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Live
On-Line Chat With Matt Wagner |
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<Matt_W> Mike, that you ,baby? <Kev> hey Matt! <Mike_H> It's me! <Matt_W> Hey, Kev. Howdy all. Welcome to our second attempt at this. <Allazar> Good Evening, sirrah! <Mike_H> Geez, unmoderated. Notice the pause as everyone thinks of questions... <Matt_W> We thought the last time was plodding with the moderater, so this time its free form. I wanna start with a question from our host, Kevin. <Kev> It seems we have a smaller, but more intense group here. <Matt_W> Super. <Mike_H> Don't point, Kev. <Kev> Okay ...Matt: You've recently finished about 3 years of work on a highly personal project. How did you feel coming to the end of the second part of your mythologized autobiography? <Matt_W> I'm just now entering the post-pardem. Partly because I keep myself busy and partly because I have a family. <Matt_W> But I was ready for THE HERO DEFINED to end. It had reached its natural conclusions. The time is now simmering until THE HERO DENIED. <Kev> cool. In the first Mage series, THE HERO DISCOVERED, Kevin Matchstick discovers he is a hero. In the second series, THE HERO DEFINED, what is it that DEFINES him? <Matt_W> He's more defined by what he learns that he's NOT. The Pendragon identity may or may not have been real. The confort of his true power, the bat, is gone and he now perceives the vast potential that he didn't recognize before. <Matt_W> There's more to his life and his purpose that just beatin' up on monsters. In fact, once this is revealed (spelled out for the stubborn meathead) he finds that monster fighting is almost beneath him. <Matt_W> The mysterious threat of THE PALE INCANTER turns out to be a menace that he vanquished quite easily once he first discovered the bat. "I thought you were past ""Gracklelfints". <Matt_W> Let's open it up. Questions? <PI-BradCollins> Matt: does The Bat symbolise Grendel? <Matt_W> PI, the bat symbolizes aggressive power and I suppose that could relate to Grendel in my "real world". <Matt_W> Mike? <Mike_H> Mage is based on old myths. what are some of our present-day myths? <Matt_W> MAGE. <Matt_W> Ha. <eric-julien> heh <Mike_H> Okay, other than that. <Matt_W> That's the point. The only way I can absorb old myths is to make them relate to my here and now. <Matt_W> But new myths...well, to quote Homer Simpson "I'm not normally a religious man, but now I look to the skies and pray, Help me Superman!" <Mike_H> Fair enough. Next: did you have to pay everyone likeness rights? <Matt_W> Likeness rights...yeah. Funny guy. <Mike_H> Third (and final): was Garth based on your readership? <Matt_W> Garth was a composite of sycophants that I've known. One in particular that no one would recgonize. <Matchstick> ? How tightly plotted is the Mage Trilogy? Was the second part as you pictured it in 1986 when you finished Mage 1? <Matt_W> Plot for MAGE III? I have no fucking clue. <Matt_W> This is a journey for me. I use no tight plots or even lay-outs. I sit down with blank pages and draw. <eric-julien> Hi Matt...curious about how Sean Konot letters each issue... <Matt_W> By hand. No computers. <eric-julien> do you complete a script for him, or just rough writing guidelines? <eric-julien> or is it on the art? <Matt_W> No,no. The words are mine. He gets a a script and the art. Letters direct. <eric-julien> sorry...I'm rushing...poorly phrased <Tujiro> didn't Kevin see his friends letting him down, alone, like a failure? <Tujiro> Just after trying to play god "resurrecting" Kirby and after taking the mantle of "Leader".... To me, it doesn't seem at all like defining (or finding) the true hero in himself <Matt_W> Again, the definition is via the negatives. He becomes the hero by reaching into a deeper well for the source of his power than he thought possible. Granted this new possibility is still fledgling, and he still uses the power aggressively, destructively. What he manages to do with this newfound capacity remains to be seen. <Matt_W> The first step of this is the forging of his bond with Magda. <Rich> Matt...earlier this evening, I had posed the question of what the