First Comics News: Why write comics?
Ray MacKay: I love comics, and I love telling stories in the medium! I’ve been creating my own comics since about the third grade, when I would both write and draw them myself. Eventually,y I transitioned to just writing comics (my art wasn’t up to scratch), and I continue to love writing new stories with fantastic characters, new and old. It would be amazing if I were able to write comics full-time at some point, but (for now) I write comics because I love writing them and I’m passionate about telling new, innovative, and entertaining stories!
1st: Do you prefer writing about superheroes and super-heroines?
Ray: I enjoy writing comics in a lot of genres – horror, comedy, biographical – but my preferred genre is definitely superhero. It’s my favorite genre of comic to read. I have a deep love of (almost) everything superhero – comics, movies, tv, action figures, t-shirts – you name it. I’ve loved superhero comics for as long as I can remember, hence my preference to write them. I also love writing horror comics, and would love to try my hand at crime, fantasy, and other genres of comics in the future, but superheroes – at this time (maybe always) – are my favourite.
1st: In Big Bang Adventures #35, who is Venus?
Ray: Venus is the Goddess of Love and Laughter. She was created by Gary Carlson and Chris Ecker and debuted in Big Bang Comics #1. Gary and Chris took the Goddess from Roman Mythology, and adapted her (and other Roman deities) into a comic book mythos – similar to how Stan Lee and Jack Kirby adapted the Norse myths into Thor comics, William Marsten and (later) George Perez adapted the Greek myths for Wonder Woman, or even how Alan Moore and Rick Veitch adopted Egyptian myths for 1963’s Horus, Lord of Light into a single issue.
Since her debut, Venus has starred and guest-starred in dozens of fantastical comics, stories of her battling evil Gods, supervillains, Nazis, and other menaces. She’s a Goddess and a superheroine, and those two separate duties are the core of her character. In one of her best stories, “Odyssey To Save The Gods” (Big Bang Comics #34), Venus is given a mission to venture to Earth as an ambassador of Olympus, to do good and protect the people of Earth, and rekindle the devotion of humanity to Jupiter and the other Gods. As Jupiter puts it in that issue, “Reclaim the Devotion, or at least the attention of humankind! Spread the word of the Gods! All speed, good daughter! You are our only hope!” This mission led Venus to become a member of the National Guardians and to fight alongside some of Earth’s superheroes like The Golden Idol, El Gigante, and The Badge. And that’s where the story of Big Bang Adventures #35 starts – with Venus coming to the aid of The Badge as he battles the Blue Ox, with the Goddess helping The Badge to defeat the monster. It’s after this earthly battle that Venus is visited by fellow Roman God Mercury, messenger of the Gods, who brings Venus an urgent message – she must return to Olympus immediately, the fate of the universe lies in the balance! As a comics writer and fan, it’s been a real honour getting to write an established character like Venus, adding to her ongoing legacy that so many other talented creators have been a part of.
1st: The main villain Venus battles is Cthulhu. Who is he?
Ray: I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t create Cthulhu, and I’m not even the first comic writer to adapt him into comics. Cthulhu is the creation of horror legend H.P. Lovecraft, and first appeared in Lovecraft’s 1928 story “The Call of Cthulhu”. As the story is very iconic (and public domain), Cthulhu has been used in many other writers’ works and has appeared many times in comics, but I’ve rarely seen him in superhero comics, which was part of what inspired this story and influenced the way I tried to write him. In Big Bang Adventures #35, Cthulhu is the master of the Old Gods, a race of ancient, powerful, alien deities that want to extinguish or control all life in the universe. Being their master, Cthulhu is the most powerful and terrible of the Old Gods, standing hundreds of feet tall and with deadly powers that make him one of the most dangerous beings ever. Millions of years ago, Venus’ father Jupiter, along with several other Gods – including Thor, Pluto, and Neptune – waged war against the Old Gods to save the universe.
Jupiter and his team defeated the Old Gods, casting all but Cthulhu into an underwater prison that became the Island of R’lyeh. Cthulhu, who was rendered comatose after the battle, was imprisoned in the depths of Olympus. In this story, “When Old Gods Rise”, Cthulhu finally wakes from his coma and lays waste to Olympus, before departing to Earth to free the other Old Gods from their prison of R’lyeh. And as for what happens next… well, you’ll have to read the issue at: www.indyplanet.com/big-bang-adventures-35.
