Showing posts with label Dark Horse Comics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dark Horse Comics. Show all posts

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Interview with Greg Pak (Incredible Hulk, Kingsway West, Eternal Warrior)

by Mike Favila (Guest Writer / ComicsOnline.com Senior Editor)

My neighbor (and Editor-In-Chief) Mike Rhode is taking his daughter off to college for the first time, so I'm taking a second away from my duties at ComicsOnline.com to interview writer Greg Pak for ComicsDC.

If you're not familiar with Greg Pak's work,chances are you probably just haven't been reading the credits that tightly.  I've mostly recently read his stuff for the relaunch of Eternal Warrior through Valiant Comics, but he's the man responsible for the awesomely out there World War Hulk storyline.  I didn't know this until I read his Wiki, but he also created Amadeus Cho.  Not too shabby.

Thanks for taking the time to chat.  Here's a few questions to start with:

What was the genesis for Kingsway West?  Obviously there's been different pieces of fiction relating to the Chinese people in a Western setting, but the fantasy elements are way more pronounced than anything I've read before.  

I first started thinking about about telling a story with a Chinese gunslinger in the Old West over twenty years ago. I grew up in Texas and loved Westerns, and when I learned about the real history of Chinese immigrants in the Old West, I just couldn't stop thinking about it. So this was my dream project when I started film school in the '90s. And after I started writing comics, I worked on different comic book versions of the story, doing a couple of short stories for the OUTLAW TERRITORY anthology with artists Ian Kim and Sean Chen. But I always wanted to do a longer version of the story, and eventually started talking with editor Jim Gibbons at Dark Horse. Jim loved the characters and story I pitched, but asked if there was something more I could bring to the story to push it over the top. And I thought about it for a while, and found myself thinking about fantasy and magic. I'd loved Lord of the Rings and Dungeons and Dragons when I was growing up for some of the same reasons I'd loved Westerns -- that kind of big, epic, outdoor adventure is part of both genres. And the more I worked on it, the more it made sense to merge those genres in a story about a Chinese gunslinger searching for his wife in an Old West overrun with magic.

How did you get together with Mirko Colak?

Mirko and I worked together on Marvel's RED SKULL INCARNATE and Dynamite's TUROK, both books that involved realistic, historically based material. I knew he'd absolutely kill on a Western. He's been tremendous. And I should add that colorist Wil Quintana and letterer Simon Bowland are doing amazing work on the book as well. I'm so lucky and happy!

How did you end up publishing at Dark Horse?

If I'm remembering correctly, I think Mirko had met Jim somehow and made the introduction. As soon as I started talking with Jim, I knew I wanted to do the book there. Jim asked all the right questions to push me to make the book better. Jim since left the company to work for Stela, but Spencer Cushing has taken over as editor and Spencer's been fantastic -- just a tremendous sounding board and advocate and hustler to keep the book on time and make it as good as it can be.



How much of the arc do you have planned out?

I've written all four issues of the miniseries. I've got my fingers mightily crossed -- if the numbers are good enough, we may be able to do a second volume. So if anyone reading is interested, please do ask your local comics shop to order the books for you, or go to KingswayWest.com and pre-order there!

I loved the relaunch of Eternal Warrior, and was impressed with your take on it.  Were you a fan of original Valiant comics?  How did you get involved?

Thanks so much for the kind words! I actually didn't read many of the original Valiant comics -- they came out during a window in time when I wasn't buying a ton of monthlies. But I always loved the concepts. I got pulled on board ETERNAL WARRIOR by editor Warren Simons, with whom I'd done MAGNETO TESTAMENT over at Marvel. I loved working with Warren and was thrilled to have a shot at working with him again. And the Eternal Warrior character was up my alley -- again, as a fan of outdoor adventure and fantasy. I'm particularly proud of the second arc we did on that series, drawn by Robert Gill, in which we jumped a couple of thousand years into the future. Had a huge amount of fun with the worldbuilding there, and I loved the emotional story between Gilad and his granddaughter.

Did you have to coordinate with the other titles launching for Valiant, or did Warren provide a lot of the parameters?

I definitely read the other issues that had referenced Gilad before I started. And Warren definitely kept it on track continuity-wise. He had a great eye on the big picture all the time -- he's just done a tremendous job herding all those books.

