AGAINST THE GRAIN 2: LOOKING AHEAD [Archive]

View Full Version : AGAINST THE GRAIN 2: LOOKING AHEAD

MattBrady

09-19-2006, 07:40 AM

<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/FA_Cho.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_CHO.jpg" border="0" align="right"></a>by Rick Remender

I’m going to alternate between writing articles (i.e. self-indulgent pontification) and previews of upcoming books (i.e. self-promotion whoring) and this week brings us to previews. I’ll be giving you the exclusive first look at my new series XXXombies as well as pages from Classic Battlestar Galactica, Fear Agent #8, as well as upcoming Tales of the Fear Agent shorts.

One of the new projects I’ll be writing in 2007 is XXXombies, an ongoing book from Image Comics co-plotted and drawn by Tony Moore and Kieron Dwyer. You remember Kieron and Tony, they were the artists nominated for Eisners for their work on the two books that launched the current zombie trend in comics - The Walking Dead and Remains. You might also remember they rule most of the Earth as tyrants of art and rock and roll. XXXombies will be told in four issue arcs with writing and art alternating between Tony, Kieron and I. The first arc, entitled “Crotch Rot,” will be plotted by the three of us with pencils, inks and colors by Kieron Dwyer and scripts by me. Each issue will sport all new covers by Tony Moore and Kieron Dwyer.

I’ve been explaining the series as Boogie Nights of the Living Dead. Here’s the basic premise - It’s 1976, overnight the fledgling pornography industry has grown into one of the largest markets in the world. In order to make a dozen films at once, producer Wong Hung Low and actor Jeremy Ronald have gathered the top stars of adult film in a secluded San Fernando Valley warehouse for an intensive week of shoots. However, when the swollen members of this entourage emerge they are horrified to discover that a Zombie plague has overrun the city of angels. Wong immediately sets out on the greatest money making scheme of all time-- rounding up zombified “A” list movie stars for use in his flesh films… and more.

Since talking to myself about the book gets real boring I caught up with co-creator and mouth breather, Tony Moore for a quick Q and A-

Rick: Tony, what is it you most want readers to get from XXXombies?

Tony: Enjoyment. This is a story in a slightly different vein than the other zombie stuff that's had my name on it. It's grotesque and horrific, sure, but there's a much stronger tongue-in-cheek aspect to this than is found in something like say, The Walking Dead. If The Walking Dead is comics' love letter to Romero's Night of the Living Dead series, I'd say this is more akin to Russo's Return of the Living Dead series. That's not to say we're completely playing by Russo's "zombie rules" or anything, but the overall mood seems more in tune with that camp of flicks.

Rick: Yeah, I’m really excited about being able to have some fun with this book. The B-movie aspect is really the pleasure of it for me... well, that and seeing you and Kieron Draw hot ‘70s porn stars fighting zombies. As well as co-plots on the first arc you’re doing cover art as well, what is the theme for the covers you'll be doing?

Tony: Kieron and I are both doing send-ups to the striking graphic design of ‘70s porno posters. Seems like the design sense of even the most base crap back then had a pretty impressive amount of skill and panache. Looking at these posters, I was astounded at the amazing quality and visual sense these things had. So, yeah, basically my covers will all be patterned straight off some of my favorite porno poster designs from the ‘70s.

Rick: As we’ve touched on above we’re both eager to get into the tongue and cheek elements of this story as much if not more so than the horror. What Zombie flicks inspire you the most and what part of the XXXombie story we’ve cooked up is the most fun for you?

Tony: For sheer creep-out factor and visual sense, Lucio Fulci's Zombie, Romero's Day of the Dead, and Savini's Night of the Living Dead remake have the strongest hooks to me. That said, Cemetery Man and Peter Jackson's Brain Dead/Dead Alive are both awesome enjoyable zombie romps that revel in the absurd as well as the horrific. There's a ton of other great ones, but I'd say those are my top favorites.

Rick: What do you think Kieron Dwyer brings to the page that makes him a stronger choice for this series? As a zombie drawing machine yourself what did you think of Kieron's work on Remains?

