WW CHICAGO: GENNDY TARTAKOVSKY TALKS CAGE!

**MattBrady** · 08-10-2007, 12:17 PM

by Troy Brownfield

He’s already revered in fan circles for his work in animation. Consider Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, and Star Wars: Clone Wars, which also led him to multiple Emmy nominations and three wins. He was recently made creative president of The Orphanage, an animation collection that features many Lucasfilm vets; their debut feature is said to be The Power of the Dark Crystal , scheduled for 2008.

Even with all that, Genndy Tartakovsky still has things to do. Like comics. That’s why he’s coming to Marvel Comics and opening CAGE!, a new four-issue mini-series that puts Luke Cage at the center of ’70s-style butt-kicking action first teased a few weeks back in Newsarama's New Joe Fridays. We asked Tartakovsky about the move, his influences, and what other panel-to-panel work he might like to take on.

Newsarama: You're well-known for your various animated series, but how long have you been interested in comics? What are some of your long-time favorites, and from whom, if any, do you draw artistic inspiration?

Genndy Tartakovsky: Well, when I immigrated to America from Russia [Editor’s Note: Tartakovsky was born in Moscow], the first thing that I discovered was TV and comics. The first comic that I bought was Super-Friends based on the TV show, and then from then my passion for comics expanded to Spider-Man, Iron-Man, Fantastic Four. Daredevil and just about everything else. I kind of liked all the various hero books, but what I really followed were the artists. Everything John Byrne drew from the mid seventies on I had to have. Besides the obvious Frank Miller, Jack Kirby, George Perez, Walt Simonson, I really liked the work of Paul Smith on the X-men and Dr, Strange and Michael Golden from Micronauts. For the Cage series, I drew inspiration from the original artists of the book, especially George Tuska and the tone of some of the Blaxpoitation movie posters.

NRAMA: A number of people in television and film have transitioned over to writing comics in recent years. When you already work in a large, moving, visual medium, why do comics still appeal to you in particular?

Tartakovsky: That's a very interesting question. I think for me it's a childhood and adult love for the medium, I still get enormous enjoyment from reading a great written and drawn comic. I also think it is a very personal form of storytelling, in animation it is a huge collaboration, which is cool, but sometimes you have something to say from your own point of view and it is very creatively satisfying to express it with not as many hands in the kitchen.

NRAMA: You'll be working with the character of Luke Cage. What about the character and his cast made him the logical choice for you?

Tartakovsky: Well, I think he is a great character, a man who has persevered through some tough times; he has paid his dues but still gets the short end of the stick. I think these are the qualities that really attracted me to the project. And I've always loved the 70's style of design, I wanted him to go through the ringer and still come back for more. I also wanted to do something with humor and action and Cage presented that opportunity.

NRAMA: Can you describe a little bit about your approach to the series, and why that felt like the right direction for you?

Tartakovsky: I wanted to approach it with a gritty energy. I wanted it to seem like I drew it while I was in prison. Most important to me was the execution of the character and the humor. I feel like humor in comics is extremely difficult, so I concentrated on funny drawings and bizarre situations.

NRAMA: Will you be writing and drawing, or collaborating with others?

Tartakovsky: I will definitely collaborate on the color and the inking, but so far I have been able to write and draw everything.

NRAMA: Is this scheduled to be a mini-series or a larger concern?

Tartakovsky: 4 issue mini-series.

NRAMA: Any other Marvel characters that you'd be interested in taking on?

Tartakovsky: I have always wanted to do Captain America fighting Nazis. I have always been interested in war history, and to put Cap into the trenches was always fascinating for me.

NRAMA: For the people who primarily know you from your television series, what common elements might they see here?

Tartakovsky: I think the tone and pace will be similar to my television work.

NRAMA: Here's your chance: why should the readership check out CAGE! ?

Tartakovsky: Because it is a non-stop thrill ride through the horrific world that is Cage's reality!

Check out Orphange Animation at http://www.theorphanage.com

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FeliciaHardy · 08-10-2007, 05:32 PM

I'd give it a look-see. I LOVE to see him tackle Cap, though.

BanMan · 08-10-2007, 05:32 PM

This should be fun!!

Tartakovsky brought me some of the best cartoons in the last decade or so. I'm a fan for life.

TheJerkle · 08-10-2007, 05:32 PM

That's incredible news. I wish it could be longer

sillythekid · 08-10-2007, 05:36 PM

Holy crap. This should rock.

kalorama · 08-10-2007, 05:37 PM

Decidedly mixed feelings about this. The one thing I liked about Bendis' Avengers was his development of Cage into a credible modern-day character and freeing him from (most) of the enduring stereotypes that formed the foundation of his origins. This seems like a step backwards.

