We here at Pop Culture Uncovered are big fans of Tom Scioli. Currently on Transformers Vs G.I. Joe and handling the recent re-release of his seminal book American Barbarian, we had a chat with him on this current spate of work.

PCU: What has the experience been like doing a book like Transformers Vs G.I. Joe? It’s notably different from your previous works with it being tied to two famous franchises as opposed to your own work?

Tom Scioli: It’s been a learning experience and a roller coaster ride. It’s new territory for me in a lot of ways. It’s my first franchise, like you said. It’s also my first regular comics job. I’m trying out a lot of new art and storytelling techniques. The big difference between my own work and something like this, is that there are inherent audience expectations. The reader knows going in what a Transformer is, what G.I.Joe is, to widely varying degrees.

PCU: Considering how larger than life your recent work has been, what’s it like drawing such notably disparate sets of characters like the alien Transformers against the humans and the Joes?

Tom Scioli: Scale is the main issue. In all other aspects, the Transformers and Joes are flexible. Scale is the elephant in the room. Their vast difference in size in a vital part of the equation that is front and center. It has ramifications in terms of story, visual composition, every aspect of the book. It’s the biggest challenge and the biggest opportunity for innovative problem-solving.

PCU: If you had your pick of another pre-existing character or franchise to do a revamp of, what would it be?

Tom Scioli: Star Wars. I really enjoy the challenge of taking on sacred cows and Star Wars is the most sacred of all in the pop culture pantheon.

PCU: What’s your schedule been with a monthly book like Transformers Vs G.I. Joe, and has there been anything you couldn’t do with the book?

Tom Scioli: It’s on a “whenever it’s finished” schedule. I put a tremendous amount of work into making each issue an event. In order to do that, it needs to have time to gestate, like a film or a novel.

PCU: What future work do you have coming up at the moment if any?

Tom Scioli: I can really only do one thing at a time, so I’m entirely focussed on this and nothing else, other than new releases of existing work like IDW’s hardcover edition of American Barbarian.