Interview with Jimmy Gaspero, Co-Creator of Penny and the Yeti
Jimmy Gaspero, Co-Creator of Penny and the Yeti
Jimmy Gaspero is no stranger to comics, nor has he followed the typical comic creator path. An Attorney by profession and host of the Comic Book Yeti Creator Cryptid Corner with Bryan O’Neil, comics have been part of Gaspero’s life for a while, but only recently from the creative side.
But like most creators, part of what got Gaspero into co-creating the comic, Penny and the Yeti, with Amber Akin is happenstance.
Of course, it began with a comic shop. Gaspero one day was searching for an activity with his oldest daughter and turned to his local comic book shop down the street. This community ultimately connected Gaspero with the Comic Book Yeti and the podcast with Editor-in-Chief Byron O’Neal.
Like all comic book readers, that buzz—or whisper—saying, “you should write your own comic,” hit Gaspero. Soon the idea of a short illustrated story with artist/colorist Amber Akin titled, Yeti and the Big Stomp, turned into a full-length graphic novel including the name of his youngest daughter, Penny.
Fast-forward a few years later, and Penny and the Yeti (published by Papercutz) is available now for younger and older readers to enjoy the adventures of a young girl and her Yeti.
Gaspero was kind enough to talk about Penny and the Yeti and its multi-layered story about friendship, maneuvering feelings, and family drama as a kid.
Seth A. Romo: So right off the bat, making a comic that includes your child’s name sets a really high parenting standard.
Jimmy Gaspero: (Chuckles) When we started the story it heavily involved Penny, but we also found a way to include my oldest whose middle name is Perry as one of the characters in the book. Penny is front and center, but if we get a sequel, expect to see more about Perry.
How did the story evolve from a four-page short story to a full graphic novel?
The original title was Yeti and the Big Stomp and it was a four-page comic that had a scene where the characters go to a diner and the Yeti gets upset because they dont have what Yeti wants and this causes cracks in the floor. Penny soon steps in and goes to talk to Yeti to calm things down.
I pitched the idea of a girl and her yeti to Mad Cave Studios and Papercutz and they gave me about two months to put together a full story with co-creator Amber Akin.
What are you excited for readers to experience from Penny and the Yeti?
Amber Akin, who is the co-creator, artist, and colorist on the book has done a phenomenal job and the artwork is so fun and whimsical. I am excited for readers to enjoy that!
As for the story itself, it’s about family and deals with the experience kids can face when parents argue. There is nothing traumatic in the book, and the parents are not the villains, but it highlights the human side of parenting when relationships are impacted by being tired, overworked, and it spills in front of the kids.
Penny wears her emotions on her sleeves and during an argument she overhears, she draws a Yeti that walks off the page and into Penny’s life which lead to some fun adventures.
I try to talk about little moments that can build tension in the home without making kids feel like it’s their job to fix things. Then of course there are a bunch of silly moments that I hope kids have a fun time with. If there is anything I hope kids get from this story, it’s the ability to express themselves.
So have you reflected on how Yetis are so prominent in your life? You have Penny and the Yeti, Comic Book Yeti…
Yeah that is just kind of weird happenstance. I’ve always liked cryptids and have a friend who is a true believer in Big Foot. But I love magical realism and part of where the name came from was when I was putting Penny to bed and she recommended I write about a Yeti. So I was like, yeah, well you got to be in it. So we got, “Penny and the Yeti!”
How has it been reflecting on your journey from comic book reader, to comic book podcaster, and now creator?
I feel great. I got the urge to create when I was 40 and I’ll be 47 when the book is released, and it reminds me of that that old adage, “it’s never too late.” I’m proud of what we’ve created—especially for my kids to see it. There's something to be said about figuring it out later [in life] and still making an effort to try and make it happen.
Penny and the Yeti is in stores now. For more about Jimmy Gaspero, you can follow him at @jimmygaspero on Instagram.
Jimmy Gaspero is a father, husband, lawyer, writer, and podcaster from Delaware County (“Delco”), PA. Along with Comic Book Yeti Editor-in-Chief, Byron O’Neal, Jimmy is one of the hosts of the Cryptid Creator Corner podcast. Jimmy has written short comics that have been published in Bi Visibility #1, Tales of the Bizarre, Band of Bards’ From the Static, and Comics from the Kitchen. Jimmy recently successfully crowdfunded Made in Delco, a comic anthology of stories he's written. When he isn’t lawyering, podcasting, or writing, Jimmy spends his time with his (supportive and patient) wife Sarah, their two amazing daughters, and an extraordinarily rambunctious and mischievous Golden Retriever named Barry. He enjoys stories about time travel and his favorite food is sandwiches.
This interview was co-written by Seth Adrian Romo and Samuel Mason White. All quotes were edited for clarity.
