Dan: On the cover of The Rocketeer Adventure Magazine #3 there is a small NRA logo in the bottom right-hand corner. Why did you feel that is was necessary to include this logo? The NRA is a very controversial group in American politics, and I was disappointed to see that logo on your comic book.

Stevens: The symbol that you're referring to has NO connection to the National Rifle Association. The NRA stamp that I was using was that of the National Recovery Administration, which was a government agency instituted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as a means of combating the great depression the 1930's, by regulating wages, working hours, and ultimately, prices.

That NRA symbol of the blue eagle appeared on virtually all American periodicals of the mid-1930's. I chose to include it on some of my Rocketeer covers to further the look of "period authenticity".

Tomi: Did you ever think about doing Airboy and Vampirella issues instead of just covers?

Stevens: Not at all. Instead, I'd hoped that I would be able to make whatever personal statement I had (about either character), with one really evocative image. That was always the goal.

With Airboy/Valkyrie, I feel like I nailed it on the first take. But, in the case of Vampirella, I doubt I'll ever capture what I see, dimly, in my mind's eye, no matter how many times I attempt it (You can't win 'em all!).

Tom: Has there ever been a comic book/project that it killed you not to be able to do?

Stevens: Without a doubt, that would have to be the 1988 graphic novel, The Shadow, 1941: Hitler's Astrologer. It was one of the best-pencilled jobs Mike Kaluta has ever turned in, and some of his most sophisticated storytelling. He'd originally drawn it for Berni Wrightson to ink and finish, but Berni found himself unable to do it.

Kaluta immediately asked me if I'd be interested. Of course I WAS, but... It was a Marvel project, and I was still embroiled in an ugly legal battle with them over The Rocketeer. I had to say "no", and it KILLED me to do so (because I'd seen the entire pencilled story!). If the book had been with ANY other publisher, I'd have done it in a heartbeat. What a disappointment!