TONY MOORE AND RICK REMENDER TALK ABOUT FEAR AGENT: "I AGAINST I"

**MattBrady** · 03-18-2008, 02:53 PM

by Chris Arrant

Launched in 2005 by writer Rick Remender and artist Tony Moore, Fear Agent has become a stand-out title in the comic shelves with a brand of sci-fi that’s irreverent and brash, high on unrefined action and avoiding the stodginess that has invaded some scifi stories. Moore came to this title hot off his run on The Walking Dead, and continues to draw alternating arcs with artist Jerome Opena while balancing other work such as the Exterminators for Vertigo. But Fear Agent is his baby, as it is writer Rick Remender, and for a title that talks about the future it has some classic pulp roots.

Newsarama: Tony, it was just announced that you're returning to Fear Agent with issue #22, coming out in June. What's it like alternating with this and your other projects like The Exterminators?

Tony Moore: Exhausting. I'm not exactly what you'd call "fast" or "reliable" in most cases, anyway, but these two books together and the tag team from hell. I couldn't have found two books that are this fun, but they are seriously some of the most challenging stuff I've ever tried. That aside, they both scratch different itches, so when one is starting to wear me, out, the switch-up to the other keeps me energized and satiates my wanderlust.

Rick Remender: The good news is with the “I Against I” story Tony isn't doing anything else as The Exterminators will be wrapped up. We're going to ship on time or Tony's agreed to let me cut off a toe for every late issue.

NRAMA: You mentioned the upcoming “I Against I” story arc that starts with #22. What’s it about?

TM: Well, it's a Western... like more than usual. This one will have shifty eyed banditos and grizzled gunslingers in a sunbaked alien desert. I don't want to give away too much, but Heath has to battle some great new foes and terrible odds, including his own worst vices.

RR: After being jolted through the other side of a black hole and into a shadow universe Heath Huston finds himself marooned on the desolate Planet WestX. A stranger in a strange place peppered with gun slinging robots, venomous mutants and buxom cowgirls. Creators Rick Remender and Tony Moore reunite to bring you the ugly, lawless days of Heath Huston, fugitive, in this six part Sci-Fi Western shot through the heart. It’s high noon in dead space. That's me spiel.

NRAMA: Tony, what made you sign up with Rick for Fear Agent in the first place?

TM: I ask myself that very question every day of my life. Seriously, though, we both come from the same school of thought and influence, and we've been friends for quite some time. Heath's birth was brought forth from a natural and loving conception, and there's no better way to make sure you get to work on a book you love than to make the book you want to read.

RR: It's a fact. Fear Agent is a joy for use to create. It's a creator's
dream. We get to cook up any kind of story we want and do it 100% how we want to. It gets no better.

NRAMA: With the success that Fear Agent, what are your thoughts on the series?

TM: I've loved it! Looking back, we've learned a lot as we progressed, but
like I said, since this book was designed to be the place where we could do whatever we want and exactly what we want, it's always a blast for us, and that's the whole reason I got into comics in the first place.

RR: I have many loves in comics. Some stuff I've created some stuff other folks've created. But no matter how much I'm enjoying any other job nothing comes close to Fear Agent for me.

NRAMA: I was flipping through your website and noticed where you sent a copy of Fear Agent to Jack Davis. This talks a lot about your inspiration for the series. Can you tell us about the inspirations for the series.

TM: Fear Agent proudly wears its influences on its sleeve, I'd say,
without being overly dependent on them. My personal influences have long been from EC comics and MAD Magazine's stable, and Jack Davis was one of the first artists that I can remember recognizing and hunting down as a kid. Between him on MAD and Severin on Cracked back then, and all the guys they had at those two magazines, I was unknowingly already hooked on some of EC's finest, which were some of illustration's all-time brightest. So, yeah, EC's Weird Science, Weird Fantasy, Weird Science-Fantasy, are obvious, with the monsters and space-faring adventures and such. Then there's the great war comics like Two Fisted Tales, with Kurtzman, Wood, and Davis, not to mention the Severin / Elder power duo. This new arc branches out a bit more and samples flavors from classic of Western genre cinema, especially the Leone spaghetti westerns and Deadwood, as well as comics like Joe Kubert's Tex, Moebius' Blueberry, and Tony DeZuniga's work on Jonah Hex, adding it all into the old-school stew. And that's just the visuals!

Fear Agent #22 goes on sale June 25, 2008.

Crump's Brother · 03-18-2008, 03:35 PM

Old-school Sci-Fi mixed with a Western + Tony Moore? Win-win-win.

freakybatman · 03-18-2008, 04:01 PM

he is like one of my favorite artists
( thanks to Wa;lking Dead

Reaper · 03-18-2008, 04:49 PM

I like the art tag team of Moore and Opena on this book. I prefer Moore's art but there isn't much of a drop at all with Opena's and it helps the book to come out on schedule.

This book is flat-out good old fashioned fun.

-Tim

grphxkindaguy · 03-18-2008, 06:20 PM

This is another book that I loved in the beginnig and slowly lost interest in. The last arc (FA origin) bored me to tears, even w/the gorgeous Moore artwork. That was it for me...

