TONY LEE & MIDNIGHT KISS

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

One kiss…

… and they lived happily ever after.

Remember your bedtime fairy-tale stories?

Well, Tony Lee has a different kind of bedtime story for you.

Midnight Kiss, a new series written by Lee with art and colors by Ryan Stegman and Don MacKinnon is set to debut from AP Comics in August.

It has been described as “Sandman for the 21st century.”

Venture into the world created by Lee and co. and discover how Midnight Kiss is also home to one of the most prolific fantasy and science fiction authors of all time’s most popular and enigmatic fictional creations.

Newsarama: Let’s get straight to it. What is Midnight Kiss in a nutshell?

Tony Lee: Hmm. That's a tough one, actually. One of the things I wanted to do with Midnight Kiss was actually make something that couldn't easily be shoehorned. Basically, Midnight Kiss has been rattling around for about ten years in one guise or another but I never really knew how to position it. I had a grand idea of a multi-world location, but every time I put pen to paper, I just got a kind of block. But recently it seemed to click, and it's a lot easier to create this world, this story.

Midnight Kiss. In a nutshell... Well, it's an ongoing series, and it's kinda set in the real world to start with, but not. [laughs] Okay, let's start again. Back story for the comic is as follows - thousands and thousands of years ago this was a world of magic, and creatures of magic - Fae, Unicorns, Demons, Angels, that kind of thing - all lived together, but not in a sitcom kind of way. For centuries everything is fine.

Then one day, man comes along.

Now man is different, because man is rational. The creatures of magic can't relate to man - and man's quite happy to kill them.

So the five Lords of Fae, the rulers of the land meet to discuss what to do with man. And it's a split vote. Two want to kill man, two want to step back and let man have his time in the spotlight and the fifth is found seemingly murdered. The realm of magic goes into civil war and at the same point in time two totally opposite rituals go off, both working, both negating the other, and both shattering the realm into thousands upon thousands of multi-worlds, each one sharing the same time and space, but invisible unless you know how to see them.

So now we go to present day, and the world we know is totally rational. But the other worlds are still there - they infect our dreams, our subconscious - figures of legend stem from figures in other realms, that kind of thing - but we're too rational to believe something like that could happen. It's a well used style of tale - Neil Gaiman did a very similar thing to London in Neverwhere, where there's this sub level of people who the 'real' world never see.

So in this multi-world there are people who can move from realm to realm, and they either try to right wrongs or manipulate for power. During the story you see people you know from other books, purely because the books are based on their realms.

In a nutshell. [laughs]

NRAMA: Who're the main characters?

TL: The great thing about this, and one of the reasons one previewer called it “Sandman for the 21st century” is that although there are a couple of 'main' characters, the stories don't need them. The first arc is based around three characters - Matthew Sable, Nightmare De'Lacy and a teenager called Billy Hart - yet they're chased by a variety of characters including the supernatural hitmen Jonny Cool and the Flickman. Now these two in a later story get their own tale. And others that are met take the center stage.

But for the first arc, there's a few we can talk about. Firstly there's Matthew Sable. He's young, enigmatic and personable - and he has an ability to weave glamour, the magic of the fae into guns when needed. Now this insinuates he is fae, but who knows? Things might not be what they see.

He's very much a Dr Who-type character in that he's always trying to do what's right and pretty much everyone knows him and hates him for a variety of reasons, usually the fact that he wronged them down the line whilst saving the world. Again.

As the comic progresses he'll be in and out of it, but by the end of the first arc you'll know what he is - but not who. That's a story for further down the line.

Then you've got Nightmare De Lacy. She's pretty much Tank Girl mixed with a Byronesque goth - she's the muscle in this double act - she likes large guns and has a silver bracelet with Cthuloid nanotech that can morph into pretty much any bladed weapon. Yet again, you know she's not 'human' - but it's not until later that you find out what or who she is.

Then there's Billy. He's the 'everyman' of the comic - the teenager who discovers that not only is he special, but that fantastical creatures want him dead. As the story goes on he undergoes... changes.

And then you have the supporters - in the first arc these include the Shattered Man, Alligator King, Jonny Cool and the Flickman - who I absolutely love writing - Dorothy and the land of Oz, The Jack of Spades, Deathboy and Jerry Cornelius.

NRAMA: Jerry Cornelius? From Michael Moorcock's books?

TL: That's the one. I spoke to Michael Moorcock and he was happy with us to use Jerry - as let's face it, multiverses and traveling through them is his thing. It was nice to have a more contemporary character around. Jerry pops up here and there dependant on Moorcock's blessing.

NRAMA: What inspired you to create this?

TL: Well as I said, it's always been around - but I never intended to do anything with it. Basically I was happy just to put Mythlands and The Gloom through APC, but at the turn of the year Jim Sutherns, the artist on Mythlands had some personal problems, and we delayed the Mythlands mini until the end of 2005, until after The Gloom. Rich Emms, the publisher of APC was explaining how this was a shame as he really wanted to publish something fantastical, and I pitched him Midnight Kiss there and then.

