DEMO: WOOD & CLOONAN TALK, 12 ISSUES LATER

[MattBrady]

by Chris Arrant

Over the course of 12 issues, Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan have created a dozen stories about the life and consequences of having unusual powers. No capes, costumes or utility belts are in sight here, however; DEMO is about people with superpowers, not superpowers who happen to be people.

With each issue readers were given a solid story with action, drama, comedy and more. If you’re one for classifications, each issue of DEMO is a graphic novel in its own right. In an industry of issues-spanning storyarcs and “decompressed” storytelling, Brian & Becky offer you a series of books where any issue can be your first, but definitely won’t be your last.

As the end of DEMO hit this month, Newsarama spoke with the writer & artist team to find out how it came to be, what are some stand-out moments, and what they thought of DEMO not just as creators, but as readers as well.

Newsarama: Has your conceptions of the 12 issue series gone through any changes as it progressed?

Brian Wood: In a huge way, yeah. I think some ideas and approaches changed as Becky and I became more of a team. Not to say we weren't before, but we began to work better, smoother, and easier after the first couple issues and we got a better idea of each other strengths. I began to let up on some of the creative decisions that I would normally make as a writer, and leave them up to Becky. I began to rely on her more and more to use her skills to help tell the stories.

Becky Cloonan: DEMO was constantly evolving as we worked on it, but for each issue my main goal never changed, that was to help tell a good story. I never knew what to expect with each issue, I was just drawing as it came.

NRAMA: Do you have any plans for future editions of DEMO, or re-teaming up on another project together?

BW: I don't have an plans for more Demo, and Becky is pretty booked up on other projects. I think if we wanted to, we could make time to work together again. We both want to.

BC: No plans for more DEMO, and right now Brian and I are taking a break from each other to work on other series. But who knows what will happen? Brian is definately a writer that I would team up with again!

NRAMA: Brian, can you tell us how the idea for DEMO came to you, whether it was the format or or the story concept first?

BW: I guess it was a mixture. I think I had the ideas for some of the stories first. They've been coming to me in bits and pieces over a few years, and I've been deliberately jotting them all down in one place. But I don't think it was until I envisioned the publishing model, based in part on Global Frequency (miniseries created & written by Warren Ellis, with covers by Brian), that all these bits and pieces came together in my mind. Much of what DEMO is, what makes it special, is how its packaged and presented.

NRAMA: Becky, how did Brian initially approach you about DEMO?

BC: We had already done one book together before, Jennie One. And after that book came out, he asked if I'd be interested in doing a longer series with him. It just seemed like the next logical step.

NRAMA: If you had to pick one issue, which one do you think is the best example of what DEMO is about?

BW: That's tough, to pick just one. I think if I had to pick just one, it would be #3, "Bad Blood." We meet the main character at this crisis point in her life, a major turning point, where her life is ready to veer off in a new direction. She's presented with this situation and during the course of the story, examines it, and herself, and makes a decision. Simply put, that's what DEMO is all about - the point where people have to address their lives and adjust, for themselves and on
their own terms.

BC: Hm, probably #1, that pretty much set the tone for the whole series. Although personally my favorite is #4, I had a lot of fun drawing that issue.

NRAMA: Becky, why was issue #4 so important to you?

BC: Well right off it was very challenging, there was a lot of action on each page that had to be shown clearly, and when I first got the script I wasn't sure how to approach it. But after I got rolling I had such a good time. Plus I was really able to relate with James and the decision he has to make.

NRAMA: How has working with AiT-PlanetLar on this book affected the way it turned out?

BW: They've been so supportive all along, it really nurtured the creative process. Nothing stifles the creative process more than editorial or corporate getting in the mix in a way thats not helpful or necessary. I know a little of that (understatement!) from clients I've had in my graphic design career. AIT understands that, and they were pretty hands off, creatively, except when we needed them to be.

BC: Working with AIT only made the book better. The production on each issue is top-notch, I remember the first time saw DEMO #1 in print, I almost fell over!! The paper quality is so nice, and the ink just jumps off the page. They also do a hell of a job promoting the book, and keeping it in stock! And if that wasn't enough, AIT gave us the freedom to let Brian and I experiment, and tell the story the way we wanted to.

NRAMA: One of the most prevalent questions since DEMO was first announced besides "when is the next issue coming out?" has been about the potential for a collected edition of DEMO. In the initial stages of DEMO you rebuffed the idea, instead trying to focus on the single issues. Now seems like a good time to go ahead and ask the question again... what are the possibilities of a collected edition for DEMO?

BW: I think that's a question for AIT. I think the possibilities are high, but as far as when, it's not up to me.

NRAMA: Wizard Magazine recently identified DEMO as 2004's "Indie of the Year". How has the reception for the book been for you so far?

