Sheri Belmar: Venus Ascending Webcomic Artist

LT: What inspired you to do a sci-fi spin off of the
popular Venus Envy comic?

CAT: I'm kind of a Sci-Fi type if it's GOOD sci-fi, and I thought it would be fun to have a vehicle to poke fun at the bad sci-fi out there. I'm one of those people who demand the sci-fi writers respect my intelligence... which is not at ALL a tall order ...so... why do they keep messing with me?

LT: How difficult was it to talk Erin Lindsey into this? Was she warm to the idea or were various procedures need to coerce her?

CAT: Actually, Erin suggested it. I wrote some "throw down" strips for her to use as she occasionally gets too busy to update. One was a space theme scenario and I thought that might be fun. So, the spin off was Erin's idea... making it sci-fi was mine. (I DID have chocolate bars loaded with a hallucinogen ready just in case.)

LT: Why a spin-off of a transgendered theme comic?

CAT: The short answer is that VE has a transgendered theme so VA does too, but there more to it than just that. Erin Lindsey is a brilliant writer! I happen to love her work and when I discovered VE, quickly became a fan. I intended VA as a backup for Erin when she couldn't update so her fans could still get a Zoe fix... I haven't been doing very well with updates lately.

But you want to know about the TG theme. This is one reason I think Erin is so brilliant. Zoe being TransGendered IS a major element but a lot of what happens is just life. Too many TG strips focus almost exclusively on the idea of being TG so they are very narrow in scope. Erin is weaving a darned good story about a young lady with all the usual problems of life, complicated by being TG. A subtle but real difference. Unless someone's a TG-phobe, they're gonna relate to VE on some level.

LT: Will you take my advice and start putting Amish and Mennonite in the scenes that take place in Salem, PA to make it more authentic? If no, why not?

CAT: Well Sci-Fi Amish would be tricky... Perhaps if there's a REFORMED Amish community out there that uses battery-powered toothbrushes... I need to do some research. Mennonites... NO!... They died out in the Jurassic period and I don't approve of time travel...(or was that Trilobites? I get them mixed up.)

Author's Note: The idea that Amish won't use batteries is a common misconception. I have been in Amish stores where they used battery powered cash registers. What they will not do, however, is have wires running into their homes.

LT: Why the developing love triangle between Ensign Kim, Commander Guinness and Zoe?

CAT: I'm also about to bring Eric into the mix. Ensign Kim, Commander Guinness, Eric AND LISA each define a different kind of possibility for Zoe's happiness. Zoe, in the VA universe, will have to choose. Perhaps I'll have the fans vote on it... NAW... there's only two of them and they'll never agree.

LT: Did you assign all the copyrights for the comic to Erin Lindsey or do you maintain the ones on characters unique to your comic for yourself?

CAT: Nope... they all belong to Erin. That was actually my idea to protect Erin's copyrights. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I am honored that Erin trusts me with HER VE characters. I guess that means VA constitutes one of the biggest Fan Art collections out there.

LT: Why is pork funny? I've often wondered about this statement but can't really figure it out. Given that it originates with the original artist and she allowed you to do a spin off, I thought you might have some special insight.

CAT: OMG! I know why from personal experience! I can't even look at a ham sandwich without snickering! You HAD to be there! My Aunt had this pork roast and she can't cook without the EPA citing her for multiple infractions and she cooked this thing and set it on the table and everyone was silent until my uncle looked up and said, " Louise..."...well... OK, it's not WHAT he said... it's HOW he said it.

LT: One of the most touching scenes of the comic is in my opinion when Zoe offers up a prayer at the Notre Dame cathedral. What led you to use the phrase she
utters here?

CAT: Zoe is human. HER reason for asking seems obvious, but I don't think ANYONE who's ever lived hasn't asked,...this, ...or a very similar question. And someday, I'd like to know too. http://catgirldo.comicgen.com/d/20050211.html

LT: Will Zoe eventually realize that Lisa has feelings for her as she does in Venus Envy? What kind of problems will this unrequited love cause?

CAT: Oh sorry! I suppose I have not been clear. Zoe KNOWS. Zoe loves Lisa and always will but Lisa is pushing for a deeper relationship. Zoe can't stop loving Lisa but she won't give Lisa the false impression that she feel more than a deep and devoted sisterhood. Will it change? I'm not sure yet. As far as problems of unrequited love, those are mainly Lisa's ...and ... I enjoy cruelly toying with Lisa... it's a CAT thing.

LT: You don't even get donations for the spin off.
Why do it?

CAT: Now...CUT THAT OUT!... I can get donations...if I wanted... Well OK so I'm not doing this for the money... certainly not for the fame. It takes about 3 hours for me to do each strip and I'm constantly trying to find time to scratch them out... Really the main reason IS to try to support Erin. Two other peripheral reasons I can think of...
1)The characters are still writing the story and I'd like to finish it
2) I want to see what I can do without an editor...I actually used to do this in another life but that's a long story.

LT: What was your reaction when you first got invited to a comic convention?

CAT: "I thought you guys wanted artists with talent..."

LT: Is there any truth to the rumor that you dressed up in an midget alligator costume and broke Erin Lindsey's leg to gain more readers for your comic?

CAT: I'm glad to put THIS ugly rumor to rest! NO I would never harm Erin EVEN for the sake of readership! I am devoted to the well being of this beautiful and talented young lady ...even though she fights dirty and bites back and carries an illegal metal bar in her purse!!! Isn't it also illegal under gator wrestling federation rules to yank on someone's tail ? Don't even get me started on the referees they....You know, let's just say, " No Comment."