LOVE, THE WIGHT WAY: ERIC WIGHT ON MY DEAD GIRLFRIEND

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

From The O.C. and Six Feet Under to The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist and Justice League of America, Eric Wight must be feeling on top of the world now.

Next year, the 31 year-old creator adds My Dead Girlfriend, coming from TOKYOPOP, to his list of achievements.

But the road to success and recognition wasn’t all that easy.

“The impact that The O.C. has had on my life is immeasurable,” Wight began. “Right before I landed that job, my career was enduring a pretty severe dry spell. After the Buffy animated series imploded for the third or fourth time, I was so burned out by Hollywood that I left California to try and make it on the East Coast. Unfortunately, the freelance gigs coming in were few and far between, since most studios would only hire me if I worked in-house. I went from earning six figures to barely having enough change for a muffin. I was selling my Escapist pages on eBay out of desperation to try and cover my mortgage. And that’s when [Allan] Heinberg found me and helped bring me onboard The O.C.

“Even after I started working on The O.C., it was a very strange feeling to be receiving all of this publicity and fan mail and yet still be struggling so hard to make ends meet. But as my work continued to get noticed, more and more job offers came in, and it wasn’t long before I found myself in a place where I could pick and choose what I wanted to work on. Which eventually led me to TOKYOPOP.

“Julie Taylor, one of the senior editors at TOKYOPOP, is a huge fan of The O.C. and contacted me via email to see if I would be interested in creating an original manga. I submitted about a dozen book proposals, and My Dead Girlfriend was the concept that everyone at TOKYOPOP immediately grabbed onto.

“I used to joke that I only create fake comic books - having also created the Blue Twister comic for Six Feet Under - that get seen by millions but are read by no one. Now thanks to The O.C., I’m being given the opportunity to let my voice be heard through my own manga.”

My Dead Girlfriend tells the story of an odd couple, Finney Bleak, with his Johnny Depp good looks and aberzombie style; and Jenny Wraith, the, well, drop dead gorgeous who's the ethereal object of Finney's affection. It’s a tale of a boy who falls for the girl of his dreams. “Only problem is, she’s a ghost,” Wight said. “So the main focus of the series is how far Finney is willing to go to be with her, when not even Death can stand in his way.

While a normal dude falling in love with a dead girl is not uncommon in the world of literature, comics, movies, graphic novels and in this case, manga, the world that Finney and co. occupy isn’t our world. “Finney Bleak is your average high school kid, who lives in a world that is anything but normal. His family are all ghosts - with the exception of his Siamese triplet older sisters, his classmates are monsters, and his best friend is a gargoyle named Mookie.

“Finney lives in a Goth meets Main Street U.S.A. kind of town. I wanted Finney to seem like the most normal kid in this world. So in order to do that, I surrounded him with a motley crew of colorful characters, like a vampire boy who is popular because of his angsty poetry, and a witch who pushes potions like a drug dealer.

“Jenny Wraith wants nothing more than to be a normal girl, but an accidental fall leaves her a soul without a body. She is as smitten with Finney as he is of her, but their corporeal differences keep them apart.

“Mookie is Finney’s pet gargoyle, who has the personality and energy of a hyperactive puppy. Though he can’t speak, Mookie has plenty to say with expression and pantomime.

“Last fall, I was at Cartoon Network pitching a variety of shows when the idea popped into my head about a boy falling in love with a ghost. As I started to explore how far this boy would be willing to go in order to be with her, the story began to take shape.

“My Dead Girlfriend is definitely a reflection of my own high school memories. Although it’s not a literal translation of my past, there are a lot of elements that are grounded in those experiences.”

Wight is also a professional animator and illustrator who’s done projects for Warner Brothers, Walt Disney, Cartoon Network, Universal Studios, and HBO. Other than serving as the art director on the Buffy the Animated Series, which ultimately wasn’t green-lit by the powers that be, he’s ghost-written for Seth Cohen in The O.C. and also the “Grinding the Corn” episode of Six Feet Under. “The biggest difference is that most of my animation work is never seen by the public, or only after being reinterpreted by an animation studio overseas. With comics, every brush stroke is my own. I also have a lot more creative freedom in comics, not having to deal with network mandates,” he said.

Wight’s first ventured into the world of comics with Hellboy: Weird Tales, and then “The Passing of the Key” story in the aforementioned Escapist, which he won the 2004 Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award for his work on the title. “The cool part about the Russ Manning Award is that the recipient is selected by all of the past winners. Some of the previous honorees are my favorite artists, so knowing I have the respect of my peers is a pretty great reward in and of itself,” he added.

My Dead Girlfriend would be his first original series. But why manga? After all, a lot of criticisms had been thrown at “global” manga, previously referred to as Original English Language (or OEL) manga. What are his thoughts on “manga” that do not originate from the Land of the Rising Sun? “Manga is a style of visual language,” he explained. “What makes a comic a manga is its format, pacing, use of symbolism, and style of storytelling, not where it originated from. Just because it was founded in Japan doesn’t mean works from other countries are any less valid.