I may no longer read the book, but I hope it stays around as there is NOTHING else like it on the stands!!!

drollia · 03-18-2008, 06:56 PM

I love this book, i just wish that they would get it back on schedule. Seems like the releases are just taking forever right now.

Danielsan · 03-18-2008, 07:16 PM

one of my favorite comics on my pull-list...always fun to read!

Luke Cage Jr · 03-18-2008, 09:22 PM

And I'll say it again! BEST BOOK ON THE SHELVES!!! And it just gets better! Welcome back Tony!!! Can't wait!
R-

Tanjint · 03-18-2008, 10:03 PM

this guy just can't stick with a book can he?

I'm sorry but it still pisses me off that he can't do at least an every once in awhile ish of TWD

-T

SiX5iVE · 03-19-2008, 01:54 AM

Moore is awesome, I love his storytelling. Opena's awesome too, as well as Rick, and this Comic. Good day.

InBetween · 03-19-2008, 06:16 AM

This is a disappointment, only because I’m a big TM fan. His jumping off The Exterminators, which possibly/probably lead to its decline (and *certainly* a landslide decline in its art) to do a Fear Agent arc was one of the worst comics I’ve ever read. And the inks got a bit inconsistent.
…sigh…

Hopefully Remender will decide to *not* insert god and jesus references into damn near every panel…so bloody sloppy.

Here’s to hoping Marvel will eventually wake up and sign TM, the fantastic Ghost Rider cover was just too much of a tease.

grphxkindaguy · 03-19-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tanjint

this guy just can't stick with a book can he?

I'm sorry but it still pisses me off that he can't do at least an every once in awhile ish of TWD

-T

From the beginning it was made clear that Tony Moore would be doing art chores on both Fear Agent and Exterminators, going back and forth.

It was stupidity of a few fans to think he could do every issue of each of those books.

He's moved on from TWD, best to just let that one go...

grphxkindaguy · 03-19-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InBetween

This is a disappointment, only because I’m a big TM fan. His jumping off The Exterminators, which possibly/probably lead to its decline.

I guess the fact that it was unreadable dreck had nothing to do w/it's decline as well?

InBetween · 03-19-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grphxkindaguy

From the beginning it was made clear that Tony Moore would be doing art chores on both Fear Agent and Exterminators, going back and forth.
It was stupidity of a few fans to think he could do every issue of each of those books.

Not every reader of every book is obsessed with the internet and knows the ins and outs of their favourite titles. Hell, I look in on TM’s site and I was unaware that he wasn’t sticking with Exterminators for every issue.
And even if its “made clear”, maybe it’s not the best decision when starting up a new title? TM himself pontificates the demise of this and other such titles, maybe this could be a new factor to consider when starting up a new book.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grphxkindaguy

He's moved on from TWD, best to just let that one go...

I agree with you there. Not that the occasional cover wouldn’t be extra cool…

Quote:

Originally Posted by grphxkindaguy

I guess the fact that it was unreadable dreck had nothing to do w/it's decline as well?

Well, unless you opinion is somehow more valid than mine, I still stand by stating that Exterminators was, by far, better written let alone more interesting than Fear Agent.

grphxkindaguy · 03-19-2008, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InBetween

Well, unless you opinion is somehow more valid than mine, I still stand by stating that Exterminators was, by far, better written let alone more interesting than Fear Agent.

Can I have what you're smoking?

my LCS guy once told me, "No matter how bad a title is, there will always be at least one person out there who LOVES IT".

Derek Ruiz · 03-19-2008, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tanjint

this guy just can't stick with a book can he?

I'm sorry but it still pisses me off that he can't do at least an every once in awhile ish of TWD

-T

Why?...I figure it's better to work on books you have an ownership stake in than the ones you don't..but that's just me thinking like a comic creator.

The Walking Dead has an artist his name is Charlie Adlard who's been drawing the book since issue 7 or so...

Tanjint · 03-19-2008, 08:31 PM

doesn't tony moore have an ownership stake in TWD?

Yeah I don't want Adlard to leave but I'd like on occasional tony moore ish.

I didn't start to read TWD letters pages until after last years SDCC so I didn't understand why Kirkman was kinda pissed when I mentioned that to him there LMAO

-T

grphxkindaguy · 03-19-2008, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tanjint

doesn't tony moore have an ownership stake in TWD?

As far as I understand it, NO, Kirkman owns TWD solo...

Tanjint · 03-20-2008, 02:18 AM

word, thought it was similar to how Invincible is Kirkman and Walker's

-T

theWeapon · 03-20-2008, 04:07 PM

Sounds awesome!!!

EdKaye · 04-03-2008, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Ruiz

Why?...I figure it's better to work on books you have an ownership stake in than the ones you don't..but that's just me thinking like a comic creator.

The Walking Dead has an artist his name is Charlie Adlard who's been drawing the book since issue 7 or so...

Charlie Adlard is amazing! Check out his work on Savage from 2000AD magazine!