At the vanguard of the massive resurgence in Angel’s popularity as a comic series, Scott Tipton is one of the new breed of writers coming up at IDW. His combination of cerebral plotting, a keen ear for dialogue and a deep, abiding love for all things Angel means he’s become the go to guy for fans of the world’s most caveman browed vampire. We talked to him about his time at IDW, his relationship with Chris Ryall, what his geekiest posession is and just how rock and roll the life of a comic writer is. The answers may surprise you. He may also be joking.
How would you describe yourself to the man on the street?
“My name is Scott D. Tipton, millionaire. I own a mansion and a yacht.”
Seriously, though, the 10-year-old me that still resides inside my head takes great pleasure in the fact that I can now respond “comic-book writer” when someone asks what I do for a living.
How did you start working with IDW?
Well, IDW’s Grand Poobah Chris Ryall and I have been working together for various firms and on numerous projects for almost eight years now; either he’s been my editor or I’ve been his. When he took the reins at IDW, he asked if I’d like to give the comics writing a try, and I jumped at the chance.
What was your first experience as a comic writer and how did you find it?
I got to adapt Richard Matheson’s short story The Children of Noah for IDW’s horror anthology Doomed, which is a great way to get your feet wet as a comics writer: it’s hard to go wrong with the great Matheson providing you a blueprint. You can read the much longer version of this scintillating tale at, at my Website, Comics101.com.
How easy has it been working around the ending of Angel?
Pretty easy. I just shut my eyes and pretend it never happened.
Actually, my previous work on the character had been specifically placed between episodes of Season 5 of Angel. Not due to any editorial mandate or anything — it just so happened that the stories I wanted to tell required it for one reason or another. As for Auld Lang Syne, we’re just required to be somewhat vague about precisely when the story’s taking place.
Are there any characters or events that are off limits for the moment?
Other than the aforementioned policy about not firmly establishing a post-”Not Fade Away” timeline, we’re pretty much handed an open book, although everything still requires approval from FOX and Mutant Enemy. FOX in particular has been extremely helpful in dealing with continuity issues and the like.
Is there anything you’d love to do but haven’t had the opportunity yet?
There’s tons. I feel like I only scratched the surface of the Spike/Wesley dynamic in my Angel: Spotlight. I’d love to do more with Illyria, and never really got to work with Gunn at all. I’ve got some notions for an Angel/Spike/Illyria team-up story that I’d love to sink my teeth into. Time will tell.
Favourite character?
If you look at all my Whedonverse work, there’s only one character who appears in every story, so it’s not too hard to figure out. I think Spike has so much depth to him, so much pain and passion and humor. I could keep writing him forever. I’ve only recently begun a non-Whedonverse project, and after a year and a half of writing Spike, it’s been very strange not hearing his voice in my head.
You have free reign across the entire Buffyverse. What story do you tell and what characters do you use?
I always really liked the Spike/Giles relationship. That’d be really fun to play with. I also think I’ve got some great Xander stories in me. Maybe one of these days the stars will align and I’ll get the chance.
Similarly, you’ve got unlimited resources and unlimited funds to produce a spin off based around one character. What do you do and why?
Well, if my resources and funds were truly unlimited, the answer is easy: Angel, Season Six. It felt to me like the show was really hitting its stride with the fifth season, and just like everyone else, I want to see where Joss would take it next. Again, maybe one day we’ll be lucky enough to get just that.
Given your background how do you deal with the internet and fan’s reactions to your work?
I can’t complain about Internet fandom at all. Buffy and Angel fans have been just marvelous to us, not just supporting us financially, which is of course important, but being very vocal about what they liked and didn’t like, and with only very few exceptions, doing so most graciously. I think it comes through that all of us at IDW working on these books are doing so out of a real devotion to the characters and the universe that Joss created, and accordingly, the fans look at us as kindred spirits of a sort.
You worked with Chris Ryall on Movie Poopshoot. So just between us and the internet what scandalous rumours would you like to spread about him?
Well, you didn’t hear this from me, but word on the street is that he’s got a complete collection of ROM, Spaceknight comics in bound volumes on his bookshelf. I also heard he shot a guy in Reno just to watch him die.
Now you’ve got your feet wet writing Whedonverse comics are there other comic characters you’d like to work on?
Plenty of them. If anyone at Marvel is listening and would like to take a chance on a Yellowjacket ongoing series, my number’s in the book. The same goes for DC Comics and Hourman.
What’s the geekiest thing you own?
How dare you. I’m offended at such a question. I happen to be an urbane, sophisticated man about town.
That being said, I love the way the morning sunlight glints off of the full-scale replica of Captain America’s shield that hangs in my living room.
James Dodsworth - Born and raised in Yorkshire, residing in London since 2000, James has a Law Degree and works for the Anti-Financial Crime Office of a International Asset Management Company. He is a writer and editor for FractalMatter.com.
But his main claim to fame is living next to the pub where Shaun of the Dead was conceived.