black tidal wave was at the end of the new series. Was the black tidal wave the Umbra Sprite, and did Mirth get lost within it? I got a little confused at the end. <Matt_W> The wave is the Umbra. He'd just consuemed one of his own children and was drunk with the rush of power. <KevsLisa> You filled Mage 2 with plenty of imagery that insinuated sexual overtones. Was this purposeful or were fans just reading too much into it? <Matt_W> Absolutely purposeful. The hidden themes were from the Gilgamesh legend which a myth FULL of sexual overtone. The whole point to this stage of growing up is that, sooner or later, the boys club (or whatever you're safe haven clan is) has to break up in orderfor you to mature. In Kevin's case...he's gotta go live with a woman. <Tujiro> Matt, We have only seen Grendel Tales taking place after WarCHild, and some Hunter Rose Stories written by you, but, have you thought about letting somebody write something in between teh Hunter Rose days and the Post-War Child Ones? <Tujiro> Or maybe, doing yourself one , be it written or completely done by you <Tujiro> just like the one writen by Diana Schultz <Matt_W> Well, Diana Schutz recently convered the Stacy story in DEVIL CHILD. <Matt_W> The problem with expanding the other story-lines is that they're timing a little more crucial. People are always clammering for more Christine Spar stories but that <Matt_W> 's impossible as we saw nearly every minute she spent as "Grendel" . Same with Eppy Thatcher. Hunter and Prime have more open sotry-lines that offers more oppurtunity for expanding. Prime, especially. He lasts for centuries. <Tujiro> so, it's a matter of time..... <Matt_W> Which is a perfect segue to speak about the next GRENDEL project, PAST PRIME. This is an illustrated novel written by current not writer Greg Rucka and featuring b&w art by moi. Just finished, in fact. <Matt_W> The story covers the formation of the Prime/Susan Veraghen team hinted at in BATMAN/GRENDEL II. <PI-BradCollins> What's with the US $15 coverprice on Past Prime? Will there be a general release for the book? <Matt_W> General relase...you mean through bookstores? Yes. And considering that the last garden-variety paperback page-turner I bought was nearly $7, I don't find the price out of line. That one wasn't illustrated. Gotta pay me something while working on the fucking thing, y'know. <ramaya> hey matt <Matt_W> Shoot, man. <ramaya> how do I go about getting on the MAGE MOVIE production? <Matt_W> In what capacity? <ramaya> I'm a film student in LA, maybe a PA position <Matt_W> The film is set up at Spyglass Entertainment. If you're a film student, you know more than I about applying for such a position. I haven't a clue. <ramaya> first, are they planning on filming in LA? <Matt_W> No. New York. <Rich> Hi, Matt! Didn't mean to jump in earlier......I wanted to really just say thank you for being such a great inluence. Your body of work really brought a bunch of my own friends and fellow creators into comics <Matt_W> After meeting me years ago at a show, Rich now produces his own comic, TIMESLIP. <Rich> I unfortunately missed the first part of the chat and was curious to what the status on the film is. <Rich> Timespell <Rich> heh <Mike_H> D'oh! <Matt_W> Oops. My slip. <Rich> S'okay. On a funny note, Mage was GREAT for picking up chicks when I was in college. <Matt_W> Like I said...the film is set up at Spyglass, who did THE SIXTH SENSE. We just received the 1st draft script several weeks ago and it ROCKS! <Rich> I introduced more girls to your work who never saw comics before, and now they follow your work, and Gaiman. Good job, Matt. <Rich> Congrats! <Matt_W> Good segue to Rob Worley of COMICS2FILM at CBR. Rob? <Rob_Worley> Rich hogged my question...next. <Matt_W> Heh. <Matt_W> Kev had one? <Kev> You received some flack for what some perceived as the heroes in Mage 2 using a drug as a crutch to attain a mystical vision. How did you feel about this so close on the heels of general reader complaint letters? <Matt_W> Again, my complaints of OTHER people's complaints were that they were judging on a third, half, whatever of the story. <Matt_W> The joint...jesus, I couldn't believe