MOVING INTO GØDLAND WITH JOE CASEY

[MattBrady]

Announced last week, Joe Casey will team with artist Tom Scioli for GØDLAND, a new monthly at Image starting in June that looks to recapture the Jack Kirby/Jim Starlin/Steve Gerber cosmic vibe of years past.

Case in point - the solicitation for the first issue reads:

BOOK ONE: COSMIC WHEELS IN MOTION - Adam Archer is Earth's star-powered champion. But what does his existence mean for the rest of humanity? And how long until the rest of the universe takes notice? Mind-altering aliens! Surreal super-villains! All-out action! The greatest heroic epic of the new age begins here! One issue of GØDLAND and you'll be hooked!

We caught up with Casey to talk about the origin of the series, as well as get a peek inside issue #1.

Newsarama: Obviously, the typical first question about a new project is even more appropriate with a project this…unique. So – where did this come from? We’ve pretty much seen that, when unfettered, your imagination and creative streak head toward the…different, but was there any particular seed that was planted and grew into this?

Joe Casey: Well, it really started when Erik Larsen ascended to publisher at Image. Pretty much the next day, I called him up for two reasons. 1) To make fun of him being the man in charge, and 2) to talk about possibly doing something new at Image. It's no secret that they really have the best deal on the block when it comes to creator-owned comic books. Erik hooked me up with Tom Scioli and in no time we were off and running. I'd already loved Tom's work on Myth of 8-Opus and his strengths as an artist naturally lean towards that type of big, cosmic epic. That's basically where GØDLAND started.

NRAMA: Speaking of the Image deal with creator-owned comics, how important is that to you when you're looking for a publisher of a new project? Obviously, while they've got a great deal in terms of creator-ownership, your book won't have the marketing backing of a DC or Marvel...

JC: Actually, that "great deal" is everything. I feel like I've worked with just about every publisher out there, involving deals of every permutation. But at Image, it's all back end money - if any, so if that's the case, it just makes sense that the creators own the property 100%. I don't think Tom or I have any illusions about GØDLAND being anything other than a comic book. But that's fine with us. We just want to do our book and not answer to anyone but ourselves, and hopefully the readers who buy it. There's certainly no pressure from Image to come up with a book that'll make a great movie or video game. Erik Larsen and his crew just want to see some good, fun comic books and I can relate to that.

NRAMA: Moving over to your partner on the series, obviously, Tom’s style will play a large role in the story as well, in regards to the content and the approach you’re taking. How involved was Tom in the process from the start?

JC: The material that Tom is interested in drawing was exactly the kind of material I felt like writing. I would bounce some ideas off him, he would send back sketches. Tons of sketches. His imagination is so wild, I couldn't wait to tap into some of that energy and write a series that would showcase it. I had a vague idea of what this series could be, and when I talked to Tom and we discussed those ideas everything started to fall into place. The premise, the characters, the villains, the storyline. It's been a very cool, organic process.

NRAMA: Play stream of consciousness with me - what style of story, or elements does Tom's art evoke in you?

JC: Tom's great in that he doesn't shy away from drawing anything. He's been completely game to go anywhere with this series, and so we have. And I do think we're putting out a comic book that belongs to a particular sub-genre of superhero books: the Cosmic Epic. In the same way Asian cinema contains a sub-genre like Heroic Bloodshed - the early John Woo action flicks fall under this category. We're just following a tradition, a path that's been walked by Kirby, Starlin, Englehart, Gerber...

NRAMA: And it was kind of in this way that it all got started? You gave him some ideas, he sketched, and things started to gel – that is, you got as much inspiration from him as from your original ideas?

JC: Pretty much, yeah. I had some story ideas and the main character, and he and I just started riffing from there. He sent me sketches of about a million different characters, and I picked out the ones I responded to and we developed them from there. In fact, some of his character designs sparked actual story ideas in me, and it becomes very much a snowball effect. Now we're both just taking the ride.

NRAMA: Admittedly, Tom's got his own style, but his Kirby influence is on his sleeve somewhat. Are you worried that people will look at this as a Captain Victory/late era Kirby knock off or attempt, and just pass it off?

JC: I'm not too worried, because I love that stuff. Y'know, the first issue of Captain Victory was a big book for me when I was a kid. I thought it was really cool at the time. And all that 70's-era Kirby Marvel work... well, there's a reason they've been collected those books recently: because they're great comics. And Tom's own work, the Myth of 8-Opus material, is such great stuff that's found a small but dedicated audience - one that will hopefully grow even larger.

As for being a Kirby knock off... well, aren't all superhero comics basically Kirby knock offs in some way, shape or form? The ones that aren't... well, they're probably not the superhero comics I'm all that interested in reading. Besides, when I first broke into mainstream comics, I worked with an artist that people were saying the exact same thing about, calling him on his Kirby influences... that was Ladronn on Cable. I think that collaboration turned out pretty good.

NRAMA: The press release name-checked Warlock, and New Gods, to name two. What did those books have that you're hoping to pull into GØDLAND?

