TALKING MADAME XANADU WITH AMY HADLEY

[MattBrady]

by Brendan McGuirk

Last month, we brought you the first word on a new Madame Xanadu series coming from Vertigo, written by Matt Wagner, with art by Amy (Fool’s Gold) Hadley. We spoke with Wagner back then, and now, we catch up with his collaborator on the series and take a look at some of her designs.

Newsarama: Amy, first off, how did this project come about?

Amy Hadley- Brandon Montclare’s probably the biggest reason I’ve gotten this chance. He was an editor at Tokyopop, and actually had a hand in my being published with them as well. From what I hear, he fought my way into their competition anthology Rising Stars of Manga, and motivated other editors to let me do a series when it seemed I’d been lost in the cracks. So when he moved to DC, and then to Vertigo, he wanted to find a project for me, something with a writer who’d be collaborative so that I could showcase my storytelling. Bob Schreck and Karen Berger were also really supportive, and eventually Bob and Brandon enlisted Matt Wagner. And who could say no to Matt?

NRAMA: As you said, and as we’ve talked about before, you’re known for your work with Tokyopop – was moving into what’s seen as the more “traditional” American comics publishers something you were wanting to do?

AH: I actually didn’t think much about working in mainstream American comics until the mainstream approached me. I’d done some sample pages for a couple Marvel titles before this and it really opened my mind to how many awesome comics there were out there, when all I’d ever read was manga. So I’m sort of ashamed to say that before then, I was pretty closed minded at the idea.

NRAMA: So what can you tell us about your collaboration with Matt Wagner? How has working with someone with skills both as a writer and an artist helped your transition?

AH: Man, I’m so glad I’ve gotten this chance to work with him! I’ve only gotten as far as the layouts for issue one, but I’ve read a few of Matt’s plots and I have to say, they are very easy to read, and very imaginative. He’s an artist, so his ideas are pretty visual, which works well for me. Since he writes plot-first, it reads more like a novel than your typical comics’ script that’s laid out panel by panel. That, for me, is much easier to follow and put on a page! And he’s not your typical comics’ creator, which is nice, because it makes him more open to unorthodox ideas. I can’t wait to see what I learn from him!

NRAMA: Coming in, what are your notions on Xanadu and the Phantom Stranger?

AH: From what I’ve learned, they’re both at the aid of humankind, both immortal, a bit mysterious and solitary, and aren’t on the best of terms with each other. This series will be from Xanadu’s point of view, and because of that, I want to focus a little on who she is, versus who she presents herself to be, as well as address her loss of innocence as she passes through the centuries. The Stranger will be fun, because he’s pretty distant to be a love interest, and that sort of subtlety can make for a lot of conflict.

I’m a sap, so I mostly look forward to the more personal moments between them.

NRAMA: What were your "gateway" comics? Were you a reader of American comics as a kid, or were you someone who found a love of comics in the Manga- invasion?

AH: I really didn’t get into comics until after college, which is pretty recent—I mean, I graduated in 2003! My first comic, which to this day is my favorite, is a manga called Paradise Kiss. It’s a five-volume romantic comedy about a conservative girl who gets mixed up with a group of quirky fashion school students.

NRAMA: Your previous work, Fool's Gold, is a teen romance OEL comic. Manga, both imported and original, has had greater success than what is often thought of as "mainstream" comics in garnering a female audience. Vertigo has had similar success. As a female creator, what are your thoughts on the gender gap, and how does it inform your own work, if at all?

AH: Honestly, I feel lucky enough that my introduction to comics was through comics meant especially for women and girls, because it’s helped me to be able to create comics that are distinctly me without feeling like the girliness of it is anything unusual or daring.

I’m a strong proponent of bringing a female audience to comics, and a typical female audience at that—not just girls who happen to be unique enough to notice that comics are for them, too. I really hope that, one day, comics will be as common as films. You need a female audience to accomplish that. Nobody asks if you watch movies. And although some films bring in more of a female audience and vice versa, it’s not quite so polarized. Vertigo does a good job of publishing intelligent comics, and I think intelligent stories bridge the gap between male and female. That’s the goal, I think—not to alienate either sex.

