INTERVIEW: Ahoy, there’s a new type of comic in town

Although the characters and content of comic books have continually changed since day one, the actual structure of a comic book has largely remained the same. Now, here to disrupt things a bit is Ahoy Comics, a new publication company that is premiering comic book magazines this month. These titles will have traditional, full-length comic stories, plus a ton of extra material, including prose fiction, cartoons and poems.

The cool idea comes thanks to publisher Hart Seely, an award-winning reporter whose humor pieces have appeared in The New York Times; editors Tom Peyer and Stuart Moore, both of DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint; and Frank Cammuso, chief creative officer for Ahoy.

The first two titles, premiering this month, are Wrong Earth (now available) and High Heaven (Sept. 26). In Wrong Earth, fans can check out the adventures of Dragonflyman and his sidekick, Stinger. The ongoing story is written by Peyer and Jamal Igle. Plus, the magazine has a stand-alone Stinger story; a completely different text story by none other than Grant Morrison; and a cartoon by Shannon Wheeler.

High Heaven, on the other hand, follows a man who dies and goes to heaven, only to find out that the pearly white gates are not what they were cracked up to be. Peyer writes again, with art by Greg Scott. Another story in the magazine deals with awkward science adventurers who go by the name Hashtag: Danger, perhaps the best superhero name of all time.

Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Peyer about Ahoy Comics. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.

How would you describe a comic book magazine to a fan of comic books?

We know you love to read, so after a generous page count of comics there will be more to enjoy: short stories, humor pieces, columns, interviews and/or poems. Some will involve names you know; Grant Morrison has written some hilarious routines, as has the brilliant cartoonist Carol Lay. Others are by fiction writers, journalists, lesser-known comics writers and people from other fields entirely. Every piece is illustrated, again by familiar talents like Rick Geary and Phil Hester, or by excellent artists whose work is new to you.

Oh, and the pages aren’t magazine-sized; these will fit in your longbox.

What inspired Wrong Earth?

Watching our beloved mainstream characters change over the years. At one time, every superhero was a relatively cheerful supporter of authority and the rule of law. Over the last 30-plus years, many of them have morphed into alienated vengeance-seekers who stick it to the man. I knew putting both versions in one box and shaking it would be entertaining and funny. Jamal Igle’s pitch-perfect art and commitment to the idea have made it even more so.

Do you know how many issues Wrong Earth will run? How far in advance is the development?

We’re going to do six issues, take a break and come back, like a TV series.

High Heaven is billed as a ‘savage satire.’ What are you and the team trying to satirize?

A partial list:

• The idea that you can’t be happy unless other people devote themselves to your happiness. Some of us, like High Heaven star David Weathers, are slow to grow out of that. (I think I was, if indeed I have.) David is such a baby, and artist Greg Scott sells his moods so well.
• Austerity, the philosophy that says it’s somehow wrong to spend public money in the public interest, that we don’t deserve anything better than reduced library hours, bumpy roads, poorly equipped schools. If we don’t deserve those things now, why would we after death?
• The social pecking order that earns the majority’s loyalty by giving it minorities to look down on. I can’t see that ending after death, either.

And more! New things to mock every day.

How did your days at Vertigo influence your co-founding of Ahoy Comics?

Vertigo is where I trained, so it’ll always be with me. I learned so much there from working with Karen Berger, Grant Morrison, Jamie Delano, Peter Milligan, Dave McKean, Brian Bolland, Sean Phillips, Stuart Moore and so many others. I draw on that experience every time I sit down to work.

What do you think the future holds for the new company?

An unending stream of creative opportunities. That’s what we’re hoping for.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

Ahoy Comics has already released the first issue of Wrong Earth, and the first issue of High Heaven comes Sept. 26. Click here for more information.