RICH JOHNSTON TALKS HOLED UP

[MattBrady]

Love him or hate him, comics' rumor monger/maven, and Lying in the Gutters writer Rich Johnston is getting just a little more attention come May when his three-issue Holed Up miniseries from Avatar hits.

For those who may think Holed is Johnston’s first comics foray, well, you’re wrong. For those who missed them when they came out, or for those Johnston hasn’t told personally, he’s written/drawn a fairly wide variety of small press titles such as: Dirtbag, X-Flies Special, X-Flies Conspiracy and X-Flies Bug Hunt from Twist And Shout Comics; KKND: The Comic from Electronic Arts; as well as his own 24 hour comic which he wrote and drew last year for Ninth Art.

“Odds and sods,” as Johnston describes them.

There’s a good reason why most know Johnston for his rumormogering instead of his comics. Holed Up is Johnston’s return to comics after a sabbatical of sorts, caused by any number of reasons.

The top reason why Johnston has been writing about comics rather than comics themselves? “The fall of the direct market, where any old tat could get published, including mine. Then there's my full time job,” Johnston explained. “I'm a senior advertising copywriter for a company in Soho, London.

”There have been a few dilly dallies in between, though. I was invited to pitch for
Marville, but the book was cancelled. Someone approached me about translating French comics into English, but my French is awful. But I also write for TV, radio and the London stage - indeed, Holed Up originated with a script for the Sitcom Trials stage show.”

The miniseries title also belies the name of the family in Johnston’s tale: “It’s about the Holed Family, an American family holed up against the encroaching pinko-federalist new world order government intent on taking away their guns, their independence and their right to treat anyone in the way they see fit.”

While admitting that it’s a good hook, Johnston denied that everyone in the UK sees Americans as wigged-out, paranoid gun nuts – and the portrayal as American as such wasn’t his primary goal with the story, although his vantage point did play a role.

“It's a look at a genre that may be only visible from outside, that of the American Family,” Johnston said. “Whether comedy, horror, drama or thriller, there's something very infectious about the functional or dysfunctional form therein. The way ties bind no matter what, there's something innate about the way its expressed in American fiction. Holed Up is another look at that aspect, mixed with international politics, isolationism, fear of political structure. And, yes, a bunch of guns as well.”

On the continuum Johnston mentioned though, the Holed are functional…kinda. “Bob Holed, a hardware store manager with a temper, his wife Sally, very sweet natured with a bigger temper and a practical eye to be feminine and camouflaged, teenage daughter Deborah, who's rebelled as a goth, the younger twins Ronni and Nancy who will end up
as jock and cheerleader, or maybe just blow away everyone in their kindergarten. Oh, and there's the Grandmother, a Nazi war criminal who underwent a very successful sex change.

”Your average American family, then.”

Coming from Avatar, Johnston’s well aware of the reputation the publisher has for publishing material that’s not very…kind of…well, two words: The Unfunnies.

“Everyone's going to find something offensive,” Johnston said. “For me, it's Archie and Jughead. For Capalert, it's Spider-Man, subverting God's plan for humanity. And for everyone. it's Unfunnies. But I don't find Holed Up that offensive... although by issue three when they mortar bomb Mecca, it might get a bit much for some people.

“Anything someone might find offensive is there to make point, add character, enhance the flavor, contribute to the reading experience. Yes, even the Klu Klux Klan dressing gowns.”

Holed Up is drawn by Gonzalo Martinez, a find of publisher William Christensen. “When Avatar accepted the script for the first issue, we went through a number of artists together,” Johnston said. “As William will attest, I was a little bit picky and went through quite a few going ‘No, no, no, no... wait a minute... no...’ Until I saw Gonzalo's.

“He's a Chilean artist whose work hasn't been published in the USA before, but the portfolio I saw showed a vast range, cartoony but a real understanding of how 2D characters can occupy space, such as Frank Quitely, Mike Mignola or Phil Winslade show. And he's not afraid to show some terrible, terrible things, in a very cartoon and quirky form.”

As for Johnston’s critics (there are a few) who would claim that the sole purpose of writing Lying in the Gutters and its predecessors over the years has been simply this – to get into the comics creators’ club, the creator has two words. One rhymes with truck.

The other is “’em.”

“I've done comics before, but I've also done TV, radio, the stage, short films, newspaper articles, all sorts of media of expression,” Johnston said. “Comics is one I have a special fondness of, and while I don't think I'll ever make a career of it - after all, it would have to pay better than advertising, it's fun to work in.

