TALKING GROUNDED WITH MARK SABLE

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

Superhero High in the Image Universe?

This July, writer Mark Sable and artist Paul (Spider-Man Unlimited, Captain Marvel) Azaceta with cover artist Michael Avon Oeming are introducing a new breed of superheroes to the Image-verse in a new six-issue mini-series called Grounded.

Well, you might want to remove “superhero” from the equation.

In the world of Grounded, superhero wannabe Jonathan Shepherd is sent to a high school for super-powered children. To Jonathan, this brings him closer to realizing his dream of becoming a superhero.

The bad news? He is not one of them. He is then forced to abandon his fantasy of developing powers and deal with the reality that he’s the only kid without them.

We enrolled into Sable’s school for an induction course.

Newsarama: Grounded seems like it’s aimed at fans and readers of New X-Men, Sidekicks... stories that tell of teenagers growing up and learning the ropes to be superheroes in an academy. Yet, this is different because unlike those, the main character here is not like one of them...

Mark Sable: On the surface, Grounded might seem similar to the books you've mentioned - and I'd like to think this book will appeal to readers of those and others like Invincible, Runaways, etc - but Grounded is it's own thing. I have one story to tell, and I know exactly how and when it ends. It's not about stimulating trademarks or cross promotion, it's about creating a world and more importantly a character we've never seen before. I'm not grooming any of these characters for a crossover with the Avengers.

NRAMA: How did you come up with this?

MS: On a conceptual level? Fairly or not, comics are often labeled adolescent power fantasies. I decided to take that metaphor and turn it on its head. With Grounded, I created a comic that reflected how I felt in high school - powerless.

More viscerally? Ever since I started reading comics I, like a lot of people, wished that I could live in the Marvel or DC universe. But the flip side of that, what always scared me was, what if I had to exist in that world, but as myself, with no powers? How would I feel? That was the question I started to explore when I began writing Grounded.

Personally, I think I'd be frustrated, resentful - I think I'd be more miserable in that world than the one I'd been trying to escape from through comics.

But as I started writing Jonathan Shepherd, Grounded's protagonist, I found that he wasn't me. He's someone who refuses to accept his "limitations," and I think that, more than his lack of powers, is what makes him unique.

NRAMA: Who else is in the six-parter?

MS: Grounded has a large supporting cast, all built around the idea that Jonathan faces the same problems we all did as teenagers, only on a superhuman scale. There's Jonathan's parents, who've kept their identities as superheroes secret from him, and who he's lost trust in. The students of "The High", themselves the children of superheroes. The school bully is an invulnerable Minotaur, and the unattainable girl is literally untouchable. They all lack the burning desire to be a hero that Jonathan possesses, which drives Jonathan absolutely crazy. And there's The High's faculty, who have each been burned by the superhero world in their own way, the implications of which put Jonathan and his classmates in danger.

NRAMA: How does one get enrolled into the academy?

MS: The same way most of us wound up in high school - their parents sent them there. And just like in our world, most of them aren't too happy about it. Grounded is in large part about Jonathan trying to overcome his disdain for what he sees as the other students' ungratefulness when it becomes apparent that, despite his lack of powers, he may be the only one who can save their lives.

NRAMA: In Jonathan's case, how does a non-super-powered individual gets enrolled into the school?

MS: Well, without trying to dodge the question, that's really what the first issue - which is thirty pages of story for the same low price - is about. Let's just say that Jonathan has been trying to get to this place for a long time, but that he gets there under less than ideal circumstances. If after reading the issue, someone can come up with a more vague description than that sentence, I'll try to get their names mentioned in the book.

NRAMA: How did it land in the Image office?

MS: Image has an office? How come I've never been there? I just assumed that they traveled around from convention to convention like carnival folk.

This is kind of a hometown boy makes good story. Back in the early days of the [Brian] Bendis Board, I became friendly with some incredibly talented people, like the creative team behind NYC Mech. After days of hanging around their booth at Comic-Con with my stomach in knots, (NYC Mech co-writer) Ivan Brandon introduced me to Eric Stephenson. I literally stammered out a sixty second pitch that I'd over-rehearsed, handed him five pages of Paul Azaceta's art, and Eric said, "I don't see why we shouldn't publish this" and walked away. For the next hour, I kept on asking people whether I'd heard right and that we had a deal. I still don't think I'll believe it until I see the issue on the stands. Although Bendis wishing me "Mazel Tov" right after I found out helped a lot.

NRAMA: Is it a part of the same universe as Robert Kirkman's Invincible, Phil Hester's Firebreather, Jay Faerber's Noble Causes, Jim Valentino's ShadowHawk, Erik Larsen's Savage Dragon?

