|
| Lore |
| Dreams |
| Myths |
| Oracles |
|
Interviews News Old News |
| Research |
| Spellbook |
| Webrings |
| Links |
| Contact |
|
Digitalwebbing
How would you describe LADY PENDRAGON?
Lady Pendragon is a combination of historical fiction and sci-fi, fantasy adventure.
It deals with mythology, religion, legend, history and the differences between
matriarchal and patriarchal government systems. Its also got a lot of cool action
and violence.
It seems that LADY PENDRAGON is pretty heavily researched. How long did you research
before writing the book?
All my life, really. I've specifically researched the Arthurian legends for about three
years. I'd worked on and off on the story during that time. One of the things I've tried
to communicate to the readers of the book is that a lot of true history is as
interesting, if not more so, than a lot of fiction. I thought this stuff was dry and
boring when 1000 I read it in school. A lot of that "perception" is the way the
material is presented.
Will we ever see Volume 1 reprinted in the near future?
Should be out before the end of the month.
How do you think the character has evolved since the first volume with Maximum press?
I've added the multiple time lines to give it a broader scope. I wanted to be able to
tell stories in the past, present and in the future and I've incorporated elements and
new characters into the storyline to allow me to do this. The original story was about
Guinevere and what happened following the death of King Arthur. The new story has a
present day protagonist and another mysterious woman from the future (who I've
tentatively named The Priestess). They are all linked through religion, reincarnation
or possession of magical, sacred artifacts. I think the story will also continue to
evolve as I continue my research and studies.
How long do you plan on staying with LADY PENDRAGON, and, if you do, what direction
do you plan on taking the character in the future?
I'd like to do Lady Pendragon for the forseeable future. I have about 12 different
stories (not issues) I'd like to tell at this point. Every story I write sparks new
ideas in my head and different things I can do. The mini-series really focused in on
the introduction of the characters and kind of skated over what happened to the world
when magic returned.
There is a kind of post-apocalyptic setting that needs to be explored. The first story
arc of the ongoing series focuses in on the return of dragons to the earth and other
monstrous apparitions. There will also be a confrontation between Jennifer Drake and
the woman from the future who has come back to catalog her life. I'll be dealing with
the significane of the trinity blades and other religious artifacts. And Guinevere will
be uncovering some things in the past that puts her back in action.
How do you feel the present day adventures against Morganna and Mordred stand in
comparison to the past adventures of LADY PENDRAGON?
I think they complement each other. The stories are deeply interwoven and the
connections will be explored and revealed over time.
What can you tell about the MORE THAN MORTAL crossover, and what made you pick Dan
Norton to illustrate it?
The MORE THAN MORTAL cross-over is really cool. The story features Guinevere and
Brigid in a religious struggle in Ireland. It deals with a lot of the history between
the two countries and the differences between the Catholic Church and the Celtic pagans.
Norton is an amazing artist and has a bouncy, fluid style that fits well with the story
we're telling. The story is a little more light-hearted than a normal LADY PENDRAGON or
MORE THAN MORTAL story.
Do you plan on any other crossovers?
Not right now. I only want to do a cross-over that would actually make sense in terms
of the story. The MORE THAN MORTAL thing works because of the proximity of the
characters and the time periods. I'd like to do something with Dark Ages Spawn, but I
can't think of anything else I'd want to do at this point.
You've gotten some pretty nice cover artists in Joe Jusko and Jae Lee. How did you
manage to snag them?
I've always been a huge fan of both their work and have known both of them over the
years from conventions. Dynamic Forces head honcho Nick Barrucci has also been
instrumental in persuading some of these guys to make time in their schedule to do it.
Of all of the companies to go with, why did you go to Image?
Image has a great distribution deal and offers the best creator-owned deal in the
business. For better or worse, I can say that LADY PENDRAGON is 100% my own vision.
Most other companies won't let you do that. They want to add their own two cents and,
in the case of work-for-hire, they have every right to. Image also has a recognizable
name in the mainstream and makes it easier to negotiate peripheral licensing deals.
Since you've had the connection with Rob Liefeld, should we expect to see you publish
any work at Awesome Comics?
Rob [Liefeld] asked me to submit a PROPHET proposal and I did. Whether anything comes
out of it remains to be seen. I'm more interested in focusing my time and efforts to
making LADY PENDRAGON and the other projects I'm working on better.
How do you feel LADY PENDRAGON stands in the superhero-cluttered marketplace?
I think fantasy is making a comeback and the sci-fi elements attract readers that may
not be interested in a purely period piece. With LADY PENDRAGON we've tried to combine
a slick art and color package with a more Vertigo-style storyline. The response to the
series thus far has been phenomenal.
We've seen the swords Caliburn (which was mysteriously on Mars!) and Draconis (which
the present day Mordred wields). Where's Excalibur?
Guinevere had Excalibur in the Dark Ages and in the third issue she passes the sword
to Jennifer Drake in the present (becoming the Lady of the Lake).
And, finally, do you feel LADY PENDRAGON succeeded on the levels you set out to reach?
The series so far has exceeded all my expectations and I have the retail community and
the fans to thank.