”As to the column, I've said that any publisher I work for would have the right to ask for the column to be suspended. William Christensen seems to insist it continues! After all, I think that's partly the reason he agreed to publish Holed Up, because of the publicity my name might attract.

“But the column was never a way in to doing comics. I'd have been better off pitching something every week for ten years instead. If an infinite number of monkeys could knock off The Tempest, I bet I could have sent in a passable X-Men Unlimited pitch in that time. No, the column was intended to be something I felt was missing, and that I wanted to read, so I wrote it. And before I could stop it, some fool decided to pay me weekly to write it. And I find it very hard to turn money down.

As for work after Holed Up, Johnston is taking the approach that for him, makes the most sense. More creator-owned, and little, if any, work for hire.

“I'm not really interested in WFH,” Johnston said. “And I doubt anyone with WFH would be interested in me. I've got several ideas for WFH concepts that have percolated around my head for a while that might see publication if the climate was right, but I don't think that's likely right now. Creator owned, well yes, I have several "projects" in my head that could suit portrayal in comics form. Suburban Anarchist, which just stormed a recent Sitcom Trials stage outing seems a natural, as does Perfect Ten, shown on British television last year. Then there's The Piper, Maiden Japan, Political Creatures, London's Crawling... I mean, I could go on. Maybe, maybe not. Let's see how Holed Up does.”

But – as far as the future is concerned, self-pubbling is probably out. “I think I'm done with self publishing for now, especially drawing. I was always a better writer than an artist, the reason I became a copywriter rather than an art director in advertising. So if anyone's interested, my email, street address and phone number are on the bottom of every Lying in the Guttersthat I write.

“I guess this will be an experiment to see how much of my column audience I can transfer to actual paying customers. To see if the industry will support someone who's basically been a parasite on their back for ten years. It's also a challenge to myself, to see if I've got what it takes. When I was a British self publisher, I was up against Brit Force, Kane, Sleaze Castle, Six Degrees and Memory Man. I probably came second to last. At Avatar, I'm up against Alan Moore, Garth Ennis, Frank Miller, Mark Millar, Steven Grant and more. I'm a better writer now... but just how better?”

[jasinmartin]

Sounds interesting, and worth checking out.


“It's a look at a genre that may be only visible from outside, that of the American Family,” Johnston said.

Who knew...


Glad the column won't be suspended.

[OM]

...Jeez, Rich, that title sounds like a book about the joys of sodomy :-) :-) :-) :-) Still, if I'm buying MSG's book, I'd better pick up a copy of this one, as it actually sounds like at least a halfway fun read. All you need to do is to get the artist some visual examples of how to make his women look more feminine and not like Bette Midler :-P

[leez34]

Ha! One can only wonder how this interview went, with Matt giving Rich shit every chance he can get...

[matthewstarnes]

Gonzalo has been published in the USA before. Gonzalo was the artist on Laffs and Leather in Digital Webbing Presents # 6.

Way to go Gonzalo and Rich!

[Rich Johnston]

Originally posted by matthewstarnes
Gonzalo has been published in the USA before. Gonzalo was the artist on Laffs and Leather in Digital Webbing Presents # 6.

Way to go Gonzalo and Rich!

Really? Anyone got a copy they can send a poor deprived Englishman?

[Rich Johnston]

Originally posted by OM
...Jeez, Rich, that title sounds like a book about the joys of sodomy :-) :-) :-) :-) Still, if I'm buying MSG's book, I'd better pick up a copy of this one, as it actually sounds like at least a halfway fun read. All you need to do is to get the artist some visual examples of how to make his women look more feminine and not like Bette Midler :-P

Wait till you see young Zebra....

Sally basically *is* Bette Midler.

[Rockin' Rich]

Always love how these Brits think they have a clue about American life...except, of course, that they do!

Good one, Rich (now get a haircut)!

[Tom Daylight]

Wouldn't it be funny if this outsold the later issues of Marville?

[Rich Johnston]

Originally posted by Fetsur
Wouldn't it be funny if this outsold the later issues of Marville?

You know what? I *liked* the later issues of Marville. 4 and 5 specifically.

Although I may have been the only one who read them.

[JAINITZ]

I love Rich and the service he provides the comic industry. But seeing the news article about Holed Up next to an article about Will Eisner was weird. One of those cosmic things, I guess.

Now Rich, you've been pimping DW artists for while now. Can you honestly say you didn't know Gonzalo was published in DWP?

Poor deprived Englishman indeed.