I have a great love for alternate world stories, and I love Celtic mythology and old tales, like Robin Hood and Arthurian Myth - and all of these figure quite strongly in the upcoming tales. For example we have a two-parter that works on the story of Nuadha of the Silver arm, and how his arm became Robin Hood's silver arrow - that kind of thing.

And I had also wanted to revisit the Wizard of Oz - go back and have a civil war there, but there are several books already working into this, so I felt incorporating the elements that I wanted to use from my planned miniseries into this would be better - and as it is, it works far, far better and I'm incredibly happy on the way things are progressing.

I wanted to do a book where people went 'ah, he's doing an 'insert creature here' story' - and then five pages later go 'oh. Maybe not.' The first three pages went up on a newsgroup and everyone was 'ah, it's the Vampires and the church schtick again. Played out!' and then I came on and said 'Vampires in a church? Who said they were vampires?' and suddenly everyone's intrigued and trying to work out what else these characters can be. That's what inspired me. To be able to make readers think about what they're reading.

And to have flying monkeys with guns.

NRAMA: How'd you come to work with Ryan Stegman and Don MacKinnon on this? What have they done prior to this? What makes them the right creative combination for Midnight Kiss?

TL: Don was always a guarantee, even before this came up. I've worked with Don here and there for a couple of years now as colorist, he's on the 52 Pickup mini I'm working from and he was on the original Mythlands team. When APC brought on their own artist, I stated that without Don coloring, there was no mini. The guy is a genius.

And as it was, when he showed tryout colors for Mythlands, APC hired him to color a couple of their other comics including the big event comic Mr. T, so there really wasn't a problem getting him on board.

As for Ryan? Well, Don's a member of Golden Goat Studios, and while looking for a backup artist for Mr. T, I came across some samples that Ryan had done. I contacted him and asked him to tryout some sketches for Midnight Kiss - at the time I had another artist in line to do the comic and was looking to the next arc - but his sketches were just incredible. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that Ryan wasn't the right choice for the first arc at least.

The craziest thing is that Ryan's a virtual unknown, and this is one of his first pro gigs. And the art we've been getting is better than two thirds of the stuff out there. I reckon I'll only have him for six issues mainly as after that one of the bigger companies will poach him away from me.

It's a young, vibrant team though - we're always in contact, Ryan's always suggesting things and it's great. I'm very much a fan of saying 'just go with the flow and see what comes out on the page' with an artist, and Ryan's pages are just getting better and better. And as I see what he can do, the pages I write are just getting wierder and wierder.

NRAMA: When is it scheduled for?

TL: It's scheduled for an early August release, but we'll most likely have it available at San Diego in July.

NRAMA: How different is Midnight Kiss from your previous projects?

TL: It's more fun, I'll tell you that! With Starship Troopers, I had to stick to a very tight guideline as my graphic novels had to mirror an established continuity that people knew. Likewise my X-Men Unlimited story. With these, I knew I only had a finite space for my beginning, middle and end. Characterization suffered - and as some people will tell you so did bug appearances. [laughs]

With Midnight Kiss, I can do whatever the hell I want. It's ongoing - and the only thing that will determine the book living or dying is sales.

One of the plot notes for issue two that I actually have beside me says 'Matthew and Nightmare, leaving the Alligator King take Billy through a card portal to Flipside, where the Jack of Spades plays hands of poker with cards made of gamblers souls.' I love it. I get to think of the most outrageous things and just stick them into it without worrying about the consequences - because they will make better stories further on down.

With The Gloom, I have a lot of freedom, but we're restrained by a) the fact that both Dan and myself have to agree on what's going in, b) whether it fits the time of the story - i.e. the 40's and c) whether it's actually funny to us or now. After all, The Gloom isn't a serious comic, whereas Midnight Kiss is, more or less.

The closest it is to is Mythlands - mainly because there's a fantastical element and it's comparative in style. Who knows, perhaps down the line we'll have Matthew wander into a page from that world, team up with Striker...

NRAMA: You mentioned Starship Troopers. What's happening with that? You seem to be cursed?

TL: And the rest. Starship Troopers Book One: Alamo Bay is now available on Diamond code SEP04 4072 - just go order it from your comic shop minion, kids. The second and third ones should have been out too by now, as originally the books were coming out as Oct, Dec, Feb - but artist changearounds and dropouts meant that as far as I know the second book is likely out in June and the third one in the Fall.

I'm keeping out of it - I wrote my scripts and they were accepted - realistically I have no further say in the matter - apart from the fact that I hear that Nat Sandells pencils for Book 2 are incredible.

I will however be starting another graphic novel for Mongoose based on another big license they've just got - and I reckon it'll be even bigger.

Hell, if it's on time it'll be a plus point.

NRAMA: What else is on your plate at the moment?

TL: Well, I've got the usual pitches and proposals in with the big guns, I'm prepping Undeadsville and ...Of Vengeance with two very hot artists, I'm already working with Dan Boultwood on a project to follow The Gloom at the end of the year and we decided to answer the question 'who's hardest - Vikings, Ninjas or Zombies?' in the 4 part miniseries Bjorn Of The Dead - a title blatantly ripped off from the most excellent Shaun Of The Dead - I have 52 Pickup with Gary Lister still out there and when Alex Dai returns from his movie work in Australia, I'll be getting back to Where Evils Dare.

