INSIDE WILDGUARD: INSIDER WITH TODD NAUCK

**MattBrady** · 04-09-2008, 02:12 PM

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

If you’re a creator who has created 500 of your own new characters and it’s up to you to chart the future of these characters, what would you do?

For Texas-born writer/artist Todd Nauck, he created WildGuard in March of 1992 when he was attending the Art Institute of Dallas. It was a concept based on the reality TV show COPS.

A couple of years later, he worked with Rob Liefeld and Extreme Studios, which, at that time, was a division of Image Comics, on such projects as Badrock and Company, Newmen, New Force, Supreme, Youngblood and Team Youngblood.

His big break came when he and Todd Dezago introduced the Young Justice in the one-shot comic called Young Justice: The Secret, which was part of Girlfrenzy fifth week event in 1998. He, together with Peter David, then went on to launch the youth-oriented monthly Young Justice series and drew some of DC’s fan favorite teen superheroes such as Superboy, Impulse, Robin, Wonder Girl, Captain Marvel Jr. (or CM3), Arrowette, Secret, Damage, The Ray, Empress, Star-Spangled Kid, Beast Boy, Batgirl, Lagoon Boy, Flamebird, Spoiler as well as Batboy, Superman Jr., Aquaboy, Martian Kidhunter, Kid Flash, Plastic Boy, Teen Lantern, Wildbrat, Sandy the Golden Boy, Hawkbaby, Hourboy, Kid Mid-Nite, Terrific Lad – that’s right, folks, youthful versions of DC’s biggest icons – in almost all of the series’ 55-issue run from 1998 to 2003.

It was around the time of the first two American Idol seasons that Nauck returned to Image to publish his own Made-for-TV superhero team with a six-issue WildGuard limited series entitled Casting Call and featured variant covers by Ed McGuinness, Mike Weiringo, Art Adams, Paco Medina, etc.

So, if you had created 500 new characters, would you have stopped with just the first mini-series?

Nauck certainly did not.

Since then, Nauck had gone back to his creations and published new WildGuard projects like the Fire Power one-shot in 2004 and the two-issue Fool’s Gold in 2005. He even took the characters online in 2004.

Next month, Nauck’s popular super-heroes return again with WildGuard: Insider from Image and Newsarama.com cornered the writer/artist for insider information about the new three-issue mini-series.

Newsarama: Okay, the last time we talked about WildGuard, you revealed that you were "working on putting together another one-shot that collects the first 57 web strips, character mini-profiles, and 10 pages of original story" and that you've also been "doing some writing for a new WildGuard mini-series." It sure has been a long way since the first issue of Casting Call debuted in 2003, right?

Todd Nauck: It has. WildGuard: Casting Call was so a blast to do and it was great to have it so well received. I’m glad I did it. It’s fun to get these stories out there. My Marvel and DC work have kept me really busy these past couple of years. I try to get WildGuard stories (like WildGuard: Firepower and WildGuard: Fool’s Gold) out there whenever I can!

I have been working on stories and material for this new mini-series WildGuard: Insider. It was originally going to be a one-shot mainly to collect all the WildGuard online comic strips I did over 2004-2006 along with a couple of new stories.

As I began putting material together, I decided to break it up into a 3-issue mini-series. Each issue features a lead story spotlighting a WildGuard Team member, a collection of the online comic strips, and 2 “Where Are They Now?” stories that feature a rejected contender from the WildGuard: Casting Call mini-series.

I’m really excited about all the material that’s come together. Each issue is packed cover-to-cover with material. A lot of cool artists (both new and established) have contributed art for the “Where Are They Now?” stories. I think readers will get a kick out of this mini-series!

NRAMA: Will there be reader participation polls this time around?

TN: I really liked having the readers vote a character onto the team in WildGuard: Casting Call. WildGuard: Insider, however, does not have that sort of component to it.

This mini-series will give more insight into the characters and their place in the WildGuard universe. There are also some mini-fact-files on the team, supporting characters, and other heroes of the WildGuard universe. Alternate identities will be revealed!

I hope to do more WildGuard stories and if reader participation polls work for that story, I’m up for that! I appreciate readers’ insights and participation.

Of course all the readers can still participate and debate the merits of the team and rejects on the forum since they had such a vested interest in its inception. In that way, there will always be reader participation!

NRAMA: Following the initial reality TV craze in the early 2000s and the recently ended WGA strike, how has your perception of and approach to your creator-owned made-for-TV superhero team concept changed, if any?

TN: My approach to WildGuard is to tell fun superhero stories through the filter of reality TV. Reality TV seems to be going strong well past the initial craze. I remember when people were saying reality TV would be gone in a few years. I’ve enjoyed reality TV since MTV’s Real World and COPS as early as 1991. That was the inspiration for WildGuard!

The climate of television, whether there is a craze or a strike going on, is always something to consider while working on WildGuard stories. They are definitely aspects that could play into WildGuard when I get a chance to sit down and write the next stories.

NRAMA: Are you considering taking WildGuard to a whole new level of reality TV-style comic?

TN: [Like I said,] WildGuard: Insider actually doesn’t play up on the reality TV motifs in the same ways I’ve used in the past: i.e. testimonial panels where the character “talks” to the reader and provides exposition. I will be doing those things again in future stories, but these stories in Insider will play more in the actual lives of the characters. But they still are reality TV stars on the show WidGuard… or victims of their appearance on reality TV. It’s not always sunshine and roses for appearing on reality TV shows. Some characters feel that sting.

NRAMA: Do recent series like Lost, 24, Heroes, Battlestar Galactica and others change the way you approach storytelling now?