Jai

[Kerouac]

Wouldn't it be funny if this outsold the later issues of Marville?

How hard could it be?

Matt

[matthewstarnes]

Originally posted by Rich Johnston
Really? Anyone got a copy they can send a poor deprived Englishman?

I have an extra copy. I'll be happy to send it your way.

[Smeggy]

Another British writer tossing around gross generalizations and stereotypes about white people in the American South. How original...

[Rich Johnston]

Originally posted by Smeggy
Another British writer tossing around gross generalizations and stereotypes about white people in the American South. How original...

Where?

This is a story about family uber alles. No generalisations are made about white American Southerners.

I hope you'll find it entertaining.

[COREMARK]

This actually sounds like it could be really funny, never thought I'd be buying a comic by Rich Johnston.

[Kody]

Congratulations on the new book Rich! I'll make sure I add it to my Previews order.

[WebHobbit]

Hmmmmmm. I dunno. I am a fan of Rich Johnston's column. I find his writing amusing. I read it every week. I'd like to read a comic by him...but this looks like an easy target. A tired liberal viewpoint. An "outsider" takes a satirical look at the "gun culture" of America.

Sorry but NOT all gun owners are KKK members, Nazis or hicks.

For many of us it's about self-defense and taking on the responsibility of protecting our own families & loved ones...but then they don't have those kind of rights over there do they?

So I guess they just wouldn't understand.

[Rabbot]

Well being one of those "tired liberals" doesn't preclude myself from agree with you. The whole foreigners eyes with a "loving" tribute to the wacky gun toting Americans makes me thankful comics are an ignored medium

That being said, I'll reserve judgement until I've read it. Unfotunately having being fairly familiar with Johnston's views on Americans on the WEF for several years, I can see where this is going. Hope I'm wrong.

[OcCaM]

Originally posted by OM
...Jeez, Rich, that title sounds like a book about the joys of sodomy :-) :-) :-) :-) Still, if I'm buying MSG's book, I'd better pick up a copy of this one, as it actually sounds like at least a halfway fun read. All you need to do is to get the artist some visual examples of how to make his women look more feminine and not like Bette Midler :-P

MSG? mono sodium glutamate?

[OcCaM]

Originally posted by Rich Johnston
You know what? I *liked* the later issues of Marville. 4 and 5 specifically.

Although I may have been the only one who read them.

Perhaps, but wasn't it you who also said that you liked the Craptacular B-Sides at one point somewhere?

If so, I might just break my rule of not going over $3 a comic book.

Just this one time, mind! (Although, this subject matter couldn't be of less interest to me.)

[Rich Johnston]

Originally posted by WebHobbit
Hmmmmmm. I dunno. I am a fan of Rich Johnston's column. I find his writing amusing. I read it every week. I'd like to read a comic by him...but this looks like an easy target. A tired liberal viewpoint. An "outsider" takes a satirical look at the "gun culture" of America.

Sorry but NOT all gun owners are KKK members, Nazis or hicks.

For many of us it's about self-defense and taking on the responsibility of protecting our own families & loved ones...but then they don't have those kind of rights over there do they?

So I guess they just wouldn't understand.

This is not a series of easy satirical jabs, there's as much celebration as there is ridicule. It's looking at the concept of family in different circumstances. It has more to do with The Addams Family than Bowling for Columbine.

[Rich Johnston]

Originally posted by Rabbot
Well being one of those "tired liberals" doesn't preclude myself from agree with you. The whole foreigners eyes with a "loving" tribute to the wacky gun toting Americans makes me thankful comics are an ignored medium

That being said, I'll reserve judgement until I've read it. Unfotunately having being fairly familiar with Johnston's views on Americans on the WEF for several years, I can see where this is going. Hope I'm wrong.

Does this include my "I love America and I love Americans" monologue?

[Rich Johnston]

Originally posted by OcCaM
Perhaps, but wasn't it you who also said that you liked the Craptacular B-Sides at one point somewhere?

If so, I might just break my rule of not going over $3 a comic book.

Just this one time, mind! (Although, this subject matter couldn't be of less interest to me.)

Yup. Really liked B-Sides. Wished that promised second series had happened. Holed Up has some shared Venn Diagram with B-Sides, the concept of togetherness beiong more important that seperate-ness.

Ouch, that hurt.

[Smeggy]

Originally posted by Rich Johnston
Where?

This is a story about family uber alles. No generalisations are made about white American Southerners.

I hope you'll find it entertaining.

Who the fuck are you kidding? A confederate belt buckle and a kid with a KKK jack in the box?