NRAMA: What can you tell us about the stylistic changes or evolutions you have had to go through for Vertigo comics? For example, how different is laying out a page for something digest sized versus the standard page size?

AH: I’ve had to work a bit on drawing mature male faces, but I actually wouldn’t consider that stylistic as much as just generally improving within my own style. I think style is one of those things you can’t really force—you draw what makes sense to you, and then it’ll make sense to others. And actually, laying out the page isn’t terribly different for me, either. I try to keep the panel number just as low as I do on my own series. The main differences would be that I try to make things more straight-forward because color is more complex, and the layouts are slightly different when even and odd pages change. What I mean by that is that with Fool’s Gold, I make it a point to bleed toward the spine of the book as little as possible, but I have a little more freedom with that for Madame Xanadu, because the advertisements in issues change all that.

NRAMA: As an artist, does the fact that you will be producing for a different audience than you have in the past affect your approach? Do you feel pressured by different expectations?

AH: I do feel pressured, definitely, and I guess my main goal from those expectations would be to prove that what I do can be done in Madame Xanadu, and done well. I hope that my art and storytelling style will work with fantasy and action and attract an older audience of both genders. So my approach is to be the best kind of me I can offer, and not allow myself to be overwhelmed by thoughts of how I fit in.

NRAMA: What can you tell us about Fool's Gold 2, and when should we expect it?

AH: I just finished Fool’s Gold 2, and I can tell you that I am extremely proud of it. It took me over a year to make, longer than the first book, and a lot happens. I have no doubts it will surprise people. And even though it’s a romance, I give you a no-mush guarantee. It comes out in early December!

[Groovie Mann]

those pages look so nice i'm buying this madame xanadu book.

[JLAJRC]

I like the manga influence, but does MX have to look like a teenager?

[batlash]

Can't decide. The art doesn't immediately wow me, but it wouldn't be the first time I've come to like something that made a so-so first impression. Of course, it's Matt Wagner. And it's Vertigo. I'll almost certainly give it a try.

[Korvac]

I liked that she had a nose from the side, but was saddened that her nose disappeared when she turned her head.

[beetle1million]

So does this mean Madame Xanadu is going to be exiled from the regular DCU with Swamp Thing?

Cause that's hardly worth it.

[Electrohead]

I'm going to tryout a few issues, Wagner is sometimes hit or miss for me. And he's only around for the 1st 10 issues anyway. I wonder who the 2nd writer is going to be, or maybe they have to see how this sells first.

[Michael Ridd]

Really looking forward to this. I wish the Phantom Stranger panels were in color.

[theodoros]

Matt Wagner is one of my favorite creators, he gave us an interesting Sandman.

But the manga style... it doesn't excite me...

[Masked Vigilante]

I am pretty excited about this book. I can't wait.

[GCarbone]

I will try this based on how much I loved Sandman Mystery Theatre, which I think was Wagner's last Vertigo work but I am not sure. Plus it uses a DC universe character in the Vertigo universe which has a decent track record (Sandman, Swamp Thing, John Constantine)

[cncoyle]

I almost hate to say it, but I think the Infinite Crisis changes for this character (making her blind) actually made her more interesting.

[n8twing]

I think the art is stunningly beautiful.

But - er, here's the bad news - I don't think it's right for Madame Xanadu. I always imagined her so sure of herself and wordly - but this MX looks like a magna teen. The art is fantastic, but I can't trick my mind into accepting her as MX.

I'd love to give the series a chnace to prove me wrong tho.

[gwangung]

Originally Posted by n8twing

I think the art is stunningly beautiful.

But - er, here's the bad news - I don't think it's right for Madame Xanadu. I always imagined her so sure of herself and wordly - but this MX looks like a magna teen. The art is fantastic, but I can't trick my mind into accepting her as MX.

I'd love to give the series a chnace to prove me wrong tho.

Kinda depends on when these scenes were placed....if it was when she WAS a teen, looking like a teen wouldn't be out of place...