JC: Like I said, the Cosmic Epic has been a part of comic books since their creation. In the ‘70s, probably thanks to a healthy bit of drug use, the sub-genre really came into its own. The best thing about this kind of series is that anything is possible; no idea is too far out. I mean, c'mon... Pip the Troll? But it worked and worked beautifully.

NRAMA: Going back to the collaborative process, given that you’re pulling inspiration from Tom’s art, is that affecting how you’re writing the series at all?

JC: Yeah - I'm writing GØDLAND in a way I've never really written comic books before. I'm writing plot-style as opposed to full script. Tom's a writer himself, so I wanted to take advantage of that. Working this way, Tom has tons of freedom to pace the story, and then I come in afterward and dialogue the whole thing. It's been great, because I can react to what he's given me and add a totally fresh coat of paint with the dialogue. I don't know if this is the kind of fun they were having at Marvel in the ‘60s, but if it's the right match of writer, artist and subject matter, you can really produce something much greater than just the sum of its parts.

NRAMA: Can you explain some of the changes you've made, say, in the first issue? Are you saying that Tom makes you see a scene in a manner you hadn't before? That kind of thing, and then you can react accordingly by adding dialogue?

JC: Well, the story always stays the same. Tom's talents lie in his storytelling. I don't have to tell him shots or angles; I just tell him what happens and let him take it from there. This is not the kind of series that depends too much on subtle characterizations, but when I need that, I just specify it in the plot and Tom delivers. His pages just excite me when I see them, so I relish the opportunity to write dialogue specifically fueled by that excitement.

NRAMA: Explain the format in which you're writing a little more – as the press release said, this isn’t “decompressed” at all?

JC: It's funny that we even have to even talk about this. I'm just writing a comic book that hopefully works in the same way other classic superhero series have worked in the past. Lots of action, characterization on the run, plenty of spectacle. Most superhero comic books used to be that way, didn't they? Again, there's no intention to reinvent the wheel here. Good superhero comics ain't broke, folks. They never were. When they're done right, there's nothing that needs to be "fixed" about them.

NRAMA: If you're looking to write stories that are cosmic in scope, and self-contained, why stick with a monthly series, rather than, say, a series of OGNs or periodic 48 or 72 page specials?

JC: Well, I didn't say they were self-contained, so much as that each issue will strive to give you the bang for your buck. A complete experience, but still leaving you wanting more. I think that's how you get readers back every month. Granted, there's definitely a larger story being told, but we want each chapter to have it all: sex, violence, humor, characterization, visual eye candy, progressive ideas. That's what my favorite superhero comic books gave me when I was a kid.

NRAMA: So – moving back to the pitch: Adam Archer – superhero, but...something more, right?

JC: Adam is the first cosmically-powered superhero. Now, in a world already populated with other superpowered characters, both good and evil -- like Crashman, Discordia, Basil Cronus and Friedrich Nickelhead -- one more superhero isn't all that unique. But there's something about Adam that has everyone... the government, the average man on the street, even his own family... a little on edge. You're right, he is more than just a superhero, but no one -- not even Adam himself -- knows exactly what he is or what he means in the galactic scheme of things...

NRAMA: Where did Adam get his powers/come from?

JC: Adam Archer was an astronaut, and the lone survivor of the first manned mission to Mars. Over the first few issues, we actually see his origin play out in flashbacks, how he tripped a cosmic trigger that not only bestowed upon him these fantastic powers, but also alerted the rest of the universe that our little blue planet has now joined the wider cosmic community. That makes Adam as much a target as it does a hero. It's a bit of Arthur C. Clarke meets ‘70s-era Jim Starlin, pushed through the Casey-Scioli filter. Whatever that is...

NRAMA: How did the other superheroes on Adam's world get their powers?

JC: The typical ways. Bitten by radioactive mosquitoes, caught in quantum explosions, born into power, drinking sour milk, etc.

NRAMA: Your description of Adam - not to swing to spiritual/existentialist on it, or likewise too comic booky/copyright infringement...but are you saying he's something along the lines of "cosmically aware?"

JC: He's got the potential for a wider awareness, but a major thread of the series is Adam learning exactly what he's capable of, what he means to the Universe in general, and what he means for humanity. In issue #1, Adam operates more as your typical superhero... but the arrival of the first alien life form on Earth is the first step in Adam's journey to becoming much more than that.

NRAMA: Why is everyone on edge about him? Is it that he's just too powerful? Kind of the "god among men" riff?

JC: Absolutely. It's the logical reaction to a being that's on such a higher level than the rest of us... fear. There's a reason the government builds him a state-of-the-art skyscraper headquarters... and it's not out of altruism.

NRAMA: From whom does Adam attract attention when his trigger is switched? Are we talking other races and aliens that note that someone on earth has the power, or are we talking about it causing some creatures/aliens to come to town, gunning for him?

JC: Absolutely. Of course, it's not completely about aliens gunning for him. Some races are definitely benevolent, ready to welcome Adam into the greater cosmic community and, in some cases, protect him from possible aggressors.

NRAMA: Is there going to be anyone to explain his power and situation to him, or does he just "know?"