that would upset people. <Matt_W> It was meant as a modern equivilent to the Magic Potion that bubble and roiled and seemed dagerous to consume. I mean, its not like the Trio became Magic Potheads after that ish. <Matt_W> Shows how fucking crazy our drug paranoia has become. <Matt_W> chris. Go, man. <pi-chris> Cool, Cool. How do you react to assertations that the Image MAGE reprints were overpriced? <Matt_W> Its what they cost, man. I efectively made NO money on those reprints. Some issues are still waiting to seel thru. <pi-chris> Are you going to put together a complete tpb <Matt_W> Just wanted to get them back into print so people didn't have to dig through back issu bins...something no adult should have to put up with. <Matt_W> Complete trade...eventually. Again, after sell thru. <pi-chris> Cool, thanks <Tujiro> What Rich said... Did you feel sometimes like Kevin? I mean, like the leader or representative to a given kind of comic creators, like Sim is, who seems to be "The god father of self publishing" <Matt_W> Within MY world. In the days covered in MAGE II, I was part of a moderate sized contingent of fledling comic creators. Of the group, only I was successful, both financially and critically, so in that sense, I was leader. But you notice Kevin's attempts to lead a larger group of his peers goes unfulfilled. <Matt_W> I had the magic money card. Get it? <Tujiro> related to comico's demise? <Matt_W> That's the bat exploding. Remember, when Comico filed for bancruptcy, I wasn't allowed to touch either MAGE or GRENDEL for several years. Bleak times for me... <KevsLisa> There is a scene in mage 2 depcting a battle between Kevin matchstick and the Dragon-Slayer. Rumor has it that it is based on an experience with Dave Sim (creator of Cerebus). Care to comment on this? <Matt_W> Ooooo...maybe. <KevsLisa> and? <Matt_W> Sims a complicated equation. I tried to get that across in the depiction. A hard-core partier ("Gimme all that juice") and cultural elitist, he's one of the funniest, meanest, most honest people I've ever met. <Matt_W> No, we didn't fist fight. <eric-julien> Sorry Matt...I'm going to try my earlier question again a little more coherently. Once you've completed the art on a given issue, do you type up a script for Sean Konot to letter or do you draft the script first, before putting pencil/pen to paper? In otherwords, what comes first, the chicken or the egg? <Matt_W> chicken, egg. Both. <Matt_W> I basically know what each character is saying as I'm drawing, but I don't script until the art is finished. Sean receives the finished script and the boards. <Matt_W> Next? <Matt_W> C'mon, Mikey, you're full of piss and opinions... <Allazar> So other than GRENDEL, what else is on the boards for you? <Matt_W> I'm making a pitch to DC to do a book-shelf Batman and Superman project (2) that would take up about a year or so of time. Plus, there's another GRENDEL, BW&R brewing... <Matt_W> Yay, Mike. Shoot, pal. <Mike_H> Do you think the industry should scrap most superheroes? <Matt_W> Hard to say. I certainly don't want to see the sense of fun and breakneck adventure stifled, but man there's a lot of bullshit published. <Mike_H> Do you think it might have something to do with the fact that they keep trying to make these characters more amture than they need to be? <Matt_W> I'm on DC's mailing list and they're putting out all these MILLENIUM editions of stuff. The first appearance of Robin, Jimmy Olsen, etc... I can understand. A millenium edition of GEN-13? <Matt_W> Gimme a break. <Mike_H> Sorry, it's hard for me to be so serious right now with this big grin on my face... <Matt_W> After awhile, it all just becomes a jumbled wash of spandex and flash. I end up recycling a huge part of the stack because nobody wants em. Can't give em to kids, libraries won't take em and retailors have enough already. <Mike_H> I know! The kids at work HATE comics! They all want Pokemon! <Matt_W> My kids love only Gon (so far as comics go). Dragonball Z is up and coming, though , I can tell. <Kev> Mike kinda opened the door on this, but it's kinda from the reverse angle: Alan Moore was interviewed and reminiscing about his work "Watchmen". He