BW: Its been really great. Sounds a little cliché, but its been so much better than we expected. We, meaning AIT, Becky, and I, all sorta went out on a limb with this series, and didn't really know exactly what sort of reaction to expect. On a personal level, I've never written anything like DEMO before. I didn't think I had the ability to touch so many people on such a personal level. The emails we've received have been astounding.

BC: It's been great! I don't know what I was expecting when I started, but the response to DEMO has been huge. And there were so many good books out this year, I honestly wasn't expecting the nod from Wizard. But hey, I'm not complaining!

NRAMA: Which issue was the hardest for you to do, and why?

BW: They all are to some degree. These are really difficult things to write because they are such a new sort of vibe for me, and they are on such an emotional level. Some go easier than others, and some just kill me. I think #6, "What You Wish For", was the hardest only because it was entirely out of my head and I was unable to draw on any experience from my own past to help. I guess it might seem easy to invent something from scratch, but with DEMO, its not. I needed to pull from life to make it real for me and believable in my own head.

BC: Probably #6 as well. There was just a lot I had to capture in such a small page count. If I could, I would have doubled the size of that issue, just to slow the pacing down. It was also difficult because I had just moved! [laughs]

NRAMA: Becky, in each issue you approached it with a different style to your art. How did you choose which direction to go, in terms of style, with each story?

BC: I just drew each issue as they came. I would picture certain imagery and scenes in my head as I read each script, and then I would base my artwork around that. There's not much to it. Actually. I'd do some preliminary sketches and maybe some practice inks, and then I'd be off!

NRAMA: Brian, when you initially hooked up with Becky for DEMO, did you expect her to go to such lengths to make the artwork unique for each story?

BW: I already knew Becky had the capability to switch her art styles around to fit certain moods and other criteria (she's had a pretty successful career so far in commercial illustration because of this), so her applying that skill to DEMO was sort of a given. The fact she did it so well was a surprise. I am continually amazed at that girl's talent. I'm beginning to be convinced that there's nothing she couldn't handle.

NRAMA: Brian, can you tell us how you initially became aware of Becky and her work, and how she became involved with DEMO?

BW: I found her online, years ago, either through Bryan O'Malley's website, or Matthew Woodson's. She had these amazing web comics up, and so I asked her to do Channel Zero: Jennie One with me. That went well, we liked working with each other, so I created DEMO for us to do.

NRAMA: In the last issue of DEMO, #12, there's a special backstory featuring art by Brian and a story written by Becky. Sittng on the other side of the table as it were, what were your goals to accomplish?

BW: That was just for fun, really, fun for me and Becky. Once I realized that the main story for #12 was only going to be 20 pages, we had some space to fill. I thought instead of the normal 'extras' we usually run, we should do something for us, since this was the last time we'd have a chance to work together for awhile. I think it was actually Becky's idea, actually.

BC: Well I know Brian is really busy, so I didn't want to write anything too epic! I just thought an easy comic about Marie and Mike would be a nice way to tie the whole series up in a nice little package. I just wanted to show Marie and Mike still holdin' it down. No plot, just a feeling.

NRAMA: In January 2005 you're making available all 12 scripts from DEMO, complete with 12 new illustrations by Becky. By making these "behind the scenes" scripts available, what do you hope to impart to DEMO readers?

BW: Personally, I find 'behind the scenes' stuff interesting, and I think other people feel the same way. My scripts for Demo are only ever read by Becky, so they tend to be pretty conversational and direct, just like talking to a friend. I don't think that's very common in comics, where most writers follow a certain format and it goes to the editor first. So I think for people who are already fans of DEMO, these scripts can be fascinating from a 'behind the scenes' perspective, and for new readers, they are enough like prose to be a satisfying read all on their own.

[Khany]

Wow first post. Well I liked this series, it was great. And now scripts too yeah.

[Cray_ws]

I'm delighted to hear that the series is being collected and curious to see the "behind the scenes" scripts.

If I'm not mistaken I recall Brian Wood saying there wouldn't be a Demo trade, very relieved that he changed his mind and I believe alot more people will be picking up the trade.

Congrats on the success of the series and hope the collected edition brings you even more recognition.

[AlexLothos]

Another great article!

It's funny that I was told about Global Frequency after reading DEMO, but they did kinda remind me of each other with the whole separate stories that come together idea.

[Zadillo]

Great interview. I was really blown away by Demo, and I am really glad I decided to check it out when it came out. All the praise and attention Demo has gotten has been well deserved.

-Zadillo

[GodofMotion]

An excellent series. Looking forward to that Scriptbook!

