I'm the author of award winning ＆ Eisner nominated books like The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, Blue in Green and These Savage Shores. I also write comics over at DC and Marvel on books like Detective Comics, Swamp Thing and Venom. Six years ago I used to be a chemical engineer. Now I make up stories for a living. My parents are only slightly disappointed.
You can follow me talking about work and comics over on twitter @therightram
by Ram_Vee
26 Comments
So many questions Ram, I must say you are my favorite writerv and seeing an Indian at the big stage was huge. How did black Mumba come by since that’s your calling card?
Loved These savage shores, first time seeing kerala in a western comic book.
Thoughts on Comic book piracy, especially from people in third world countries.
Huge fan of your work. Now that you’re doing work for Marvel, what are the chances we’ll see you on an Avengers or X-title?
First of all, I love your work!. Is there any plans for new projects that you can tell us once you are done with Detective Comics?
Hey! I love your work but I have to be honest I haven’t finished Laila Starr yet. I have every issue but I loved the story so much I couldn’t bring myself to finish it. I will soon now that I have the TPB but I was wondering if there’s any story you’ve ever put off finishing because of how much it meant to you?
What happened to Rams I through IV?
Hi Ram, just wanted to say that as an Indian Batman fan, it makes me very inspired and proud to see the rightful acclaim your Detective Comics run has been getting. The ambiance and mystery in the first issue have me hooked and I am literally counting down the hours until I am off work and able to go pick up #1063. Wishing you all the best and I hope you keep doing what you’re doing!!!
Hi Ram thank you so much for doing this! Love your work and Laila Starr might be my favorite book of the past year!
Speaking of Laila Starr, one thing that really struck me about the book was the colors – they are insanely expressive but and heighten just how emotional that book, so I was curious, do you like to have a say in how a book is colored or do you like to leave the colorist alone to find that tone? Your books feel more mood heavy than most so I was interested!
Thanks again!
Only work of yours I’ve read is Laila Starr. That said, it’s something to be proud of.
Just dropped by to say that, have a nice one, man.
You have easily become one of my favorite writers in recent times with all your amazing stories so I wanted to ask, what are the major inspirations for you when you work?
Hi Ram, I read Laila Starr and These Savage Shores earlier this year and I loved them. I have to say you’re my favourite comic book writer right now. As a South Asian it’s really great to see our experiences be represented, I just want to say thank you!
I’ve just got two questions:
Any advice for how to not be overwhelmed by larger creative projects? I’ve done a few short comic pages and I’m currently trying to work on longer comics but I find it very hard to well…start. Have you ever faced something similar and do you have any advice for how to overcome it?
Also I’ve seen some of your sketches, would you also consider illustrating some of your future books as well?
Your Swamp Thing was a great piece of work from start to finish! I’m just a little bummed it’s over! By the way, are you interested in Animal Man? If it comes true, I’d love for you to write Animal Man next! Because if you write a green story, the next one will be Red, right? I think he’s a great hero and very underrated! I hope you bring back the Ongoing series once again!
Good Morning/afternoon Ram!
During a special for dc, you wrote a Question story which I believe was titled ”Crimes of Passion ”
There you used the characterization based on the 2005 Mini Series by Rick Veitch with art by Tommy Lee Edwards
Are you a fan of that particular take on the character ?
Are there any other underrated Mini or runs that you are a fan of from other characters?
Thank you for giving us a chance to talk to you.
Furthermore, thank you for giving us something fresh and new with Gotham Nocturne, which allows us to get excited with a storyline, for the first time in a while.
How long will this storyline last? Originally, it was stated to be a four – parter but the solicitations suggest that the story continues past that.
You made a fan of me, therefore, i will be checking your other books as well. Those Savage Shores looks good.
Would you be kind enough to post a small tease about what’s to come in Detective Comics?
Hey Ram!
What’s your favourite meal for at the end of a long day when all you want to do is relax?
I know it’s not a comic-related question but I’d imagine that’s 90% of the other questions on here so I’m trying to be a breath of fresh air.
Hi Ram! Who is an artist that you would absolutely love to work? Excited to see where you take detective comics! Outside of your own work, what current comic do you think is hitting it out of the park?
So many questions! I’ve been a huge fan since These Savage shores and Graffiti Wall.
As an aspiring writer I would like to ask how has the journey from Savage shores to Detective been? Any major lessons? Especially when it comes to horror? Since you only seem to get better at it everyday?
First I’d like to thank you for Laila Starr, I think a story has never spoken to me so deeply and personally like it.
Then I’d like to know if you’d like to write X-Men comics someday. I’d certainly love your take on them.
(also, Carnage #5 is awesome)
Hi Ram, huge supporter of your work, you’ll probably recognize me as a Swamp Thing fan from Twitter. I wanted to know what your history with Swamp Thing looks like, where/who’s work did you start reading with the character and what drove you to want to create a story with Levi? Thanks again!!
Hello Ram! Greetings from TN,India. loving your work across comics let it be Indie DC or Marvel. Detective comics has been off an electric start. Usually there’s a lot of thoughts and discourse about how Batman needs to be “grounded” and detective comics should be about “detective stuff”. How do you approach Bruce Wayne/Batman in your take especially with more than natural elements at play such as barbatos and arkhams
Did DC ever express interest in you continuing Swamp Thing past season 2? Could you see yourself coming back to the title if you feel there’s more story to be told with Levi or is that door completely shut and available for another writer? I’m sure you constantly hear praises for the title. This run meant a lot to me!
Hey, I just found out about you, your stuff is excellent, and your Swamp Thing is like, neck and neck with Alan Moore’s in my opinion. Very happy to see writing like yours in the big 2, and I’ve been incredibly impressed with everything of yours I’ve read. No questions, just thought I’d share.
I’ve got an impossible number of questions, but I just wanted to say that I’m a huge fan of what you’ve been doing with your Big 2 work, your Detective Comics run so far along w/ Albuquerque has already started to set the seeds to be my favourite run since Snyder and Capullo’s tenure on the character.
I just wanted to ask (and sorry if this was asked before), what were the inspirations behind this run, as in what pieces of media and comics really shaped your image for it. And also what are your thoughts on Talia Al Ghul as a character.
Thanks for doing this!
Hi Ram. Been on a binge of your work all year since first reading Laila Starr. Anxiously awaiting the last Aquaman Andromeda! I grew up playing jazz trombone, so Blue in Green was a really powerful and thought provoking read. Where did the inspiration for Blue in Green come from? Were any other musical genres in consideration before landing on jazz?
Also would love to get your take on Doctor Strange sometime in the future!
Hi Ram, thank you so much for the AMA.
**The Many Deaths of Laila Starr** was my introduction to your work and I thought it was absolutely superb. I never delved too deeply into graphic novels and especially feel off in recent years but I am overwhelmingly inclined to revive my exploration having been reminded of how much joy and beauty they hold. Your novel caused me to revisit **The Incal** and **I Kill Giants** (two old favorites of mine) and I have several more of yours ordered and en rout. Just a massive thank you for the wonderful works of art as well as the reminder for me to return to an artform I have neglected. I hope for all your continued success!
What advice would you give to a brilliantly creative 7 year old who has been told over and over that art isn’t a “real job”?
Last year her paintings were published in our regional library’s art magazine and featured in their exhibition. We support her 100% and I show her that art is *everywhere*. Writing, cooking, architecture, music, design. Life would be a colourless void without it. I want her to know that her interests are valuable and worth pursuing. Any words of wisdom would be treasured (also more meaningful coming from a source that isn’t her number 1 cheerleader, her mom)
Thank you 🙏🏻