“The tone and subject matter of My Dead Girlfriend compliment many of the popular manga -- combining elements of action, romance, and fantasy. I also thought the smaller format was a good fit for the look of My Dead Girlfriend. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that manga dominates the graphic novel market.

“I’m no expert, but I think the success of manga is partially because of the variety of subject matter is a fresh alternative to a lot of the mainstream comics that dominate the US market. I think there is also a natural fascination with cultural differences, and Japanese manga showcases a lot of that with rich stories steeped in family traditions and folklore,” he said, adding that his favorite manga-ka include Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy), Range Murata (Robot), Ken Akamatsu (Love Hina, Negima), Kenici Sonoda (Gunsmith Cat, Cannon God Exaxxion), and MiKyung Kim (11th Cat).

“Like American comics, I think there will be some manga that will stand the test of time and others that might be a passing fad. The work of Tezuka is a perfect example of timeless classics.

However, Wight said that he’s always thought of himself as “an old soul. Sometimes I feel like I can relate to the styles and attitudes of the 1940s-1960s better than I can to the present. A lot of fans are surprised when they meet me how young I am. Research is one of my favorite parts of the artistic process, and with every project I completely immerse myself in the art and history of that particular period. When I drew the Escapist, I probably looked at hundreds of old photos before I created my own version,” he added.

For the record, he’s also drawn Steve Rogers and Bucky in the Captain America 65th Anniversary Special. “[Capt.’s] always been one of my favorite characters,” he said.

Although he’s enjoyed success in both animation and comics, the creator stressed that while both mediums have their positives and negatives, “comics will always be my first love.

“I have a Batman story I’d really like to tell. I grew up a DC boy, so there aren’t too many characters from that universe I wouldn’t love to take a crack at. Spider-man and the Fantastic Four have always been some of my favorite characters as well.”

And speaking of love, My Dead Girlfriend is scheduled to hit stores on Valentine’s Day 2007. How’s he planning to celebrate the occasion? “I’m a hopeless romantic, so I guess I’ll have to come up with something extra special [next] year. I think I can rule out candlelight dinner in a cemetery, though.”

Related article:
TALKIN’ THE O.C. AND THE JLA WITH ERIC WIGHT

[Mike Thompson]

No offense, but there is something very wrong with the world when police officers, firefighters, EMT's, teachers, etc. struggle to earn a decent wage, while practically everybody else gets paid a ridiculous amount of money. Going from earning six figures per year to barely affording a muffin? Holy cow. I'd say Mr. Wight was living beyond his means if that were true.

[Eric Wight]

Originally Posted by Mike Thompson

No offense, but there is something very wrong with the world when police officers, firefighters, EMT's, teachers, etc. struggle to earn a decent wage, while practically everybody else gets paid a ridiculous amount of money. Going from earning six figures per year to barely affording a muffin? Holy cow. I'd say Mr. Wight was living beyond his means if that were true.

Not that I have to defend myself, but my wife and I chose to leave Hollywood because we wanted to raise our kids near our family. In order to do that I turned my back on a completely lucrative career in animation, determined to still be able to do what I love and do what was best for my family at the same time. It was a difficult struggle to make it all work, but it was worth the sacrifice so that my children would know their family beyond visiting at Christmas. So if living beyond my means was making my family a first priority, then yeah, you've got me pegged.

[clerk976]

I love message boards. A guy like Eric Wight, a class act and a great artist, can't even give an interview without being ridiculed for mentioning the road that led him to his current work.

Anyway, Eric, nice meeting you in person in San Diego. Best of luck with the first book. I'll be getting at least one copy.

[Mike Thompson]

The article made it sound as though the animation industry turned its back on you, not the other way around. The "barely able to afford a muffin" comment I assume was a bit of an exaggeration, hence my 'living beyond one's means" comment. I stand by my assertion that society has its priorities screwed up by paying entertainers (basketball players, actors, and comic creators) hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries, when the core people that support the society we all cherish (teachers, rescue workers, etc.) are some of the lowest paid and underappreciated people on earth. But that's the country we live in, right? I applaud your willingness to move closer to family. Congratulations for making it all work in spite of the tough times you had to endure.

[Derrick Fish]

I'm really looking forward to this book. Your work is really wonderfully diverse and fluid. The storytelling on those JUSTICE LEAGE pages were so classy and well done that I would have assumed you were much older too. It had the clarity and depth of a classic, old school pro. FANTASTIC work, and "My Dead Girlfriend" looks just as solid.

And I think it's better for all involved if I DON'T get into a rant about the psudo-political first post and just keep on lovin' on the work.

I only have the first collection of THE ESCAPIST and am waiting for some extra scratch to get the rest... Which issue would I find your take on that particularly awesome creation?

[robzass]

wow this looks original. wasnt there a burton movie last year with like the same concept?

[Derrick Fish]

Originally Posted by robzass

wow this looks original. wasnt there a burton movie last year with like the same concept?

As the fourth paragraph said, this ISN'T an original concept in art, literature and movies.

