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HOME EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ! THE COLLECTOR'S SERIES: JASON TRUONG RAGING CHEETAH TALKS WITH LONGTIME COMIC ART COLLECTOR AND CONVENTION VETERAN JASON TRUONG April.03.2008 By Alan Shih Senior Editor Staff Writer Raging Cheetah continues our series of exclusive interview content: THE COLLECTOR'S SERIES! We sit down with the fans - veteran collectors of comics, original artwork, commissions and convention sketches, to hear their stories and share their experiences from shows like Wizard World, Anime Expo and Comic-Con. So if you're a fan of comic book shows worldwide, read on! RC: Where you are based out of, and which comic book shows do you regularly attend? Jason: I live just outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I attend nearly all of the comic conventions in Toronto. In Toronto, there are two major convention promoters, and they put on great shows. Hobbystar Marketing puts on the third largest show in North America, Fan Expo Canada. They also run the Toronto ComiCON Fan Appreciation Event in the spring, and the Fall and Winter Toronto ComiCON. Paradise Conventions holds the annual Paradise Toronto Comicon. Another event that takes place in Toronto, that I really enjoy, is the Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF), put on bi-annually by The Beguiling. The only convention I’ve been to outside of Canada is Motor City Comic Con, which I’ve gone to the past two years, and will be attending this May. RC: How long have you been collecting comics? What titles/characters do you follow? Jason: I started collecting comics on-and-off, when I was 8-years old. It started when my brother gave me a copy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #1 (published by Archie Comics) for my birthday. Being the young lad I was, and thinking that it was worth money, I treasured that copy of the book, even though my brother taped the wrapping paper right onto the cover. I never had any regular title during my younger days, and picked up whatever caught my eye (and could afford) on an irregular basis. I stopped collecting comics around 1994-95, but started collecting again in 2004, when Jim Lee started his run on Superman, and an issue into Michael Turner’s Superman/Batman run. Because of those two, I became hooked on comics and have been collecting since. Nowadays, my regular titles are: New Avengers, Captain America, Runaways, Justice League of America, Justice Society of America, All Star Superman, All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder, Buffy TVS Season Eight, and Local. Local is my favourite title at the moment. I just love what Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly are doing with the series. Sadly, it’s coming to an end in a few months. RC: Which artists - past or present, domestic or abroad - would you most like to get something from right now? Jason: Right now, I would really love to get something done by Adam Hughes and Frank Cho.
	"My most cherished piece in my collection... goes to my Darwyn Cooke Wonder Woman sketch. I just absolutely love that sketch, and will take that to the grave with me."
RC: What is the most you've ever shelled out for a single commission piece, and did that work of art turn out to be the most cherished in your collection? Jason: The most I’ve ever spent on a commission, was a very reasonable $115CDN (back when the US dollar was slightly higher than the CDN doller), for my Aaron Lopresti Wonder Woman. It is a beauty and worth every penny, but it is not my most cherished piece in my collection. That title goes to my Darwyn Cooke Wonder Woman sketch. I just absolutely love that sketch, and will take that to the grave with me. RC: Give me your favorite sketch-related experience so far. Jason: My favourite sketch-related experience happened last August, at Fan Expo Canada. I had tried to get a sketch from Michael Turner in 2004, when I got back into comics. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful. I tried again in 2005, with the same result. He did not appear in 2006, but returned in 2007. A friend of mine, one of many that I met at the conventions, Brian, was talking with Mike at the Aspen Comics booth and scored himself a sketch, as well as one for another friend of ours, Saif, for his birthday. I was both happy for him and jealous of him at the same time. So when Brian was leaving the booth, I went to congratulate him, and drool over his sketch (figuratively). Saif appeared very shortly after, and both of them encouraged me to ask Mike again, since I really had nothing to lose. As it turns out, Mike agreed, and I was able to score a quick Wonder Woman sketch by Michael Turner, something that I wanted to get back in 2004. RC: Not to bring up bad memories, but what's the worst experience you've had while getting a sketch or commission? No need to give names on this one. Jason: Well, this one does stick with me, though it was really a misunderstanding with the artist. While he was sketching, he had an empty seat next to him, to chat with fans. So while the artist was sketching, I sat and chatted with him. It was when I got up and was going for my wallet to pay him, he mentions something along the lines of, “Hey, it’s $20 for the sketch.” I was aware of the price, and as I said, I was going for my wallet. But those near the front of the line though I was trying to run off with a free sketch, because I could hear the comments being made. RC: In your opinion, who is the flat-out best artist in comics today? Jason: There are so many artists that I like. All of their styles are different. My all time favourite is Jim Lee, so I do think he is the best artist in comics today. I just wish his books would come out on a more regular basis. And just to throw it out there, my other favourite artists are, Darwyn Cooke, John Cassaday, Ethan Van Sciver, and Ryan Kelly. RC: Who is the brightest up-and-coming artist? Jason: Michael Choi. In the past five years, he’s gone from being a background assistant for Marc Silvestri to becoming the regular artist on Witchblade, to X-23: Target-X, and currently he’s working on Uncanny X-Men. That guy is just going to get bigger. RC: Next comic show we'll likely be seeing you at? Jason: The next show I will be at is Hobbystar’s Toronto ComiCON Fan Appreciation Event, April 12th-13th, 2008. I can be found in line, or hanging around the Digital Kontent table, chilling with those guys and Shane Heron. RC: Thank you! Jason: Thanks for having me.



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