Courtney Huddleston and Scott Zirkel have teamed up with VIPER COMICS to show readers how a heroic coming of ages tale is done. This is a one graphic novel about a kid learning about powers, and it is both beautiful and fun. You can research it for yourself at here and here and here.
The Description: Intro Owen Bryce is a normal good-natured 10 year-old boy who likes robots and thinks all girls have cooties. One day, however, Owen will soon find out just how abnormal he really is. He’ll find out…when everything goes a bit haywire.
Release Info The books will be in stores in November and in this September's Previews. Order with Diamond code SEP06362
I had a funchat with the creative team.
Alex: Having seen the pages of the G/N via zip files there is a sense of wonder and joy in learning of super powers by youth. Is there an allegory to tell or deeper wisdom in such a tale?
Courtney: If there was any sort of wisdom incorporated into this story, it was all on accident…at least on my part. My biggest attribute is the concept. But, as the writer, Scott may have added a few positive messages that even I may have overlooked.
Scott: Wow, I really wouldn’t associate Court and myself with wisdom. I think the biggest point we are making with Owen is that of responsibility. It’s nothing new or groundbreaking, just a different way of dispensing old truths.
Alex: Can a story of such a nature be told with complete straight face or does it require a certain childlike whim and whimsy?
Courtney: There was rarely a serious moment involved when Scott and I were plotting out this story and it’s visual possibilities. In discussions, it sort of forced out that inner child in both of us. Many of our conversations started with ”Ohhh, wouldn’t it be cool if…!”
Scott: I don’t know if I ever have a complete straight face. Everything I do I come at with that ‘childlike whim and whimsy’. It’s just ingrained in me.
Alex: What are the story telling advantages to telling a story through the eyes of an innocent or child?
Courtney: As adults, unless you’ve been sheltered all of your life, we tend to lack in imagination. I don’t mean that in the sense that we can’t be creative. But with kids, they often have the ability to immerse themselves into that world that we (adults) once knew.
As a storyteller, it opens a lot more creative doors to play with.
Scott: I’ve been sheltered most of my life, so I’m not too lacking in the imagination dept. I’m really not into a gritty, reality based type story. They just don’t hold my attention as well as something with a bit of child’s wonder to it.
Alex: Is there more waiting to be told or will you be satisfied here with a single work?
Courtney: Both. If it ends here, I still think readers get a pretty good grasp on what the story’s about. But I have to admit that during our talks prior to starting the story, Scott and I came up with several other fun storylines. As cliché’ as it sounds, there really are endless possibilities with this concept.
Scott: Yeah, it’d be great to do more Haywire stories, and like Court said, we have a few in the wings just waiting for the word go.
Alex: Collaborative projects often lead to other works, do you two have other projects on the burner?
Courtney: I’ve got a couple of things on the burner. But, it’s too soon for me to get excited about. There’s still a lot of fleshing out to do.
Scott: This is, technically, our fifth collaboration… I’ve done three pinups for Court’s other books and written one story for an anthology he put together. I’m really getting tired of the guy. But he keeps getting me work, so who’s to complain.
Alex: What comics do you read at present?
Courtney: I’ve been reading “Girls”, “Walking Dead”, “Mouse Guard”, “Desolation Jones”, “Goon” and a few others.
Scott: Invincible, Runaways, Dead@17, Truth Justin and the American Way… many others…
Alex: What is your professional goal in comics?
Courtney: I’ve always wanted to be able to just work full time in the industry, and I’ve been fortunate enough to do just that. Everything else is just the bonus.
Scott: I’d like to get to the point where I can just sell out and retire. That’d be nice.
Alex: What about Viper was it that made you take this project there?
Courtney: Viper is one of the most versatile companies in the industry. There is no house style. From Daisy Kutter to Dead@17 to You’ll have That— there’s something for every reader.
Scott: The logo was cool. That and all their books have such a great quality to them. Not only to the story and art, but to the physical books themselves. They just look good on a shelf.
Contact Me @
Alex Ness // The Land of Frost
Box 142
Rockford MN 55373-0142
“A hero cannot be a hero unless in a heroic world.” Nathaniel Hawthorne
“People speak a lot today about the banality of evil, but not all evil is banal. Some of it is carefully structured and well-thought-out. That's where the real danger lies.” Alan Dean Foster
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