@’s by MIND THE GAP Writer Jim McCann!!!
Ambush Bug here with another AICN COMICS Q&@. This time I catch up with Jim McCann. Jim began behind the scenes in PR at Marvel. After jumping into the writing duties on the recent HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD series, Jim followed that fun run with a truly unique project called THE RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN, a hardcover fairy tale epic from Archaia that earned him an Eisner Award last year. Now Jim has a new ongoing series coming out this week called MIND THE GAP, a mystery like nothing I’ve ever seen from Image Comics. Here’s what Jim had to say about MIND THE GAP!AMBUSH BUG (BUG): I just finished MIND THE GAP and man, I think you're channeling a bit of Grant Morrison here. There's definitely a stream of consciousness feel to the story with the dream/out of body sequences. What inspired you to make this comic?
JIM MCCANN (JM): Wow, big shoes to fill! And thank you. I was going for a very ethereal quality for Elle’s mind state. That was one of the things that made me want to do MIND THE GAP in the first place—to tell the story of an amnesiac who knows all the answers to the greater mystery at play, except those answers are locked away in her brain, right along with her own consciousness.
It was a story that jumped into my brain and I couldn’t get it out--I knew I had to get it on paper. At first I was going to spec out the first issue as a pilot, but I felt like it would be better for it to be on paper and looking amazing thanks to the art team. If a TV show comes, then yay, bonus. But this comic is purely what I envisioned from the start.
BUG: How would you describe this book to new readers?JM: Well, since it’s a new series, everyone will be a new reader to this. (laughs) MIND THE GAP is my take on a psychological mystery with some preternatural twists and turns. It’s part “X-Files”, “Revenge”, “Memento”, and “Kill Bill” all rolled into one and then my own twist to it all.
BUG: The mystery aspect of this book is really fun. It gives it a THE KILLING/TWIN PEAKS/"Who killed Laura Palmer?" feel. Were those TV series inspirational to this story?
JM: Those were certainly inspirations, as are other mysteries like “Ten Little Indians” and most Hitchcock films. They all have stewed in my head for years, having been a long-time fan of the genre. I knew I wanted to do something in that vein, but wasn’t sure what…until now!
BUG: Having seen your work on HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD and THE RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN, this is a sort of departure for you. What made you want to tell this story right now?
JM: Like most things I write, it’s the story that comes first. I can’t force it, so when it’s done cooking in my brain, I know I need to write it. Like DAPPER MEN, I didn’t plan it. I never thought “Hey, I’ll write a fairytale today” or “Let’s do something involving comas!” One thing that DID make me want to tell this story now is that I really love these kinds of stories---long-form mysteries, which you mainly only see in television. I haven’t seen many in comics, so I wanted to give it a shot.
BUG: What kind of research goes into this? It definitely seems like you talked a bit with some doctors because the hospital stuff seems authentic.JM: I read a LOT online about coma patients, as well as a few books on theories of how they can communicate with their loved ones. I read personal accounts of near-death experiences, and then turned my attention to the more medical side of things. I can’t reveal too much more without tipping my hand, but trust me—I’m always researching as I write. It’s something I find really exciting!
BUG: How did you hook up with artist Rodin Esquejo for this book?
JM: Like most people, I knew of Rodin Esquejo from his Eisner-nominated cover work, mainly on Morning Glories. We’d met at conventions and I remember at a convention he had his portfolio, which had the 7 sequential pages he’d done for Image’s FRACTURED FABLES (for which he was also Eisner nominated). At San Diego Comic Con last year, the day after the Eisners, I was still on the high of DAPPER MEN winning, I saw him near my table and said “I would love to work with you and have just the project, if you’re interested.” He always was my first choice for this book, and thankfully he said yes!
BUG: Did he do the colors too? Because the colors here are pretty fantastic!
JM: No, the colors (really the other half of this art team, since I can’t imagine one without the other on this) are done by the incredible Sonia Oback. Fans may recognize her work from as far back as WITCHBLADE, X-23, and X-FORCE, more recently on X-MEN and S.H.I.E.L.D. She’s always been one of the nicest—and most talented—people I’ve met in the industry. She colored two short stories I did for Marvel, but we’ve always talked about working together. Like Rodin, she was my first choice. In my head they went together perfectly…and you can see the results and judge for yourself!BUG: How long does this series go? Is it a mini or an ongoing?
