Originally published in VS Comics #3 – March 2013

Mike Stock // Digital Editor & Letterer // Interview

Hello. Who are you?

I’m Mike Stock and I am the digital editor for VS Comics. I also do a lot of the lettering.

What else have you worked on?

I freelance as a graphic designer although the comic book stuff increasingly takes up more and more of my time. As a designer I’ve produced logos and art assets for comic creators like Jon Lock and the lovely people at Disconnected Press. I’ve also helped produce the finished books for several other creators and publications.

What other comic stuff have you done?

I’ve worked on Dead Roots (digital production, design, and letters), and Afterlife Inc. (design for volume 1, and letters and design for volume 2), I’ve lettered a few shorts for Starburst Magazine too.

What attracted you to comics?

Comics did. I had a transferable skill set from my education as a designer that Mike Garley spotted and starting me off lettering a few of his things. The UK comics ‘creator’ scene is a much more hospitable plane than the UK design equivalent. I don’t think I would have been able to live with the seemingly inevitable transition to ‘hipster’ either.

What attracted you to VS Comics?

I was aware of it early on as you can imagine, I saw the Eponymous story before VS was talked about and then when I sat down with Mike there was only going to be one outcome; the chance to work with James was icing on the cake. And when you bear in mind the other talent involved, I’m getting loads and loads of icing on my cake.

What do you think of the process of working in comics and how does it compare to other mediums you’ve worked in?

From a lettering point-of-view my favourite part has to be not being the one solely responsible for making something look good. As a designer I didn’t realise how much pressure that was putting on me until I started lettering. I much prefer the new feeling of ‘I better not make a mess of the awesome artwork’. And as an editor the sheer volume of talent you get to work with blows my mind.

How did you get involved with VS Comics?

I worked with Mike (in the same roles) on Dead Roots and, with that going so well, I’d like to think the decision to involve me in VS was easy for him.

More next time. Including some stuff on my processes, my inspiration, and a look into the future.