Richard Vasseur Creator of Iconic : The Light of God

Interview with: Richard Vasseur
Comic book title: Iconic: The Light of God # 1
Publisher: Iconic Canadian Comics
Genre: Fictional present time superhero story
Created by Richard Vasseur
Story by Richard Vasseur & Theodore Riddle
Artist/Writer/Cover Artist/Letterer/Colorist: Theodore Riddle
Price $ 6.99 USA
Interviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets
Jazma Online

Allen: What are some of your earliest memories reading comic books?

Richard: I used to pick them up when I was a teen from a second hand book store. They were cheap. Plus we did not have any comic book specialty shops then. I would read all that I got from my allowance and from cashing in pop bottles. I saved all the ones I bought.

Allen: What were some of your favorite comic book stories in your youth?

Richard: The first comic book series I started collecting was Spider-Woman and for that it is a favorite. I had to go around to every variety store in the city each month to find the next issue since at that time we had no specialty comic book shops.



Allen: Tell me a little bit about yourself.

Richard: I am Canadian born and raised here. My regular job is working in a warehouse where I was recently was made Manager when the current one retired.

For as long as I can remember I have been interested in comics. They are escapism when used with a vivid imagination.

I have a huge collection of comic books about 50,000 of them from a huge variety of companies and genre. Yes I read them all. Plus I review comics now and have done so for years and I post reviews at both Jazma Online Boards and First Comics News.

I am also the Editor-In-Chief at Monolith Comics and Theodore Riddle is the writer/artist/letterer/colorist there. He is amazingly talented.

Allen: Have you ever had any professional training writing comic books?

Richard: No none at all. I have never written a comic book in my life. Recently a character I created Iconic was made into a comic with Theodore Riddle's help, he did most of the work. I created the hero and villain and helped some with the story.

Allen: What is the inspiration for Iconic comic-book? Also, about how long has idea for Iconic been in works?

Richard: The inspiration was from within as Iconic is based on me. He has the same values as I do and personality. The idea for him has been around for over 20 years. I used to do one page sketches of the character, plus I worked out a bio for him and his arch enemy Evilily.



Allen: How hard was it for you to put real people into Iconic? For instance, Derek and Madison

Richard: Madison unfortunately passed away about 2 years ago. So this is a tribute to her. She had just turned 18 and 4 days after she had a epileptic seizure in her sleep and passed quietly and painlessly. Derek is her brother so I also wanted to include him. Madison was my niece and Derek is my nephew.

Allen: Was the dog in story your real personal pet? Is your dog also named Trouble?

Richard: Yes she is I've had her since she was a puppy. I've taught her lots of tricks and she is so even tempered.

Allen: Tell me more about Madison. I was very sad knowing she passed away. It must have been hard and emotional to write Madison Vasseur into Iconic story.

Richard: It was not hard since I wanted to do a tribute of some kind to her. Since I liked comics and was helping to make Iconic it seemed right.

Madison was a very enthusiastic girl and she loved animals. She was going to pursue a career in helping them as a veterinarian technician. She also would donation her part of her allowance and money gifts she got for birthdays and Christmas to charity. She would donate one hundred dollars a year so in honor of her I am continuing that in her name.



Allen: It is very noble to remember Madison with donation. What other sort of real things were mixed in with Iconic: The Light of God # 1? For instance what sort of job for employment do you have in real life?

Richard: Iconic is based on me so he has the same job in his secret identity. He works in a warehouse. At the time this was written I was a Warehouse Supervisor but that has changed to Manager.

Allen: Tell me about basic story line for Iconic : The Light of God # 1.

Richard: The story line created by Theodore Riddle with some help from me is about him saving the life of the future President of the Earth who will bring peace to the planet. The villain of the story Evilily plans to kill the President. It is fairly simple so it’s easy to follow.

Allen: You are main character in story. You even set story in London, Ontario, Canada. Why did you choose this location as setting?

Richard: I chose it because I live there so I know about it. I see it all around me. Plus Theodore the artist used pictures of my house and Madison, Derek and Trouble to help create the art.



Allen: You are drawn into comic book. Have you ever been drawn into any other comic book story?

Richard: Yes several times. Once as a Biology Teacher in Banzai Girl, as a reporter in Jungle Girls, and as a pirate turned into a monkey in She-Buccaneer. In She-Buccaneer I was in the entire issue the others it was only a page.