[lunchbooks]

Originally Posted by gwangung

Kinda depends on when these scenes were placed....if it was when she WAS a teen, looking like a teen wouldn't be out of place...

Exactly.

As for me ...

I´ve only seen Madame Xanadu and the Phantom Stranger here and there in the big crossovers and know near to nothing about them, but Mr Wagner and Ms Hadley just got themselves a reader.
I accept a style, because it is well done in terms of anatomy and storytelling, if not my taste, as long as it serves the story well. Or it grows on me, because while reading I recognize it´s beauty designwise, in it´s storytelling or I realize how it´s parts actually fit together - after I get used to it.
And then there´s cases like this, where I just fall in love with the artwork. It´s full of details and the layout pages look very promising and well designed. And the character studies ... an artist able of giving his characters a wide range of facial expressions has already managed the greatest part of winning me over. ( And I hope we see the wizard, the fairy and the pretty lady with the talons on her feet in the series, too. )

[PhilipAMoore]

I love this art it looks like a combination Josh Middelton and Charles Vess I was already looking forward to this series now I have to wipe the drool of my key Board DARN IT .

good day

[SageShini]

That its a kind of romance makes me less interested but eh...Phantom Stranger is a cool character, Matt Wagner is a great writer, and this art is pretty so I'll give it a shot.

Hope the artist has gotten some tough skin. Most comic book fans, unlike manga fans, have no concept of, "If I don't like a book, I just don't read it". I just know there's a group of Madame Xanadu fans SOMEWHERE out there just waiting to insult this book if they don't like it.

[GeorgeG]

Instead of Vertigo, why not put this in the CMX line?

[greenflameuk]

Love the art, i'll definitely be picking this series up.

[PhilipAMoore]

Originally Posted by GeorgeG

Instead of Vertigo, why not put this in the CMX line?

CMX line is for manga titles only dc so far from what I have seen has managed to keep it imports its not about art stile . I commend them for that.

Vertigo has always been a group of titles that both confirm and deny there connections to DC There are no superheros even when at one time they had them. Swamp Thing Hellblazer, Zatanna and Timothy Hunter have all stradeld the line of reguler DC and self contained universes sometimes with sucsses but most deny the connection. that is what this series will do is stradel. I dont see it denying its past but I dont see superman or Batman getting a card reading either

good day

[Clea]

The art looks terrific. I'm really looking forward to this new series.

[hondo]

and this doesn't help.

It's not bad art, it's just not to my taste, esp with Madame Xanadu. A different interpretation is fine, but I don't recognize this as being anywhere close to MX.

Pass, at least for now.

[Shane Davis]

those pages look fantastic , the layouts have a great flow and the division of space is great .


....and yes Brandon Montclare will be claiming my first born .

[Floodnado]

Originally Posted by SageShini

Hope the artist has gotten some tough skin. Most comic book fans, unlike manga fans, have no concept of, "If I don't like a book, I just don't read it". I just know there's a group of Madame Xanadu fans SOMEWHERE out there just waiting to insult this book if they don't like it.

Yeah, she seems like a really nice girl and her art looks nice and fits the series' tone (romance and Madame Xanadu's past) pretty well. I'd hate to see her first foray into American comics ruined by the same type of idiot fans that drove Dan Slott from this place and constantly berated Jamal Igle whenever he'd show up in a Firestorm topic during his and Stuart Moore's run.

[haldo]

Originally Posted by theodoros

Matt Wagner is one of my favorite creators, he gave us an interesting Sandman.

But the manga style... it doesn't excite me...

From my header, you can see what I like. Just being honest.

However, this art doesn't have the unexplainedly Japanese "big eye" style, horrific kiddie porn obsession, or infantilism I usually equate with manga comics, so it isn't immediately repulsive. IMO.

I can get behind the fantasy style for a while, if it's in the service of a good story. And Matt Wagner can deliver that.

P. Craig Russell stuff - fantastic! There's plenty of good fantasy material out there! Go for it!!

But... why are her eyes so far apart?

(Sorry, I had to say it. It looks weird to me.)

P.S. Yeah, she BETTER have a thick skin. I'm a lightweight meanie on these boards.