Pedro Angosto has been writing stories for many years with Big Bang Comics. One of the oldest running indie publishers that many fans aren’t aware of and should be—they put out some fantastic comics that fans of all ages will enjoy!
FCF: Pedro, tell the comic fans a little bit about yourself.
Pedro: I am a 53-year-old Spanish writer from Madrid, Spain. I’ve recently found that I am Neurodivergent, which explains most of my “miserable” -I mean Jean Val Jean level- life. But when I am writing -or reading our reviews- I forget most of it!
FCF: How long have you been a writer for Big Bang Comics, and how did you start working for them?
Pedro: Twenty years ago, after some quick stops at AC Comics’ Femforce & Jim Valentino’s Shadowhawk, I ended up doing a Round Table Of America one-shot for Gary Carlson, one of the last BBC’s published through Image Comics. Then, I returned four years ago, and I’ve done half a dozen other books for them, including most -if not all…yet- their main characters and supergroups.
FCF: What’s the best part about working with Big Bang Comics?
Pedro: Gary Carlson, who is a gentleman and a grandfather, not only “of Image Comics” but to all his writers, he pamper us. Even the unruly ones like me! Chris Ecker is a great astrologer, but Gary is a pleasure to deal with, and he barely re-touches the words I write. That makes it a dreamy “hands-off” editor! Then, you have dozens and dozens of pastiche heroes and villains, both homaging Marvel and DC and all comic-book eras. So you cannot beat that sandbox!!
FCF: How did Dr. Weird end up in a solo series? And why do you feel Dr. Weird is the heart of Big Bang Comics?
Pedro: Maybe for me, as he ended up appearing in all my BBC books: RTA: Personality Crisis, Knight of Justice (the Golden Age heroes of Earth-B), The Last Whiz Kids Story -our homage to Wolfman & Pérez’s Titans- and even the new Round Table Of America book! Having him tie into Lovecraft’s Dream and Cthulhu’s cycle AND his origin happening within Thunder Girl’s Annals of Time & Space also makes him an axis character for the BBC world!
It was editor Ed De George -co-owner of Weird with Gary- who, after seeing our final results, suggested making the issue a one-shot. I think it’s a nice way to show that -not that there is anything wrong with them, get them all!- but this one is not your average Big Bang Adventures issue!
Keltner created the character, then turned into a cult classic by G.R.R. Martin & Jim Starlin -still, I cannot believe I wrote him after them, and the “original” origin is reprinted within the Special. Weird, modeled after Mr. Justice & The Spectre, generated a whole family of characters by himself, from Drax to Vision, but many, many more you can find if you read my text page!
FCF: What comics might make for a fantastic jumping-on-point for someone new to Big Bang?
Pedro: Well, I take care to write every issue as if it were for a new reader. But of course, I must direct them to the original Big Bang Web series, the one at Image Comics. Most of the issues are self-contained fun and can still be brought through BBC’s website.
FCF: What was the process of putting the book together? (For example, did you choose the other creators involved, and how much freedom did you have in implementing your ideas?)
Pedro: I had lots of help from Ed De George, who helped me polish the original proposal, which was a bit broader. And yes, I am an incredibly lucky writer who picks his artists, and they are all fabulous, and I write to their strengths, for them to be as bright as Joan Vives has done.
FCF: Who are the other creative members of the book?
Pedro: Did I mention that we got it? MARTIN and Jim Starlin reprinted this issue. Their origin of Weird, which was done around the time I was born and they were starting, was the base for our work.
FCF: What is the best-kept secret about Big Bang Comics?
Pedro: Alan Moore was a fan of Big Bang Comics. That and… OUR BOOKS! Thousands of original readers need to return and discover all the new stuff! I wish the original series were reprinted in color, if possible. As pastiches come, they played a crucial role in the sorely missed Reinessance of the Sense of Wonder in the late 90s
FCF: Are there any plans to create more solo Dr. Weird comics? And when might we see another Big Bang Comic coming from you?
Pedro: I wish! Martin developed a whole hellish mythos for Weird, and I’d love to return to that!!
The Spanish section of BBC is currently finished with a proposal to do a National Guardians -Pérez’s Avengers- pastiche TPB, not unlike the one published last year through Kickstarter. I’d love to do more in that format, with The Pantheon of Heroes -Legion’s pastiche- and, well, every single BBC character. I am a little kid in a candy shop when it comes to my love for Chris and Gary’s universe!
FCF: Any final thoughts?
Pedro: Buy BBC! Read BBC! Tell us and your friends about them! You’d love them! And thank you, Ronald and everybody who helped us promote them!
Oh, and this is a message for the Big Name superhero writers and artists: While I love to be surprised, it doesn’t look like the majors are at their best moment now. Up to indy superhero books to save the market and the genre, as they did in the 90’s!
Check out all things Big Bang Comics.
And, they are easily available through Indy Planet.
About Author
