“I created lots of characters in high school and college, and the first character…” — Kurt Busiek

Dracula, if he could see modern corporations, wouldn't like them much. He took care of his people, at least as he saw it. They had very little freedom, but they had a protector.

I tend to think that the best face of humanity is that we learn. We explore, we study, we think.

The most fascinating powers don't mean a thing if the guy's poorly motivated or dull, and the most generic powers won't hurt a well-motivated character. Personality and motivation are what make Magneto, Magneto and not Cosmic Boy. The powers work for him, but it's his motivation that makes him the character he is.

When you have a novel set in a fictional history, you still should get your history right.