InterPop Comics Q&A: Eric Anthony Glover Gets Inside Bookworm’s Head
We at InterPop are very lucky to have a TV writer working on comics for us, and since the early days of Emergents Presents, Eric Anthony Glover (Tom Swift on the CW) has made one character his specialty: Bookworm, a young man with total recall who uses this knowledge against his opponents, and often fights villains who have personal connections. Thanks to your votes, Bookworm has returned to Emergents Presents again and again, and we’ve learned more about this reserved hero. But what about Glover the writer? Read on.
InterPop: Bookworm is a fascinating character who uses his total recall against his opponents, often in a psychological advantage type of way. You’ve really made this character your own. What about him is so appealing to you?
Eric: There’s something compelling about a kid who knows who he is at a young age, and who’s quite comfortable marching to the beat of his own drum. Maybe he marches to that beat a little too dogmatically, but it’s fun to write about a high school kid who isn’t concerned with what others think of him. I think most of us have had moments, perhaps most potently in our younger days, of not feeling like we fit in. But despite being an outcast, Bookworm still loves and believes in himself. Maybe he could learn to be a little more connected to others, but it feels special to write for a hero who doesn’t need external validation to feel worthy.
InterPop: Unlike some of our other Emergents, Bookworm tends to fight people from his own past, or bullies that he has a personal connection with. Why do you think that is?
Eric: The fact that he’s not much of a fighter made personal villains feel like the natural choice. If he’s not using his fists, and his struggles are more about his mind, then it becomes fitting to have him engage with people who get an emotional response out of him.
InterPop: You’ve worked in television, recently landing a writing gig on the CW show Tom Swift. How has that experience been, and how do skills you learn in a TV writer’s room translate to comics?
Eric: My experience in the TV writers room has been an extremely fortunate one. I feel lucky to work with people whom I adore, respect and genuinely love. I’d say one skill that translates well to writing comics is an adherence to making things shorter. Tom Swift is a network show with lots of commercials, which means I’m always forced to consider how to pare things down. Since I’m writing 8-page comics with Bookworm, I have to actively use the same mentality.
InterPop: What’s the last great graphic novel you read?
Eric: Weirdly, my own! My first ever graphic novel, Black Star, was published by Abrams ComicArts last year, and it was wild to read my work in hardcover once it was printed. More recently, I’ve been reading single issues from Tom Taylor’s Superman: Son of Kal-El series and Chip Zdarsky’s Daredevil run.
InterPop: What’s next for you at InterPop? More Bookworm or something else?
Eric: More Bookworm is coming, thanks to the support of InterPop fans! I’ve also written an upcoming story for Afterimage, which will be out in June. He’s a character who handles bullying much, much differently than Bookworm, and I look forward to seeing how he connects with readers.
InterPop: Tell us what excites you about working with InterPop!
Eric: The people. Rachel Gluckstern and Rylen Sigman have been terrific editors. Bookworm’s penciler, Daniele Afferni, brings an infectious enthusiasm to every endeavor we’re on together. Chris Sotomayor, our colorist, and Pat Brosseau, our letterer, have consistently elevated the work. And Brian David-Marshall, the president of InterPop, has been nothing but encouraging.
