Broken Frontier

As part of our Year Ender feature, Broken Frontier has asked a lot of creators about how they look back on 2004 and what's in store for each of them next year.
From Monday through Friday, you'll get to find out what their answers are to the five questions we asked them.

Today: Aaron Lopresti, Ben Raab, Ben Templesmith and Christopher.

 

AARON LOPRESTI

BF: Creatively, what were some of your highlights in 2004?

AL: That's easy: Excalibur. It is the only thing I worked on in 2004. Okay, that's not entirely true. I am actually most proud of my book - imagine this - a collection of sketches and illustrations" that I published and released in mid 2004.

BF: Which mainstream book of the past year did you enjoy reading the most and which was the best small press book in your opinion?

AL: I don't really read all that much because it seems like I am working all of the time. I did like David Finch's work on Avengers Disassembled. In fact, I actually read those 4 issues and liked them! I should mention that I have purchased all of the issues of Marvel Knights Spiderman, but I am waiting to read them until I have the entire mini-series. The only small press book that I even semi-regularly look at is The Goon, so I will have to go with that.

BF: Which fellow creator’s work are you dying to read in 2005?

AL: I don't even know what is coming out! I will keep an eye on the New Avengers and I am curious to see Frank Cho's Shanna: The She-Devil.

BF: Are you satisfied with the way the industry evolved over the course of the year? Are there any trends in particular you noticed that are going to be relevant in 2005?

AL: Same old stuff, I'm afraid. I do like the fact that traditional superheroes seem to be in vogue again. That whole "vertigo" approach to superhero comics left me a bit cold. I, like everyone else, would like to see the readership grow, but I don't have a clue as to what the answer is to that dilemma!

BF: What is up your plate in 2005?

AL: I am very grateful to have a contract at Marvel and I will continue to plug away at Excalibur for the immediate future. Improving my work is always my priority every year.

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BEN RAAB

BF: Creatively, what were some of your highlights in 2004?

BR: On the comic front, aside from the thrill of finishing up my run on GREEN LANTERN, I'd have to say that writing THE PHANTOM for Moonstone Books proved a very gratifying experience.  I got to work with two very unique and talented artists - Pat Quinn and Nick Derington - who did amazing jobs illustrating the adventures of the Ghost Who Walks.  But on a more personal note, the birth of my daughter was, without a doubt, the highest point of my year.

BF: Which mainstream book of the past year did you enjoy reading the most and which was the best small press book in your opinion?

BR: DC: THE NEW FRONTIER was, hands down, my favorite mainstream read of '04.  Darwyn Cooke did an awesome job weaving an interesting, exciting, and totally original story featuring not only the icons of the DCU, but the supporting characters, as well.  As for small press, well, I guess it would be considered small press in this country even though it's mainstream overseas, but I'd have to say the two BLACKSAD graphic novels.  Not only are they beautifully illustrated, but the stories and the characters are intricately interwoven and cleverly written.  I highly recommend them.

BF: Which fellow creator's work are you dying to read in 2005?

BR: Having recently re-read the three PLANETARY hard covers, my head's in a very Warren Ellis place right now.  I'm waiting to read OCEAN in a single sitting and looking forward to seeing where he goes with IRON MAN.  Knowing Warren, it's going to be damn interesting.

BF: Are you satisfied with the way the industry evolved over the course of the year? Are there any trends in particular you noticed that are going to be relevant in 2005?

BR: Has the industry evolved?  I hadn’t noticed…
As for relevant trends, that’s hard to say.  I’d never claim to have that kind of prescience.  Whatever ‘next big thing’ comes along and captures our attention, I hope it isn't here today, gone tomorrow.

BF: What is up your plate in 2005?

BR: 2005 is already shaping up to be a busy year.  First, there’s the March release of THE HUMAN RACE – a 7-issue miniseries I created with artist Justiniano for DC Comics.  Then, there’s the 2-part VAMPI: VICIOUS RAMPAGE miniseries with character creator, the man himself, Kevin Lau.  Next up is Moonstone’s THE PHANTOM, another 2-parter with artist Pat Quinn that features the return of a fan-favorite villainess.

But the project I’m most excited about is LIVING IN INFAMY, an all-new original series about a Federal Witness Protection town for reformed super-villains that I co-created with my screenwriting partner, Deric A. Hughes, for new publisher Ludovico Technique (www.ludovicotechnique.com), debuting in June.

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BEN TEMPLESMITH

BF: Creatively, what were some of your highlights in 2004?

BT: For better or for worse, it was most definitely finishing and seeing to print my first project where I did the whole thing. Writing and art. That and just starting to move away from the generic horror stuff I usually do. I have a bunch of newer looking things I did this year that won't be seen until next year though. Ack.

BF: Which mainstream book of the past year did you enjoy reading the most and which was the best small press book in your opinion?