As a Filipino, I've always been drawn to the names of the Asian creators (like Whilce Portacio or Frank Cho) that have been on the credits of the comics I read growing up.  It seems like seeing realistic Asian characters portrayed on the page(such as the Amadeus Cho Hulk) is the natural next step.  Do you feel that this is just a reflection of society today, or did that require a concerted effort on the part of comic companies/creators?

I've been writing comics for over twelve years now, and from the beginning, my editors have always supported my working diverse characters into the casts of my books. My very first published comic was the WARLOCK mini in 2004, which starred an Asian American woman named Janie Chin. And artist Takeshi Miyazawa and I created Amadeus Cho eleven years ago, and I was able to write him as a supporting character in the Hulk books and eventually as the co-star of the INCREDIBLE HERCULES series, co-written with Fred Van Lente, for over four years. And over the years I also created S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Jake Oh and used Suzie Endo in the SILVER SURFER book and created a half-Japanese alternative-world Namor in X-TREME X-MEN and used Sharon (played by Grace Park in the television series) as the central character in the second half of my BATTLESTAR GALACTICA series and wrote a bunch of book starring other people of color. So in my experience, working with the awesome editors I've had over the years, the door has always been open -- I just had to walk through it.

But I also think we're living at a time when more and more people are aware that audiences want more diverse casts and more and more creators of different backgrounds are breaking in and blowing up in all kinds of great ways, which is great. Fifteen years ago, when I was speaking at film festivals with my films, I used to say that in fifteen years the changing demographics of the country would make it a no-brainer to make media with diverse casts. We're in the middle of businesses waking up to that right now, and it's very exciting.

Less related, but also curious: How are you involved with Fresh Off The Boat?  I saw something on your Wiki, but I had no clue that you had a hand in the show.

Oh, I love the show, but I'm not at all involved in its creation or production. I was a lucky participant on a panel discussion about it when it premiered. I'm thrilled it's done so well -- it's time, huh?

Thursday, March 10, 2011

PR: Carla Speed McNeil's Finder: See where it all began...


Lose yourself in a world beyond your wildest dreams…

Since 1996, Finder has set the bar for science--fiction storytelling, with a lush, intricate world and compelling characters. Now, Dark Horse is proud to present the first four story arcs of Carla Speed McNeil's groundbreaking series in a single, affordably priced volume!

Follow enigmatic hero Jaeger through a "glorious, catholic pileup of high-tech SF, fannish fantasy, and street-level culture clash" (Village Voice), and discover the lush world and compelling characters that have carved Finder a permanent place in the pantheon of independent comics.

* This first of two Finder Library volumes collects the multiple Eisner Award--nominated story arcs Sin Eater, King of Cats, and fan--favorite Talisman.

* Introduction by Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics).

* For more information about Finder characters, storylines, and more, check out www.FinderComics.com

* Make sure to visit Carla Speed McNeil's blog www.lightspeedpress.com

Creators

Creators: Carla Speed McNeil
Publication Date: March 23, 2011
Format: B&W, 616 pages, TPB, 6" x 9"
Price: $24.99
Age range: 16
ISBN-10: 1-59582-652-1
ISBN-13: 978-1-59582-652-7






Wednesday, March 02, 2011

PR: Fábio Moon delivers ultra-rare variant cover for Dark Horse Presents #2!

As we continue to note, Carla Speed McNeil's strip Finder is appearing in Dark Horse Presents, which is being published with variant covers. Ultra-rare ones.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Buy Dark Horse Presents #1 for Finder, but you've got a choice of 3 covers.


DC's Carla Speed McNeil is in the comic, but if you buy Dark Horse Presents #1 for Finder, you've got a choice of 3 covers.

From the Dark Horse blog: http://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/273/paul-pope-covers-dark-horse-presents-1-special-ult

Paul Pope covers Dark Horse Presents #1 with special ultra-rare variant cover!

As excitement about the relaunch of the legendary anthology comic Dark Horse Presents builds, Dark Horse president and publisher Mike Richardson—who's also personally editing DHP's anticipated return—is adding another thrilling creator to the premiere issue's roster. In addition to the main cover by Paul Chadwick and Frank Miller's variant cover, an ultra-rare variant by Paul Pope (cover artist for The Escapists, the original and historic run of Dark Horse Presents, Marvel's Strange Tales, DC's Wednesday Comics) will also adorn Dark Horse Presents #1.