There's an Avatar project in there somewhere as well, probably for 2006 by now and the first four issues of another APC ongoing, featuring another great license - but only if we get it. I didn't really want to do anything else for APC for a while, but when I heard about it, I just had to pitch. [laughs]

Oh, and I'm still writing novels.

[stlfan79]

Sounds promising, Ill check it out if the cover price isn't as high as the other comics in the AP line. I was really excited about all the previews for their books recently but I'm trying to avoid 3.50 books unless I am positive that I will like them from past creator samplings.

[El Dandy]

This sounds really good. The characters, plots and in depth history seems really fun. That's enough for me.

Great stuff Tony.
El Dandy (TripleAre from Scryptic)

[Aaron Weisbrod]

Yeah... I guess I'll be buying this book since my pal Don MacKinnon is coloring it and ny studiomate Ryan Stegman is drawing it...

Even though this is the gig that stole him away from doing a NIGHTMARE WORLD story with me. Thanks, Tony...

Joking and ribbing aside, this title looks like it's going to be a great comic! I can't wait to check it out!

Apparently APC is starting to gobble-up my comicbook budget with titles such as this one and THE GLOOM...

Setting aside more pennies,
Aaron Weisbrod

[Egg]

Art alone has me looking at it! And Tony Lee to boot... sounds good!

Egg Embry
Editor - www.ArcanaStudio.com & ANT from Image Comics

[Solamon]

Wow. There certainly is some great smaller press titles coming out these days. Between IDW, APComics, Alias, Devil's Due, and Speakeasy, I'm finding I have less and less money available to preorder any of the Big Two's books!

[Knightmaresbane]

Sigh yet another "must read" from APC. You guys are killin me seriously.

must..resist...can't ...give...in...ah hell, maybee I'll get a raise by then an I can afford it.

\m/ \m/

[Richard Emms]

What can I say about these two guys that hasn't been already said?

Tony is the rising star of comic book writing - and it is so refreshing to read his scripts... that keep me entertained for hours on end. He knows what is needed in a comic and all of you are in for a treat when you read The Gloom and Midnight Kiss.

And then we have Ryan Stegman. Oh my god... what a talent. Ryan will move onto bigger things - most likely Marvel as his art style has blown me away. I think you only have to look at the art above to see what this guy is capable of. And with the dynamic colors of Don MacKinnon, Midnight Kiss should be on many comic fans' shopping list.

We WILL have the first issue printed for the SDCC which will be on sale with another new APC book scheduled for August release. I'm sure that Tony and Ryan will be there to talk about this great comic.

Once again thank you all for your kind comments - I really hope to god that the books we are now producing are what this industry needs and you will find some extra cash to try them out!

Rich Emms
EIC
A.P.C.

www.apcomics.com

[hamsterdance]

OMG. This looks really good. I am surprised at how many AP Comics are on my pre-order list this year. From zero it went to

Dark Mist
The Gloom
The Chase
Lexian Chronicles

and now I'll add

Midnight Kiss.

My poor wallet.

Damn. I'm too intrigued (and uh...greedy) to keep away.

[Tony Lee]

Thanks for the kind words, guys.

I have to say I'm really having a blast at the moment - APC might not be the biggest company around at the moment (although that is definantly changing!), they sure are one of the most FUN. I'm loving my job currently - I get to spend mornings writing the cheesiest 40's pulp imaginable and the afternoons walking in fantastical worlds with big armour piercing weapons.

MIDNIGHT KISS really is a 'tangent' comic - it's shooting off in all directions. There's a plot, a subplot and a whole plethora of backup pieces that set up future stories. The first arc is planned out, the next few issues are stand alone / two parters focussing on other characters and earlier times, and then the second 6 parter moves back into what's REALLY going on.

I've already worked out the plotline for the first two years, so spread the word guys! we need to make sure this hits the retailers so that I can tell the damned story!

Matt Sable is what I want to be when I 'grow up'. Nightmare De'Lacy is going to be a poster on a thousand schoolboy goth's walls.

And wait til you read the end of issue four.

But seriously guys - GET DOWN YOUR COMIC SHOP NOW and order THE GLOOM! We need good pre orders to ensure retailers look at us in more than a squinty 'who the f*** are you?' way. Tell them when you're ordering that you have friends who want it too, so can they also get a couple of shelf copies? Tell them that your sick great-great-grandmother's dying wish is to see an advert on every window for MIDNINGHT KISS...

Gloom #1 is in March Previews, and every month from then on for six months.

And email in your thoughts to APC - We want a letters page for #2 onwards... :-)

BE MY GLOOMAHOLICS!!!!!!


MUUU HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

[Jeffbot]

Congrats to Ryan Stegman. If there's anyone who deserves a shot at the bigs, it's Ryan. A great artist and a great guy!