I got my start by sleeping with an editor. No really. Okay the story begs telling, and it's quite long winded, so here goes. . .way back, when I was a kid, I was totally into film. Like many kids of my generation (I'm 32) Star Wars was huge for me. So huge that I got a real sense of life direction from it, and I knew what I wanted to do; I wanted to make movies. I wanted to be a special effect designer. From that point in 1977 onwards, I worked towards that goal. Studying films, practicing a lot of drawing, and eventually going to film school. I graduated from York University film school in 1987, and went to work in the film industry. During this time, I had rekindled my interest in comics, and was quite an avid reader. I became friends with the manager of the store I went to, and when he hosted conventions, he asked me to help by driving around the guests to and from the hotels, and to restaurants, and wherever they wanted to go. Because of this, I got to meet many people, many of whom I am still friends with, such as Mike Mignola, Art Adams, Todd McFarlane, George Perez, and Harlan Ellison. Around the same time, I was working on really crummy film jobs, the sort of low-level work that I would have to do for years before getting a shot at creating anything, and I decided that I couldn't wait. I had met Ty Templeton at a Toronto convention a few years before this, and thought that I could do what he was doing, and decided to dedicate myself to getting into comics. Well, during one of those stints of driving convention guests around I got to meet Fabian Nicieza, who was an editor and writer for Marvel at the time. He and I got along great, and we spent a lot of the weekend, uh, well, in the bar. I was much younger, remember. One such night, I, uh, well, I drank far too much, and was in no condition to drive home, and I asked Fabe if I could crash on the floor of his hotel room. He said sure. The next morning, at breakfast, he said that someone told him that I was interested in getting into comics. I said that I was, but didn't want to impose on our friendship by asking him. Pish tosh, said he, and told me to show him my stuff. I did, and he offered me a spot on a new series that he was starting called “Kid ‘N Play”. I took the job, and haven't looked back since.

How did you get the job on Legion of Super Heroes?

“Kid ‘N Play” was finished. It lasted 9 issues, and then ran out of steam. After working for almost a year on that book, having a full time gig, and a full time salary, I wanted to remain in comics as a career. So I bundled up and headed to New York with my pal Stuart Immonen (who was also trying to get into comics) for a convention. During the course of that con, Stu got a job doing a Showcase story for the late great Neal Pozner. That story got the attention of then Legion editor Michael Eury, who hired Stu to do a fill-in issue. About then, the art team and the editor left, leaving the new editor KC Carlson with no artists for the book. Stu was doing his fill-in issue, so KC hired him for full pencils. As this was happening, Fabian (back to him) was getting engaged, and was having a bachelor party. I decided to go to New York for the party, and to visit KC about possibly getting the Legion job with Stu, since we had worked together on 10 pages for the Wonder Man Annual #1, and I thought it turned out great. Well I got to meet KC, and he wanted to give me a shot at doing the art. He wanted me to do 6 pages by inking them on overlay, which I hate. I told him that I didn't want to do the overlay, and that I would just do it on the boards, because I was GUARANTEEING that he’d love the work. “It'll knock your socks off” is what I told him, and to this day, I don't believe that he can get socks to stay on his feet.

Was the Legion of Super Heroes something that you had always wanted to work with? Are you a longtime Legion fan?

No, sorry to say, but I had never read an issue of the Legion before getting the job. When I landed the job, KC sent me all the issues from the current series (up to issue 38 at the time) and I read them all in one sitting and was hooked. Since then I have read quite a lot of the early stuff, but am by no means an expert on the early days of the Legion.

What is your all-time favorite Legion story?

I am going to pick Issue #92 of the current run. I just loved it to pieces, and thought that it really captured the true heart of these books, and the core values of these characters.

Are there characters you feel that you have a greater feel for than others when you are inking?

No, not really. Inking is such a strange beast, that I really think that how you treat one figure is the same as you treat any figure. There are rules to follow, and tricks to use, but essentially there is no difference between inking Superman and inking Gates.

What other characters/titles do you want to work on?

I have done all I want. I would love a big time, special format book with Supes or Batman, but as of right now, with working on “Adventures in the DC Universe” I have worked on every major character in the DC stable. Also, I just did an issue of Spider-man (Sensational #18) that kinda fulfilled a dream.

People staying on the same books for a long time has become something of a rarity these days. Yet, almost the entire creative staff of the Legion books has been there since the "reboot" that happened with Zero Hour. Why is this?

I think that the Legion engenders a certain loyalty. I think that's what the books are about, and that's what we're about. Besides, KC Carlson is great to work for and with, and the creative atmosphere is totally inviting. Who wants to leave?

You are the second-most senior member of the creative team. How long do you plan to work on Legion of Super-Heroes?

I think that I would like to stick around a while. I dunno, I don't really have any plans for moving along, but then nothing has been offered to me to tempt me away. It would have to be a pretty big deal to get me to leave, but there are always possibilities. I have to think of the bigger picture of doing what's best for me, my family and my career.

Are there any interesting "hazing" or initiation rituals that go on for new members?

No, there are no hazings, but there could be. Hmmmmmmmm. . .

