FREAKANGELS, I: TALKING TO WARREN ELLIS

[MattBrady]

by Chris Arrant

Freakangels is an upcoming series depicting a world in which a group of teenagers are some of the last remaining people after a catastrophic flood left most of England (and perhaps the world) uninhabitable. And these teenagers aren't your normal folk – think Village of the Damned, all grown up. Written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by industry newcomer Paul Duffield, FreakAngels promises a unique and expansive take on living life after what could have been the end of the world.

But you won't find this in your local comic store or bookstore, Freakangels is going to be online … for free. Although published through Avatar Press, it's not being "published" in the way you'd normally think. It's online, serialized weekly and available for free. It's a project that Ellis and Duffield have been working on for months now, building up pages to ensure weekly release that promises new turns in each installment.

With its debut scheduled for this Friday, we talked with the creators to find out more. First, Warren Ellis.

Newsarama: OK, Warren… we've seen the artwork and heard a glimpse about it from your postings online. But what is FreakAngels about?

Warren Ellis: It's set in the near future, in a partially flooded England; specifically, in the Whitechapel area of London, which, according to some flood maps I saw, would actually survive a serious rise in sea level. Which is funny, really, because if you had to name a part of London that could really use a wash, it'd be Whitechapel. I can hear the Cockney half of my family cursing me from the grave for drowning Hackney and Stepney but leaving Whitechapel standing.

The FreakAngels themselves are eleven telepaths living as a clan in Whitechapel who may have had something to do with the drowning of England. There were twelve -- one left, and the things that bastard has been up to is the axis on which the first arc turns.

FreakAngels started as one of those idle thoughts: what if the kids from the Midwich Cuckoos had grown up to become disaffected twentysomethings? I started making notes on the notion in spare time (which for me, these days, is the 15 minutes before I go to bed at four in the morning), and the thing started multiplying. After a couple of months, I had this massive sprawling thing with thirteen major characters that was clearly telling itself like a huge novel.

Which seemed to me to be ideal for a webcomic format, because artificial breaks every 22, 32 or even 48 pages just weren't going to work. I realised that if I did it as a web project, I could let it find its own shape, like a novel, and that if anyone complained that they weren't getting six plot points in a single chapter -- well, I'm not charging them for it, am I? I'm figuring that, in a free model, enough people will just come along for the ride...

NRAMA: The artwork is by relative comics-newcomer Paul Duffield. Was this partnership something where the artist came first and you had a story blossom out of that, or something where you had a story in mind and just waiting for the right artist?

WE: The latter. I came up with the thing, and then William started casting around for artists who'd fit. I think Paul was actually the first sample I was shown, and, as you'll see, he's simply the perfect choice. I was really looking for a fusion of European and Japanese sensibilities, as FreakAngels is paced like a manga but really demands the attention to detail of a European album. Paul was just ideal -- he even had the cel-shaded approach to colour that I was looking for. I'm just hoping no-one poaches him for a couple of years.

NRAMA: FreakAngels is loaded with interesting facets, from the story to the art and even the format - webcomics. Let's start with the latter … this is your first long-form webcomic, although not your first webcomic altogether with Super Idol and some other work to your credit. But this effort, FreakAngels, has the weight of a legitimate publishing company behind it in Avatar. What convinced you this could work, and how did you convince William at Avatar?

WE: I told William that girls would like him if he did it. And since he lives in a very small town where all the women have beards and half the kids look like him already, he appreciated the idea of his horizons being broadened.

As far as how it works: it's the TV model. FreakAngels is free-to-air, but the eventual collected editions will cost money. I can watch pretty much any tv show I want, on the box or on the net, but for something I like, I'd rather have the complete DVD handy.

Also, let's face it, digital comics are going to be the point of tension in comics 2008. William agreed that it was time to pursue new avenues, and to fund a major webcomics initiative with no guarantee of revenues down the line, if for no other reason than to make the point -- serious publishers need to be exploring different ways to put comics in front of people. So we're trying this.

FreakAngels debuts on February 15th at www.freakangels.com. Check back tomorrow with Newsarama.com for an interview with series artist Paul Duffield.

[perk9600]

How many books does Warren Ellis write?

It seems like he has a new series starting every month or so. And Fell has seen like 1 issue in a year. He's so prolific that I can't understand how he could fall that far behind (maybe its Templesmith's fault! )

[DAV!S]

So looking forward to this.