[Volunteer]

Demo was a book that I kept looking at and thinking "I should buy that" until I finally bought an issue. I was hooked right away. I was absolutely stunned by Becky's artwork, having never seen it before. Over Christmas I was talking to my wife's cousin who used to read stuff like Heavy Metal and Zap but had stopped reading comics. I gave him a copy of Demo to show him what's out there - that's how much I think of the series.

If you haven't bought it I highly recommend it. #4 and #6 were my favorites if you want a recommendation.

Becky and Brian are really nice to top it all off. I met them at the San Diego con. Brian gave me some free Demo buttons which I put on my backpack and Becky drew me a sketch recreating the cover of #4. I literally almost cried when she gave it to me, it is that good.

DEMO RULES!

Volunteer

[THB]

After all the praise I've heard, I'm very much looking forward to getting the collected edition.

[Ian]

NRAMA: One of the most prevalent questions since DEMO was first announced besides "when is the next issue coming out?" has been about the potential for a collected edition of DEMO. In the initial stages of DEMO you rebuffed the idea, instead trying to focus on the single issues. Now seems like a good time to go ahead and ask the question again... what are the possibilities of a collected edition for DEMO?

BW: I think that's a question for AIT. I think the possibilities are high, but as far as when, it's not up to me.

next time sombody says to me that something will never be collected, i'm going to poop in their mouth.

[EMeadow]

Originally posted by Cray_ws

If I'm not mistaken I recall Brian Wood saying there wouldn't be a Demo trade, very relieved that he changed his mind and I believe alot more people will be picking up the trade.

I think what the whole brouhaha over the trade was that everyone wanted to know what extras they were supposedly already thinking bout putting into the trade. To which Larry Young was generally posting everywhere going "The extras will be in the singles, not the trade." And that set everyone off on a "Now I HAVE to buy the singles?" blast.

But I don't think Larry never said there wouldn't be a trade. But he definitely deflected more idea to the singles cause he wanted those to sell more. So it makes sense to downplay a trade coming.

[Larry Young]

Originally posted by Ian
next time sombody says to me that something will never be collected, i'm going to poop in their mouth.

Neither Brian, Becky or I ever said it would NEVER be collected, and if you'll read what Bri said, we still haven't said there's going to be a collection of any kind. All he said was that he thought the possibility was high.

[Blind Assassin]

For all of the people arguing about what was said regarding the collected edition....

At the halfway point of the series, right here on Newsarama, this is what was said:

NRAMA: As you mentioned earlier, something that's dogged you a little since the series has started has been the reaction to format. Halfway through a 12-issue series seems the perfect place to put out a trade. But none for you. Again, why?

BW: Well, DEMO is designed as a series of single-issue stories. We made that very conscious decision very early on, and everything, the writing and the art, has been produced with that in mind. A collection/trade, whatever, isn't the preferred format of the creators and the publishers, so that's why. We'll let the series run as it was designed to.

Also, issues #1-#6 are still available from any comic shop that wants to order it. Seriously, they are as available as any other book in the AiT/Planet Lar backlist.

NRAMA: Have you heard from/about people who are waiting for the trade or won't buy the singles as singles as a matter of principle?

BW: Early on, people were really cranky about this preferred format. A lot of people decided to never buy the singles on principle, and made sure I knew about it. They didn’t get it, didn’t understand what we were trying to do with DEMO. Once the issues started to come out, around the time #3 hit, those complaints vanished. People understood - these are 12 mini graphic novels. I'm sure some people out there are still waiting for a trade, but at least they stopped giving us a hard time about the format.

NRAMA: But, in today's "wait for the trade" market, aren't you, in a way, leaving money on the table by not putting out a trade of the first six, the second six, and then all twelve?

BW: The issues are still there for people to buy, so no. This is what DEMO is, and I feel it would dilute our "vision" for the series by suddenly putting out a partial collection halfway through. Then, before the series has a chance to fully realize itself, we are repackaging it as something else and completely changing the whole point of it. That's not something that interests me, even if it might mean a couple extra bucks in my pocket.

I suppose I might feel different if we had sold out of most of the issues, but we haven't. We overprinted by about 300% to make sure we had the single issues in stock for the entire year, and they are readily available to anyone who wants them - and its clear people do - the reorder numbers are high, to the point where we double-check to make sure they're accurate.

Then the scriptbook with original art was announced (the one coming up in a month or so, but again, we have heard no word on a trade.

Yet...

...and since Larry Young, himself, hasn't confirmed a tpb, I guess we will wait and see.....

I have all the singles, and the series was simply amazing.

[ElConde]

Shouldn't we be harassing Brian Wood to write more stuff rather than spend a bunch of useless energy arguing about whether or not the "Trade" is going to happen. DEMO is one of the best comics of the year. Definitely in my Top 10. I mean they did go a little overboard with the whole Punk Rock/Slacker/Hipster kid angst thing--For once I would like to see a comic about a nice normal kid with superpowers from Kansas...
But I still can't think of anything since Summer Blonde that does depressing hipster angst that well.

