to any other artists? If so, please talk a bit about those experiences.
I did paint work for Kent Melton when he had a place that produced higher end collectible dolls. I learned a lot about production, quality control, and sculpting. The guy is a GOD among men when it comes to all of that stuff. As far as everything else goes, I pretty well taught myself.

How did your parents take to the idea of working in comics?11.) How would you describe your workspace? Is it part of your home,
or do you go "to the studio"?
My parents didn’t think too much of the art thing. They were working class people who frankly didn´t see a future in art. My mom died before I actually got out there and was doing the stuff full time, and my dad still wonders what I’m doing.

My art studio is part of where I live, but it´s separate. Its the entire upstairs, which means that the living area is separate. There has to be a separation for me other wise just be raiding the fridge, and watching TV.

What job are you the proudest of? What's your most embarrassing?
I’m never really proud of my work. I always tend to think that I can do better, and try to improve with every piece of work. The most embarrassing? That would be just about anything have done up to now. I´m never happy with anything.

What are you currently drawing? Comments on that project?
I´m doing a book called “The Tweenâ€�. It’s a sci-fi horror book with a semi-autobiographical bent.

Talk about your Family: Parents, siblings, home situation. Are you Married? Have kids? Anecdotes about married life, how it relates to your busy schedule, etc. If you have kids do they understand your job? What do they say about it? Do they read comics?
I have a wife, and two cats. Its good. The upside to marriage is not having to go looking for a date, or having to work out incessantly to stay in dating trim. The career and the family have to strike a balance, and it’s tough sometimes when you get to working on a project that really moves you, and 16 hours goes flying by. The wife and I will eventually have kids, and I´m thinking that I™ll probably be a pretty cool dad having an art studio full of toys and comics.

The wife has come to an understanding about the work I do. More importantly she is come to accept the danger in what I do. Being married to me is a lot like watching the show “Jackass�. I made a full suit of Doctor Doom armor and saw something on the web where this guy was shooting plasma from his hands using argon gas. Thinking this was pretty cool I built a Van DeGraaf Generator, got some Argon Gas, and donned the Doctor Doom Costume. I figured Id try to do something cool, and get it on video.

When I came to, my wife was screaming at me. “I told you it wouldn´t work. Needless to say, I´ve not done anything quite like it since.

I have a brother and a father who aren’t quite sure of what I do, but they’ve come to grips with the fact that at least I´ve not joined or started a cult.

What projects do you hope to work on in the future?
I’d like to think I’ll be working on more sculpture, and my comic.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten?
Hopefully with a lower insurance deductible, and still doing art.

What is the interest in comics where you live? Do friends and neighbors know you draw comics for a living? How do they react?
Minneapolis is full of people who love comics. Seriously. It is full of nerds. It’s why I fit in so well. My neighbor is a Comic Legend. Should tell you something about where I live.

What's 1 thing you'll always find in your refrigerator?
Condiments.

What's your favorite food?
Probably French Apple Pie with caramel, and Ice Cream.

What are your favorite interests --Movies? Music? TV? Any hobbies? Sports?
I’m a horror movie fanatic. Not Good Horror Movies mind you, I’m a huge fan of crappy movies. If it’s a bad movie, then chances are I’ll enjoy it. Some people would call it Schadenfreudism. There’s nothing like sitting down with your beverage of choice and some popcorn and watching some independent horror flick that has the budget of some 8th grade kid’s lunch money.

I also play cello, badly. There’s something about playing a musical instrument out of spite, than out of love.

 

Have you ever thought of writing your own stories?
I write every day. I do a lot of comedy stuff, and also enjoy writing horror and science fiction. I also contribute to a few Political Websites.

Ever been in a gang?
No. I tried, but my incessant talk about Star Wars as a kid pretty well made me a social outcast. At least I wasn’t a Trekker…

What's an average day in your life like? Walk us through a typical day.

The first thing I like to do is wake up. Sleepwalking is dangerous. Head to the bathroom to take the morning constitutional, shower, and then head to the kitchen naked. I leave the windows open deliberately as to make my neighbors keep theirs closed. Make coffee. Move around the house a bit, feed the cats, and then get dressed. Go work out, or take a walk. Do the errands for the day, then come home and work. I generally work 12 to 16 hours a day. I don’t sleep much, as I have chronic insomnia.

Any humorous or interesting anecdotes to tell about the comics business?
Being offered sex from a woman at a comic convention. The problem I saw, was the same thing Groucho Marx said about joining a club that would have him as a member. No pun intended.

Do you have any great, unsold projects in your files that nobody's gotten to see published?
Yes.

Complete list of published credits?
“The Tween� Coming Soon.

If you weren't a comic-book artist today, what would you be?
A reverse stripper. You would not believe the money I could make from people who would pay me to keep my clothes on.

Have you taught comic-book art or had any assistants? If so, talk about that.
I’ve taught sculpture twice. Until the statute of limitations is up, I can't comment on the other stuff.

The single thing you'd most like to be remembered for in your life is...?
My sense of humor. I’d rather have people remember all the laughs I gave them, than all the grief.

Any closing words for your fans?
I guess I would say thanks for liking the work I do. I enjoy doing the work, but to have it appreciated by others is a fantastic compliment.

 

LINKS
http://madrobotstudios.blogspot.com/

Mad Robot Studios