Jokergas: How did you get started in the comics industry?

Bob Rozakis: I was a fanboy and wrote lots of letters to the books. Shortly before I graduated from college, I went to visit Julie Schwartz and brought along some comics-related puzzles I had done for a fanzine. Julie took them to Sol Harrison and Sol hired me to do some for their new tabloid editions and 100-page spectaculars. When I graduated, I asked Sol for a job and he hired me as an editorial assistant.

Jokergas: You have been a writer, an editor and a production head in your comic career. What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment?

Bob Rozakis: Probably the major advancements in the format of the books, in terms of printing and the paper stocks used, along with the computerization of all the coloring and separations.

Jokergas: You are known for having mastered a vast knowledge of comics history, from comic characters to stories about creators, writers, and artists. Regarding the latter, what is the funniest story that you can share with our members.

Bob Rozakis: There were plenty of funny moments. During the 1990s, when we (and most other publishers) were using all sorts of premiums and gimmicks with the books, I used to joke at our weekly meetings that sooner or later we would be doing a "bind-in cheese sandwich." Well, one morning I made that comment and one of my production managers pulled out an issue with a cheese sandwich in it. "Here's the prototype!"

Jokergas: Was the original Answer Man column that ran in the back of some of the DC Comics your idea? Can you tell us how it got started?

Bob Rozakis: Yes, it was my idea. I was doing the Daily Planet pages Ð which were also my idea -- and decided it needed some additional features. We had some letters coming in with questions and I used them. Once I used the letter-writers' names in the column, I started getting lots and lots of letters. From there, my reputation as the Answer Man just grew and grew.

Jokergas: What character or characters did you enjoy working on the most?

Bob Rozakis: I enjoyed all the features I worked on, but probably had the most fun with 'Mazing Man and Hero Hotline, since I co-created them.

Jokergas: After Crisis on Infinite Earths , you have been quoted as saying that you did not like the fact that Black Canary was made a founding member of the JLA. Why is that?

Bob Rozakis: If they had started with a new universe and Canary was a founding member, fine. But to change the history of the DCU we've been reading about for thirty years was pretty silly. Did they think the readers would forget everything they'd read? Those original issues did not cease to exist.

Jokergas: Were there any other changes that you did not like?

Bob Rozakis: I was never fond of John Byrne's revamp of the Superman legend, especially since it negated virtually every Superboy and Superman story I had written. In particular, having Ma and Pa Kent still alive irked me since one of the key elements in my SUPERMAN: THE SECRET YEARS miniseries was the fact that Superboy had been unable to prevent his adoptive parents from dying.

Jokergas: You have written hundreds of stories over the years. Is there any character that you haven't worked on that you wish you did?

Bob Rozakis: I never had the chance to write the Justice League and wish I'd had the opportunity.

Jokergas: You have also taught creative writing for Johns Hopkins University, the Farmingdale Youth Council, and Sylvan Learning Center. What advice would you give to one of your students wanting to break into the industry?

Bob Rozakis: Make sure you have a back-up plan for getting a real job. Getting a job in the comics business for DC or Marvel is on the same level of difficulty as making it in the NBA or being an "American Idol" finalist. Lots of people think they can do it and very few of them actually make a career of it.

Jokergas: When you had agreed to do this Q & A you mentioned that you were amused to see someone using the name of one of your creations. I thought it would be fun for the creation to ask his creator some questions. Maz?

MAZINGMAN728: Was there a specific inspiration for 'Mazing Man such as a crazy intern or was he created just out of the blue?

Bob Rozakis: 'Mazing Man and his cast of characters were created by Stephen DeStefano. He had worked out the basic premise and I fleshed it out and added the back stories. Brenda and Eddie were based on high school friends of his. I think 'Maze and Denton were both parts of Stephen's own personality.

MAZINGMAN728: When will we get a 'Mazing Man collection bringing us the 12 issues of the series, the two Specials the one page Origin in Secret Origins and his one panel appearance in DC Challenge?

Bob Rozakis: Years ago, I proposed reprinting all of the 'Maze material in black and white, but the idea was dismissed. Now that DC has found a market for the SHOWCASE volumes, it would seem to be a logical place to do it (with the six issues of HERO HOTLINE to fill out the 500 pages of the book). But I'm not holding my breath.

Jokergas: I'd like to thank Bob Rozakis for his time in answering these questions. Until next time, folks.