1st: Why use Venus as the focus over Mercury, Zeus,s or some other God?
Ray: Previous creators at Big Bang have built a whole world for Venus, and I leaned into that depth in choosing Venus as the headlining character of the book. In addition, when I was researching for Issue #35, I reviewed many of the previous stories and loved the characters of Mercury and Jupiter when they appeared, so I tried to give them interesting and substantial roles in the comic as well, while still making it Venus’s story.
1st: Do you feel Venus is as much a warrior as the Goddess of Love?
Ray: Absolutely. I don’t want to spoil too much, but to me,e Venus’s fighting capability as a warrior is equally as important as her role as the Goddess of Love. In my mind, and in a way that plays a role in “When Old Gods Rise”, Venus cannot succeed without her warrior skills, as well as the love in her heart that stems from her role as Goddess of Love.
1st: Why should people read “The Atomic Thunderbolt”
Ray: The Atomic Thunderbolt Issue #0 was my first comic published by Grok Comics, and tells the story of teenage Hiro Yamamoto, who learns he is actually the grandson of the famous World War II superhero, The Atomic Thunderbolt. This immediately confuses Hiro, as he wants to know why this information was kept from him and the general public. The answers he discovers will make him question his family, his past, and discover what it means to be a hero and carry a legacy. I think this is a great one-shot comic that combines a brand-new story with compelling characters and a reprint of a classic Golden Age story, the original Atomic Thunderbolt comic from 1946. This is a comic for fans of origin stories, new heroes, Golden Age comics, and lovers of comics in general. It’s the first story with Hiro, and I think any fan of comics will immediately like him and want to see where his story goes from here.
Please consider checking it out here: tribulationtaskforce.com or here: indyplanet.com
1st: What is “Last Gen” about?
Ray: Last Gen #1 is an upcoming comic from Grok Comics that focuses on the younger cast of the Grok Universe, the teen and college-age heroes who have previously appeared in books like The Remnant, but are now starring in their own series. This team of young heroes is led by the heroic but brash Atoman, and the roster includes soon-to-be-iconic heroes like Gemnstar, Trash Polka, Anarchy Prime, Jellybean, Calvary, The Atomic Thunderbolt, and Hang 10, all with diverse and interesting personalities and powers. Last Gen is going to be Grok’s young adult/teen hero book, with these young heroes striking out on their own. As they navigate growing into responsibilities, friendships, and romance, they must also balance their new duties to keep people safe from criminals and supervillains. The first issue, which is now on Kickstarter (as well as an Issue 0 that contains extra background on the characters), has two great stories that I helped write, stories that include humor, interpersonal drama, and some good old-fashioned superpowered action. It’s going to be a fun issue, serving as a great jumping-on point for these characters to star in their own adventures. This is a book for any fan of superhero comics, but especially fans of Teen Titans, The New Mutants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Invincible! This issue has been in the works for a while, and I’m thrilled people are going to get a chance to read it! It’s on Kickstarter and can be found here on Kickstarter.
1st: What hero and villain were your favorite in “Sentinels # 11” from Standard
Comics?
Ray: This is a tough question to answer because I had such a blast co-writing Issue # 11 of the Sentinels with Roy Johnson. I was thrilled to be invited to help Roy with the story he’s been working on for his characters for years. Not only was writing a story with these characters in this world a new challenge for me, but it was also a super fun opportunity because I was a fan of The Sentinels comics long before I got the gig. But, I digress – to answer your question:
Favourite Hero: My favourite hero to write was Wonderman, hands down. He’s not a main character, but I’ve always liked the way Roy wrote him in previous issues. He’s funny, lighthearted, but has it where it counts when it comes to being a hero. I also love the costume design. I wrote Wonderman into Sentinels #11 because I love the character and wanted to write him.
Favourite Villain: A tie between The Eliminator and Ash-Fault. The Eliminator, because he’s the star of Issue #11, with the issue being named “Elimination Game” and a lot of the story concerning his attempted break-in at the Freedom Stronghold. That was a lot of fun to write! And Ash-Fault, because his powers had cameoed in a previous Sentinels issue (Issue #5), and I thought they were so cool, I wanted to include the villain behind them.
