Tag: Jai Nitz

Aaron: Kansas City comics scene helped launch his career

Jason Aaron, Tony Moore, and Matt Fraction
Jason Aaron, Tony Moore, and Matt Fraction

In his latest column for Comic Book Resources, Kansas City comics writer Jason Aaron reminisces about his early days in the comics business and the importance that the local network of comics creators had in shaping his career.

The first week I was here, I found a comic shop and started a pull list: Elite Comics in Overland Park. I’ve been buying my books there ever since. Through that shop I first met local comic folk like B. Clay Moore, Ande Parks and Jai Nitz, and later some fellow KC-transplants like Tony Moore and Matt Fraction. Here were people who actually made their living making comics. I couldn’t believe it.

Aaron credits his interaction with local creators, and their assistance and advice in shaping his career. “I honestly don’t know that I would be here today if it wasn’t for them,” he writes.

In addition to his CBR columns, you can keep up with Jason Aaron on his website, jasonaaron.info.

Planet Panel Planning

Helen Slater as Supergirl
Helen Slater got her big break as Supergirl in the 1984 film.
I’ll be helping coordinate the panel programming at next week’s Planet Comicon. This is my third year of programming for the show, and I’ve yet to kill the convention. This a strong indication that the show is invulnerable to my negative influences.

I’ve spent this evening watching the movie Supergirl as research before hosting a panel with the actress Helen Slater. Her performance in the film is truly extraordinary. The movie itself has some story shortcomings (which even the director has acknowledged), but Slater absolutely owns the screen whenever she appears.

I may also be moderating a panel with actress Mira Furlan, the TV science fiction icon who played Delenn on Babylon 5 and Danielle Rousseau on Lost. One of the big questions on everyone’s mind is whether Rousseau (who was murdered in an earlier season) will turn up in the remaining episodes of the season. Hopefully the Losties like me will get a clue next weekend.

Another panel of particular interest to Kansas City Comics fans is the “Green Hornet Returns” panel on Saturday afternoon. There are three KC regulars currently working on different Green Hornet comics Series. Phil Hester is providing breakdowns for the new Kevin Smith Green Hornet book, while Ande Parks and Jai Nitz are both writing comics featuring the Hornet’s sidekick Kato.

There are a bunch of other cool panels. You can see the full lineup here.