Paul Norris Sighting

The Omaha World-Herald has an interview with Aquaman creator Paul Norris, in which he answers a few softball questions about Aquaman.

Q. DC Comics commissioned you to create "Aquaman" after you went looking for work in New York in 1941. How did you come up with what the submerged superhero would look like?

A. I made a lot of sketches just from my head. I decided to color him green and orange, and the editors really liked that. He's worn green and orange almost the whole time he's been around, and I still get paid royalties for every time they use those colors with him.

Q. "Aquaman" is still running and has a cult following. How long did you draw him?

A. Only for a short time. About a year. I signed a contract with a newspaper company to draw a comic strip for them. I had a good lawyer who looked over the papers, but we missed one thing. The contract said I had to work exclusively for the paper, so I had to stop drawing "Aquaman."

I never could never have imagined the comic would have run so long. To be still appearing past the year 2000? It's incredible.

Q. Aquaman seems to be gaining popularity. Aside from the comic book, he's appeared on the WB's "Smallville" and has been mentioned on "Seinfeld," "The Simpsons" and many other shows. The WB is even making a "Smallville" spin-off about Aquaman. How do you feel about that and the way he's being portrayed?

A. I think it's great. I love to see him showing up more and more. For the most part, he's been portrayed pretty well. Some of the comic book writers have made him a little too rough and violent for me.

Q. Aquaman has some unusual powers. He can breathe underwater and communicate with other creatures through mental telepathy. Have you ever wanted to have superhuman powers?

A. Well, some of them would be nice to have, but I guess I've really never thought about it.

I didn't deal with superheroes very much. I liked the science-fiction comic strips better. My favorite by far was "Brick Bradford." He could go back or forward in time. There were no limits with him. He could go back and fix historical events, so they'd turn out the way they should have.

As previously mentioned on this site, Paul Norris will be appearing at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska on February 10, 2006. If anyone has a plane ticket for me, I've got a place to stay down there.

If anyone does make it to see Paul, please feel free to send me a report. I'll post it here.