The CORPSE BRIDE is based on Jewish folk legends. The basic concept of love between a human and a supernatural or otherwise bizarre creature has been told and retold throughout history. Burton's spun a NUMBER of takes on the idea (Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands for example), as is the comic BONEYARD, every version of Beauty and the Beast, Crossgen's SIGIL, Frankenstein, the Hellboy movie, Death Jr.,The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Disney's GARGOYLES and even the recent romantic comedy, Just Like Heaven.

I'm sure other folks here could rattle off a hundred or more variations of this theme given time. What's going to make THIS book work is the art, the writing and characterizations and the unique view of the subject that Wight will give us.

[GPA]

Well when I first saw the set up Tokyo Pop had for advertising this comic I have to say I came off a little miffed for no reason other than I've been working on a story similiar in nature to this and was hoping on getting it ready to pitch soon, that being said I'm still quite eagerly looking forward to this book. I'm very interested in seeing how Mr. Wight handles the story.

[Eric Wight]

Originally Posted by Derrick Fish

I only have the first collection of THE ESCAPIST and am waiting for some extra scratch to get the rest... Which issue would I find your take on that particularly awesome creation?

I'm in the first collection. I drew "The Passing of the Key." I also drew "The Final Curtain," which was written by Jason Hall. I think it originally appeared in issue #5 and was collected in trade #3.

[whippis]

Originally Posted by Mike Thompson

The article made it sound as though the animation industry turned its back on you, not the other way around. The "barely able to afford a muffin" comment I assume was a bit of an exaggeration, hence my 'living beyond one's means" comment. I stand by my assertion that society has its priorities screwed up by paying entertainers (basketball players, actors, and comic creators) hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries, when the core people that support the society we all cherish (teachers, rescue workers, etc.) are some of the lowest paid and underappreciated people on earth. But that's the country we live in, right? I applaud your willingness to move closer to family. Congratulations for making it all work in spite of the tough times you had to endure.

Problem here is that you (as do many) equate $$ with respect/appreciation. A sad by-product of a capitalist society. Don't be lazy and fall in to that trap. The amount of money you make is only equal to the value the payer puts on your product/service. No more, no less. And don't criticize people for being 'overpaid.' I haven't met anyone who, when offered a salary, counters with a lower offer becuase they don't think they, or the job, are worth it.

Book looks fun, I'll be checking it out.

[KyleV]

I stand by my assertion that society has its priorities screwed up by paying entertainers (basketball players, actors, and comic creators) hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries, when the core people that support the society we all cherish (teachers, rescue workers, etc.) are some of the lowest paid and underappreciated people on earth. But that's the country we live in, right?

Which has exactly nothing to do with Eric Wight. All you've done is associate him on this thread with something negative.

[Redmond]

If Wright was paid with public funds or if he was guilty of tax evasion, you'd have a point. That being said, I agree some of those workers are underpaid but I don't see how it's his fault! Anyway, the lesson I've learned from similar stories of from riches to rags is to always keep a good savings account, especially if you're not eligible for unemployment, or even if you are. Because you never know when your next job migh be!

That being said, this comic looks FANTASTIC! I cannot wait for it!

[Sir nonofyourbeeswax]

I can not wait to get this! Eric is such a talent and deserves much praise!

[n8twing]

This looks like a great, fun series.

I love Eric's character designs. So much so, I had him do this awesome Buffy commission, which I just picked up in San Diego. His characters in MY DEAD GIRLFRIEND have that same interesting quality.

I'll be picking this up, even if I have to skip buying a muffin at Starbucks that day!

(why are people so rude on message boards??)

[dave roman]

Eric's art is so awesome. I can't wait to read this book! I love those promo images of the characters. Way cool.

[Mike Thompson]

I wanted to offer a public apology to Eric Wight for my previous posts. Frustration on a number of personal levels, having nothing to do with you or your work, lead to my unnecessary and impolite response to your interview. My comments turned what should have been a time of celebration into something awkward and uncomfortable for everyone involved. For that, I am truly sorry. I wish you nothing but the best of luck on your current project(s), Mr. Wight.

[Eric Wight]

Originally Posted by Mike Thompson

I wanted to offer a public apology to Eric Wight for my previous posts. Frustration on a number of personal levels, having nothing to do with you or your work, lead to my unnecessary and impolite response to your interview. My comments turned what should have been a time of celebration into something awkward and uncomfortable for everyone involved. For that, I am truly sorry. I wish you nothing but the best of luck on your current project(s), Mr. Wight.

Apology accepted, Mike. Look, we’ve all said stuff in the heat of things that we regret, or were interpreted more strongly than intended. I don't disagree that it's unfair that commerce dictates financial success. My mother is an art teacher and raised my sister and I as a single parent. You can't put a price tag on the number of children she's inspired to want to become an artist, myself included. But was it a struggle? You better believe it.

I admire that you had the courage to offer an apology when it would have been easier to hide behind your firewall. That's the true definition of your character. So don’t beat yourself up over it another second. We’re cool.

- Eric

[Mike Thompson]

Thanks, Eric. It says a lot about your character as well to accept my apology. Good luck with your project.

[Tenma]

This actually looks really cool, and I like Eric's viewpoint on OEL manga. I look forward to reading it!