Creator of the Month: Sarah H. Cho

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 – November
Sarah H. Cho
Writer: Red Light
Follow Sarah on Instagram @sarah.h.cho

What is your favorite comic character or fictional character of all time? Why?
My favorite character is Kyoko Mogami from an old manga called SKIP BEAT! This was one of my favorite comics/manga as a kid. I always loved how earnest and kindhearted she was, but I also loved how she wasn’t always completely buttoned up and had her fair share of goofball moments. But, regardless of how underestimated she constantly was, she always pulled off her job in an incredible way that blew her critics away. She was the ultimate underdog and that’s the sort of characters I’ve always gravitated towards.

Who most influenced you outside of the world of comics??
David Fincher and Quentin Tarantino are huge artistic inspirations for me. I also am a huge fan of Chuck Palahniuk and Philip Roth.

Tell me about your favorite story/panel/art page from an AWA series you’ve worked on.
I love the panel where it’s Lacy and Mister in bed and just behind them is a sweeping view of the city. It’s such a gorgeous panel and it’s also a little heartbreaking to see Lacy so close to the outside world she loves but still finding it out of reach.

If you were a comic book character, would you rather be the hero or the villain? And why?
I would like to say villain because villains tend to have more fun. But, knowing myself – I would be a hero. My instinct to create positive change in the world is too strong for me to be anything but that.

What’s your favorite comic book or graphic novel?
Batman: the Killing Joke

What’s your favorite comic book genre?
Horror

Would you rather be invisible or have the ability to fly?
I would rather have the ability to fly. It seems way more fun than eavesdropping on people talking shit about me.

Do you think you could survive in a zombie apocalypse?
I think I would die fairly quickly (I have like five chronic illnesses, so I don’t think I’d live long in a natural selection situation). But I do think I’d take down a bunch of zombies before my death. I can be fairly vicious when the time calls for it.

Do you listen to music while you’re creating?
About 50% of the time I am listening to music.

What is your favorite song or band?
It rotates fairly often, but the main genre I listen to is indie electronica.

What is the best advice you ever got?
It’s not so much advice, but a reminder. It’s a poem by Nayyirah Waheed that I have tattooed on my body. “I don’t pay attention to the world ending. It has ended for me many times and began again in the morning.” Another quote I love (and also have tattooed on me) is “well behaved women seldom make history.”

Dog person, cat person, or…?
Dog person!

Where is your happy place?
Any large body of water. And my bed.

Tell us one of your guilty pleasures.
I love fast food. A lot.

If you were stranded on an island with any 3 people — real or fictional, living, or dead — who would you pick?
My sister would be my first pick because she would keep me sane and would be my rock through it all. Iron Man would be my second because I feel like he would be able to fashion some sort of contraption to get us off the island. And, lastly, Neal Brennan because I think we share both a dark sense of humor and a penchant for oversharing.

What’s the last movie you watched?
Elemental

What’s the last comic you read?
Hell’s Paradise

What is your favorite type of pizza/pizza topping?
Pineapple (fuck you to all you pineapple haters) and Jalapenos.

If you could have anything in the world for a last meal, what would it be?
Beef tartar, uni, and raw oysters. I know…I have expensive taste. It’s a problem for my wallet.

What do you want fans to know about you?
I’m just a confused, overwhelmed, and traumatized girl/woman who’s stumbling her way through life. I think that’s why I write the characters that I do.