MIKE ALLRED TALKS REVIVING STARDUST FOR THE NEXT ISSUE PROJECT

[MattBrady]

by Zack Smith

The Golden Age of Comics created such characters as Superman, Batman and Captain America…and hundreds if not thousands of other characters of all genres who filled out the 64-page books of the time. While some are still around today, many were gone after just one appearance.

Until now.

In December, Image will release the first volume of The Next Issue Project, a new anthology dedicated to literally picking up where the Golden Age left off. Here, modern-day creators offer their own takes on the strangest, coolest, most downright crazy characters of the 1940s.

We got to chat with a couple of the contributors to volume one, Fantastic Comics #24. First up is Madman auteur Mike Allred, who teams with Image’s Joe Keatinge to revive Fletcher Hanks. What happens when the man behind Madman is let loose on one of comics’ most insane creations? Read on to find out.

Newsarama: Mike, for those who aren’t familiar with the character, what's the low-down on Stardust?

Mike Allred: Stardust was a very strange simultaneously morose and goofy super space wizard created by the equally enigmatic Fletcher Hanks.

NRAMA: What appealed to you about the character?

MA: There's a unique made-up-as -he-went-along kind of vibe to the stories that I find fascinating and even a little scary…almost like a crazy person is holding the pencil. You just have to keep going with it.

NRAMA: How'd you come to be involved with this project?

MA: Erik Larsen and Joe Keatinge asked if I'd be interested. Joe had a killer script and it was exactly the kind of project that could tempt off some of my time. Also, it was the perfect opportunity to do some experimentation with my art and storytelling.

NRAMA: Were you familiar with Stardust before taking this on?

MA: Yeah. I'd just picked up the Fantagraphics Stardust collection, so the
character was very much on my radar.

NRAMA: What did you make of Fletcher Hanks' old stories after your first exposure to them?

MA: "What the...?!"

NRAMA: That’s…that’s a lot of people’s response. What are the challenges of trying to recapture the madness that is Fletcher Hanks?

MA: The main challenge is to meld my style with his without making a flat-out copy. For instance, Hanks drew Stardust with a ridiculously tiny head sitting on a massively muscular neck. With my style I've always tried to balance realism with pure cartooning. So, I had to find a comfortable juxtaposition. I'm pretty sure I'm there.

NRAMA: What can readers expect from your story?

MA: Well, I feel it's very dreamlike. It has a mix of styles that range from old school pulpy to a kind of kinescope animated feel. I'm very happy with it so far, as we wrap it up this week.

NRAMA: What are some other Golden Age characters you'd like to work on?
MA: The original Daredevil, The Black Terror, The Green Lama...,actually, this Stardust story manages to squeeze a lot of them in there.

NRAMA: With many Golden Age characters falling into the public domain, we're seeing a lot of revivals of them in comics – Terra Obscura and Superpowers, for example and Marvel and DC bringing back their older properties for books such as Justice Society and The Twelve. Why do you feel these characters, even very obscure ones, hold such appeal in the modern era? For that matter, why do you feel Golden Age-style storytelling remains so compelling?

MA: It's the charm, innocence, and naiveté, I'm sure. The world is so complicated. But you dig out those old musty comics and it feels like a simpler four-color world.

NRAMA: What's the craziest Golden Age story you've ever read?

MA: I couldn't even say. But these old Stardust stories would rank at the
top of any list I could put together, I'm sure.

NRAMA: Who, in your mind, is a Golden Age creator whose work remains underrated?

MA: I used to feel Jack Cole was underrated. He's one of the very, very best. But in recent years he's been getting his due between Art Spiegleman's New Yorker essay and DC comics archive collections of his Plastic Man stuff. Mac Raboy was a masterful artist that, as praised as he is, surely needs more of a spotlight.

NRAMA: Definitely – it’s been great to see his Captain Marvel, Jr. material reprinted at DC. Now, many of the Golden Age comics were produced in a mad rush, with some 64-page books being gang-banged out in a single weekend. Though these were obviously far from ideal conditions, what's your take on the creative energy that you find in some of these stories?

MA: Impossible! They must have had sweat running down their arms into the ink.

NRAMA: That…probably happened.

Since the last time we talked, your Teen Titans project has finally gotten a release date as a “Lost Annual”. How does that feel?

MA: Fanatastic! But color me cynical on this one, as opposed to (my) usually
optimistic self. Until it's in my eager hands I'm in "I'll believe it when I see it" mode.

NRAMA: What's next for you?

MA: It's all about Madman Atomic Comics, Daddy-O! And then using whatever spare time I have working on The Golden Plates and moving The Madman Movie a little closer to production.