Tony: Kieron's a master of all things comics. He's faster and better in general than I am, I believe. And with The Exterminators and such on my plate, I don't have the time to do this thing the artistic justice it deserves, which Kieron can deliver. I thought Kieron's stuff on Remains was great. No offense to Niles, whose work I hadn't read before Remains, but I picked it up for Kieron's art. I've bought every book Kieron's done since I first picked up LCD, from the horribly written (kidding?) Black Heart Billy and Night Mary to the horribly inked (kidding, again) Avengers and everything in between. He's truly inspiring when he's working his magic on the page. From a standpoint of artistic respect, I'm honored to have my name even associated with his on this project.

Rick: We always hurt the ones we love. It’s a good thing I have absolutely no respect for you as a human or those comments might have hurt my sensitive and temperamental artist ego. Despite the fact that neither of you graduated high school or learned how to floss your mouth-teeth it’s indisputable that you and Kieron were the artists responsible for the Zombie revolution that spread like herpes across this poor unsuspecting industry, why do you want to come back and pollute the genre further?

Tony: Because it's fun? Hell, I don't know why I draw comics at all, so "fun" sounds like as good a reason as any, I guess. Sure ain't the money, I can tell you that. Hopefully I'll have a few more good horror stories in me before I hang it up.

Rick: Yes, “fun”… very insightful. So with that I give you Tony and Kieron’s covers for issue #1—

<center><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/Xxxombieslogo.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_XXXOMBIES_01_logotest.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/XxxombiesKD.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_xxx-ddd-01c-KD.jpg" hspace="3" border="0"></a></center>

Now onto another project created by Tony and I - Fear Agent. Current artist and Russ Manning award winner, Jerome Opena is turning in pages that are nothing shy of stellar. In issue #8 we are given a taste of Heath’s origin and a glimpse of what happened on Earth ten years ago that turned him into such a bitter old cuss. Have a look—

<center><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/FA08_01.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_FA08_pg01.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/FA08_02.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_FA08_pg02.jpg" hspace="3" border="0"></a>
<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/FA08_03.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_FA08_pg03.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/FA08_04.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_FA08_pg04.jpg" hspace="3" border="0"></a></center>

Next up we have the exclusive look at the first four pages from Battlestar Galactica Classic. I couldn’t be having more fun writing a comic and the artwork by Carlos Rafael and Covers by Dave Dorman are coming out gorgeous. The story breakdown-- Thought dead, left behind by Galactica and stranded on a planet over run by Cylons, Starbuck and Boomer must make a harrowing journey into the heart of a Cylon strong hold in hopes of stealing a ship large enough to carry themselves and the planets remaining human population and return to Galactica... if they can find it. Take a peek –

<center><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/Classicbsg_01.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_classic%20bsg1%20p1.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/Classicbsg_02.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_classic%20bsg1%20p2.jpg" hspace="3" border="0"></a>
<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/Classicbsg_03.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_classic%20bsg1%20p3.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/Classicbsg_04.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_classic%20bsg1%20p4.jpg" hspace="3" border="0"></a></center>

And finally - also coming up in issues 8-10 we have more Tales of the Feat Agent written by Hilary Barta, Ivan Brandon, and Mark Rickettes. Here is a taste of what’s coming up by artists Paul Renaud, Rafael Albuquerque, Micah Farritor and a teaser image from an upcoming one-shot by artist Michael Cho—

<center><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/Renaud02.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_renaud2.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/Renaud03.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_renaud%203.jpg" hspace="3" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/Renaud04.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_Renaud4.jpg" border="0"></a>

<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/FA_rafael_01.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_FA_rafael_al_page_01.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/FA_rafael_02.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_FA_rafael_al_page_02.jpg" hspace="3" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/FA_rafael_03.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_FA_rafael_al_page_03.jpg" border="0"></a>

<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/Micah01.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_Micah1.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/Micah02.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/02/t_Micah2.jpg" hspace="3" border="0"></a></center>

Rick Remender has creative ADD. His accomplishments include writing and/or drawing numerous creator-owned comics including, Strange Girl, Black Heart Billy, Fear Agent, Sea of Red, Night Mary and Doll and Creature. His other comics credits include his current gig, penciling Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan's Last Christmas. He also penciled Bruce Campbell's Man with the Screaming Brain and numerous issues of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He spent a few years inking books like The Avengers and The Terminator comics. Currently he is writing the Classic Battlestar Galactica comics for Dynamite as well as a "What-If?" project for Marvel.

