Creator of the Month: Christa Faust

The idea behind AWA is that by putting creators first, we all benefit. Our tagline says it all: “Where the best creators do their best work, for you.” We think the quality of our original stories backs that up, and our fans, critics, and the industry seem to agree with us.

Our “Creator of the Month” program lets us spotlight a different writer, artist, colorist, letterer or more each month, allowing you to get a glimpse into what makes them tick. (What’s more, you may ask? As you may know, AWA is venturing into film and TV, so you may just see a director or other movie auteur show up on these pages over time, too!)

Creator of the Month – June
Christa Faust
Writer
Bad Mother
Redemption
Hit Me

Follow Christa on Socials:
Twitter: @faustfatale
Instagram: @christafaust
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009227296109
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christa-faust-74aa6644/
Website: http://christafaust.com/

What is your favorite comic character or fictional character of all time? Why?
The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Because he’s cool, kills colonizers, and also because, to quote Marilyn Monroe “He wasn’t all bad. I think he just craved a little affection.”

Who most influenced you in the world of comics?
I’m new to comics and still finding fresh inspiration and checking out new (to me) books. What do you think I should read next? Share your suggestions with me on social or in the comments!

Who most influenced you outside of the world of comics?
Clive Barker’s novel CABAL (later made into the movie NIGHTBREED) had a really profound effect on me as a queer, kinky teen who didn’t fit in and was searching for my fellow monsters. I later fell in love with Richard Prather’s pulp detective series and corresponded briefly with him right before his death. He was so warm and encouraging and my first BUTCH FATALE, DYKE DICK novel is a love letter to him. I’m also a huge Film Noir fan and that has always been a source of inspiration in my work.

Do you have a favorite panel/ art from an AWA series you’ve worked on?
So hard to pick just one! Mike Deodato’s genius in bringing the character of the Butcher to life really knocked me out, but I have to go with a tiny, perfect detail from Priscilla Petraites in HIT ME. In the final panel on page 4 of Issue 4, the way that Lulu is wiggling her toes in ecstatic pleasure really centers how she FEELS in this edgy, challenging scene. It would have been easy to objectify her body by catering to the male gaze, but Priscilla’s artistic choices instead invite the reader to share Lulu’s experience.

What do you want fans to know about you?
I spent the majority of my adult life as a sex worker, and I want everyone to understand that we are nothing like what you see in most books or movies. We are not pathetic (sexy) victims waiting around (sexily) for some brooding detective to either save us or discover our (sexy) corpse and feel important manly feelings about it. We are people just like you, complex and flawed and human. We deserve to be main characters, to have our voices heard and to have our stories centered.

If you were a comic book character, would you rather be the hero or the villain?
Villain

What’s your favorite comic book or graphic novel?
Hat tip to Franco Saudelli’s LA BIONDA for feeding my rope bondage fetish back when I was a baby Domme.

What’s your favorite comic book genre?
Crime. Noir. Anything where the lines between “good” and “evil” get blurred.

Would you rather be invisible or have the ability to fly?
I’m all about queer, femme and bi visibility, so I would much rather fly! Preferably with a big, rainbow sign that says FUCK YOU to everyone currently trying to roll back our rights and erase us.

Do you think you could survive in a zombie apocalypse?
Fuck that. I’d much rather team up with cool, smart people and figure out how to stop it from happening in the first place.

Do you listen to music while you’re creating?
Sometimes I’ll listen to film soundtracks. I listened to a lot of Spaghetti Western soundtracks while working on REDEMPTION.

What is your favorite song?
Whatever goofy mash-up song I’ve made up to sing to my dog on any given day.

What is the best advice you ever got?
Omit unnecessary words.

Dog person, cat person, or…?
I’m bi-pet-ual! I love them both.

Where is your happy place?
Inside a book.

Tell us one of your guilty pleasures.
As long as you aren’t involving anyone who doesn’t (or can’t) consent, there should be no guilty pleasures.

What is your favorite burger?
Not really a burger person. I prefer seafood.

What is your favorite type of pizza/pizza topping?
I’m the one who does the topping in this house.

If you could have anything in the world for a last meal, what would it be?
Pussy. Oh, sorry did I type that out loud?