Unless you've been locked away for the past seven or so months, than you know the current penciler on Generation X is Steve Pugh. I recently was given the opportunity to ask him some questions.

How did you first get into comics?

I just sent photocopies to First Comics just as their regular artist on Grimjack was taking a break to do a graphic novel... ta daaaa! John Ostrander was the writer and he got me in touch with Karen Berger who nicked me for DC.

How did you get the job on Generation X?
I was the only artist they could find who could read a Warren Ellis plot without going blind.

Had you read Gen X before getting the job?

Yes! I read it right up until Bachalo left, it was actually the only X-book I looked at since New Mutants. I really loved the characters, but it kept getting interrupted by crossovers.

What do you think of Warren Ellis and Brian Wood?

Heh... I like them well enough for writers!

Nah, they're great really... the book could use a few more dinosaurs though..

What issue thus far in your career are you the most satisfied with? And in Generation X?

Most of my best work remains unpublished, including a character called Hotwire :Co created with Warren

Animal Man with Jaime Delano was a blast and I'm very pleased with a story I did with Ian Edgington for the X-Men 2099 annual. They were Ron Lim's characters and now we've had Ron guest on Gen X!

I think on Gen X the best is yet to come.

I've noticed a lot of artists have little "trademarks" in their art, like a character that consistantly cameos or a certain animal. Do you have anything you consider trademarks in your comics?

Uh well there's a blood hound dog that's been killed in several comics I've drawn... but that's just weird coincidence rather than a deliberate signature or something... he get's splurged by a truck in the first Animal Man I did, roasted for a meal in Frontier, and he's had another couple of sticky ends too.

In the up-coming issues of Generation X, what're you looking forward to the most?

Heh... nice try!

Though I can tell you that I'm looking forward to when Emma decides xxxxx xxxxxxx sean xx xxx xxx xxxx a big xxxx xx xxxx... unfortuneately her xxxxx xxxxx xxx and they have to xxxx xxx xxx  xxx!!!

Actually I have very little idea what's coming up... plots and ideas are revised right up until I draw them... sometimes after!

How much do the writers keep you in on the story-telling process?

Not much!

By the time I'm involved it's all sewn up and continuity checked... X-books are very complicated planes to fly... not like a regular comic where you can jump in to the pilot's seat and do a few stunts.

Who's your favorite Gen X character?

Actually they all take turns. Skin right now. Jube's alot of fun. Great mad body language, Monet's beautiful, and Chamber's nice and broody.

I'm still not sure about Husk yet, but she's got a solo issue coming up that I think will help me to get a better handle on her.