PreCrisisDC

09-19-2006, 08:54 AM

Rick can always be counted on for a great read--looking forward to all of these!

Spaz_Monkey

09-19-2006, 09:11 AM

Remender givin some love to Savini's NOTLD remake? Sweet! I though I was the only one who loved that movie!

Street Carp

09-19-2006, 10:07 AM

Now that's not fair. The classic Battlestar comic has better art than the new series, when, in reality, we all know the new show is SO much better. :confused:

(ian)

09-19-2006, 10:18 AM

Now that's not fair. The classic Battlestar comic has better art than the new series, when, in reality, we all know the new show is SO much better. ...Actually, the complaint I have - and Rick's out there lurking, so he needs to read this - is that Starbuck would *never* refer to Adama by his name, especially on duty. "Commander" is always how he addressed him. Ditto for Tigh's redressing of Starbuck; where he refers to him as "Adama", that should have read "Commander".

Believe it or not, it's these little touches of dialog nuance that separate dead-on adaptations from hack jobs. If you want a better example, check out that dismal Star Trek TNG miniseries that DC did before they did the regular series. Mike Carlin didn't have a clue as to how Picard and the rest of the crew talked, so the dialog and attitudes are totally off...

Regicidal

09-19-2006, 10:26 AM

Nice cover homages, Deep Throat and Debbie Does Dallas.

I'm a zombie freak so I'll definitely be getting this.

Kody

09-19-2006, 10:28 AM

Very nice lineup, I'm particularly interested in Rafael's work.

Bishop37

09-19-2006, 10:47 AM

But...

Starbuck would never call the Commander by his first name, and Apollo's a leftie – his holster should be on his other leg.

It seems the classic comic is the reverse of the GINO one, in that the figure work is good but the tech illustration isn't up to the same standard.

Still, I'm parking and riding for this one.

Peter Noble (co-owner www.cylon.org)

Steve Bryant

09-19-2006, 11:02 AM

As usual, it looks to be another great batch of books from RR.

Good stuff!

--Hell, I mean GREAT STUFF!

--Steve

Gransazer

09-19-2006, 11:05 AM

Not interested at all in Battlestar. The other stuff, however, looks fantastic. Fear Agent's already on my pull list (Buy this book!). Looks like I'll have to add XXXombies, too.

How can you pass up a book with an arc called "Crotch Rot"? It's like Remender writes these things especially for me. Creepy.;)

Reliant

09-19-2006, 11:22 AM

Now that's not fair. The classic Battlestar comic has better art than the new series, when, in reality, we all know the new show is SO much better.

That's a matter of opinion and taste, of course--there are people that would strongly disagree with that, but there are also some (like myself) like both shows equally but for different reasons.

Even so, I was sold on the Classic Galactica book from day one, but these preview pages have only clinched it for me...

remender73

09-19-2006, 02:15 PM

...Actually, the complaint I have - and Rick's out there lurking, so he needs to read this - is that Starbuck would *never* refer to Adama by his name, especially on duty. "Commander" is always how he addressed him. Ditto for Tigh's redressing of Starbuck; where he refers to him as "Adama", that should have read "Commander".

The experts at Universal signed off on this. Sorry this type of huge and unforgivable hiccup has hindered your enjoyment of the four page preview.

Seriously, I also have Starbuck drink his latte with three shots of espresso not two. I'm just an anarchist at heart and love to play with the status quo. Oh, and my Adama steps with his left foot first not his right as we all saw in episode #8b2.

*Takes a pull from his inhaler and pushes his glasses up-- glaven!* :)

All joking aside, I've rewatched these classic episodes in tedium to get this ____ down right-- If you want to contact Dynamite Comics and see if they need someone who can scrutinize the books even further than myself, Universal and Dynamite's editorial staff, PM me and I'll see if they want to get you involved.

Thanks for taking the time to help out-

RedSquirrel

09-19-2006, 02:30 PM

Nice cover homages, Deep Throat and Debbie Does Dallas.

