Madureira: You're an S.O.B[laughs] I like their work equally. If you and I didn't grow up together...

Wizard: Speaking of which Mr. Public Relations, where did you grow up?

Madureira: [Laughs] I grew up in New York City and still live there.

Wizard: You live in New York City? I thought you lived on Long Island.

Madureira: That's boring, so I tell people I live in the city.[Laughs]

Wizard: You're 23; why would you live in th suburbs?

Madureira: I don't know. That's why I'm moving to the West Coast.

Wizard: Why the West? They have earthquakes there.

Madureira: Battle Chasers is being produced at Wildstorm, so I want to be closer to the people I'm working with.

Wizard: What's your dream project?

Madureira: To have Battle Chasers become a Square video game, by the guys that made Final Fantasy VII.

Wizard: Battle Chasers sounds a lot like Final Fantasy. Did you steal the concept from that video game?

Madureira: Any similarities are based on the fact that there are tons of RPGs [roleplaying games] that have future and fantasy melded together. Final Fantasy is the most popular one, so people assume it's a rip. I'm influenced by it, that's all.

Wizard: You're a video game fanatic, huh?

Madureira: I don't get to play as much as I should.

Wizard: What's your favorite game?

Madureira: I can't stop playing Ultima online. It's [Wildstom publisher] Jim Lee's fault. He calls me at like 4 a.m and makes me play with him.

Wizard: I'm not going to take that last quote out of context.[Laughs]

Madureira: Ah, heck, run it.[Laughs]

Wizard: At 4 a.m, what's your favorite munchie?

Madureira: I've been eating Combos like a freak. Cheddar cheese, baby.

Wizard: I like the pretzel ones.

Madureira: The crackers are better.

Wizard: Pretzels. But anyway, speaking of food, where is the coolest McDonald's on earth?

Madureira: i know the one you're talking about. There's this really cool McDonald's in New Hyde Park, N.Y., that was a mansion that got converted into a really nice McDonald's.

Wizard: Now what's the best pizza joint in New York City?

Madureira: I have fond memories of Ray's Pizza, right near Marvel on 28th Street.

Wizard: What was your favorite moment of interning at Marvel Comics?

Madureira: Did I have one? You were there.

Wizard: You got hired to draw at 16.

Madureira: Oh, yeah, that's a good one. [Laughs] I guess that changed my life.