Sanford Greene interview on Legion of Super-Heroes

Sanford Greene says a trip to K-mart with his mom changed his life. He was looking for a toy when he noticed a spinner rack full of comics. “And that’s when the heavens parted.”

 When I caught up with him he was drawing Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century (long title) for DC Comics.

CB: Where did you grow up?  Where do you live now?

 SG: In a small town that shall remain nameless! I am currently in Columbia, South Carolina.

 CB: How did you learn to draw?

 SG: It's a gift that was developed over time. I went to a liberal arts college here in SC and was trained by a professional children’s book illustrator.

 CB: Did you start out by publishing your own work?

 SG: Kinda. I had a friend who had an interest in publishing. So we got our nickels and dimes together to put out a low budget comic. It was pretty cool!

 CB: How did you first sell your art?

 SG: I sold my first pic at a comic convention. I had no idea what I was doing. I think I sold an original for like $20 or something sad like that!!

 CB: You’ve done art for video games?  What’s that like?

 SG: Yes I have. Sonic the Hedgehog for SEGA and Killer 7 from CAPCOM. Working on those was really cool.

 CB: Is doing comics professionally anything like you imagined?

 SG: Yes actually. I knew it would be very hard work and I knew it would take several years before I saw the fruits of my labor. But anything worth achieving means you must work hard for it... ya know!!!

 CB: Have you met any of the kids who see your art?

 SG: Tons of them all the time. Especially when I go to the comic conventions!

 CB: Why do you think the Legion of Super-Heroes has so many loyal fans?

 SG: It's like the title says; it's a whole Legion of Super-heroes!! How cool is that?...

 CB: Who is your favorite character in the Legion?

 SG: If I had my pick I would say...Ultra Boy. But he's not on the team in this book just yet. But stay tuned!

 CB: If you were a Legionnaire, who would you be?

 SG: Hmmmm... That's a tough one. I would say MULTIPLE BOY. That way I can turn into a bunch of me and get a lot more done!!!

In 2020, he and writers Chuck Brown and David Walker received an Eisner Award for their series Bitter Root, about monster-hunting during the Harlem Renaissance.  Ryan Coogler, director of the first Black Panther movie, will adapt it for film.