JIM RUGG ON THE PLAIN JANES & MINX

[MattBrady]

Yesterday, we spoke with Cecil Castellucci, the writer on the debut original graphic novel in DC’s new Minx imprint, The PLAIN Janes. Today – it’s all about the art.

Known best for Street Angel (written by Brian Maruca), Jim Rugg may seem like a natural fit for the line, but as he’ll explain, he had his doubts in the beginning. Now, looking back on the completed work (due for a May release) – Rugg’s pretty happy with how everything turned out.

Jim Rugg: After I finished Street Angel I did a historical fiction comic for a text book publisher, work-for-hire. That was fall of ‘05. Then shortly after that I hooked up with Shelly Bond on the Minx book.

NRAMA: Are comics your full-time job?

JR: no - I have a full-time day job, so after I finish a big project - like Street Angel or PLAIN Janes, I end up blowing off a lot of time and catching up on smaller jobs, like illustration work and commissions. I also bought a house and that took like some time - packing, moving, etc.

NRAMA: So you’ve been in the “Minx mix” for over a year now?

JR: Just a year - Shelly contacted me last December about doing some work for her. Minx was one of the things we discussed.

NRAMA: Was the call anything that you were expecting after the reception of Street Angel? Was something like Minx the "next step" in your career....or was it all out of the blue?

JR: I wasn’t expecting it. Shelly and I had spoken at conventions in the past, and she was very complimentary about my work, but her email was unexpected at the time.

I was preparing for another creator-owned project/series at the time. Working for DC never crossed my mind.

NRAMA: Were you paired with Cecil from the get-go, or did that come after she joined up, or after you joined up, or...what?

JR: Cecil was involved before Shelly contacted me. I’m not sure how long they had worked together before my involvement. But shortly after Shelly and I started talking, Shelly sent me Cecil’s proposal to read.

NRAMA: Were you familiar with Cecil's work at all?

JR: Once Shelly told me Cecil’s name, I tracked down her first book, Boy Proof, and read it. Then Cecil kindly sent me a copy of her second book, Queen of Cool. So I was able to catch up pretty quickly. Cecil was a huge reason I did this book. I love her characters. I find her writing very refreshing.

In regards to her being familiar with my work, I think Shelly gave her some copies of Street Angel when they were looking for a cartoonist.

NRAMA: What was your thought when you first heard the story pitch?

JR: I loved the title. And I thought the story and characters were very appealing.

NRAMA: What was it about her writing that clicked with you?

JR: Her characters, dialogue, and conflicts all struck me as refreshing and genuine. The characters in PLAIN Janes, and her other books felt more like people I knew than a lot of the fiction I've read recently. Even her supporting characters are well-developed, like the antagonists, her parents, other kids in the school...her attention to detail is phenomenal.

The characters avoid a lot of naval gazing, and instead seem more concerned with living their fictional lives. It's almost like the events of the end of the book haven't been written yet and the characters are experiencing everything as it happens. I guess that seems obvious, but so much of what I read and watch doesn't treat the story respectfully. I feel like a lot of contemporary fiction is about how clever the creators are or how ironic and smart the work is. Cecil's writing isn't self-conscious at all.

I also found her timing/pacing interesting. Her writing doesn't slow down when something major happens. We don't suddenly decompress the storytelling to examine some "pivotal" event. And that continuous, steady passing of time is amazing. As a reader it creates a real emotional rollercoaster - something dramatic or unexpected may happen, but there isn't always time to stop and think about it. Instead it builds, until the events of the story naturally allow an opportunity for reflection. It struck me as pretty unusual.

NRAMA: How much collaboration did you have with Cecil on character design, etc? Were you just working form a script, and all was good, or was there back and forth, tweaking, etc?

JR: I spent about a month doing character designs. I have a sketchbook filled with head shots, clothing, hair styles…I would work up a batch of sketches, email them to Shelly and Cecil, and we’d email feedback to each other or talk on the phone.
I don’t think I contributed anything to the story, but we’d conference about the plot and script, and Cecil was very open to suggestions I had. And if something didn’t seem clear to me, she would rework it, or explain what I was missing.

Then when I started working on the pages, I would do thumbnails, and we’d all look at them and go over what worked and what needed work.

NRAMA: Was this a case where Cecil would describer her characters down to the last freckle, or were her descriptions more general, and you had latitude to play?

JR: Cecil's descriptions were very general in terms of physical characteristics. I think Shelly had more input in terms of physical descriptions. A lot of the conversations I had with Cecil concerned the characters' personalities, interests, etc. She gave some ideas for their appearance, but most of her guidance was based on the characters' behaviors. Shelly and I spent time trying to make each character unique in terms of graphic elements.

A good example would be the classic villains of Dick Tracy, where a few simple features completely distinguish one character from another. That's such an important part of cartooning, and it was a very pleasant part of this experience.

NRAMA: How would you describe the changes in your style between Street Angel and now?

JR: The obvious difference is the gray tones in PLAIN Janes. The characters and setting are much less grimy than in Street Angel. The storytelling in PLAIN Janes has more of an alternative comics influence (like Love and Rockets, Optic Nerve, and other slice-of-life style comics), where Street Angel was a bit more dynamic and influenced a little more by Frank Miller and other Marvel/DC/Image action comics.

