JASON AARON SIGNS EXCLUSIVE WITH MARVEL

[MattBrady]

by Vaneta Rogers

When an unknown writer named Jason Aaron won a Marvel Talent Search in 2002 and was given eight pages to write in an issue of Wolverine, little did anyone (especially him) know he’d be signed as a Marvel exclusive writer less than six years later.

Newsarama has learned that Aaron, who will be writing a four-issue arc of Wolverine beginning with issue #62 and taking over the ongoing series Ghost Rider with Issue #20 – both beginning on Feb. 13 – is now Marvel’s latest writer to sign an exclusive contract with the publisher.

Aaron has been getting a lot of buzz lately as the writer of the 2006 Vertigo mini-series The Other Side, which told the story of both an American and a Vietnamese soldier during the Vietnam War, and the current ongoing Vertigo series Scalped, which explores the seedy side of a Native American reservation. Everyone from Brian K. Vaughan to Garth Ennis to Ed Brubaker have publicly praised Scalped, and as Newsarama found out in Baltimore last year, Aaron’s artists on his recent fill-in issue of Wolverine #56 (Howard Chaykin) and his upcoming arc on Wolverine (Ron Garney) were talking pretty positively about working with him too.

All the buzz seems to have paid off for the writer, who was once labeled as one of the industry’s “up-and-coming” new writers. Now that he’s an official Marvel exclusive, maybe the term up-and-coming doesn’t apply anymore.

We spoke with him about the new deal and his future.

Newsarama: Marvel exclusive? It seems like just last year, you were trying to get people to buy your ongoing. Wait, you were! Jason, how in the world did this happen?

Jason Aaron: Quite simply, Marvel made me one of those "offers you can't refuse." And they didn't even need Luca Brasi holding a gun to my head to get me to sign. It was just too sweet of a deal to pass up.

NRAMA: How does it feel to be on three series at once all of the sudden? And I do mean at once, with two of them hitting at the same time, right?

JA: It feels great to be busy. It's almost like I have a real job now or something. Almost.

NRAMA: Just to clarify right up front for fans of your series Scalped, this isn't going to mean you have to leave the Vertigo series behind, will it?

JA: This deal does not affect Scalped in the slightest, let's get that straight from the get-go. Scalped will continue on and on, just like before. That was the most important stipulation for me when we were first working out the details of the exclusive, and thankfully Marvel was gracious enough to leave me free to continue my work with Vertigo.

NRAMA: Do you think it was your work on Scalped that got you the attention of Marvel? Your one "fill-in" issue of Wolverine, the oversized Issue #56, got a lot of attention from fans and reviewers. Was that issue a try-out of sorts? Or how did this exclusive deal happen?

JA: Yes, it was most definitely my work for Vertigo, on Scalped and The Other Side, that got the attention of Marvel. I know, because I sent copies of those books to Axel Alonso, and then one day he called me and offered me work. And yeah, I think Wolverine #56 was sort of my try-out with Axel. I’m really proud of how that issue turned out, and I guess Marvel liked it too, because from there I was offered Ghost Rider.

NRAMA: For those who aren't familiar with your work, how would you describe your style?

JA: Stealing a line from the great James Ellroy, I'd say I write books for the whole family... if the name of your family happens to be Manson.

NRAMA: [laughs] I was going to take a stab at it, but the best I can could come up with is, "happy-go-lucky-character writer, he ain't."

JA: That's not bad. In reality, I'm about as happy-go-lucky as they come. But my characters almost never are. What can I say – I like characters that are flawed and tortured. I like stories that have an edge. That said, I definitely don't think of myself as a one-trick pony in terms of what I'm capable of as a writer. I like challenges, and I hope I have a lot of them ahead of me.

NRAMA: Well, I remember you had said in a prior interview that you like taking chances and telling fresh, exciting stories, even if they're a little controversial. Certainly, tackling the Vietnam War from "both sides" in The Other Side and doing a series about the hard life on a Native American reservation in Scalped were both risky yet really unique stories to choose. Is that something you're hoping to bring to your work at Marvel?

JA: Well, it's obviously a different beast when I’m dealing with company-owned characters as opposed to my creator-owned work. I’m not about to go seeking out controversy, but I definitely won't shy away from telling hard-edged stories either. With Ghost Rider, I'm learning as I go along just what I can and can't get away with. Why, just this week I was writing a scene where Blaze hits this guy over and over again in the face with a… well, you’ll just have to wait and see it.

NRAMA: Hey – you’re getting good at that “wait and see” line. You’ll use that now that you’re with Marvel. But coming from a series where you created and controlled the characters and settings, is it difficult to be original and "fresh" when you're working with established characters, some of whom have had literally hundreds or even thousands of stories told about them already?

JA: With Wolverine and Ghost Rider, I haven't felt that at all. They both have their share of continuity baggage, sure, but I haven't felt constrained by that. To me, they're both characters that lend themselves to lots of different story ideas.

NRAMA: I know when Newsarama first talked to you about your work at Vertigo, we covered some of your history. But for those who are reading about you for the first time, you got your "start" in comics by winning a contest, right?