BT: Hmmm. The only vaguely mainstream book I read this year was some Punisher. Marvel max. Ennis and some brilliant artist I forget the name of... sorry.
Other than that, it'd have to be Popbot for me. It's continuing on it's merry way with Ash Wood's typical quirky charm. It's more than a comic. It's a lifestyle.

BF: Which fellow creator’s work are you dying to read in 2005?

BT: I'm waiting with baited breath to see what Ellis is going to kill me with, because I just plain love his more Transmetropolitan-oriented work and because I'll hopefully be trying my damnedest to make it work. I'm pretty sure when he said " The project that will kill Ben Templesmith" he meant it. Oh, and anything Mignola does... if he's doing anything that'll be out next year.

BF: Are you satisfied with the way the industry evolved over the course of the year? Are there any trends in particular you noticed that are going to be relevant in 2005?

BT: Of course not. I never will be until Anglo-American comics industry sells the same sort of numbers they do in Europe and Asia (in the millions). But that isn't going to happen anytime soon sadly, so I guess I'll go with a general "It felt kind of flat to be honest." Heh. It would still be better if it felt like there was at least SOME growth in the readership base however.

Trend wise, I hope, and kinda think the horror fad stuff is petering out a little. Every man and his dog is/was trying it at some point with various monster combinations/revamps etc, and now it looks like the few decent ones are still holding up. I hear The Walking Dead is going great and so too is the 30 Days of Night stuff of course and a couple others. I don't know, but it seems the trend for next year will be pirates. Apparently a few projects based on them are coming out next year. I’m not sure what to make of that though.

BF: What is up your plate in 2005?

BT: Far too much really. Perhaps a monthly that'll kill me with Warren Ellis from Image, perhaps one of my own too at the same time, yet more 30 Days of Night stuff and perhaps a bunch of smaller minis too. I seem to be committing to a lot. I won't be sleeping much if it all actually comes off.

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CHRISTOPHER

BF: Creatively, what were some of your highlights in 2004?

C: This year I was able to have my very own comic book series debut. I've contributed on some work in the past but to finally be able to write and draw my own series has been a dream come true. Seeing issue #1 of "The Ghouly Boys" hit the stands and to receive such positive feedback from the fan community and the critics has made this a year I will never forget. I've wanted to do this book for quite some time. I really feel like I'm living in a dream and I don't want to wake up.

BF: Which mainstream book of the past year did you enjoy reading the most and which was the best small press book in your opinion?

C: From the big publishers, "Supreme Power" has been the book that I pick up and just can't wait to get home and read. I was a fan of the old "Squadron Supreme" limited series, so it's really cool to see that world revisited. This book is so well-written and is such a great take on the superhero mythos.

"Egg Story" was the surprise hit on the Indie scene for me. I try to shove it into all my friends' hands and tell them to just give it a chance. This one really slipped under the radar and I think is the real undiscovered gem of 2004.

BF: Which fellow creator’s work are you dying to read in 2005?

C: I don't know, there are quite a few. I've been enjoying Mark Millar's run on everything and am just starting to follow his work. He's writing some of the best comics being made these days, so I look forward to read more of what he does. I also got a chance to see some work in progress by Jhonen Vasquez, who is long past due for a return to comics.
From what I saw, his art is looking phenomenal, but I don't know when or if he's ever going to release it. Same with Roman Dirge, I know he's working on something that has some of the lushest and intricate art he's ever done and I can't wait to see the finished product.

BF: Are you satisfied with the way the industry evolved over the course of the year? Are there any trends in particular you noticed that are going to be relevant in 2005?

C: I'm pretty bummed out about the shape of the industry. It seems to be in state of decline. Companies are going under, artists are not getting paid and the Manga books are taking up position to slay the superhero dinosaur.

I think some of the writing in a select few comics is the best we've had in decades, but we're seeing more and more of a return to the gimmicks and event hype that makes me fear we're slipping back down the slope toward the 90's collector's boom all over again. I personally felt really disappointed by the "event" books this year and it seems the industry is set to feed us more of the same next year.

BF: What is up your plate in 2005?

C: The biggest thing for me is going to be the birth of my daughter. I'm planning on finishing up the next two issues of "The Ghouly Boys" and then taking a break and just focus on being a new father. I'd always hoped to do the series as sets of 4-issue story arcs, so it would be a good time to take some time off.

I also contributed a story to a book called "Tales of Hot Rod Horror" that will debut from a new publisher called Cackling Imp Press, so there will still be some new work showing up from me, in addition to the next two Ghouly Boys and hopefully the Ghouly Boys trade paperback all in 2005. I'm working on a screenplay with a producer for a completely original project and there is a graphic novel idea I've wanted to get started on. So in between changing diapers, I may begin some work on that later in the year and then I'll try go get a head start on some more Ghouly Boys comics for 2006.

- Frederik Hautain