1) First of all, who are you and how did you get on this blog?

DAN: I’m Dan Hipp… and I create the Amazing Joy Buzzards with you. Did you forget your crazy pills again today?

MARK: Yes, that’s right, I seem to remember you now. It’s all becoming clear for me now.

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May 7th sees the release of The Amazing Joy Buzzards Volume 1. It’s the Amazing Joy Buzzards director’s edition at 300 pages and in the Sin City Digest format. It’s a focused collection of Amazing Joy Buzzards stories and all continuity with no guest material, all Dan Hipp.

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1) Tell the readers a bit about yourself Paul.

I was born in 1982 in Boston MA. I failed all my art classes in school and was that kid that all the art teachers hated. I’ve always wanted to draw comic books. So I’ve never aspired for any other career. A lot of kids that were in there would mention wanting to be an animator for Disney, etc. I felt like an animator doesn’t often have its own creative voice, and I was all about my own personal ideas. So I set out making mini comics about my cats, or whatever the hell else a kid thinks about. Eventually I graduated high school and was quickly rejected from Mass College of Art. I soon became a retail music store dude for years to come while hitting Chicago Wizard world and San Diego Comic Con. It was there through networking that I was able to get my foot in the door with comics and the rest is history.

2) How did you start out in art and what is your official training?

I worked summers as a muralist in Boston starting when I was 13. There I learned a lot about graffiti and fine art, and it strengthened my ability to see my art as a whole finished product, rather than relying on someone else’s’ vision to complete the colored part of it. As far as digital coloring goes, I learned what I know from Dash Martin, Danimation and the TwinCruiser guys that used to do Warcraft stuff. I also picked up a bunch of tips from other artists on penciljack.com. Aside from that it was kind of a hit or miss learning process to get to where I am today.

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Hi this is Mark Smith and I’m joining Newsarama as a guest blogger from my home in South Korea. I should have plenty in store for you to keep you entertained so you don’t doze off at work.

Aqua Leung is out now, and it’s an epic story so be sure to grab a copy. You’ll thank me. I promise.