Will you be doing anything special for Legion of Super Heroes #100?

Personally, I am writing and inking a story for Legion #100 that will be penciled by John Delaney (ADV in DCU) which will be a “Brainiac Adventures” story. Sort of a sequel to the one that I wrote in issue #50, and I am writing a submission for a M’onel mini-series.

You have been on Legion of Super-Heroes for five years now. Having worked on the comic when it had a darker tone, do you like that, or the current, more innocent feel of the books? What do you see as being successful in bringing in and keeping new fans? What has been unsuccessful?

I think that any success this book has had is due to the consistency of inking. . .no no no. . .sorry. . .uh. . .seriously, I think that these books are successful because they are connected to the heart. The stories tend to be motivated by a very decent moral center, and these characters are very “pure.” That is not to say that they're dull, or “boy-scout-ish.” They care. They care about their surroundings, and they care about each other. Even if they don't always outwardly show it, I think that they are all fiercely loyal to each other, and to their cause. I think the books slip when they forget this, and get too dark. Back when I started the book was darker, but that was before Zero Hour so it doesn't really count. I don't think I would have stuck around as long as I have if we didn't go through Zero Hour. The darkness doesn't suit these people. We have to write stories that work with these characters. Cosmic Boy will never go the “Dark Knight” route, and trying to push him there is all wrong.

To a comic book fan who has never read a Legion book, why should they pick up an issue of Legionnaires? (And what would be a good one for jumping on?)

I think that these books are worth a shot because of the heart I spoke about in the previous answer. These characters have a strong core. They are accepting of each others flaws, they care about their teammates, they are concerned about the lives of people around them. . .all good traits. All good characters. But not all dull. They have their conflicts, and they have their skeletons in the closets. This is not Star Trek TNG, where no one was permitted to fight with anyone else. These are real people, who sometimes get on each others nerves, but who try to work through that because of their common goal. I think a good launch point is the start of “Team 20” in issue #85. That way you get introduced to these characters in familiar surroundings, and are then introduced to their teammates through the crossover issues. At that point, if interested, it's easy to go back to the Zero issues and get caught up, then go all the way back to see where we've come from.

Alternately, for all of those diehard, dispossessed Legion fans who could not stay with the books when the revamp started, why should these people come back to the Legion and give it another shot?

Because the hearts and souls of these characters are unchanged. The trappings are different, the costumes are a bit of a different cut, the hair longer and the code-names shorter, but the people are the same, and that's why you take the time to read these stories, because you care about these people.

As the inker on Legion of Super-Heroes, do you have much input into the storylines?

Since we haven't had a summit in quite a while, I haven't inputted any story ideas into the main book. That is all the brilliance of Tom Peyer, who I admire a great deal, and Tom McCraw, who I love as a brother. The last input I had into the main storyline was back around issues 50 - 59, when I co-wrote the book with Tom McCraw and Stuart Immonen, although it was mostly Tom and me hashing out the bits, and Stu mopping up in the pencils. Since then I have written only a 10 page Ultra-boy story for “Showcase '96,” issue 10. I hope to write more, with the “Brainiac Adventures” and the possible “M’onel” mini-series in the works.

Let's talk about some of your other work. You are the regular inker on the new hit series Adventures in the DCU. How did you get that job?

Oh, the dream? Well, I was up for the Superman Adventures book, and lost out to Terry Austin. Not a bad loss, but I was pretty upset about it. Then I heard that there was going to be an Adventures book starring the whole DCU, and man was I pumped. When I learned that it was KC who would be editing it, I kinda lost all hope. I figured that he was sick of me as it was, and two books a month with him would push him over the edge. As it turned out, he really thought that my ink style would suit the book perfectly (I agree) and so he gave me my shot. I guess he liked the sample stuff I did, and he gave me the book, for which I am eternally grateful. I get along so well with the penciler John Delaney, that this is truly a dream-like working experience. We are all constantly tweaking each other to get the best work on the boards. We are all committed to making a great book, and I think it shows on the printed page.

Do you like working on a series where you are inking a different character every month, as opposed to doing the same characters regularly (such as Legion)?

Oh yeah, it's great. Underwater one issue, outer space the next, inner city after that. . .it's great! The potential for artistic growth is huge!! We can explore different techniques, different styles, textures. . .the possibilities for storytelling are limitless. It's very exciting.

What characters will be appearing in Adventures in the coming months?

Right now I'm working on the entire Marvel Family, followed by Booster Gold and Blue Beetle, then the Question. . . .I mean, everyone is at our fingertips. I would love to do some of the Vertigo characters, but I don't know how realistic that is, but heck. . .we get everyone else. I've done Power Girl, Aquaman, Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Mister Miracle, Wonder Woman, Catwoman, The Flash, Martian Manhunter, even Ultra the Multi Alien. . .who the heck is left!!!!! What fun. I couldn't ask for anything else right now. I am deliriously happy with my job. I am very happy in my life (my wife Kimberly, my son Max (2 1/2) and I just bought a house). I am a lucky, lucky guy, and I wish the same on everyone.

And we wish you continued success, Ron.