Aspire #1 Cover
I met Rachel Pandich at HeroesCon 2012, when she and fellow Womanthology panel members agreed to sit down for a podcast with my colleagues and I over at Word of the Nerd. Having already spent an hour in a crowded, hot room, answering questions from fans and interested parties, Pandich maintained her energy, wit, and insight through another hour of questions from the likes of us. That alone would be enough for me to want to get her on board as a geek of the week, but her work on indie comic, Aspire is a wonderful cherry on top of her cool-girl-geekiness.
The story, told in an eight-issue arc and penned by Pandich with art from Ashley Lanni, centers around 12-year-old Destiny Phelps and her quest to become a super hero after she realizes the police can’t, or won’t, find her father’s murderer. Aspire is the best selling comic for the relatively new publishing company, Movement Comics and is a wonderful example not only of a young, female heroine, but also of the growing prominence of women creators in the comic industry.
When I contacted Pandich a few days after the convention, Pandich graciously agreed to take some time and answer our favorite Geek of the Week questions, in spite of her tremendously busy schedule on the con-circuit.
Every geek has an origin story – what’s yours?
Haha, um…. how far back do you want to go? I’ve been into TMNT and Batman since I could remember. The first TMNT movie was the first live action movie I saw in theaters.
Rachel Pandich and Ashley Lanni
In terms of how you budget your time and mental resources, how do you find a balance between writing and your “day job?”
It is a very fine line. I work full time so I try to write a little every day but that doesn’t always happen. If you ever see me at a convention, you’re more than likely going to see my laptop. Have to get that writing in when I can.
It is a hard thing to work hard to create something, then send it out into the world for judgment. How has that process been for you when it comes to Aspire?
It was hard at first. If you haven’t been published then publishers don’t really give you the time of day. That’s because for every one person that is serious there are about 10 that won’t have any follow through. Sometimes you have to go to a very, VERY small press or self publish like I did with my first title.
What is the best part of attending conventions as a panelist?
I’m a talker. I love discussions and as any writer can tell you, writing is solitary. Plus, my day job is a compounding pharmacy tech (I make drugs all day) and many days there is only one other person I’m around in my department. What part of being a panelist did I like? All of it.
What are your top three Geek-World recommendations right now?
Movies: Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance. It came out on DVD last month and is very under-rated. MUCH better than the first one.
Books: The Game of Thrones series or anything by Mary Roach. (Clearly she is a woman after my own heart)
Comics: Saga, TMNT, Star Trek, Swamp Thing. All great books right now. Especially Swamp Thing. I’m having mixed feelings towards Snyder. He made one of my favorite characters popular again, but now I can’t get anything relating to Swamp Thing without paying premium. I still have student loans to pay Mr. Snyder! Ya jerk! (Please keep writing it!)
(This is one my current favorites, as well. I will echo her plea to Mr. Snyder).
Any guilty pleasures you’re willing to admit?
The Biggest Loser and Hoarders. Don’t you judge me!
We never would judge. Bex and I would then have to open ourselves to equal judgement for our continued America’s Next Top Model habit.
Let me offer a final thanks to Rachel Pandich for her time. Be sure to follow her on Twitter @RachelPandich and head over to Facebook and like her page!
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