NRAMA: Finally – why should people check out The Next Issue Project?

MA: From my point of view, it looks like a kicky good time. I'm happy with our contribution, and I'm excited to see what everyone else has come up with.

Next: Jim Rugg from The PLAIN Janes and Street Angel on Captain Kidd

[BillReed]

Awesome! And Jim Rugg!?!? AWESOMER

[Alex Cruz]

Wou, Allred is hallucinate hard with the marihuana, is traveling in same flight that Moebius.

[astronato]

This looks and sounds terrific. I am going to go buy the Fletcher Hanks collection in preparation. Me love crazy!

[astronato]

Originally Posted by Alex Cruz

Wou, Allred is hallucinate hard with the marihuana, is traveling in same flight that Moebius.

I will have some of what you and he are smoking!

[bkbirge]

I've got the Fletcher Hanks collection, that is some crazy stuff. In the sense of he comes across as a bit of a sociopath. I'm sure whatever Allred does will be twice as good as Hanks would have come up with.

[Blackbeard]

Oh, man... I cannot wait to read this book!

[Northstar04]

This is going to be amazing.

I first discovered Stardust in the book Art Out of Time: Unknown Comic Visionaries 1900-1969, then in the reprint Stardust comics published by Fantagraphics. It's eye candy for any die hard super hero fan.

Allred is perfect for this project.

[nolanjwerner]

The proportions are all off.

His chest has to alternate between 60 inches and like 140 inches.

And his height should move between 7 and 10 feet tall.


LOL

[superluminal]

Here's a pretty good website with a lot of Stardust information, including copies of all his Golden Age appearances.

http://www.themysterywalk.com/Stardu...cter-Page.html

[Equinox]

Allred on Stardust equal teh sex. Color me bought.

[nonamesleft]

Looks stoney.

[haldo]

I've got the collection, my LCS guy talked me into it. Not only a great comic, truly mind-bending, but the production is outstanding. Stardust meted out justice like he invented the idea. "Sometimes Stardust makes the Spectre look tame!" is what my guy at Comics Dungeon, Seattle, says.

And the backstory about the cartoonist going to meet FH's son is fantastic.

Highly recommended.

No mind-altering substances needed. ("But they might help.")

[nolanjwerner]

Originally Posted by haldo

I've got the collection, my LCS guy talked me into it. Not only a great comic, truly mind-bending, but the production is outstanding. Stardust meted out justice like he invented the idea. "Sometimes Stardust makes the Spectre look tame!" is what my guy at Comics Dungeon, Seattle, says.

And the backstory about the cartoonist going to meet FH's son is fantastic.

Highly recommended.

No mind-altering substances needed. ("But they might help.")

Fletcher Hanks is a mind altering substance.

[Zadillo]

I'd definitely recommend that Fletcher Hanks collection. I probably would have skipped over it if not for the awesome title, "I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets".

Crazy stuff. Can't wait to see what Allred does with this.

[Kon-EL]

Does anybody else find it strange that 3 different companies have titles out all at the same time dealing with forgotton characters from the Golden and Silver age of comics?

1/ Superpowers (Dynamite)
2/ The Twelve (Marvel)
3/ The Next Issue Project (Image)

Seriously this is freaky!

[Nate-Earth 2]

Hell Yes!! I love Mike Allred's work on Madman, and i just picked up the Fletcher Hanks "I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets!" book by Fantagraphics, and its crazy stuff! I"d defintely get this.

[Blackbeard]

Originally Posted by Kon-EL

Does anybody else find it strange that 3 different companies have titles out all at the same time dealing with forgotton characters from the Golden and Silver age of comics?

1/ Superpowers (Dynamite)
2/ The Twelve (Marvel)
3/ The Next Issue Project (Image)

Seriously this is freaky!

Freaky good.

[dpg]

Mike Allred is the greatest. If he lived close by I would invite him over for dinner.

[nolanjwerner]

Can someone confirm if this really is in the public domain?

Can someone also confirm if the Nedor heroes are public domain?

My on again off again writing partner was wondering about that.

Or is it just a case of no one wants to enforce the trademark.

[GenerallZodd]

Looks interesting as a mutha. Will definitely check out.

[Alex in London]

I'm well up for this!
So, it's called Stardust and has a character dressed like Miracleman... Does Neil Gaiman know?

[RooJay]

If Allred's there, so am I!

[TheToileteer]

I don't think we're supposed to talk about this stuff outside the Celestial Room.

[Gusnorman]

I absolutely cannot wait! this looks incredible!