Retailers who buy twenty copies of DHP #1 featuring the Chadwick cover, the Miller cover, or a combination of both will receive a copy of DHP #1 featuring the ultra-rare variant cover (available only while supplies last), signed by one of the book's iconic creators. For each additional twenty copies ordered, another ultra-rare variant edition will be received, and each will feature a new signature.

Fans and comic collectors, ask your local retailer about how to get a copy of this exclusive variant-cover issue!

The thrilling lead-in to DHP's relaunch continues today on the Dark Horse blog, when we'll reveal the two covers to issue #2. Be there!

Friday, February 11, 2011

PR: Explore the world of Carla Speed McNeil's Finder at FinderComics.com!

Carla's title is moving into Dark Horse Presents this month.
 
Explore the world of Carla Speed McNeil's Finder at FinderComics.com!

------------------------------

Lose yourself in a world beyond your wildest dreams…

Since 1996, Finder has set the bar for science–fiction storytelling, with a lush, intricate world and compelling characters. Now, Dark Horse is proud to present the first three story arcs of Carla Speed McNeil's groundbreaking series in a single, affordably priced volume!

The following summaries are organized by story arc. "Sin-Eater," "King of the Cats," and "Talisman" are collected in Finder Library Volume 1.

For the ongoing story of Jaeger & co., check out the original graphic novel Finder: Voice and other upcoming volumes from Dark Horse Books.


 

Thursday, September 16, 2010

USA Today's Dark Horse

USA Today bills itself as the nation's newspaper so I rarely think about them actually being in the DC area - are they still in Rosslyn? Anyway, here's an interesting article on a partnership between the paper and Dark Horse Comics -

Defining Dark Horse's Partnership With USA TODAY-TOSHIBA
By Chris Arrant
posted: 15 September 2010

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Finder to Dark Horse - another article

Dark Horse to Publish Carla Speed McNeil's ‘Finder'
The acclaimed self-published series will now be reprinted by Dark Horse
By Calvin Reid and Heidi MacDonald -- Publishers Weekly, 4/20/2010

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Zadzooks on Aliens vs Predators vs You vs the Kid down the block vs...

The idea for Aliens vs Predator actually originated in the Dark Horse comics, presumably because the movie would have cost a fortune. Anyway - "Zadzooks: Aliens vs. Predator review," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times March 4, 2010.

There seem to be a lot of us writing about comics in DC all of a sudden, eh? Zadzooks been doing it for at least 10 years though.

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Monday, October 12, 2009

Baltimore Comic Con photos continued

100_8221 Don Rosa
Baltimore Comic Con. Don Rosa correcting Scrooge's eyeglasses. He said he draws the view through the lenses but European publishers blank them out.

100_8222 Robert Montgomery and Don Rosa
Baltimore Comic Con. Robert Montgomery and Don Rosa.

100_8225 Rob Ullman
Rob Ullman. Rob said that he did well at the show, although Sunday was slower.

100_8227 Frank Cho
Frank Cho.

100_8228 Image booth
Image Comics booth.

100_8229 Dark Horse Booth
Dark Horse Comics booth.

100_8230 Tim Sale
Tim Sale, racing the hourglass for some reason.

100_8233 George Perez
George Perez.

100_8234 Scott Kurtz
Scott Kurtz, with Greg Horn's booth signs showing oddly behind him.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

"Flood" in Library of Congress

This week's Dark Horse newsletter reported, "The Library of Congress has recently acquired Eric Drooker's original Flood! artwork to rest in their public prints collection." Perhaps one of the curators will give us more details.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Breathed and Lust in the new Onion

Thurday's Onion had a couple of articles on comics.
"Random Rules: Berkeley Breathed" by Tasha Robinson is an interview about his taste in music. The online version is about twice as long as the print one.

The second article is a review by Keith Phipps of the 1950s graphic (in both senses) novel "It Rhymes With Lust" by Arnold Drake, Leslie Waller, and Matt Baker just reissued by Dark Horse, in the same spring when both writers Drake and Waller died.