INTERVIEW: In Christopher Sebela’s new comic book, memories can be bootlegged
Image courtesy of comiXology Originals / Provided by Superfan Promotions with permission.
Christopher Sebela and Cara McGee have been hard at work on .Self, their new five-part comic book series that explores the uncertain future of technology and privacy. The story surrounds the character of Natalie Winters, who seemingly has the perfect life, according to press notes. That is until her most personal of accounts is hacked, and someone starts to bootleg her life. In this dystopian future, humans not only have accounts for their Microsoft Word files or emails, but for their memories and feelings, so when Natalie’s account is hacked, it’s almost as if she has lost herself.
Sebela is the writer on the project, and McGee is the illustrator. Together they worked with colorist Rebecca Nalty and letterer Aditya Bidikar. Their collective creative output is now available from comiXology Originals, the digital comic arm of Amazon.
Sebela is an accomplished writer who has been nominated for the Eisner Award four times. His co-created comics over the years include everything from Crowded to Dead Dudes to Test. There’s also a bevy of projects in the pipeline from this prolific creator. Recently Sebela exchanged emails with Hollywood Soapbox about all things .Self. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
Do you feel this story is a cautionary tale for the future and our relationship with technology?
There’s definitely a lot of caution about how deep with technology we tend to get. We’ve seen how enmeshed we get, and the effects on people we just see from afar, so it’d be hard to be 100% optimistic. But also a lot of that is no one wants to read a story about a neat technology that makes everything better. And myself, being slightly cynical to put it gently, I always tend to look at how these things that are a blessing can be turned into a curse. I think with anything, humans are able to figure out how to turn the best blessings into a curse given enough time and space.
Generally speaking, are you welcoming of technology or fearful of it?
I’m very welcoming of it. I know the potential for weaponizing these things is higher than ever, but I also see the potential of it to change ourselves and the world at large. It’s a tricky balance, embracing these things while trying to keep them at arm’s length, but no one said the future would be easy.
How would you describe Natalie Winters as a character?
Nat grew up struggling, dreaming of a better day when she wouldn’t have to worry about where they were living or if they could afford more than just the basics. It’s left her striving to achieve this dream of a “perfect life” in sacrifice of older dreams and aspirations. Now she’s finally achieved some measure of it, but she’s realizing that comfort doesn’t necessarily equal happiness. I think Nat is like a lot of people. You tell yourself, “I just need A, B and C to be happy,” and then you get them all, and this happiness gets more elusive and slippery. She’s a little messy, a lot conflicted and maybe the sort of person who needs the nudge of something like a bunch of bootleg versions of herself to confront these things.
What was it like to work with artist Cara McGee?
Amazing. Cara has been on my dream list of artists to collaborate with, and I got lucky she had space in her schedule and interest in teaming up. I mostly tried to give her all the room to do what she wanted and just watched in delight as new pages would show up. It was fun from the first page to the last, and this book wouldn’t be nearly what it is without her.
Do you feel digital comics and graphic novels are the wave of the future?
I think they’re definitely going to become a bigger slice of comics. They’re already a lot huger than when digital comics got introduced as a concept. There’s a lot of people who don’t live near comics shops or don’t have an interest in going to one, and digital really bridges that gap, puts more books in more peoples’ hands. Like any tech, it could go super wrong somehow, but I think they’re helping comics grow into something bigger. And that can only be a good thing.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
.Self, written by Christopher Sebela and illustrated by Cara McGee, is now available from comiXology Originals. Click here for more information.