JA: Yeah, my first big break was when I won a Marvel Talent Search contest back in 2002 and had an eight-page Wolverine story published in issue #175. That didn't lead to anything else at the time, but it encouraged me to keep plugging away, and I ended up getting editor Will Dennis at Vertigo to take a look at my pitch for a Vietnam War comic. Much to my delight, he loved it, and that became The Other Side, the first issue of which was released toward the end of 2006. That mini-series went on to earn an Eisner nomination for artist Cameron Stewart and myself, and since then, one thing has just led to another.

NRAMA: Isn't it kind of cool that a Marvel talent search winner ended up being a Marvel exclusive a few years later? Or does it at least make you feel justified in having won?

JA: Hopefully it makes Mike Marts (then an editor at Marvel, now at DC) feel justified for having picked me as the winner. I remember sending Joe Quesada an email back then saying I wanted to prove to Marvel that they'd made the right decision in choosing me. I suppose I've finally done that now. It just took me a few more years is all.

NRAMA: Were you a comics reader most of your life? What would you call some of your influences, or the stories that you enjoyed the most?

JA: Yeah, I've been reading them for as long as I’ve been able to read (and no jokes about that, just because I’m from Alabama). Back when I was first getting into comics, buying them off the spinner rack at the local drugstore, my favorite books were New Teen Titans, Blue Devil, Atari Force, Swamp Thing and Fantastic Four. These days, my all-time favorites include Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol, From Hell, EC's Frontline Combat, Lone Wolf And Cub, Stray Bullets, Kirby's Fourth World titles and virtually everything that Steve Gerber did for Marvel in the ‘70s. I also love Michael Fleisher, Timothy Truman, Garth Ennis, Azzarello, Brubaker, Bendis, Adrian Tomine, Rick Veitch… I could go on and on. My biggest influences as a writer would be James Ellroy, Elmore Leonard, Cormac McCarthy, David Simon, Stanley Kubrick and my late cousin Gustav Hasford. These days, I’m also heavily influenced and inspired by the amazing group of comic creators we have here in Kansas City – guys like Matt Fraction, Ande Parks, Tony Moore and B. Clay Moore.

NRAMA: Was writing comics always what you wanted to do? Or were you a writer first, and it just kind of evolved into being a comics writer?

JA: Yeah, I knew I wanted to be a writer from an early age, and at first I figured I’d go into journalism. But it only took me one semester of journalism classes in college to realize I wasn’t at all cut out to be a journalist. I ended up graduating with an English degree and dreams of writing the Great American Novel. When I won the Marvel Talent Search contest, I was working for an independent paper in Kansas City, writing film and DVD reviews. In retrospect, writing comic books is really what I should’ve been trying to do all along, but when I was going to college, there was no such thing as a degree in comic book writing (still ain’t, I’m sure). All those other pursuits just seemed like safer bets, I guess. Easier roads. Though ultimately none of them proved either easy or rewarding. Every day I get to sit down and write Ghost Rider or Scalped and then even get paid for it to boot, I thank my lucky stars that I somehow managed to stumble into this business.

NRAMA: But as you mentioned, winning that Marvel contest didn't exactly open tons of doors for you in the industry. What would you call the big break? Was it The Other Side?

JA: The Marvel contest got my foot in the door, but my work with Vertigo was definitely my big break. I somehow managed to convince Vertigo editor Will Dennis to let me write for him, and I tell ya, to this day, I still have no idea how I managed to pull it off. For years, I’d always been more concerned with becoming a better writer, figuring that if I just got good enough, eventually the “breaking in” part would somehow take care of itself. And it did. I know that’s probably not helpful advice to anyone out there who’s trying to break into the business, but what can I say? Maybe I got lucky. Maybe I made my own luck, I don’t know. With editors, I’d say it definitely helps to be persistent, but patient and always polite. Beyond that, all I know is I’m just happy to ____ing be here. Everything I did last year, from Ripclaw at Top Cow to Friday the 13h at Wildstorm to Wolverine at Marvel was a result of my Vertigo work. And so if Will ever needs a kidney transplant or a blood transfusion or an alibi for a murder, I got his fucking back, mark my words.

NRAMA: Let's talk about Scalped briefly. Have you been surprised by the accolades you've gotten from other creators and the attention you've received from your reading audience for the series? Were you trying to do something ground-breaking? Or just trying to tell a good story? Or a little of both?

JA: I’m always just trying to tell a good story. James Ellroy told me one time (I say that like we’re drinking buddies or something, but really I just stood in line to meet him at a book signing), “Don’t write what you know. Write the type of shit you like to read.” And that’s always my main goal: to write a book that I would pay to read if I saw it on the shelf. That’s all I was doing with Scalped, and I’ve been incredibly pleased with the results. Guéra and I really seem to have found our groove with these last few issues, and it makes working on the series a total blast. The tremendous response we’ve gotten from fans and our fellow creators is all just icing on the cake.

