Interview:Ryan Odagawa

In June, 2007, RyanGibsonStewart and Ryan Odagawa exchanged a series of emails regarding questions and answers about the Betty series of graphic novels. Following is a compilation of some excerpts from those emails.

Some people were debating about Betty, Part 1, if you don't mind. When the redhead student gets all that acne and those boils, does she also grow facial hair?

It's funny you ask about the facial hair thing....It is supposed to be boils, and her face is "both rotting and peeling off her head" I thought it was funny when [I read that some people thought] she had facial hair...lol. It was supposed to be hanging off her face and rotting.

I actually used my friends as models. I think they fit in pretty well.

Are the three girls all supposed to be cheerleaders?

They are supposed to be cheerleaders in "civilian" clothes. They don't have names in the script, but they are modeled from my friends....They probably won't see the light of day again after this story arc.

The cheerleaders talked about Miss Pricher. She's a teacher at the school, right? Any chance she'll be mentioned again?

I don't think Miss Pricher has any significance or will be in there later.

Incidentally, Mouse is the nickname of one of my friends too. I'm having too much fun just with the unnecessary characters...lol.

What cars did you model in the scene at the high school parking lot?

I used the Pontiac Solstice, because that's my friend's car and my Scion Tc. Funny thing is the Solstice is the exact same car as Jazz from the Transformers movie.

What's the biggest challenge for you in this section?

The biggest challenge was to get picture reference of my friends, who live all around--a few live in Florida. I had to use their webcams and print screen on my computer.

At the beginning of Part One it says the story takes place "not long ago." Any insights?

I have no idea when it takes place. I assume not very long ago, well, based on what happens in the last story.

One of the students looks an awful lot like you. Did you write yourself into the Heroes world?

I drew myself along with my friends on page 1 of Story 1, standing at the lockers.

In Betty, Part 4, you drew a really terrifying and cool pep rally scene. By any chance, are Coach Marboro or Miss Pricher or any other specific faculty members in the audience?

Your questions are particularly nerdy...lol. Either Coach or Miss Pricher I think were just names.