Interview: David Avallone on Dynamite’s Bettie Page

Bettie Page #1 Terry Dodson cover

Bettie Page #1 Terry Dodson cover


Producer & director David Avallone is also know as the writer of such comics as Doc Savage: Ring of Fire, Twilight Zone: The Shadow, Legenderry Vampirella, and more.  His new project features the unknown adventures of the most famous pin-up model of all, Bettie Page. Avallone recently told Westfield’s Roger Ash more about this upcoming series from Dynamite.

Westfield: How did you become involved with the project?

David Avallone: This one started the way most of them do for me: an email from Dynamite Executive Editor Joe Rybandt. He asked if I’d be interested in doing a Bettie Page comic book, and of course I was. I asked if there were any parameters and Joe said, “Bettie Page comic book.” One of the great pleasures of working for Dynamite is just that kind of creative freedom.

Bettie Page #1 Black & White Photo cover

Bettie Page #1 Black & White Photo cover


Westfield: Bettie Page is known to most for her work as a pin-up model. Was it difficult developing a story for her?

Avallone: It’s a bit more of a challenge to come up with a comic-book worthy adventure for a model than for, say, a costumed vigilante. But on the other hand… as above… there’s also more freedom, and the added bonus that it’s fresh territory. It’s a chance to do something original. I chose 1951 because it was after her modeling career had started, but before she was that well known. It seemed like the best time to set a “secret adventure.” Once I had 1951, I thought about all the things that were going on in the world, and in the culture, in1951. From there, the story came pretty easily.

Bettie Page #1 Joseph Michael Linsner cover

Bettie Page #1 Joseph Michael Linsner cover


Westfield: What can you tell us about the story?

Avallone: Bettie gets chased out of New York when the Feds raid a magazine photo shoot, and ends up in Los Angeles, working as an assistant for a rocket scientist. She finds herself at the center of a web of intrigue involving spies, cultists, flying saucers, and Hollywood.

Bettie Page #1 Color Photo cover

Bettie Page #1 Color Photo cover


Westfield: Aside from Bettie, who are some of the other characters we’ll meet?

Avallone: The two main characters Bettie is caught between are Rick Parsons and Elroy Benway. Rick Parsons is a dashing and mysterious rocket scientist and founder of Pasadena Aero Space Technologies. Elroy Benway is the shadowy head of the growing Sky Science cult.

Westfield: You’re working with artist Colton Worley on the book. What can you say about your collaboration?

Avallone: Colton’s work is like no one else’s, and he has a great imagination for page layout and panel design. We’re very lucky to have him on the book.

Bettie Page #1 Scott Chantler cover

Bettie Page #1 Scott Chantler cover


Westfield: Any closing comments?

Avallone: I approach this project with enormous respect for its leading lady. Bettie was a woman ahead of her time, and like a lot of ground-breakers she didn’t think of herself as a pioneer, which makes her all the more heroic. It’s a privilege to be able to write Bettie, and give her an adventure worthy of her immortal image and persona.

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Bettie Page #1

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