Rich: What are Boa Constrictor’s powers and her personality?
Ray: This is a question I feel uniquely qualified to answer, as I helped Roy Johnson (Boa Constrictor’s creator and the head of Standard Comics) write not only her bio (for the upcoming Standard Comics Encyclopedia Volume 4) but also her appearance in The Sentinels Issue #11. In Issue #11, “Elimination Game”, Boa Constrictor and her gang of reptile-garbed thugs try to rob a Danmark City bank (they see an opportunity as her longtime nemesis, The Raven, is off travelling the multiverse). However, heroes Knightshroud and Ghost Guardian intervene, and show Boa Constrictor that – even when the Raven is away – crime will never pay in Danmark. But again, I digress. Powers: Thanks to a mysterious incident in her past, Boa Constrictor can stretch her body much like the reptile she named herself after. Personality: Boa Constrictor’s personality is complicated – Roy and I did our best to write her as someone who has the potential to be a dangerous super criminal, but her short-sightedness and greed get in her own way. I don’t want to reveal too much more, because Boa Constrictor’s secret origin has yet to be fully revealed – but all the facts will be laid bare in her profile for The Standard Comics Encyclopedia Volume 4, which will be launching in January of 2026. As someone who loves these characters and has gotten to see the inner workings of the Standard Comics Universe, I can’t recommend it enough.
You can check out here on Kickstarter
1st: Which character in “Sentinels # 11” would you most like to be like and why?
Ray: Gosh, that’s a tough one. That issue has so many cool characters with amazing abilities that I’d like to have. Having Ultraman’s flight, super-strength, and other powers, or Dr. Quantum’s mastery over quantum physics, would definitely make my day-to-day life easier, but I’d probably have to pick the Crimson Streak – superspeed is one of my favourite superpowers, and it’d make sure I’d never be late to anything again! Also, Crimson Streak’s one of the characters I connect with most – he’s a younger guy, and is trying to make it as a short-story writer when he’s not being a superhero.
1st: Which comics would you recommend that you have not worked on?
Ray: I try to read as much as I can, and I’ve read more comics than I could ever count. My current recommendations (they change over time) include 3 more mainstream comics and 4 independent ones.
Mainstream: (1) Absolute Batman; (2) Hellboy: The Crooked Man; and (3) The original Stan Lee and Jack Kirby run on Captain America (plus the three issues Jim Steranko did).
Indie: (1) Terror And Fury by Zenescope Entertainment; (2) PhantomHawk Resolute by Apogee Comics; (3) The Hunter by Dakota Alexander/Trouble Studios; and(4) Lloyd Smith’s Blue Moon Comics Diversions series (this is too jam-packed with awesome anthology stories, not to mention).
1st: What elements make up a good story?
Ray: Wow, that’s a great question, one I’m not sure I can definitively answer. I’m still (and likely always will be) figuring out how to best tell stories. In my opinion, a good story has to have compelling characters, an interesting conflict, try to be a little bit different (that’s hard today), needs to connect with the reader, and I always try to entertain. I’m a new, young writer, trying my best to make every story I write a good one. I read a lot (A LOT!). I study writing styles. I study different genres of writing. I look to other comic pros for advice. I’m constantly seeking to learn and improve my writing. When I was at Wondercon 2025, I attended a Mark Waid panel and was lucky enough to ask him this very question: “As a writer, what do all great comic scripts have?” Mark responded that (to him) emotion, heart, and human moments are important to a great comic script. He also opined that plot isn’t everything; he’s learned that the plot is very important, but it’s a structure, something that you hang the emotional story of the comic on top of. Mark’s description of what makes a good story has stuck with me, and I continue to try to follow this advice in my writing, trying to craft a great plot that I can hang the real, human emotional story on top of.
1st: Which superhero that you have not worked on would you most like to?