NRAMA: Now, with this Marvel exclusive, is there still the possibility that you'll be doing Ripclaw as part of that Pilot Season contest for Top Cow? Or does this agreement make that impossible?

JA: I could still do Ripclaw, but last I saw, we were dead last in the Pilot Season voting, so the chances of that are looking slim. Too bad, because it was a lot of fun writing that issue, and I had lots of other stories I wanted to tell with the character.

NRAMA: OK, now, let's see... you're on Ghost Rider, and you're doing one arc of Wolverine. But "exclusive" makes it sound like there are long-term plans for you. Will there be more announcements coming about your Marvel work?

JA: I’m currently working on my last issue of Wolverine, and after that, I’ll be moving on to something else, so yeah, look for more announcements in my future. As far as Ghost Rider goes, I’m onboard for the long haul.

NRAMA: Any way you can give us a hint about what your upcoming work for Marvel could be? Like ... is it a current ongoing, a mini-series, or a new ongoing? Or maybe at least tell us if it involves the letter "X" at all? Just one little bone?

JA: I just signed an exclusive and now here you are, already trying to get me in trouble with my bosses. You oughtta be ashamed.

NRAMA: Hey, you can’t blame a girl for trying. And I told you that you’d get good at the “wait and see” stuff. For the time being, then, we'll just have to make due with your work on Wolverine and Ghost Rider, and of course, Scalped. For people who have never heard of this "Jason Aaron dude" and don't really know whether or not they want to check out your work, what would you tell them as we approach the debut of so much of your Marvel work on Feb. 13th?

JA: I would tell them I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside.

Oh, and buy my ____ing books.

[Dragavon]

Congrats to Mr. Aaron. I am really looking forward to Ghost Rider.

[ManBearPig]

I've only read the headline, but I can't help but think, "YES!!" I've been selling Jason Aaron to all my friends since Scalped #1. God, I can't wait until he gets his hands on A-List characters.

[J. Dincauze]

Wow, Garney's pencils are looking better than they have in a while!

[red-maverick]

Awsome, I love Scalped and Im glad that won't be going away cause of this. Im curious as to what other Marvel work he's going to be doing though.

[God-Man]

Congratulations, Jason!

[tgail]

As a huge fan of Scalped, I have to say this is extraordinarily disappointing news. However, I'm glad to hear he's got an exclusive. Now if only he'd write something I read...

[Zeitgeist]

Seems like an odd Marvel exclusive when he can still do his DC comic, havent read any of his work but he sounds pretty good so im looking forward to his Marvel work

[Congo Jack]

Marvel snags a great writer. Smart move.

Love Scalped. Can't wait for his Wolverine.

[nickmaynard]

amazing!!!!!!

[jaredgood1]

Congrats to Aaron. Very excited to see what he has in store for Ghost Rider. I'm really hoping that he is finally that writer to give us that definitive Ghosty story (e.g. Miller's DD run, Ennis' Punisher, Clairmont's X-Men, etc.).

[CaptainCanad]

Score for Marvel.

[Chip]

Scalped is Awesome!!! Jason, when is the second trade coming out???

[NightRiver]

Originally Posted by Chip

Scalped is Awesome!!! Jason, when is the second trade coming out???

I think its out this month.

[Falkner]

Originally Posted by tgail

As a huge fan of Scalped, I have to say this is extraordinarily disappointing news. However, I'm glad to hear he's got an exclusive. Now if only he'd write something I read...

Why not try reading the article?

[melperfect]

Congrats to Jason, I've been meaning to try out his work for a while now.
Based on what I've read, his stuff is right up my alley.

Also fantastic that his Vertigo stuff is un-affected!

[CATMAN3]

I'd like to see Jason write a Punisher/Wolverine team up.

[dalunt]

Awesome, glad he is doing Wolverine.

But I wish we could get a consistent team on that book.

Guggenheim and Millar have been the best Wolvie writers in decades, and I am hoping Aaron falls in line with them.

I would love to see Guggenheim and Ramos do Wolverine ongoing for at least 12 issues.

[-Armando523-]

congrats sir

[Blackbeard]

Congratulations, Jason! This is a huge signing for Marvel... mark my words!

[xdemon]

I would love to see him take over Punisher MAX.

[Jess Nukem]

Great writer but why the potty mouth? I don't recall Garth Ennis cursing a blue streak in his interviews.

I just find it a sign of the writer's quality, I mean it takes more work and creativity to not use a cuss word. I mean, Dan Way swears like a pirate in his interviews, and look where he is now.

[Michael Mayket]

I assumed that Scalped would continue when I saw the headline, but I have to admit I was a little nervous until I saw it confirmed in the interview.

Whew.

[Hypestyle]

Originally Posted by Jess Nukem

Great writer but why the potty mouth? I don't recall Garth Ennis cursing a blue streak in his interviews.

I just find it a sign of the writer's quality, I mean it takes more work and creativity to not use a cuss word. I mean, Dan Way swears like a pirate in his interviews, and look where he is now.

He isn't writing Richie Rich or Bugs Bunny.. relax.. geez..

[HartyPotter]

Good art. Congrats to him!