Q&A with Brian Wood
This month will see the release of two new comics from Brian Wood, creator of Demo, the Couriers and Channel Zero, as both DMZ #1 and LOCAL #1 hit comics stands. Brian was kind enough to answer several questions about both books, his career and anything else we threw at him.
JK: Nov. 9, 2005 is going to be a pretty big day for you, as both LOCAL (by Oni Press) and DMZ (by Vertigo) hit stores. Do you have any big plans, or will it be business as usual?
Brian: On that day itself, I'll probably be home in my office working, to be honest. The following day, the 10th, I'm doing an online chat on CBR and the night after that, a signing event/release party at Rocketship, that new comic shop in Brooklyn. The 12th I'll be at Riot! in Pennsylvania signing books. So, a busy weekend, for sure.
JK: What will it mean for you personally, finally seeing both books on store racks?
Brian: Well, it feels good, obviously. DMZ is a long time coming, especially. That book’s idea has existed in my notebooks for years now. People that have spent time on my website and old forum might remember images I posted from it back when I was calling it WARTIME. So it's satisfying to finally see it realized. At Vertigo, no less, a monthly ongoing project.
LOCAL is exciting as well, but a little more stressful, too. DMZ is one of those high-concept slam dunks that, as a creator, I don't have to worry about as much, in terms of order numbers and marketing, etc.LOCAL is a little different. Sure, it’s coming on the back of Demo, which was a success any way you cared to look at it, but ANY indy black and white book needs a lot of care and attention. I can safely say that we gave LOCAL a push far, far beyond what Demo got, and the numbers so far are fantastic. But that battle never ends.
And LOCAL's been really satisfying for me, in terms of pushing that "creative envelope." I'm spending a lot of time thinking about storytelling and structure, taking a lot of chances, and trying to apply the things that made Demo work, but better, and also to correct what wasn't working so well with Demo. As much as I love Demo, I think my writing on LOCAL is a cut above.
JK: Was it by design that both books are dropping on the same day, or did things just work out that way?
Brian: DMZ had that ship date initially, and I asked Oni if they could adjust theirs so I could have a release party at Rocketship. I don't think they'll come out on the same day every month.
Editor’s Note: After this interview was finished, Brian posted on his blog that LOCAL #1 would be delayed a week "due to some internal snafu with the distributor." Both Rocketship and Riot! will have copies of LOCAL this week, however, for the signing events Brian referenced.
JK: Readers of your blog probably have a pretty good idea of your political leanings. Do they come across in DMZ? Brian: I actually get hate mail for a book that hasn't even shipped yet! Yeah, people read my blog, and they also read Channel Zero and think they know what DMZ is going to be like. I don't even bother trying to correct them. DMZ is not an overtly political book in the way CZ is. Also, I hate to have to point out to people, CZ is a nine-year-old book. I like to think I've progressed as a creator in nine years!
The war in DMZ isn't a battle between the right and left, the Democrats vs. the Republicans, red vs. blue. If it's anything neatly summed up, it’s extremists vs. extremists, with the rest of us caught in the middle. But by and large, DMZ is a book more about the civilians caught in the war zone than the politics, so if anyone is worried about being preached to, they can relax.
JK: I’ve seen a few reviews of DMZ that reference your work on Channel Zero.
Brian: The comparisons are unavoidable, especially on a surface level. New York City, future conflict, some degree of social/political content. I am also taking an art role in this, doing covers and some of interior art, and I think that's where a lot of the comparisons are coming from.
JK: What can you tell us about Riccardo Burchielli, the artist on DMZ? Did you find him, or did your editor?
Brian: It's kind of funny, I wish I knew more about him! My editor met him on one of his trips to Europe for a show, and once his stuff was suggested as a possible DMZ artist, the discussion ended. He was the guy. What struck me was his great blend of classic European style comics with some of the best elements of manga brought in, mostly evident in the action scenes.
I know he's around 30, he's in a band, and draws really fucking fast.
