The early bird catches the proverbial worm when mind-mapping attendance/scheduling for a comic con like Fan Expo Canada without losing one’s sanity.
It’s also a time when comic artists and writers can catch their breath before they’re greeting a litany of fans. For me, when a big-deal writer like Pornsak Pichetshote‘s booth was eerily quiet, it was my chance to seize an opportunity to grab a brief chat with him.
In this serendipitous interview, he revealed to me that the biggest takeaway about working on Absolute Green Arrow wasn’t the story (although he did tease that out with me later on about expecting fleshed-out character development…but was tight-lipped about everything else); it’s that he was compelled to talk about mental health (first).
“Doing the shows and signings…I definitely learned a lot about myself in this process…what my limits and boundaries are,” he added. Being even-keeled has been so important in navigating this journey, “… it’s been an interesting ride and something I definitely talk to my therapist a lot about.”
Pichetshote also jested that HE could use a tip or two about how to (continue to) balance his psyche when I asked him if he had any tips to share with readers. While he was undoubtedly talented before (with books like the Eisner Award-winning The Good Asian and helping to develop The Arrowverse show on The CW), being ‘discovered’ by Absolute Universe fans has given him a front-and-center surge of popularity – it has left him grateful, but sometimes feeling overwhelmed.
He added that another major life lesson he took from working on Absolute Green Arrow was to challenge his own preconceived assumptions. In the past, he might act without waiting for the other person to respond, or assume he already knew their answer.
“…I’ve learned to give people a chance to say no…don’t assume they’ll say no. Sometimes, I would assume because (from my perspective) I also didn’t want to bother them… but ultimately it’s best to let them have that choice.”
My takeaway is that Pichestote finds comfort in having some control over the professional and personal variables in his life. Relinquishing that control can be scary for people with that kind of personality, and I’m guilty of it, too. But giving others the opportunity to make their own choices also frees you to focus on the things that actually are within your control, which can ultimately bring a little more peace of mind.
Ultimately, I was caught off guard by just how forthright and raw Pichestote was in his answers. Important subjects like mental and physical health aren’t discussed enough in the industry, and I appreciate his willingness to speak so openly about them.
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