MS: I envisioned Grounded as taking place in its own, independent universe. And that's important because I don't want anyone to have to have to read anything else to understand what's going on. Some of the best reaction I've gotten so far has been from female Buffy fans who've never read a comic book before (although there are plenty of nods and references to comics history that die-hards like myself should appreciate.)

My parents still don't understand that I write more than what's in the word balloons, but that's another story...

But I'm a big fan of all the creators you just mentioned, so I'd be open to doing a crossover if they asked. Of course, I'd want to make Invincible, so I'm not holding my breath waiting for an invitation.

NRAMA: How do you research the story? How do you make Jonathan sound and look like today's teenagers?

MS: You know, I keep hearing about these creators hanging around with teenagers to get their slang or whatever, but honestly, I think that's why there are age of consent laws. To the extent my characters sound like teenagers, it's because my twenties have been an extended adolescence - I've managed to stay in school (grad writing and law) for most of that time, I still read comics, and I live and work in Hollywood, which is like high school in just about every way.

NRAMA: What's your background in comics, anyway?

MS: Mostly, years of sitting on the toilet, reading them. Thank god for gastrointestinal disorders.

Seriously, I have a pretty extensive background in almost every other medium: film, theatre, television - I think I'm the only person ever to work for both Howard Stern and Charlie Rose - but this is me losing my comics virginity. I'm hoping there isn't a lot of blood.

NRAMA: How did Paul Azaceta get involved in the creation of Grounded?

MS: Through Mark Powers (former X-Men editor, now kicking ass at Devil's Due). After years of pitching him really absurd and offensive ideas for Marvel - like Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends having an in continuity battle with Infectia, returning the X-Men to the Australian Outback, a racist with a heart of gold Captain America and Wolverine/The Punisher coming to terms with the gay son he never knew - our friendship finally paid off when I asked him if he knew of any artists willing to take a chance on me.

I really lucked out when he recommended Paul - he's a gifted storyteller, with the range to draw anything from large-scale superhero battles to small moments between realistic looking teenagers. The latter was really important to me, because too often in comics and film, teenagers really don't look their age, the Andrea from [Beverly Hills] 90210 syndrome. Rule of thumb - any time you look up an actress on IMDB, add ten years if you want to know her real age. Seriously, for the fantastical elements to work, it helps not to have to suspend your disbelief in other areas.

Mostly, I'm thankful to get the opportunity to work with Paul on Grounded before Marvel, DC or one of the big name talents at Image snatches him away. I know every writer gushes about their artist - sometimes I wish I'd read an interview where the writer and artist hate each other - but I can say in all honesty that this comic is worth reading for Paul's art alone.

NRAMA: Anything else that you'd like to add before we close?

MS: "First off, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Nick Filardi and Kristyn Ferretti, Grounded's colorist and letterer respectively. Nick is the kind of colorist that makes you realize how essential colorists are to the process, and Kristyn did a great job of making sure all my words didn't obscure Paul's art - not an easy task.

And the cover - suitable for framing - by the incomparable Mike Oeming is not just beautiful, but plays an important role in the story of the book.

But more importantly, while I realize there are a lot of great comics out there with concepts that may seem similar at first glance, Grounded goes places I haven't seen anyone else go yet."

[majorjoe23]

A normal kid in a program for superhero children? This sounds pretty similar to Hero Camp, also coming from Image.

[Greg T]

It's similar to Hero Camp in the same way that Batman is similar to Spider-Man. Both had important people in their life die, and it prompted them to become super heroes. Much like Batman and Spider-Man, the similarities between Grounded and Hero Camp (a non-powered kid being at a place for super-powered kids) stop there. I'm a HUGE fan of what Mark, Paul, Nick and Kristyn are doing on the book. It's something special. Really wish I would've thought of the idea.

[darmstr745]

It also sound like PS238 done serious. He has a character in the book who is very similiar.


http://www.ps238.com/

[IvanBrandon]

it's a serious book, but parts of it will make you laugh your ass off... (note the last page with the kid trying to see if he has superspeed)

i have read both grounded and hero camp and they both have my heartiest recommendation.

and they couldn't be more different in story.

[Michael Lark]

I've known Paul Azaceta for about a year, and he is one of my favorite young artists in comics. I'm thrilled to see him finally getting a chance to strut his stuff! And to do it in such a beautiful way! This is really, really great work.

Mark my words - this is an artist to keep your eye on!

[Solamon]

Quite a number of superhero school comics coming out in such a short time. I'll check it out because I like the artwork, but if it fails to distinguish itself, I'll have to drop it.