JM: It’s an ongoing, but I know when it will end. Much like Y: THE LAST MAN and LOCKE & KEY, I have a story I want to tell, and then let it stand on its own when done. That said, my lips are sealed as to how long that will be. It would ruin the surprise!
BUG: So a lot of stories like this fall apart after the mystery is solved. Is it possible for this story to go on after we find out who the killer is?
JM: The mystery is sort of the main character in this book--it’s bigger than the identity of the attacker, and even bigger than Elle (the main character) herself! Just when you think it’s all solved, you get a glimpse of how far this reaches. There’s a lot of questions to be answered…and you’ll get them!
BUG: You reference a lot of popular culture in this book and even have a suggested reading soundtrack. Do you listen to music while writing? If so, are the songs referenced in the story the ones you listened to while writing?
JM: I wanted this to be grounded in the real world, while juxtaposing it with the ethereal place that Elle’s mind occupies. Music and pop culture help do that, and provide a link. Music is used as a form of sense memory for Elle, helping unlock parts of her brain. As for a playlist, I do have one that I listen to while I’m driving and that usually helps kick some fresh or fleshed out ideas. Many of them make it into the pages in various forms.BUG: So give us a rundown of the list of suspects. At this point, it seems like anyone could be the killer. Do you know how this thing is all going to pan out?
JM: In the first issue, you meet almost every major player—all of whom are suspects. By the end of the first arc, everyone who played a part in putting Elle in a coma will be introduced. The attack is more than just a mugging--it’s the first in a house of cards that will all fall down by the time all is told. The slogan for this book is “Everyone is a suspect. No one is innocent.” And I mean NO one.
BUG: So what else are you working on in the moment? Last time I saw you, it looked like you had some new Janet Lee DAPPER MEN paintings to show off.
JM: Yes, indeed, Janet and I are hard at work on the second chapter in the Dapper Men trilogy--TIME OF THE DAPPER MEN. This volume sees all of our characters a little older, and sets Ayden off on a journey that will take us across his land, with new cities and cultures. By the end, everything he knows, and everything the reader knows, about this place will be completely changed.
In addition, I have a few other things cooking but they’re not quite ready to announce just yet.
BUG: What was it like winning an Eisner for RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN?
JM: Surreal barely covers it. It sits next to my desk and every once in a while, I have to re-read the plaque to assure myself that I didn’t steal it from Skottie Young or Ed Brubaker (they’ve earned every Eisner they’ve received, but maybe they wouldn’t notice if I snuck in and squirreled one away, right?) It was humbling, surprising, and amazing all at once. I feel like I should track down everyone who voted and buy them lunch at the very least!BUG: Last chance: why should everyone go out and pick up MIND THE GAP #1 in stores this week?!?
JM: If you want in on the ground floor of a mystery that will take you on a crazy wild ride, if you like the genre or any of the things that have inspired it, or you just want to see what all the buzz is about, pick it up! Oh, and at $2.99 for 48 pages of story, you’ll at least get your money’s worth…and then some, I hope!
BUG: Thanks Jim!
Be sure to pick up a copy of MIND THE GAP #1 from Image Comics in stores this week!
Ambush Bug is Mark L. Miller, original @$$Hole/wordslinger/reviewer/co-editor of AICN Comics for over ten years. He has written comics such as MUSCLES & FIGHTS, MUSCLES & FRIGHTS, VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS TINGLERS & WITCHFINDER GENERAL, THE DEATHSPORT GAMES, WONDERLAND ANNUAL 2010 & NANNY & HANK (soon to be made into a feature film from Uptown 6 Films). He is also a regular writer for FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND & has co-written their first ever comic book LUNA: ORDER OF THE WEREWOLF (to be released in October 2012 as an 100-pg original graphic novel). Mark has just announced his new comic book miniseries GRIMM FAIRY TALES PRESENTS THE JUNGLE BOOK from Zenescope Entertainment to be released in March 2012.Proofs, co-edits & common sense provided by Sleazy G