On the Trade front, I think that DEMO should be collected in TPB, so that I can teach it next spring in my Sophomore Rhetoric Class. I mean, I REALLY want to teach it.

Teachers for Trades= Bringing Comics to the classroom one marketing decision at a time.

[GeorgeG]

Looking at the quotes, maybe Wood & Co. shouldn't put out a trade--unless their "vision" changed. It will be interesting to see if they'll do what Wood originally said.

[Larry Young]

Originally posted by ElConde
On the Trade front, I think that DEMO should be collected in TPB, so that I can teach it next spring in my Sophomore Rhetoric Class. I mean, I REALLY want to teach it.

All of the issues are in-print and available. If you want to teach DEMO, the scriptbook will be out in a couple weeks (and that provides a priceless look into the process); the order codes for the single issues are available here:

http://www.ait-planetlar.com/demo.shtml

[briancwood]

Originally posted by GeorgeG
Looking at the quotes, maybe Wood & Co. shouldn't put out a trade--unless their "vision" changed. It will be interesting to see if they'll do what Wood originally said.

i hate to quibble, but what i said was: i wouldnt want to dilute the "vision" by putting out a trade halfway through, since the whole point was to do 12 consecutive single issue stories.

now that they are all out, the projects been fully realized, and a trade will happen or not happen. i hope it does, though.

-bri

[ElConde]

Thanks to Larry and Brian for posting on DEMO. It's great to hear information straight from the source. But my final word on the trade front. Many of my friends who are not avid comic readers resist reading things in single issues for a variety of reasons. First off, they are well aware of the value of comics, so they are reluctant to read them for fear of being held responsible for damage. My comics are meant to be read , so I have to beg them to read some great single issue stuff. Secondly, there is a lot to the trade in terms of the putative value a 'book' has. Many of my friends see the trade paperback as a sort of official imprimatur indicating when to start reading.

Now, I cannot speak for everyone, but even some of my more astute friends see the TPB as a sort of quality control that the companies impose on themselves and the market. If it's not in TPB, they argue, it is probably not that good (Most anyone on this board knows that is rubbish--Priest run on Black Panther come to mind?). Also for many, the book is a form that carries with it a serious ascribed prestige--something that cannot be overlooked as we comic fans, scholars, and writers are now beginning occupy huge swaths of intellectual and cultural territory. The TPB turns off the snob switch for many people I know--I have a friend who has read all my Johns' Flash TPBs because he said "oh, this must be good because it's in the book form". I'm okay with that for right now. I truly believe it is better to be reading that not reading, so I count the aforementioned as a significant victory. I know this is a bit of a rant, but it is a topic I feel strongly about. Now, I would love to see every comic in the best TPB form possible--Manga/Digest form like Runaways.
I'll take what I can get though.

So in the words of Winston Wolf:

Pretty please, with sugar on top,
print the f***ing trade.

Conde

[Larry Young]

Originally posted by ElConde
First off, they are well aware of the value of comics, so they are reluctant to read them for fear of being held responsible for damage.

That's why we printed it with bulletproof cover stock and regular cover stock for the INTERIORS. You can run the single issues over with a car and just wipe off the dirt and send it to CGC and they'd still be 9.6s.

Originally posted by ElConde
Secondly, there is a lot to the trade in terms of the putative value a 'book' has. Many of my friends see the trade paperback as a sort of official imprimatur indicating when to start reading.

You know which comic book company you're talking about, yeah? The one that went straight-to-trade five years ago?

[ElConde]

True that Larry, True that.
You're right about everything you say. Besides maybe if I just teach one or two of the issues I can lighten my load. Anyway, stop contradicting me because you do everything right

[GeorgeG]

Sorry Brian, I'm just going off of your words here (maybe you should reread them in Blind Assassin's post). It seems your "vision" has changed.

[briancwood]

Originally posted by GeorgeG
Sorry Brian, I'm just going off of your words here (maybe you should reread them in Blind Assassin's post). It seems your "vision" has changed.

my vision has always been a series of 12 "mini graphic novels", designed to be read as such, one a month for a year. we did that, its over, done.

what now? eventually the singles will go out of print, and then the logical step is to collect them somehow, at some point, so new readers still have access to them. doesnt change what the original point of the series format was, or our original goals in doing it the way we did it.

-b

[sojourner77]

Just wanted to encourage ElConde to teach from Demo, I'd love to take that class! After struggling with a close friend's decision to abandon taking lithium for bipolar disorder, reading issue 1 made me cry, and gave me a different way of thinking about it, can't ask much more of literature than that!