Also, there’s probably a greater attention to character design in PLAIN Janes than there was in Street Angel. I think this can be attributed to my learning curve when it comes to making comics and also to the influence of Shelly’s micromanaging, uh, I mean, editorial insight.

NRAMA: When did you get started on the graphic novel, and where are you now?

JR: I think I started drawing pages in April, and now I’m completely done. In fact, I just returned from a trip to Florida, where I was looking at retirement communities.
NRAMA: And after this? Given that DC is making Minx an ongoing concern, are you looking to make it a home?

JR: I’m in the process of putting together my next 5-year plan. Shelly contacted me after I had completed my first 5-year plan and before I had put together another one. So in the next month or two I hope to lay down some goals for my future, including my involvement with Minx and The PLAIN Janes.

NRAMA: Finally Jim - what was it about Minx that got you signed on? After all, a 176 page OGN is a large commitment in time and energy. What was it about the vision Shelly and Karen had that made you figure the investment was worth it?

JR: I thought it was worthwhile as soon as Shelly told me about it. Without going into detail, I find the history of the comics industry and its treatment of women – creators and consumers – disappointing. I think it’s improving, and I think this line of comics is another step in the right direction. I want to draw comics for 20 or 30 more years. A healthy industry will facilitate that dream and I feel diversity of content and delivery is vital to the growth and sustenance of the comics industry. Minx addresses both of these concerns. I’m humbled and grateful that Shelly, Karen, and Cecil invited me to participate in this line.

With that said, signing on for The PLAIN Janes wasn’t an easy decision. I liked the idea of Minx. I loved the idea of working with Cecil and Shelly. I had wanted to work with a Marvel/DC editor. I thought a good editor might be able to teach me a lot about cartooning. So the opportunity to work with someone of Shelly’s caliber was very appealing. And the timing of the book worked well. I was in a creative rut and the deadlines for PLAIN Janes were pretty tight. I figured at the very least, it would force me to start drawing more, and by the end of the book, if nothing else, I’d be a better cartoonist.

So with trepidation, I signed the contract. The experience turned out great. Working with Cecil and Shelly was amazing, better than I hoped. I’m pretty happy with my part of the book - I’m really happy with Cecil’s, and the computer lettering doesn’t even bother me - at least not as much as I thought it would. Now I just hope it reaches its target audience and that they enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed drawing it.

[Ye Olde Iowa]

Wow. Sounds like the Minx line is going to start off with a bang. Both my girlfriend and I are really looking forward to these books, but with all of this hype so early, its going to be a grueling wait!

Cecil sounds very committed and Rugg's art is looking great. I've got a good feeling about The PLAIN Janes and I look forward to seeing how it turns out. Best of luck to all involved!

[Squashua]

Gee, I wonder where that Plain Jane story is going?

I bet (from her turn-the-head sneer) she makes some snarky remarks at the popular girls right before they can deride her for not fitting in.

[BillReed]

Jim Rugg is one of my favorite new creators in the biz.

[JAINITZ]

Jim Rugg is a genius. The fact that he is involved (and that Shelly Bond recognizes him for the genius he is), gives me hope for the Minx line.

Go buy STREET ANGEL now and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Jai

[Paladin]

Originally Posted by BillReed

Jim Rugg is one of my favorite new creators in the biz.

Agreed. I'll definitely be picking up his new stuff.

Loved Street Angel. I needed a review candidate for my review on Bookshelf Comics and Street Angel jumped off the shelf at me. The art and skater angle hooked me and the writing sealed it. Good purchase! Everyone who hasn't picked it up should give it a spin.

[Not From Around]

At the risk of killing yet another "Minx" thread (I've been the latest poster to date on two others!), I think that looks like a rather attractive art style. It's not at all superheroic, but doesn't look stereotypically "manga." It would be nice to have more work aimed at teen girls that's not clearly imitative of manga. Though I have enjoyed work by manga-influenced artists like Amy Kim Ganter.

[Groovie Mann]

jim ruggs awesome.

[RedBaron]

I really love Street Angel. I was sad when Brian Maruca and Jim Rugg stopped putting out issuse.

[bishop-m]

Street Angel was pretty sweet. I'll be checking this out...

[Ayo]

Originally Posted by Jim Rugg

I was preparing for another creator-owned project/series at the time. Working for DC never crossed my mind.

Look at that statement, it reveals more than it was intended to.

A few have inquired about the ownership status of the Minx line and this is the first real clue that I've seen.

"preparing for another creator owned project..." is listed in opposition to "working for DC."

Which indicates to me that this line is company owned.




This is troubling. Creator-ownership is important. I mean, standard book publishers don't retain ownership of authors' work, why do comic companies insist on doing this?

Presumably, the creators are at least being paid well, but...Rugg mentions working a day job. A full time day job.

Maybe he just personally needs the income, but this isn't a good look for the comics industry. One of the hottest newer creators is working a full time job even while working with the biggest company in the business...gross.

[dcorsetto]

Anything Jim Rugg draws, I'll be sure to pick up! That man blows me away.

d