Holly Golightly is one of my favorite Sabrina writers, and the new show streaming on Netflix, while a more horror-oriented and less jokey version of the classic characters, seemed a perfect time to catch up with her and look back at a too-brief run from just after the turn of the century.
A genuine, cheery, and deeply knowledgable woman, Holly is one of the great unsung chameleons of comics artists. The breadth of visual styles, and visual language, that she’s worked in is astounding, and always high quality, always highly enjoyable.
Travis Hedge Coke:Your Sabrina stories are credited to Holly G (like Stan Goldberg was Stan G). Whose idea was Holly Gand did the name have any effect on you or your work?
Holly Golightly:My last name is Golightly… so sometimes I just write Holly G!… you left out the !.
Hedge Coke:What were your favorite contributions/changes to Sabrina?
Golightly:Gosh I just loved the Spellman Fam! I was so honored to write and draw her — I brought me into everything, so that made it unique. I’m a gal, I’m a cat loverand well, I’m a high function witch. I always create with honesty — That’s what I have to offer.
Hedge Coke:I love your version of the aunts. (Not a question, but I do.)
Golightly:Thanks! I love them too! Feisty, smart and independent! Oh and most of all- Loving!
Hedge Coke:Your body of work shows a really wonderful diversity of styles. Was working in an “Archie” style different from others? Easier or harder?
Golightly:My mutant power is that I can emulate other peoples styles. I an a classically trained artist — so my range is from realism to manga. Doing an Archie House style is FUN!
Neither easy or hard… it’s just as it should be, a challenge to do a good job and make people happy.
Hedge Coke:What/who were your main influences in drawing Sabrina?
Golightly:Dan De Carlo! The company asked me to emulate his style and I was lucky enough to have an afternoon with him as a mentor. He was direct and had kind things to say about my art. I will treasure that afternoon.
Hedge Coke:Sabrina, in different stories in your run, had the golden and platinum blonde looks. Which do you prefer and are there any other details that make the best or truest Sabrina, in your mind?
Golightly:Sabrina, isn’t my character so I pretty much followed what the company wanted for her look. I did wish to make her a typical teen of that decade so I was mindful of fashion and hair styles of that time. Being a girl myself, I’m sure some of my fashion and such seeped in as well
As a reader- I loved the classic Sabrina that was inspired by the movie, I Married a Witch. And of course when she was on the Groovy Ghoulies!
Hedge Coke:Were you a practicing witch when you worked on Sabrina, or did you come to it later?
Golightly:I’ve been since the age of eight. And I don’t practice — I’m good at it so I’m high functioning.
Hedge Coke: You were the first open witch to work on Sabrina. Do you think that adds to what you did with her and her world?
Golightly:I think it’s cool! I can also twitch my nose like in Bewitched! And what it added? Well MAGICK!
Hedge Coke:How do you feel fictional magic should or shouldn’t relate to, or work with real life religions/practices, especially if they share some terminology or iconography, as Sabrina and wicca do?
Golightly:First off, I’m a Witch not a Wiccan- I’m not religious at all- I will work with the ideas of Goddess and Gods to focus on certain aspects or energies but I don’t pretend to know too much about the practice of other peep’s religions. If you’re referring to the statues of the Temple of Satan that was used… as an artist I am POed if I see any of my artwork used without my permission and used in a way I didn’t intent or making fun of- doubly peeved!
When I wrote/drew Sabrina- I wanted the reader to have fun! To enjoy the funaspects of a magicalworld!
Hedge Coke:Can you tell us about the collaboration process for these stories?
Golightly:Sometimes I wrote the script — had it okayed then drew it… we had some writers work at that time — then I’d get a script then have to draw it — honestly writing about the processes is like knowing how the sausage is made or watching grass grow — LOL better to just enjoy it… unless to wanna start makin’ cold cuts!
Hedge Coke:Where did Shinji Yagami come from?
Golightly:I LOVE manga, so I want ed to create a romantic triangle for Sabrina and bring in the Japanese culture that I’ve been gaga over since I was eleven! A pal of mine helped me build his name from current anime that we would watch together.
Hedge Coke:What can your fans look forward to from you, in the upcoming months?
Golightly:Well, I’m VP and a creator at BroadSword Comics. I do Jim [Balent]’s coloring and production on Tarot, Witch of the Black Rose —so if you are of the Mature Reader type, you may enjoy Issue #113 out last Wednesday of November. I’m also represented by Spiderweb Art Gallery and am working on new painting and commissions for them!