ADIII: Where are you originally from?
Ali: I'm originally from Los Angeles... the San Fernando Valley to be exact.
ADIII: 818 REPRESENT!
ADIII: So you've been training for the past month to take over management of Comic Odyssey, San Diego, can you explain the feeling of pursuing this career? And what are your family and friends think of this?
Ali: I feel very blessed and very fortunate to see one of my life's dreams realized. I hope to use what i learn here and become franchise into THE nation's number one retail shop...going global is the idea. My partner and I won't settle for less. Of course as with any venture there are risks involved, and sacrifice inherent to the siutation, but my friends and family are supportive. They understand my passion for the art form and have known me long enough to know that i have a knack for business...they are with me all the way. It helps!
ADIII: How long have you've been into comics?
Ali: I've been into comics since I was a kid...i was always reading and drawing, so when i dicovered Batman comics at the age of 9, I loved the union of words and art and fell in love with the skill of sequential storytelling. By the age of 11 I was a full-blown Marvel zombie after spending all of my allowance money on the trading cards, action figures, and of course, the books themselves. Todd McFarlane was launching Spider-Man, Erik Larsen was doing Amazing Jim Lee was doing Uncanny then the NEW X-Men and Leifeld was doing X-Force. It was a magical time, as a fan i was spoiled! All I did all day was doodle, read about, and play with these imaginary people...they were real to me. These characters taught me, they inspired me, they were modern mythological beings to me and I felt fortunate just to be able to peek in their world.
ADIII: DC or Marvel?
Ali: Marvel...all the way...forever!
ADIII: What's your favorite comic book title?
Ali: My favorite title right now is the New Avengers and the Mighty Avengers. OK that's two books but they compliment each other so I'll count them as one!
ADIII: If you were a comic book character what would your name be?
Ali: My comic book character name would be The Astonishing Absorbing Anomaly!!! The idea being that I absorb what I read.
ADIII: HUH?! HAHA!
ADIII: If you were bitten by a radioactive insect what kind of powers would you have?
Ali: I guess it would depend on the critter itself. I say it's an ant, in which case I'd be able to lift ten times my own weight and I'd be able to climb any surface and burrow the earth with amazing speed. A cross between Ant and Spider-Man!
ADIII: Out of all the comic book hotties who would you nail, hypothetically speaking?
Ali: Hahahahahahaha! Well, hypothetically speaking since I AM a happily married man ...this one's tough! I'd like to say I'd go for a nice gal like Power Girl or Wonder Woman, but the truth is I would totally go for a snooty evil girl like Emma Frost the White Queen or Madame Hydra with her green hair, or a crazy chick like the Scarlett Witch, I love that outfit! And Catwoman with her anti-hero hotness and that black pleather jumpsuit...ditto for the Black Widow ... and definitely Carol Danvers (Ms Marvel)...she's plenty feisty herself! And Spider-Woman, Jessica Drew. And Sue Storm. And Mystique. And i wouldn't say Psylocke cause I'm already married to her sans the psychic powers!
ADIII: GEEEZ! AHAHAHA! I wonder if your wife is gonna be reading this!
ADIII: Seeing that comic books are being turned into movies nowadays. What's your favorite comic book - movie adaptation?
Ali: Has to be SIN CITY. There are better comic book movies (THE DARK KNIGHT, X2) but SIN CITY is an actual comic-book actually brought to life, panel by panel, frame by frame, so that makes it the best adaptation. Until WATCHMEN comes out, Zack Snyder is NOT gonna let me down!
ADIII: What are your plans for the future?
Ali: I don't know exactly what the future holds for me or the industry but I want to be THE NAME amongst names as it relates to comic books and the business. I want to see more appreciation and recognition to the art form (video games have their own televised awards, why can't we? Hollywood sees the potential in our stories, why don't more readers?), and I want the writers and artists to continue to push the creative boundaries that have re-invigorated the genre in recent years. I want it all to continue, and I want to do nothing but to talk to my cx's and share with them the passion of my life.
ADIII: Thank You! HAHAHA!
Ali: Thank you for your time, sir, it was a pleasure!
If you got any questions about comics, cards, vinyl figures, toys, movies, art, cartoons, pick up lines, anything comic book related, feel free to contact Ali Rios or Gerry Sansolis at
Comic Odyssey
3400 E 8th St # 106
National City, CA 91950
(619) 479-0965
ONELOVE!
No comments:
Post a Comment