TN: I love the flashbacks and flash-forwards of Lost and how they let you get to know a character. One of my stories will feature a flashback to a character’s decision to audition for WildGuard.

NRAMA: While working on these new WildGuard stories, you've also kept yourself busy with assignments on Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Teen Titans Go! and you’ve got an American Dream limited series with MC2 line creator and writer Tom DeFalco coming up. At this point in your career, how do you balance between taking on new work-for-hire gigs while also pursuing your own passions?

TN: It’s not easy! I’m actually developing a new art style for WildGuard. It’s a hybrid of my traditional superhero style and the animated style I developed drawing Teen Titans Go!. While working on Teen Titans Go!, I found that drawing in those simpler shapes and exaggerated gestures of the figures was much faster for me. There is an “economy of line” as a friend called it. An animated style has less rendering and is more representational of the objects being drawn. I’m incorporating some of these aspects in WildGuard to make it more time efficient to draw while still maintaining all of the fun, passion and power of the imagery. I’m very excited about this new hybrid style and the idea of getting more WildGuard stories out there whenever possible amidst my Marvel and DC projects!

It is a great stage for me in my career. I keep being able to work on books that I am proud of with great writers from Friendly Neighborhood Spider- Man and my new American Dream mini for Marvel to my Teen Titans and 52 gigs at DC.

For me, it is fun to know that this will be the first time in my career that I will have four books out on the shelves in May: American Dream #1 May 7th, WildGuard: Insider #1 May 14th, American Dream #2 May 21st, and Teen Titans Go! #55 May 28th.

NRAMA: Red Rover, Four and others are featured on the cover to issue #1 and the press release stated that each issue will spotlight solo characters. Which characters will get his/her turn to shine this time around, and what can fans and readers look forward to reading/finding out in the three-issue limited series?

TN: Red Rover gets the spotlight in issue #1. He encounters a new villain and Red Rover will undergo a slight change.

Lily Hammer is the star of issue #2 as she makes an appearance on a late night talk show and a secret of hers begins to be revealed by someone in the audience.

And Snapback is the focus of #3’s lead story. We get to learn of how he came to the decision to audition for WildGuard.

And there will be some special attention for Ignacia, Freezerburn and Four as I set up plot points for future WildGuard stories!

The two “Where Are They Now?” stories for each issue will spotlight the following characters: Mover & Shaker and Adhesor: The Adhesive Man in #1, Astro-Girl and Power Temp for #2, and Strong-Bot and Running Girl for #3.

All the “Where Are They Now?” stories are drawn by incredible artists like Joey Mason, Ray-Anthony Height, Steven Sanchez, Justin Peterson, Tracie Mauk, and Erik Reeves.

NRAMA: What's next for WildGuard following this upcoming Insider mini-series? Are there more web-exclusive webstrips in the works? New one-shots or the occasional miniseries here and there? After all, you did say that you’re setting up plot points for future stories…

TN: I have two new WildGuard mini-series that I’m writing now. I am also considering a couple of mini-series that would be spin-offs that focus on rejected contenders. So I hope I can get those written up and begin drawing as soon as I can and get another mini-series out soon! I would like to do more webstrips. If I do, I think it would be one long serialized story.

I did Insider because I love working on WildGuard, and because so many fans have asked for more. A lot of WildGuard fans have told me how happy they are that there are more stories coming out, and it is also a good stage to start in on the series. People can jump in easily to the stories in this new mini-series since there are extensive profiles of many of the characters, and it is a good time to enjoy the whole series since Image is re-soliciting the WildGuard: Casting Call trade.

For more WildGuard goodness, check out the official website at www.wildguard.com

Glen Cadigan · 04-09-2008, 02:33 PM

It's about time Wildguard returned!

Good luck, Todd!

Xysmurf · 04-09-2008, 02:38 PM

I love Nauck! His art is full of spirit! He was great on Young Justice....wish he would do the Titans now.

FChamberlain · 04-09-2008, 02:49 PM

I met Nauk at a con in NYC about 5 or so years back. I bought a cool Sandman page with him doing a "finger puppet" of his likeness beating Spidey's. Todd also drew me a cool sketch and convinced me to grab the Wildguard stuff.... I loved it from the opening scenes and look forward to this new story.... as well as chatting with him again briefly in 1 1/2 weeks at the NYCC.

I am MODOK · 04-09-2008, 02:58 PM

Already pre-ordered!

Kevenn · 04-09-2008, 03:43 PM

I love WIldguard!!!! I buy any Wildguard that comes out.

FireLight · 04-09-2008, 03:50 PM

Ya know - Todd would be great on Invincible....

Dan Feeser · 04-09-2008, 03:50 PM

I was giddy when I saw the solicit for #1 in Previews. The pages here look fantastic! I can't wait to read more WildGuard.

Rich L · 04-09-2008, 03:53 PM

I'm really looking forward to this too - can't wait to get more Wildguard after all this time!

MisterE · 04-09-2008, 04:30 PM

Nauck is awesome. A stellar artist and one of the friendliest, most professional guys in the biz.

The more WildGuard the better, says I.

comic lounge · 04-09-2008, 05:19 PM

I love the Wildguard web strip. This makes me very happy.

DaVeO · 04-09-2008, 05:38 PM

Pre-ordered here too. Casting Call was hilarious and full of old school fun with modern twists. I have to check out those webisodes. but are we going to get them in print? That wasn't really answered.

Dan Feeser · 04-09-2008, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaVeO

I have to check out those webisodes. but are we going to get them in print? That wasn't really answered.

From the article:

Quote:

Each issue features a lead story spotlighting a WildGuard Team member, a collection of the online comic strips, and 2 “Where Are They Now?” stories that feature a rejected contender from the WildGuard: Casting Call mini-series.