Broken Frontier

About one month from now, Broken Frontier's very own C. Edward Sellner will be experiencing the joy of having his first-ever comic book hit the shelves in the form of Savage World #1, the third title from new publisher Kandora Publishing. 

Apparently, Sellner found that combining one ongoing title and a day job as a youth counsellor was not all that hard, as he's also working on a second book, Monarch of Manhattan, slated for a June release. The book will also be available through Kandora.

BROKEN FRONTIER: When did the ideas for Savage World and Monarch of Manhattan first crop up in your head?

C. EDWARD SELLNER: Savage World actually dates back to my childhood and was originally called "Barbarian". It was just a story I made up when young and imaginative, and then when I got older, I actually wrote chapters of it with illustrated covers that got passed around with a bunch of my friends, sort of a 'fan press' on a very small scale. It started as a kind of imaginary role playing game I played out and went from there. Obviously, I've done a lot of 'tweaking' and story development before its official launch.

Monarch of Manhattan is a property I just recently developed exclusively for the Kandora line. After Brian Augustyn came on board, he and I batted around ideas and in one of those brainstorming sessions, Brian mentioned the sub-genre of the 'human transported into an alien world' storyline, a la Flash Gordon, John Carter, Warlord of Mars, etc. I thought about it and came up with this neat idea of turning that around and taking an 'alien' man from an alternate, fantasy world, and placing him smack dab in the middle of our very real world. Originally, the main character was going to be a viking warrior, but that quickly evolved into Shakalla, not only a warrior, but a prince, and a man like a modern day Alexander the Great with an African tribal flavor.

BF: Did you pitch your Savage World idea to other companies or was publishing the book as part of the first wave of Kandora books your plan all along?

CES: Actually, Savage World was one of my projects I eventually was going to get around to, but it was not on the front burner for development. It was when Ken Choi and I first started talking that I mentioned a couple series I wanted to do, after which he said they were looking to do genre comics and had this great artist really pumped to do a futuristic-Conan type story, with monsters, wizards, etc. He asked if I could do something like that and I was sitting on the other end of the line smiling and said, "Well, I just happen to have a futuristic-Conan story on hand." Literally, it was an inspired combination because that was the exact way I would have described Savage World if I were asked to. So, as a result, it got pushed to the front and voila, I had myself a second project to work on.

BF: As a debuting writer, how come you decided to launch two books right away? Was plotting and scripting one book too easy? [Laughs]

CES: It was more a desire to go that route with Kandora. Ken targeted launching with four books, building on the idea of getting one out every week to build a solid, consistent presence. He and I then talked about not wanting to just have one writer, but not having to coordinate four right off the bat either. Somewhere that evolved into bringing Brian in, with each of us creating and writing two books.

As for the ease of writing them...well, I have to admit that I'm still learning the mechanics of the comic script, although that's not been very hard, but otherwise, writing is a sheer and utter joy for me, and with all the story ideas that have been brewing in my head over the last 20 years or so, I not only feel very comfortable with doing both books - including the extended page counts of 32 and soon 40 page scripts - but feel confident I could expand into a couple more monthlies, or a regular diet of minis and specials. So, bring it on! [Laughs]

BF: Who are the artists on both projects?

CES: Actually the full artist on Savage World and the finishing artist on Monarch of Manhattan is the same person -- Young Kwan, Hyun. The layout artist on Monarch is Jose Aviles.

Both of these guys are just fantastic and have a lot of clout in the Asian comic industry. This is only their debut in the US market, and they will no doubt climb quickly in the ranks over here. They are bringing a great combination of Asian and American styles to the art and a healthy dose of "manwha", which is really dynamic, but at the same time still a very mainstream and realistic style.

BF: What kind of flavor will Young and Jose bring to their respective assignments?

CES: Savage World is very edgy, harsh, raw and primal, which fits the mood perfectly. The landscapes and ruins in the backgrounds, to the chaotic dress and 'zombie effect' of the Revenants, to the great emotional expression really hits the 'epic' quality of Savage World. The art really gives a feel to this 'savage', harsh and chaotic world it is set in. 

Monarch of Manhattan has a much slicker, stylish mood that fits it to a tee, being set in a very slick, stylish setting like New York. But likewise, with that art, the power of Shakalla's presence and the designs and action scenes really are dynamic at the same time, I think the backgrounds of New York and Manhattan are some of the best detailed backgrounds out there. They look and feel like Manhattan. It's hard to explain, but a good sense of variety in the people, lots of pedestrians in the streets, lots of cluttered buildings, etc. all make sure the world 'feels' like the real New York. That was very important to me in the direction of the book and I couldn't be more thrilled with the result!

Let's put it this way, when we first started, I sent some initial character designs to the artists. Being an artist myself, I was nervous they would have these lame designs, so I needed to 'inspire' them... 

When I saw the first sketch for one of the villains, I had to bow humbly and say..."I will not insult you anymore with my meager offerings." I was literally blown away at the power and drama in every line of that simple character sketch. So, as an artist in my own right, to say I'm thrilled these guys are designing these worlds, it's the best compliment I can give. 

BF: What is your approach to storytelling? Are there any themes or motifs you feel a need to explore in the things you write?

CES: Oh heck yeah. Don't get me wrong, first and foremost, I always want to tell a great story, a story I would want to invest a cover price worth of money in, and sit down and read. From that angle, I always want to write characters that leap off the pages, seem very complex and real, etc. I also want to tell stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats, and at least once an issue have a "whoa, didn't see that one coming!" moment. I also try to inject humor and tons of fun in each story, as well. Of course, the fans will be the judge of how well I manage all that. For me, it's very important to remember I'm really working for the retailers and buyers of the book, because, ultimately, they're the ones who will decide if a book succeeds or not. As a fan, I want comics that push the envelope, so I try to create just that.

Beyond mere story stuff, I know the best writing comes from where the passion of the writer meets the page. As a result, there are some other themes for me.

Savage World is a story of zombies, monsters, wizards, magic swords, and fiery hellhounds, but even more, it's the story of a young man facing impossible odds and surviving despite them. He goes from a beloved son, to losing so much, and yet perseveres. I've been a mentor all my adult life, so, Savage is a near and dear character to me. For me, every issue of Savage World is dedicated to the young men I've mentored through my life. They have been an unending source of inspiration to me. One of my older mentees and one of my best friends, is now a marine serving our country. Seeing the man he has become has been a true blessing. There are too many others to name, kids coming out of broken homes, once involved in drug abuse, and nearly failing out of school and most managed to turn their lives around. I hope to catch that fire and perseverance in young Savage. They've all been kids I care about very much, so, I hope Savage reflects their strength, vision, and talent.

Monarch of Manhattan is also near and dear to my heart. One, Shakalla's a lead character I think comics needs more of, a strong, dominant, but compassionate man of color who is a commanding presence. The two main characters of Shakalla and Harold Harrington are also the personal dialogue that often runs through my head. Harold is the pragmatic, wants to fit in guy, Shakalla the unshaking idealist. Shakalla is a man who doesn't fit in and when he is confronted with all the complexities of the modern world, faces them head on, with his uncompromising idealism, tinged with a warrior spirit. His voice will often, but not always, be a voice easy to capture his passions, because it will be my passions.

Again, I'm not trying to set an agenda, or turn everything into a soapbox, but the best stories I've always loved in life were stories inspired by the passions of the writers, coming from the heart and not just the imagination. They were also all stories that made me think, challenged me not only as a reader, but as a person. I'm hoping to set that kind of lofty goal in my own small attempt at writing.

And again, it will be the comic buying public who decides whether I've succeeded or failed in those efforts.

- Frederik Hautain