stated that there has been little work in the comics industry "that's reached as far, or attempted as much." Do you feel he has a point there? <Matt_W> Geez, that's blowin your own bugle, ain't it? <Mike_H> Be fair, Matt: Byrne's worse about JBNM. <Kev> heh...but ego aside...does he have a point about the general state? <Matt_W> A rather narrow view. Where's that leave Sandman, my stuff, or even Bone. Honestly... people buy their own press too fucking hard sometimes. <Matt_W> What about 300? Besides, I guessed the BIG SECRET of Watchmen only several issues into the run, so I wasn't as bowled over as some. <Guest96110> ohummm...thanks I was just wondering..how true to life is you relationship in MageII to your reale life wife? <Matt_W> HA! My relationship with "Magda" (my wife, Barbara) is, obviously explored in FAR greater detail in MAGE III. But that was the basic gist of our first encounter, her sister had been trying to set us up for years and then , POW, we fell like little tin soldiers. <Guest96110> lol thanks <Matt_W> The shot where Kevin wakes up and then peers over her shoulder in bed is actually based on a drawing I did of Barb asleep in my bed one morning. Still have it. <Matt_W> The touching shoes as well... <Mike_H> That's sweet. You almost make me envy married life. <Guest96110> just so you know.. <Guest96110> that whole bit got my girlfriend back into comoics...i was wearing the mage shirt when she met me <Kev> hey...with the right one it can be enviable... *S* <Tujiro> *lol* <Matt_W> No. Marriage is hard work. Its truly a heroic endeavor. But all great things come from tremendous effort. <Guest96110> true <Matt_W> Ditto, parenthood. <Matt_W> chris? Not another lettering question! <pi-chris> What's your stance on gay issues? The lettercol "controversy" over hercules came and went pretty quickly, with no real lasting effects that I could see. <Matt_W> I'm the biggest supporter of gay rights I know. Marriage, adoption, work benefits...all or it. Its just that that character wasn't gay. He also ate meat and smoked, but MAGE isn't about politics. <pi-chris> Well, your gay Grendel Khan at the end of Warchild seemed to have screwed up pretty royally from what I could see :) <pi-chris> post-warchild, if I have my history correct (which i might not) <Matt_W> What? Gays don't fuck up? <Mike_H> They do.. the ass (oh, God, I just had to say it.) <Matt_W> That had nothing to do with his sex preferences. <Matt_W> Mike, you bad boy. <pi-chris> Thanks, was wondering about your thoughts.... <Kev> oh now, that'll get the PC monitors flashing... *heh* <Kev> um...Politically Correct in this case, not Personal Computer... <Matt_W> I try to portray gays just like everyone else. Good, bad, whatever. Read my six years on SMT to get a bit more into that subject matter. <pi-chris> Matt- Just did in prep for the Interview. ;) <pi-chris> They were fantastic, of course. Much underrated. <David_Castle> Are you still in close contact will Joe Matt and Bernie Merault? If so how did they feel about your perhaps all too honest depiction of your relationship? Ever think about working together again? <Mike_H> Ahhhh... the question! <Matt_W> Honest from my one-sided perspective. I'm aware this is all subjective. I still call Joe on occasion. Bernie and I had a falling out, couple years back and haven't spoken, really, since. <Matt_W> Joe's just as pathetic as he portrays himself in PEEP SHOW. Maybe more so. <Mike_H> That's not possible! <Kev> As a side note...DETAILS magazine out this month features a two page comic by Joe.... <Kev> in which he is pathetic and broke...and doesn't have enough money for lunch... <Mike_H> Yes, and it's absolutely hilarious. Go read it, everyone. <Matt_W> Still living in the room he's rented at a boarding house for the last ten years. Rarely leave the apartment. Plays computerized chess up to three hours a day. <David_Castle> So we probably wont see a return of Joe and Kirby in the future? <Matt_W> Didn't say that. Still, its a different group of family and friends that affects my life these days. <Matt_W> Rich. Shoot. <Rich> Hey, Matt. This is obviously something of an inside joke, and we talked about it at Mid