And what the hell does this mean?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Genndy Tartakovsky

I wanted it to seem like I drew it while I was in prison.

sfritz · 08-10-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheJerkle

That's incredible news. I wish it could be longer

Well...he DOES have to finish Samurai Jack, too.

-s

artiepants · 08-10-2007, 05:54 PM

i haven't read the article yet, but my jaw LITERALLY dropped when i read the headline.

The_Adventurer · 08-10-2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalorama

Decidedly mixed feelings about this. The one thing I liked about Bendis' Avengers was his development of Cage into a credible modern-day character and freeing him from (most) of the enduring stereotypes that formed the foundation of his origins. This seems like a step backwards.

Part of Cage/Powerman's appeal (to me) is that he's grounded in 70s street hero archtypes. I rather find todays Bendis written Luke Cage to be too far removed from the classic archtype to be interesting as the same character.

artiepants · 08-10-2007, 05:59 PM

this is such amazing news, Tartakovsky is a frickin' genius. this is BOUGHT as far as i'm concerned. I can't imagine any news coming out of this weekend that can top this for me. "Squeeeeeee!!!!"

wonder if Iron Fist will show up at all (hopes!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalorama

And what the hell does this mean?

I took it as him saying it'd have a rough, edgy, maybe "desperate" quality to the style.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tartakovsky:

I have always wanted to do Captain America fighting Nazis. I have always been interested in war history, and to put Cap into the trenches was always fascinating for me.

oh man, i want to read/see that, like yesterday.

Lot 49 · 08-10-2007, 06:00 PM

That Luke Cage is a bad motherSHUT YOUR MOUTH!!!

I'm just talkin' 'bout Cage...

(WE CAN DIG IT!)

Charlie Hustle · 08-10-2007, 06:02 PM

this will be great

TCJohnson · 08-10-2007, 06:02 PM

How cool is this? This guy is one of the master story tellers in animation. He can take really simple, plain art and does amazing things with it.

Mr. I · 08-10-2007, 06:04 PM

I like the teaser image.

The "rough idea..." one not so much.

Hopefully all of this will lead to more of a push for Cage and more projects, and ultimately a Marvel Studios Cage movie.

And since I'm asking for the moon: I also hope Jessica Jones turns out to be a Skrull so they can get rid of her and the marriage and the baby and all that junk.

Anyway, yay for this and the HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS mini.

EDIT: Oh, and give me a Cage ongoing, dammit.

TF_Loki · 08-10-2007, 06:06 PM

Oh.My. God. I mean you're gonna have to buy it. Even if you think it'll be bad, you'll have to just buy it to see. It's genius. That'll be a top 20 book for the 4 months it's out.

Arion · 08-10-2007, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanMan

This should be fun!!

Tartakovsky brought me some of the best cartoons in the last decade or so. I'm a fan for life.

Dexter's Lab was fun .

vbartilucci · 08-10-2007, 06:14 PM

The only way this could be cooler is if he animates then and puts the link to the films on the last page of each issue.

tesh_karde · 08-10-2007, 06:16 PM

hell yes. i'll be all over this!

Blackbeard · 08-10-2007, 06:19 PM

This is gonna rock! I'll definitely pick it up.

delawarejoel · 08-10-2007, 06:21 PM

That totally looks like the Luke Cage version of Brock Samson from the Venture Brothers.

xdemon · 08-10-2007, 06:23 PM

This should be a blast!

BanMan · 08-10-2007, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbartilucci

The only way this could be cooler is if he animates then and puts the link to the films on the last page of each issue.

That's the only thing that would be better. Hopefully Marvel makes it happen.

Catch22 · 08-10-2007, 06:26 PM

I guess I'm alone here, but...No thanks...I like the semblence of character development that Bendis has given Cage. I hate to see him taken back to being a 70s stereotypical joke of a character.

JLAJRC · 08-10-2007, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbartilucci

The only way this could be cooler is if he animates then and puts the link to the films on the last page of each issue.

I think this would work better as a movie, frankly. The animation style certainly fits it better there than what I'm seeing here.

The_Adventurer · 08-10-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLAJRC

I think this would work better as a movie, frankly. The animation style certainly fits it better there than what I'm seeing here.

What's the difference? Tartakovsky looks fine as static images (maybe better then most current mainstream artiest and their ridiculous "realism" kick).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catch22

I guess I'm alone here, but...No thanks...I like the semblence of character development that Bendis has given Cage. I hate to see him taken back to being a 70s stereotypical joke of a character.

Being archtypical and a product of your time doesn't make you a joke. It makes you awesome.

Being pulling kicking and screaming into unnecessary moderation, that's lamn.