Allen: How did you come up with super villain Evilily. Describe Evilily. Also, tell me about her Trident. How would you describe Evilily in comparison to Iconic.

Richard: Evilily is based on a real life person I used to work for. She was evil to and would lie, make up things, at work she became obsessed with me. She had fallen in love with me but never acted on it. By the time I figured it out she hated me and was so obsessed with me there was nothing I could do. She had me fired and management went along with it because she was a great worker the best at this company and that was all they cared about. I hope she eventually gets some kind of help but I doubt it.

Evilily's trident shoots out different colors and each color is a different power, such as cold, heat, lasers, levitation, and I can add any new ones I like in the future. It is sort of like Marvel's Mandarin's rings accept she has unlimited colors.

Iconic and Evilily are complete opposites. It’s your basic good vs evil. One was created with God's help and the other with Satan's but the story is not a religious one.

Allen: How did you come up with idea to work with artist Theodore Riddle on Iconic?

Richard: He actually suggested it and if not for him this comic would not exist. I mentioned to him about the character and he was like we should create the comic. He did the bulk of the work.

Allen: Do you have any more issues planned for Iconic?

Richard: No nothing now. I was thrilled to get this one done. But who knows what the future holds though. I'd love to see more.

Allen: What are some of your favorite scenes of Iconic: The Light of God # 1

Richard: The living room scene with Richard, Derek, Madison and Trouble just sitting around. Of course having Iconic beating up Evilily is great to see as well.

Allen: You are super busy doing many interviews, reviews and other ways promoting comic book material. Did you ever write letters for comic book letter pages?

Richard: Yes I have I've had about 20 published. Eleven were in Alpha Flight. I was also published in Stan's Soap Box and won a No-Prize from him for it.

Allen: What are some of your favorite comic books at present time?

Richard: There are so many. Lumberjanes a fun comic about female campers who get into weird adventures. Classic Archie comics I love. WWE comics. X-O Man-O-War. Faro about a time traveler. I get sent so many to review.

Allen: What are some of your favorite comic book related movies or television shows?

Richard: Flash, Arrow, Black Lightning, Supergirl, Titans, Batwoman, Watchmen, I watch them all. Others I'd watched, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Punisher, Luke Cage. Dr. Who of course. Movies I liked the Watchmen, Star Trek, Star Wars, Superman, Batman, Batman Vs Superman. Wonder Woman was fantastic it was done beautifully. The Avengers, Spider-Man I loved them. Captain Marvel was so so. Black Panther another great movie. This was perfectly handled.

Allen: What is best way to get copy of first issue of Iconic?

Richard: I have sent out a few copies and several people have said they will review it. Best way though:

Amazon.com www.amazon.com/Iconic-Light-God-Richard-Vasseur/dp/1693030845/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=iconic+the+light+of+god&qid=1572781176&s=digital-text&sr=1-1-catcorr

Allen: I noticed issue one concluded with some history pages of main characters. I also noticed that you drew your vision of Iconic and Evilily. Have you ever had your art work published in any other magazine?

Richard: I had fan art published in The Authority comic book. Jazma Online used to be a printed fan zine when it started and I had lots of art published in that. Now Paul Dale Roberts uses drawings I create for him to publish in books that he writes about the paranormal.



Allen: Do you have any other publications comic book wise in works?

Richard: I keep busy with reviews and interviews. I also review some movies and documentaries. So I do not do a lot more.

MLJ Fanzine in the Shield G-Man Club is making its first fanzine and I will be writing an article in that about the Shield.

Allen: Have you ever published any other comic books?

Richard: No. Iconic is the first. Whether I ever do any more we will just have to wait and see.

Allen: What websites do you work at most posting your interviews and reviews?

Richard: jazmaonline.boards.net/

www.firstcomicsnews.com/

Jazma I have been with for over 20 years and First Comics News for a couple years.

Allen: I think that's enough for today. Would you want to leave Jazma readers with any closing thoughts about Iconic: The Light of God # 1.?

Richard: Iconic is about good triumphing over evil which in the real world does not happen enough. In Iconic you can be the hero and save the day vanquishing evil.

Also read Richard Vasseur personal review of Iconic: The Light of God # 1.

jazmaonline.boards.net/thread/995/iconic-light-god-1


Allen Klingelhoets