JK: Jumping now to LOCAL, how would you describe it to anyone who hasn’t read Demo?Brian: Hard to describe in anything other than very general terms, since these are all single issue stories spanning all genres. I usually say something like, “It’s a series of short stories, all set in actual small towns and cities across North America, dealing with issues of identity, belonging, and ownership through the eyes of the local residents.”
JK: The whole concept of LOCAL sounds like the ideal map for a kick-ass road trip. Have you been to all the places that you’re featuring in the series, or do you plan to hit any of them for research purposes?
Brian: I've been to a few, as Ryan has as well. But we can't have been to all of them, so I've enlisted people to help out, typically people I know who wrote in as readers of Demo, to take reference pictures, describe certain things, even read the scripts to check for any glaring errors I may have made. Sean Kennedy, an indy DJ in Richmond, has really gone above and beyond in terms of helping on Local #3, as well as the staff of Richmond's Velocity Comics.
I would love to be able to do a tour of all these cities in support of the book.
JK: Speaking of location, you recently returned to Brooklyn after living in San Francisco. How did the move go?
Brian: You mean aside from moving four cats on a plane? It was a breeze.
The most valuable thing I took away from my 18 months on the West Coast is confirmation that I belong in the northeast. SF is a very pretty place, and I have some good friends out there, but it is absolutely NOT a place for me.
JK: Does your physical location influence your work? Now that you're "home," do you think the tone of LOCAL will change?
Brian: Being back in New York will affect DMZ more than anything else. I can go out and location scout, shoot tricky reference photos for Riccardo, and just soak up the vibe in general. I was actually pretty worried about pulling off DMZ while living so far away.
JK: You’ve created “work blogs” for both DMZ and LOCAL, which has allowed you to post your work and get feedback. You’re also active on The Engine message board. Does the capability to get instant feedback, almost on a page-by-page basis from fans, fellow creators, etc. impact how you work or what makes it into the final book? How does it help (besides the promotional aspect)? Brian: Unless the feedback is massive and extreme, or from close friends I trust 100 percent, I don't let it affect my work. I get a very clear idea in my head of how I want my books to be, and I stick by it. The day I start adjusting my work, on a page-by-page basis like you said, based on comments from strangers on a message board is the day I should probably quit comics. You can't please everyone, so why get all messed up in the head over it?
Even if a project of mine tanks, I can sleep at night knowing that I stuck to my guns and did my best.
JK: What happened to Tourist?
Brian: Nothing very dramatic. The project is complete; we just need a new publisher. We should have that worked out soon enough.
JK: Will we see another Couriers graphic novel anytime soon?
Brian: Rob G and I are taking an indefinite break. I have one more Couriers story in me. Maybe we'll trot it out when he and I are old and gray and destitute, and need a little bit of extra cash to buy our cans of cat food for dinner.
JK: What can you tell us about your upcoming title SUPERMARKET?Brian: SUPERMARKET will fit that Couriers-shaped hole in your lives. Wise-ass, over the top action adventure all the way.
JK: You do a lot of design work outside of comics, for Nike, Rockstar Games, etc. What have you been working on lately?
Brian: These days it's all comics. I do the odd little job, usually logo and corporate identity work, maybe a CD package, but DMZ and LOCAL keep me plenty busy.
JK: As far as your body of work goes, you’ve done it all – writer, artist, designer – and you’ve worked with a wide range of publishers, from small press to Marvel and DC. What’s been the high point of it all?
Brian: THE high point? Only one? That's a really tough call. I had a blast doing those Global Frequency covers, but I couldn't put that up against an experience like writing Demo on equal terms. The experience of doing LOCAL with Ryan Kelly and Oni Press has been incredible - total freedom and more support that I would even have had the balls to ask for. I would rank LOCAL and Demo up there as the highest point, as they are personal, creative projects that I've been able to do on my own terms and enjoy a lot of success.
For more information on Brian Wood, DMZ and Local, check out:
posted by JK Parkin @ 8:58 PM
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