I'm a zombie freak so I'll definitely be getting this.
Zombie freak and porno historian.

Bishop37

09-19-2006, 03:23 PM

The experts at Universal signed off on this.

LMAO!

That's a good one.

Future Boy

09-19-2006, 04:19 PM

way to go, Rick, great column. I'm a huge fan of you and Kieron Dwyer's work on Sea of Red, and Tony Moore's work on Exterminators and Walking Dead, so I'm sure I'll love this new series.

JLAJRC

09-19-2006, 07:37 PM

Zombies and Porn? I'm so getting this.

I read Fear Agent and the biggest complaint I have is the lack of a recap page. So much stuff happens in it that I have a hard time following sometimes.

remender73

09-19-2006, 08:07 PM

Zombies and Porn? I'm so getting this.

I read Fear Agent and the biggest complaint I have is the lack of a recap page. So much stuff happens in it that I have a hard time following sometimes.

I'll see what I can do. The trouble is I'm only one guy doing all this stuff on thes ebooks. So it's usually a time factor. It's a fine idea and I will try.

DeadpoolFX

09-19-2006, 09:04 PM

XXXombies looks great, who would have thought to mix zombies and porn?

EMeadow

09-19-2006, 10:14 PM

XXXombies looks great, who would have thought to mix zombies and porn?

I swear its gonna go down as one of the greatest combos ever. Never would have thought you could do this.

EMeadow

09-19-2006, 10:16 PM

Kirkman will be crying he didn't come up with Zombie John Holmes believe me.

UgoMilani

09-20-2006, 12:01 AM

That's all so friggen' awesome!

And
porn+Zombies? Brilliant!

idkidd

09-20-2006, 10:59 AM

IvanBrandon

09-20-2006, 07:14 PM

Mr. Remender,

No offense to the replacement artist(s) meant but I felt really burned/disappointed when Tony's lateness threw off the schedule of Fear Agent and then both he and Cory Walker disappeared from the book.

tony hasn't "disappeared" from the book. he was going to alternate arcs with cory, cory left the book and was replaced by jerome opena who is mindblowingly amazing and a suitable replacement, i reckon, for just about anyone in the biz. tony is still on the book but is rotating with jerome rather than cory.

idkidd

09-21-2006, 01:10 PM

tony is still on the book but is rotating with jerome rather than cory.

Oh, I didn't realize. So he is going to be doing "The Exterminators", alternate arcs of "Fear Agent" and alternate arcs of "XXXombies" as well"? I realize sales on "Exterminators" aren't that great but if that book continues to be published for any length of time, this sounds like a pretty ambitious workload.

remender73

09-21-2006, 03:45 PM

Mr. Remender,

No offense to the replacement artist(s) meant but I felt really burned/disappointed when Tony's lateness threw off the schedule of Fear Agent and then both he and Cory Walker disappeared from the book. I realize Cory has nothing to do with this new book but what is different this time in regards to Mr. Moore's involvment?

Also, you could have ended your response to the Battlestar fan with "the powers at Universal signed off and I hope it's not that big of deal that you won't give the book a try". The snarkiness and sarcasm that followed was a real turn off to me and probably even more so to the poster (whom I assume is the kind of die hard fan the book is going to need to attract and retain to survive).

Ivan covered Fear Agent, Tony returns on the next arc. Sorry hte lateness threw you off, we were all doing everything we could to get the book out while working paying jobs at the same time. Not your problem, I know, but the facts. We all work 14 hours a day 7 days a week so it's not a matter of lazy creators.

Sorry you found me rude to the Battlestar guys, I was really just being goofy but :) doesn't help get goofy across on the internets. I know how that stuff can be minread in type.

Best-

Shoeface

11-20-2006, 03:33 PM

XXXombies sounds like the single greatest comic book idea ever. I seriously can't fuc<aa>king wait for this one. Moore and Dwyer are both wonderful artists too, so I can't see how it could possibly go wrong.

Fear Agent is also still going strong, and I'm looking forward to new Dark Horse series. All I need to do now is get the trades of Sea of Red, Doll and Creature and Strange Girl and my Remender collection will be almost complete.

One question about the XXXobmies creative team: Will Rick be doing any art chores while Tony or Kieron write?