We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Ryall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Some of it was circumstantial, in that my employment status changed due to outside factors. Which was what convinced me to see what kinds of steps I could take to ensure that I had more direct control over my employment status. And my plan was to stay in an industry in which I was very comfortable, established, and knowledgeable, so I also had a desire to bring that knowledge and experience to bear in all the ways that I thought could benefit a new venture. Again, in an effort to assert more direct control and influence over the kind of company and the kind of operating structure I thought it should have.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a writer/editor rather than an artist, so have always been reliant on, and greatly appreciative of, the massive contributions and partnership that comic artists bring to my–and every–script. Comics writers too often get credit for being the “creator” but the artist does the work that brings a project to life, that makes it more than words on the page. And I think one of my strengths as a writer and editor has been finding the best ways to tell my part of a story that enables the talented artists to do everything they do to bring it to life.

Collaboration is the heart of every good comic, and I’ve found many successful ways to collaborate with artists, colorists, letterers, and other partners, to make the sum much greater than its parts. And partnering with creators to bring a story to life is the best part of the job–seeing the way talented artists turn words into pieces of art is a joy that’s hard to describe when those pieces first arrive in my inbox.

In some ways, I backed into the comic industry, the way many do–there’s not one set path–and one big reason for that was my willingness to try new things. To take side jobs that were more in my area of interest while also ensuring I could pay my bills. And to be both helpful and appreciative to those who helped me along the way.

There’s a Neil Gaiman line about making it in comics, how you need to be good at what you do, be on time, and be a pleasure to work with. And I have always tried to hit all three marks along the way. I can also say that as someone who has hired a great many freelance talents, that I tend to go back most often to people who also hit those same marks.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve been consulting at the new Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park, and certainly that’s a must-visit location, for all it has to offer — the many museums, the open space and wide park areas, the zoo, and the nearby restaurants, too.

But I’d also recommend something broader than a specific location — I recently participated in an independent bookstore “book crawl,” visiting a dozen stores in all kinds of areas. La Jolla, Barrio Logan, downtown, South Park… all great locations for so many more reasons beyond just the great bookstores, and all very different kinds of environments. All worth seeing, hanging out, and eating. So I’d recommend doing the same kind of thing, picking whatever kind of establishment you might want to visit and then seeking out multiple places in different areas. It really helped give a broad and enriching view of so many parts of the city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would dedicate the entirety of my efforts in the comic book industry, both past and present, to the artisans, writers, artists, and other creators who laid the foundation for the rest of us to build upon; all of the creators whose creative energy provided both the spark and the fuel for this industry.

Website: worldofsyzygy.com

Instagram: chris_ryall

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cryall/

Twitter: chris_ryall

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.ryall.16