JC: We see his origin story through flashbacks, so readers will definitely get an idea of the extent of his powers - at least at first. They'll see that Adam was trained, to a certain degree, by the aliens who gave him his powers. But the overall mystery of how Adam fits into the grander scheme of things is what drives the series.

NRAMA: Is Adam alone in all of this? Is there a wife, friends, or family?

JC: Adam's "support team" consists of his three younger sisters, Neela, Stella and Angie. In a sense, they've been "drafted" by the government to be that support staff. And some of them aren't too happy about it. Neela, the oldest sister, was an astronaut just like Adam was... but because of the tragic outcome of his Mars mission, she's been permanently grounded. That particular resentment will play itself out early in the series.

NRAMA: Who do you see this book appealing to, both in story and art?

JC: You can never predict these things. I can't, anyway. We're just happy that GØDLAND is in some really good company, with other Image superhero books like Larsen's Savage Dragon, Kirkman's Invincible, and Jay Faerber's Noble Causes. I really loved Firebreather and Battle Hymn looks great, too. These are books telling real stories about substantial, lasting characters, not just creating "properties" or concepts that are so blatantly geared towards getting optioned for some other media. So, I guess all I really feel like saying about that is... if you like good comics, I think we've got one.

NRAMA: Kirby and Starlin worked well in the '70s, but there haven't been too many tries at cosmic since. Why now? Why do you think it worked then, and do you think there are similar elements in the audience to make it work now?

JC: I have no idea if GØDLAND will find a sustainable audience. I've certainly thrown my hat into the ring with original creations to know what a crap shoot it is. But this is the kind of series that I'd like to read right now. Since no one else was doing it... I figured if I wanted to see a book like this, I'd have to do it myself. I think it's got a decent chance of finding its place in the market for the same reason those books worked back in the day... because it's a style of story that demands to be ahead of the cultural curve. They can make movies of Spider-Man, Superman and the Fantastic Four so our job is to push things even further... come up with things that it'll take Hollywood another 50 years to catch up with.

[Batmite79]

Hey, this see,s really sweet! I'm a big fan of Joe Casey, and this is the first Image title in a long while that I have any interest in getting!

Although, I am tempted to pick up the new Shadowhawk run...

But this looks great!

[colecash]

You can always count on Joe Casey to get you excited about one of his upcoming projects. I think its the fact that he himself is so hyped up about it too that really gets me buzzing about G0dland. And, from the preview pages it does have an excellant old school vibe too it which i've kinda missed since the Ladronn/Casey days.

Can't wait to meet Joe in Bristol in May either! Thats pretty much made my year! He's definitely one of the best and most imaginative writers in the industry these days, and certainly not afraid to try something a little different.

[kingofcities]

This looks like some wacky cosmic fun. Casey, as always, has me excited about his new project. I will definitely be checking this book out.

[JONAS]

I hope that Casey realises that the letter "Ø" is NOT pronaunced "but" more like "ehe". Ask any Scandinavian. The same goes for letters like "å" and "ö". Dotts over letters and slashed through latetrs makes the letter into a TOTALY different letter.

The book sounds kind of cool though.

[B Buchanan]

Casey is right. This is the kind of book that has been missing from the shelves for some time now. It's nice to see him wanting to do a book because it's the kind of book he'd really like to see out there. That's kind of my approach to by book WESTERN GOTHIC . It was a book whose time had come, but since nobody else was doing it (back when in 98-99) Mike Hoffman and I decided to do it.

Also it's great to see Tom Scioli taking his turn at bat in the big leagues.
First with Freedom Force and now teaming up with someone as big named as Casey. I've met Tom a few times at S.P.A.C.E and elsewhere and he just keeps getting better and better. You can't go wrong riffing on Kirby. Most of which has to do with him beng a drawing machine. I'd like to see him sink his graphite into doing a 1963 type of book somewhere down the line.

[I am MODOK]

This looks awesome. I've been on a big 70s Kirby kick recently, getting the the Black Panther TPB, Machine Man, and New Gods TPBs.

This is going on my sublist.

[Bakema NL]

I'm enjoying the Freedom force comic so much right now...........I'm in for this one too, looks great. So very different than anything else out there, but on the other hand it's so familiar because all the stuff in the hey-day used to look like this.........it's cool to go back sometimes, but it's also a bold step forward.

[Batmite79]

Originally posted by JONAS
I hope that Casey realises that the letter "Ø" is NOT pronaunced "but" more like "ehe". Ask any Scandinavian. The same goes for letters like "å" and "ö". Dotts over letters and slashed through latetrs makes the letter into a TOTALY different letter.

The book sounds kind of cool though.

I always thought he was using the 'Ø' as a zero. Quite often, a '/' is added through the centre to distinguish it from the letter 'O'.

[DF2506]

Wow! This looks cool!

I love the Kirby-like art (one of the big draws of the current Savage Dragon to me. Of course this is even more so Kirby! Cosmic Kirby!).

Plus: the story and dialogue seem really good!

I definitly have to check out #1 of this!

DF2506
" Oh great! Another comic for me to read! lol! "