Patricia Highsmash
Fourteen Questions with Gisèle Lagacé
by Travis Hedge Coke
Travis Hedge Coke: How good is it that more abusive people are being outed in comics? Are you hopeful?
Gisèle Lagacé: I’ve never been a victim of abuse in comics but yes, less abusive people in any industry is a good thing.
Hedge Coke: What makes comics worth it?
Lagacé: Well, since I focus more on humor, if I’ve made someone laugh, it’s worth it. And I also if I made someone more accepting of people’s differences.
Hedge Coke: What’s the easiest way to make people laugh?
Lagacé: The element of surprise, really. You generally get people laughing when you catch them off guard.
Hedge Coke: What’s easier for you, happy/easy romance or angsty/anxious?
Lagacé: Hm, I’ve done both… To draw, I don’t see much of a difference. I do find more enjoyment in anything that has comedy, though. Writing wise, I prefer anything with comedy as well. Is it easier? I can’t really say, but it’s definitely what I’m more drawn to.
Hedge Coke: What do you know now, about comics, that you wish you could teach your younger self?
Lagacé: That I’ll always be more happy working on projects I own. It’s always exciting to work on a property that people know and love, but you’re never as satisfied, and I feel I always do my better work on stuff I own. So I guess I’d tell my younger self to focus more on that ‘cause in the end, it’s always what made me the happiest.
Hedge Coke: Is it important to start at the beginning with Ménage à 3?
Lagacé: Considering it’s not that long of a series, I’d recommend starting from the beginning, but I’m sure many could enjoy any volume they stumble on.
Hedge Coke: What is something you did in a comic, recently, that made you happy?
Lagacé: Recently? I’d say the yaoi action between Julian and Aaron in Pixie Trix Comix. We knew it would eventually happen, and getting there made my fujoshi heart happy, hehe.
Hedge Coke: How do you handle realizing you are not good at drawing a particular something (an animal, an expression, a particular 1983 model of car)?
Lagacé: It doesn’t bother me all that much. I mean, sure it’s frustrating, but I think that’s part of creating art. It’s never exactly how you see it in your head, even the stuff you’re better at drawing. The only thing one can do is do the best job they can.
Hedge Coke: What are you reading/watching/enjoying these days?
Lagacé: Superhero wise, I’ve been reading Savage Dragon and the run of Cassandra Cain as Batgirl. I always keep up to date with anything Rumiko Takahashi puts out, so any new volume of hers that comes out, I read it. I binge a fair amount of TV shows while I draw (mostly at the inking stage). The latest ones I finished, or am up to date with, that come to mind are Little Fires Everywhere, Westworld, The Outsider, Killing Eve, and Succession. Also enjoyed The Floor is Lava, and I’m looking forward to season two of Doom Patrol. Aside from that, I enjoy bicycling as it gets me out of the house.
Hedge Coke: If you could collaborate with someone no longer with us, who would you choose?
Lagacé: Probably Frank Doyle. He wrote some pretty funny Archie stories.
Hedge Coke: Do you still have to worry about nudity and sexual content in comics or is adding the censor bars for social media or a content warning a reflex by this point?
Lagacé: Oh for sure, I always have to think about that. And it’s never a reflex to add censor bars, it’s an annoyance! lol
Hedge Coke: Do you think about color when drawing black and white?
Lagacé: To be honest, not really. Probably why I don’t color my own work that often.
Hedge Coke: What tools do you use most to make your art?
Lagacé: Clip Studio Paint EX. I pencil, ink, letter and color with that program. It’s my go to program of choice.
Hedge Coke: Is there a genre you haven’t worked in that you’d like to? Or, one you’d like to work in more?
Lagacé: We did a one shot (Nightgale) in our last Pixie Trix Comix Kickstarter about a solo superhero, and it was fun. I had never worked on a superhero project before. I’m hoping to tackle a team of superheroes next in another one shot we’re looking to fund in our 2020 Kickstarter. I like little challenges like that.