[marksable]

Other Books GROUNDED is similar to:

Watchmen
Sin City
A Contract With God

[marksable]

Originally posted by Solamon
Quite a number of superhero school comics coming out in such a short time. I'll check it out because I like the artwork, but if it fails to distinguish itself, I'll have to drop it.

I sincerely appreciate that, giving it a try is all I ask. I feel pretty confident it will distinguish itself by the first issue.

[IvanBrandon]

Originally posted by marksable
Other Books GROUNDED is similar to:

Watchmen
Sin City
A Contract With God

also:

US 1
MR.T
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
The Official Sopranos Cookbook

[jpritchett]

Originally posted by IvanBrandon
also:

US 1
MR.T
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
The Official Sopranos Cookbook

Ivan, you forgot "Love in the Time of Cholera," "The Shipping News," and "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman."

On a more serious note, congratulations to Mark! It couldn't happen to a better guy (well, it COULD, if it happened to me, but I suppose I'm biased...)!

Jason

[justinalanha]

I just read the first issue. wow. My wife works at a shop in houston and everyone will be made to read this. HAVE YOU SEEN THE ART???

[krackkomik]

I haven't even read this thread yet because I am so juiced. I picked it up today on a whim, which is not usually a good idea when you have 38 bucks of comics on the counter(and thats after 15% off and just this weeks), but Larsens mention of it on another site gave me a itch.

I just read grounded and feal like such a fanboy!!!!
I want creator profiles in the next issue.

Great read, is the second issue out or what.. just added another pull comic. Image Comics is back in the game. I'm gonna go pick up Hero Camp tommorow.

Best new books in the last few months

-hero squared
-grounded
-freshmen
-imaginaries -growing on me
-godland

[marksable]

wow, I'm glad I set this thing to e-mail me when people post, I don't think anyone's been on this thread since before the book came out

First of all, both of you, on behalf of Paul and I thanks! I'm glad people are still discovering the book and enjoying it.

Justin - I got your letter and hopefully it will make it into issue 4 (just missed the deadline for the issue 3 letter's column). Don't worry about Paul leaving the book. Although his work is not lost on any other publishers, he's committed to finishing the GROUNDED mini and hopefully to do more GROUNDED in the future if demand warrants it and his schedule permits.

Krackkomik - yeah, it was nice of Erik to mention us. A lot of creator's are really digging Paul's work, it's something special. What I like about the fact you mentioned all those other books (Freshman, Hero Camp) is that this thread started out about how Grounded sounded so similar to other books conceptually, but if you look at the execution, they couldn't be more different. They all succeed in their own way.

As far as creator profiles, you can check out www.groundedcomic.com, there's short bios there, or stop by the our message board on the Image site, Paul and I are always there and happy to answer any questions.

[JackFrostUK]

Managed to get #2 but still can't find #1

Is this a mini series?

EDIT: Ignore the above question. Just saw Mark's signature above my message.

[marksable]

Originally posted by JackFrostUK
Managed to get #2 but still can't find #1

Is this a mini series?

JackFrostUK - yes, it's a mini, six issues, although I would love to do another series if it continues to do well and Paul is able to.

Sorry you can't find one. The first printing of one sold out from Image, but they went back to press for a 2nd printing of issue one. You should be able to get your retailer to order that from Diamond; last I checked there were still issue 1's left.

[JackFrostUK]

Originally posted by marksable
JackFrostUK - yes, it's a mini, six issues, although I would love to do another series if it continues to do well and Paul is able to.

Sorry you can't find one. The first printing of one sold out from Image, but they went back to press for a 2nd printing of issue one. You should be able to get your retailer to order that from Diamond; last I checked there were still issue 1's left.

I'll check the stores tomorrow. Hopefully i'll find #1.

What other comic work have you and your artist done before GROUNDED?

[marksable]

Originally posted by JackFrostUK
I'll check the stores tomorrow. Hopefully i'll find #1.

What other comic work have you and your artist done before GROUNDED?

It's my first published comics work (hopefully not the last.

Paul had work published in Spider-Man Unlimited and Peter David's Captain Marvel, but GROUNDED is his first published work that he inked himself, and the difference is amazing.

[JackFrostUK]

Originally posted by marksable
It's my first published comics work (hopefully not the last.

Paul had work published in Spider-Man Unlimited and Peter David's Captain Marvel, but GROUNDED is his first published work that he inked himself, and the difference is amazing.

One of my stores had 1 copy of #3. Hopefully it'll still be there today. I'll also have a look at my other store.

I had a sneak peek at a few pages but don't want to spoil it as i'm well behind.

Hope the series sells well.

[JackFrostUK]

Found #3 hidden behind Green Lantern Corps. Now all I need is #1 then I can actually read it from the start. Can't wait!