Ray: Oh, there are so many! I’m Canadian, so I’ve always wanted to write a Captain Canuck story, as that character has a very special place in my heart. I’m also a big fan of Valiant Comics, and would jump at the opportunity to write for any of their characters – but Eternal Warrior and Ninjak would be top of my list. I attended a Fanexpo panel on Valiant when I was 12, and that instilled a deep love for the characters in me. I’ve followed them over the years, and think, given the opportunity, I could write a pretty awesome Ninjak story. I’m also a big fan of some of Zenescope Entertainment’s superhero comics, especially the ones that draw on classic, public domain characters – with Terror and Fury, Pooh Vs. Bambi and Killer Kobra are among my favourites. I’d jump at the chance to work with any of those characters or play around in that universe, maybe adapting a classic public domain property into a new series. I’ve also loved The Phantom ever since I discovered some of his older comics at a Free Comic Book Day, and would love to take a crack at a story with him – something fun, with lots of pulpy jungle adventure! And finally, while I know it’s a long shot (but if you’re gonna dream, dream big!), one day, if it’s at all possible, I would love to write Hellboy, Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, Captain America – any hero I also love to read!
1st: What would you do with the powers of Atomic Thunderbolt?
Ray: Well, Hiro’s Atomic Thunderbolt suit gives him the ability to fly, shoot atomic blasts, and
increase his strength. The flight would definitely be the power I would use the most – I don’t
have a car, so I have to get around by bike/bus/foot most of the time, so flying would definitely make life easier. I’d be late less often, that’s for sure!
1st: What would you like to say to the fans of your writing?
Ray: First off – thank you! Thank you for reading what I write, thank you for taking a chance on a new, young writer, and I’m so glad you enjoy what I write! Please send me any feedback you have. I’m always working on getting better. Second off – there’s a lot more great things coming up, I’ve been busy and have several new comics coming out soon, so keep your eyes peeled!
Some of the upcoming comics and other projects I’ve worked on are:
BIG BANG ADVENTURES #36 “DIAMONDS ARE A HERO’S WORST ENEMY!” – Flash Back to the 80’s for a story set during the original, iconic run of Megaton. Set just after Megaton #8 (that was partially illustrated by Rob Liefeld in 1987), Megaton and Ultragirl’s plans for a quiet, romantic evening are shattered when White Diamond escapes prison and begins tearing apart Empire City, looking for Ultragirl’s dead father – Ultiman! With an indestructible madman on the loose, Megaton and Ultragirl must act – but can these two young, inexperienced heroes stand up to White Diamond’s power? And what will happen when a devastating Dexter Cortex invention is unleashed? All these questions and more will be answered in Big Bang Adventures #36, where “DIAMONDS ARE A HERO’S WORST ENEMY!” This is already finished and will hopefully be available to buy on Indyplanet within the next month.
BIG BANG ADVENTURES #37 “KNIGHT WATCHMAN: PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE!” – I’ve also co-written the next issue of Big Bang Adventures, “KNIGHT WATCHMAN: PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE!” which will feature Knight Watchman in a story that finds him a wanted fugitive. This one is still in production, hopefully available midway through the year.
GROK COMICS – On top of The Atomic Thunderbolt and Last Gen #0 and #1, I’ve written several other comics for Grok Comics, with the next expected to hit shelves being Remnant.
Revival #2, which features the Golden Age superhero PYROMAN in a new story that updates and revives the character for the modern Grok Universe. I’m not yet certain of the publication date for this book, but hopefully soon!
ARGO COMICS “G.W.P. (Guys With Powers)” – I’m also currently working on a scripting project for Dan Sehn’s Argo Comics, helping out with some of the writing duties on this great 3-issue series by Dan and artist Ron Williams. The series is going to be called G.W.P. (Guys With Powers) and details a former superhero’s attempts to bring together a group of superpowered individuals to take down a crime lord that threatens their neighborhood of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. But don’t get it twisted – this is not a superhero team book, this is something else! No publication date yet, but keep an eye out!
A KID AND A COMIC PRESENTS: THE RAVEN – I also write horror movie reviews for A Kid And A Comic Presents: The Raven magazine, where in every issue my column “Reels From The Crypt” gives readers my top horror movie recs – whether they’re new films, underrated gems, or B-movie schlock! The Raven’s a fairly new magazine (Issue 3 is out in February), but it’s already put together some really amazing horror-centric comics, articles, and stories that I’m honoured to be a part of! You can check it out on A Kid and A Comics
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