Ellis is one of the top writers in the industry and his usual Avatar work is amazing. A free comic book written by him is a miracle on its own - the fact it looks pretty sweet is just icing on the cake.

And since it costs nothing, does anyone really have a reason not to read it? I think not.

[ShinAkuma666]

Been looking forward to this for months now ! It should be quite entertaining and I really love the premise for this series, the art looks gorgeous and I will be buying the collected edition from Avatar once it is out.

[pmpknface]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Also, let's face it, digital comics are going to be the point of tension in comics 2008. William agreed that it was time to pursue new avenues, and to fund a major webcomics initiative with no guarantee of revenues down the line, if for no other reason than to make the point -- serious publishers need to be exploring different ways to put comics in front of people. So we're trying this.

FreakAngels debuts on February 15th at www.freakangels.com. Check back tomorrow with Newsarama.com for an interview with series artist Paul Duffield.

That's just one reason why Avatar is one helluva publisher.

I'm realllllllly looking forward to this!

[Dirk_Anger]

I really, really, really, really,really want more nextwave, but I'm excited as hell for this. Picking up the collections is a no-brainer, especially if we get some Ellis commentary.I'm also really feeling that fushion Euro/Japanese art.

[samnoir]

It's nice to see a creator of Warren Ellis' level trying out new models of comics creation and delivery.

Looking forward to reading it online and in collected print edition. I wonder how the format will translate? Reading something on a computer screen is a different kind of experience than a trade paperback.

___________________________________

NEIL GAIMAN and DAVE MCKEAN BOOKS for sale on EBAY! SWEENEY TODD! ANGELS AND VISITATIONS!

A HISTORY OF COMIC CHARACTERS: 1840s-1940s for sale on EBAY!
___________________________________

[artjunkie]

After first hearing about this project late last summer, I’ve been pretty psyched about it. You can’t help but love the mind of Warren Ellis. He’s a progressive-minded creator and his varied projects simply show that. He’s doing exactly what you would expect Grant Morrison to do, but Morrison’s too caught up in pop comics to be the spear that Ellis clearly is. The man’s approach is unrivaled and clearly the reason so many diverse artists are lining up to work with him. My hat’s off to Avatar for this bold move, and my eyes will be on FreakAngels every Friday.

[Cray_ws]

Originally Posted by artjunkie

After first hearing about this project late last summer, I’ve been pretty psyched about it. You can’t help but love the mind of Warren Ellis. He’s a progressive-minded creator and his varied projects simply show that. He’s doing exactly what you would expect Grant Morrison to do, but Morrison’s too caught up in pop comics to be the spear that Ellis clearly is. The man’s approach is unrivaled and clearly the reason so many diverse artists are lining up to work with him. My hat’s off to Avatar for this bold move, and my eyes will be on FreakAngels every Friday.

I definitely agree with you that Warren Ellis is the spear of this industry. His works might not be liked by all, but you can't deny that he's trying to lead this industry to new heights with his progressive ideas.

[artjunkie]

Originally Posted by Cray_ws

I definitely agree with you that Warren Ellis is the spear of this industry. His works might not be liked by all, but you can't deny that he's trying to lead this industry to new heights with his progressive ideas.

Yeah, and I think that’s mainly due to the fact that Warren Ellis is challenging, especially to the mainstream, which is why it’s more creatively rewarding for him to operate equally on the fringes as he does within the more traditional market. But many readers want the comfort of tradition and fan service rather than be forced to try something that is outside their usual box of perception. You pretty much have to be progressive in your own tastes to not get dragged along for the ride kicking and screaming.

[Rockin' Rich]

Why not state that the interview was derived from an e-mail exchange, Matt, in the interest of full disclosure and transparency?

Just my 2¢....

[outhereliste]

Originally Posted by perk9600

And Fell has seen like 1 issue in a year. He's so prolific that I can't understand how he could fall that far behind (maybe its Templesmith's fault! )

I imagine the writing is the hold-up.

Part of Fell's mission statement is to tell complete, self-contained stories that don't require having picked up the series before, every issue. It's also shorter, 18 pages if I recall correctly. That's going to be much more time-intensive to write than long-form stories.

As a rule, shorter stories always require more work to write.

[Abstrakt]

this is actually what ive been waiting for. i still think this model will take the push of marvel or dc (more likely dc) but the idea of it being free or charging cheap for online comics i think is the way for the future with trades being printed to collect it.

im in

[TheGrowth]

Big name writer, book being free and tons will flock to that site. Ads revenue will be incredible.