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JOE CASEY: COMICS, DRUGS & CORN FLAKES Introduction   From first glance Infantry seems to be taking the idea of a Captain America-esque character but rather created in a modern setting, could you describe the inspiration behind the series for our readers? I think INFANTRY fits into the Captain America mould in the same way something like GIVE ME LIBERTY does. The idea of "What is American?" is a powerful one, and one that's definitely worth exploring. But, like the great Steve Englehart did with Cap in the 70's, you have to weave those ideas within stories that capture the imagination and provide a heaping helping of thrills. You can't be too heavy-handed with it or you end up turning a lot of people off. So, hopefully, there are elements within the series that will allow the reader to ask themselves some interesting questions... but mainly it's a rip-roarin', action-packed comicbook series. Infantry's role in the series will be partly hero but also partly target right, though I suspect what drives the character is that he knows something he's not supposed to? It's not exactly what he knows... but more of what he is. And you're right, he is being hunted during the first batch of stories. But that's all part of the mystery of the series...  The Aftermath line seems to imply that there's an underlying foundation tying the new titles together, are you working with the other creators in fleshing out the tone of this new publishing line? We were all given a general set of background notes on the "shared universe" these books are occupying, but I think the mistake in the past has been when things are held down too tightly. Sometimes spontaneity can breed inspiration. I know I'm trying to bring my A-game and I can only assume that the other writers involved are doing the same. That's an energy that's much more important to a successful line than how closely things are tied together. Can you explain this background setting or is this something meant to be revealed as the different series progress? Well, I don't want to give away too much, but Josh Blaylock came up with an overall backstory that sort of explains the existence of superpowers in this universe. It's pretty broad and gives us each a lot of room to move around within the concept.  Is this a 'for hire' project or do you have a piece in this creation? Considering the entire line has been optioned for film, television and video games before a single book has been released it would be great if the creators were involved with that. Thanks to Josh Blaylock and his recognition of my part in developing INFANTRY, I have some equity in the character and the concept. Ironically, I actually know the producers who are involved, so I'd imagine it's at my discretion whether or not I want to be involved in other media. Right now, I'm just concentrating on writing a cool, exciting superhero comicbook. With that in mind, comics are starting to become vehicles for movie pitches more so then actually being about telling good stories, as a creator does this affect your approach to new projects? Or do you have enough close ties by now that you don't need to create a comic to sell an idea, and instead just sell the idea itself?  Yeah, I'd prefer to go that route. Or just write a spec, as I did this summer. If you look at my creator-owned projects, I think it's pretty obvious that I create things for comicbooks that could pretty much only exist as comicbooks. I don't think a book like AUTOMATIC KAFKA, for example, could be anything else but a comicbook. And that's pretty fucking cool to me. I suppose some of the stuff I've got coming up could be translated into films or games but I love comics too much to use them as some sort of stepping stone to "bigger and better" things. Personally, there is nothing better than comics. There are things that are certainly more lucrative, but that doesn't make them better...Just to focus on your other media work for a minute, could you explain exactly how a spec script deal works? It's basically just writing a full screenplay on your own and then trying to sell it afterwards, to either a producer or a studio. It takes a lot of self-motivation but I think it's infinitely more rewarding creatively. It's creating your own opportunity so it falls under the hard work ethic that I've always tried to live by.  Clement Sauve is one of those artists that I wholeheartedly hope success for, how did you hook up with Clem and how have you tried writing to his strengths? The folks at Devil's Due suggested him and I certainly didn't need convincing. Clem has made a giant leap forward with this book. The pencils I've seen have been light years ahead of what he did on STORMWATCH, for instance. Which, in turn, was light years ahead of what he did on HUMAN DEFENSE CORPS. So, obviously, you see a pattern forming with this guy. With each new project, he just gets better and better. That's the kind of artist I'll always want to work with. I think Clem's biggest strength is simply his style. Everything he draws has a weight and a realism to it without sacrificing the fantastic elements that comics do best. Plus, there's a real humanness to his art that I really respond to. I don't think it's a question of writing to his strengths because I see Clem as one of those guys that can draw anything. Obviously, he's extremely adept at depicting tech, so there's a fair bit of that in INFANTRY. He's great with establishing environments that feel real and he does great action. I'm sure every editor around will be beating down his door when the first issue of INFANTRY hits, but for now it's just me and Clem bearing down for the initial six issues of new superhero glory.   Introduction
 Jonathan Ellis is Co-Editor in Chief of PopImage  PopImage Forum - Discuss this message at the PopImage forum. E-Mail Us - Send us an e-mail commenting on this article. Man Of Action - Creative Collective of Joe Casey, Joe Kelley, Duncan Rouleau & Steve Seagle Marvel.com - Publishers of Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes Wildstorm.com - Publishers of The Intimates Aftermath.com - Publishers of Infantry AiT/PlanetLar.com - Publishers of forthcoming Joe Casey OGN's Comic Book Resources - Home to The Basements Tapes Clem @ CBR - Clement Sauve Interview at CBR Blond The Colourist.com - Kevin Senft, Infantry Colourist Industrial Archive - Read past Industrial articles |