Ohio.. <Matt_W> Water boy? <Rich> But, does the Waterboy still drop you a line from time to time? <Rich> heheheh <Matt_W> Not at all. Rich is referring to a mentally challenged guy who used to be fucking OBSESSSSSSED with Edsel. Used to commision young artists to do endless drawings of Kevin and Edesel, always locked in an underwater embrace (a very SPECIFIC fantasy) and then would send me STACKS of hand-colored xeroxes of same. <pi-chris> hahaha <Kev> yikes <Mike_H> Good lord. And I thought I was obsessed... <Tujiro> *lol* <Matt_W> Matchstick. You're up. <Matchstick> Any plans to finish the arealist? <Matt_W> Eventually. I suppose. I started the Aerialist when Comico was in the shitter and my other creations were denied to me. Since then, MAGE and GRENDEL have (gratefully) eclipsed my time again. <Matt_W> Heads up, everyone. I've gotta sign off in 7 or 8 min. <eric-julien> How do you feel about the retailers this time around? How was their support of Mage? <Matt_W> Retailors are a confused and beseiged lot. They supported MAGE fairly well, but I didn't always deliver on time. <Matt_W> Do my best... <Tujiro> Grendel's an examination of responding to agression with agression, Mage is somewaht an autobiography. One is intense and shoul be careful thought and written, the other is an inner reflecton and a "zen process". <Tujiro> Which of them is the hardest to work on, or more demanding? Which one is easier for you to write/draw? <Matt_W> Apples and orages. With GRENDEL, I've got to where the grim hat--which is not the totality of how I see the world (Libra) but MAGE is more baring and exacting of the soul <Matt_W> Blood and guts can get ya down, but personal truths can as well. Still, both can envigorate as well. <Matt_W> I know, that's wishy-washy answer (Libra). <Tujiro> true : D <Matt_W> Allazar. And then, Kev. I think that's all we have time for. <Allazar> Will you do some more Jay & Silent Bob--good work, speaking bluntly... <Kev> no double entendre there... *S* <Allazar> heh <Matt_W> HA! Yeah, people gave me shit for putting that joint in MAGE but everybody loves that I drew a 2-pg spread of one for the Smith story. Go figger. <Allazar> Too Cool! <Mitch_K> that is amusing <Allazar> I didn't mind the "j"... <Matt_W> No. The Jay and Bob tale was a one-off. A special favor to my freinds at the (then-flegling) Oni Press. Quick plug, I just did a cover for them--1st ish of Guy Davis' creator-owned character, The Marquis. Highly recommended. <Allazar> Thanx! <Matt_W> Truthfully, I love pot. There, I said it. <Rich> My hero. <Tujiro> XDDDDDD <Allazar> YEAH! <Kev> Amen! heh! Matt..looking ahead....Is there any artistic medium or style that you haven’t had a chance to explore that you’d like to use in the future? Other than film, that is? <Mitch_K> good question! <Matt_W> No. Comics are my thing. Plus, I'm top of my field in comics. I'd have to start over as a grunt in any other field. Still, the challenges of doing the illustrated novel were interesting. I kept wanting to put in to many panels...reactions shots, etc. <Matt_W> Well, thanks for coming everyone. I truly love this sort of interchange with readers and such. <Mike_H> Well, Matt, it's been an absolute blast! Thanks for spending this time with us. I go now to beat John T. for not showing up.... <eric-julien> Thanks very much! <Tujiro> Thanks for coming Matt!! : D <Rob_Worley> Thank YOU Matt! <David_Castle> Thanks for you Time Matt!!! <Matt_W> Now, I'm off to have dinner with some pals. Bob Schreck's in town and we're dinin' on that DC plastic! <Mitch_K> what a treat...thanks Matt <Allazar> Thanks, Matt! And Thank you, Kev! <David_Castle> Keep it coming we love ya!!! <Kev> Thanks for dropping in Matt! Everyone I want to thank Rob also for helping spread the word! <Rich> Spend DC money to high heaven! <Rob_Worley> My pleasure. <Matt_W> Again, thanks to Kevin and Lisa for all their wonderful support. <pi-chris> Thanks matt, I'll be in touch. And say hi to bob for us all. He's going to give all of us aspiring writers jobs at DC one day ;) <Rich> My best to Alison Gil over at DC if you see her. Used to know her from my days doing seps with Marvel. <Matt_W> G'night all! |
