Aaron Talks with Comic Book Writer Kelly Sue DeConnick

EXCLUSIVE: I recently got the chance to chat with rising Marvel star Kelly Sue DeConnick about life, Norman Osborn, CBGB issue #4, and what it's like to write a one-shot. Kelly Sue is currently writing the Osborn mini-series for Marvel, has written one-shots Sif and Rescue, with more on the way...

Kelly Sue DeConnick is a rising star in the comics industry, writing titles for Marvel Comics, BOOM! Studios, IDW Publishing, and Image Comics. Her online presence is vast and entertaining, with an extremely active Twitter account and frequently updated site kellysue.com. She recently took time out of her busy schedule to talk life, Osborn, CBGB #4, and what it's like to write a one-shot.

Aaron: Before we dig in too much, your children are a hilarious and delightful part of your online presence...Has being a parent changed the way you write?

Kelly Sue: Being a parent has changed the way I *everything.* Setting aside it's effects on my figure (not entirely negative, as it happens) and general hygiene (entirely negative, alas), being a parent has...

Well, I was just about to say that it had cured me of a fairly crippling case of perfectionism, but that's not actually true. But it has set a new paradigm for how much I can get done in a day. Which, if I do say so myself, is a f***ton--and *still* isn't enough. I just don't have the time to be precious about every little decision.

If only I'd known what I was capable of *before* the kids were born. Truly.

Youth is wasted on the young. Who said that? Was it Wilde? I suppose I could google it but it feels like Wilde. If it wasn't Wilde, well, dammit, it ought to have been.

Aaron: I'd like to talk a little about Osborn - the King of the Dark Reign, recently 'dethroned'...Siege left Norman at his lowest point in a long while...how has his defeat affected his ego?

Kelly Sue: Norman isn't one for wallowing. This is a setback, not a defeat; it's a challenge.

Aaron: Is it difficult to get into a mental space to write a mind like Norman Osborn?

Kelly Sue: No. You're, like, the third person to ask me that. I wonder if I should be concerned that I find him so easy to identify with.

Aaron: Can you provide any glimpse of what the future holds for Norman?

Kelly Sue: Wait, are you asking me if I can tell you what's going to happen? Pfft. No. Where's the fun in that?

Aaron: With the Iron Man movies and the upcoming Thor film, Pepper Potts and Sif are becoming household names. Did you enjoy getting a chance to be the voice of these two strong characters?

Kelly Sue: Emphatically: YES.

Aaron: Are one-shots particularly challenging to write? It's got to be tough to start and end a story in 30 pages or less....

Kelly Sue: I was going to say no, but I'm working on two one-shots at the moment and one is kiiiiiiiiiiiillling me. I'm just not nailing it at all. I'm actually starting to panic. I'm hoping this is the moment of despair before the epiphany. Please, universe, let that be the case. If anybody wants to light a candle or work some kind of Grant Morrison ABRACADABRA for me, I'd be ever so grateful.

So... apparently the answer is "sometimes they are, yes."

Aaron: Did you have a connection with CBGB while it was open? Any memories of the club?

Kelly Sue: Yeah. My piece actually started as personal essay... creative non-fiction... whatever they call that these days. I ended up needing to tweak it enough that I couldn't call it non-fiction anymore, but yeah... I saw Cornelius play at CBGB and the a good ten years later he popped up on my kids' TV show.

Aaron: If you could hypothetically see any band/artist play at CBGB, who would it be?

Kelly Sue: Johnny Cash, Warren Zevon, David Johansen, Robert Johnson

Aaron: If you could pick one artist to collaborate with, who would it be (past or present)?

Kelly Sue: Jane Almirall. And Rachel Stuart-Haas. I know you said one. Sue me.

Aaron: Are there any upcoming projects you are working on that Blammers can keep an eye out for?

Kelly Sue: "Blammers"?! That's awesome. I love that.

Man... I don't think I'm allowed to plug anything just yet.

Can I just thank them for loving comics and congratulate them on their fine taste?

Photos courtesy of Kelly Sue DeConnick, Doug Hesse and Ed Peterson.