Zeb Wells: Tangled Zeb

By Sam Evans

Zeb Wells burst onto the comics scene earlier this year with a one-shot in the quirky Spider-Man’s Tangled Web featuring the son of the original Frog-man. He quickly followed up with a two-parter in Peter Parker: Spider-Man with artist Jim Mahfood. Sam Wells burst onto the comics journalism scene earlier this year with some quirky interviews, and then soon followed them up with a bunch of downright crazy ones. A match make in heaven? You bet…


Sam Evans: I'm not going to beat around the bush, but I'd like to congratulate you on your success at landing a gig over at Marvel. Must be a nice cushy desk job?

Zeb Wells: Thank you much. Definitely a little cushy, but it's exciting in that I'm still learning the ropes, and still a little nervous every time I put pen to paper.

SE: And I'd like to follow that up with, "Goddamn wouldn't you know it? A guy comes from outta nowhere and gets a gig writing comics." It's usually an overweight American guy or an Irish guy landing all the good jobs in comics. (You're not irish are you?) How does it feel to get your hands in that sandbox? Is it everything you had expected so far?

ZW: Well parts of me are Irish, but none that would interfere with my writing. Having grown up reading comics, it feels great and is a little over-whelming to be handed an opportunity to make my mark on the business. Axel has made sure that my experience so far has been more than I ever could have expected. I mean, he's not exactly making me toil in obscurity while I prove myself. Which is why, as I've said in the past, he will always be "Daddy" to me.

SE: You've done an issue of Tangled Web and two of Peter Parker: Spider-Man, and you’ve got another run on that title coming up. First time out and you land a premiere character… Have you sat back yet and gone "Damn I'm good!" [laughs]

ZW: Sometimes I allow myself that luxury, though mostly it's more of a "Good God, how did I get myself so far over my head" feeling. But am I excited? Of course. For an old comic geek like me there's no character I'd rather work on at the moment. As a twenty-something young man, it's fun to write about another twenty-something young man. It's become a bit of a cliche to say so, but Peter Parker is one of the most relatable characters in comics.

SE: Describe to me the how's when's and where's the offer for Spider-Man came to you? Did they call you up and just simply say, "Hey, wanna write Spider-Man?"

ZW: I somehow convinced Axel Alonso that I was a charming, intelligent young man. Which apparently is easier than you'd think. I had won Wizard's "Direct to Video" contest for the second time, and was in Chicago to show it at the Wizardworld Fan Awards.

So they show it - a spoof episode of The Real World, with super heroes in the house. Not blisteringly original but my friends make up for it by being funny as hell. I got to give a little speech afterwards. I got up there and took some friendly jabs at Joe Quesada and Brian Michael Bendis, spending ample time addressing the timely subject of how worthless my friends and I are - one of the few subjects I'm an expert in.

The next day I heard that Axel was looking for me, almost threw up, then ran into him in a bar that night. He asked me to send him some ideas for Spider-Man's Tangled Web. We went back and forth a bit and eventually he told me to just write it. It was pretty rough, but he helped me tighten it up. I'm sure I don't need to say it, but he's a damn good editor. And then I was off and running, head still spinning.

After that I did two fill-in issues of PP:SM, we took a small break to see how they'd be received and to let me finish a video I was doing for the Spider-Man DVD (it got cut fairly quickly) and now I'm back, doing an issue of Tangled Web followed by a seven issue run of PP:SM. So my career has become quite cyclical, but it's a damn fine cycle.

SE: What's cooking in your brain as far as what's coming up for Spider-Man in your arc, and how does it contrast to what Paul "Oh my god what a genius!" Jenkins has done before?

ZW: I'll admit that Jenkins is going to be a tough act to follow, I've always admired how he gets to the root of his villain's motivations. I think my run will be quite compatible, however. The first two issues will see a few of Spidey's villains through the lens of mundanity we often see Peter's life. What do these guys do when they're not working? That's always been the joy of Spider-Man, seeing all the crap he has to put up with when he's not in the tights. I think it will be equally fun with the villains.

SE: What's the difference in working in comics as opposed to working on low budget movies? Not taking anything away from what you have done with your videos, but one would imagine that it has to be a drastic change. Sortta like shopping at Wal-Mart one day then buying Versace the next.

ZW: Well I get paid for the comics, which you really can't knock. Plus my audience is about 1,000 times bigger, which in theory is great, but in reality is kind of scary. The thing about "no budget" films ( a term I coined in late '95, along with "phone tag") is it's more of a social process, and doesn't lend itself to the isolated self-loathing and furious masturbation that writers are known for. Having said that (and already regretting it), nothing compares to going into the comic shop on Wednesday and seeing a book with your name on it. I'm pretty sure that will wear off eventually, but I'm not counting on it.

SE: Which villains are you planning on using?

ZW: The first arc sees Hydro-Man and the Shocker taking on Spidey. I can't believe how peoples faces light up when I tell them the Shocker is making an appearance. Artists love to draw him, readers love to see him, and I love writing him. My next arc will be fairly villain heavy as well, but the specifics are under wraps for now.

SE: After Spider-Man what's next? What other characters would you like to work on?

ZW: I think I've been spoiled by Spidey, I can't think of a character that would suit my writing style better, necessarily. I'm a Punisher fan from way back, so It'd be a dream to work with him. Namor would be fun too because he is a bit of a prick, and he has that spunky, niece is it, Namorita. But let's not kid ourselves, I'll work on whatever people throw me. I'm having a lot of fun.

SE: How did you do it? What was the drive for the movies. To see such determination is a testament to ones’ will. Was it your plan all along to get into comics? Did you just want to do the movies and this was just an added bonus? I ask this because there are so many talented people out there that don't have the drive or the determination to see anything through to the end.

ZW: I'd have to agree with you here, and keep in mind that I am in no way a human dynamo. I can be just as worthless and unmotivated as the next guy, but if you want to get anything done you have to GET IT DONE. At conventions I've had people tell me how much funnier their ideas for videos are, and that's great, some of them are funnier, but ideas are a dime a dozen. It takes a lot of work to get the idea onto the screen. So if you think you have a funny idea for a video, comic, anything, make it already.

If nothing else you'll learn if people respond to your work, and if they don't at least you have a reason to sit on your ass. That said the comic book thing was an added bonus to winning the contests. It's not like I had story upon story and script upon script to give to Axel when he asked if I wanted to write something. He believed in me and worked with me sight unseen. I don't think you get luckier than that, and it's the reason most of my interviews involve me verbally felting Axel at some point. He deserves it.

SE: Now, with a nod to Bernard Pivot, James Lipton and the chronic alcoholic that lives down the street, I give you The Top Ten Things We Don't Need To Know About Zeb Wells.

1. What turns you on?

ZW: Good Lord, as I'm practically a shut-in, just about anything.

SE: 2. What turns you off?

ZW: Not nearly everything that should, that's for sure.

SE: 3. What's your vice?

ZW: Procrastination, in all capital letters. You should see the weird crap I get up to when I have better things to do.

SE: 4. What's your favorite curse word?

ZW: Oh dear, too many games of Halo and Goldeneye007 with the boys have made our curses frighteningly graphic. I would never forgive myself for unleashing them on the population.

SE: 5. What's your favorite mixed drink or alcoholic beverage?

ZW: New Castle or Corona, depending on the mood.

SE: 6. Is it okay to break wind on the first date?

ZW: You aren't exactly asking an expert, can we talk about comics again?

SE: 7. What CD is in your player?

ZW: Some mix CD I made from Limewire. Yeah, I "steal" music, wanna make something of it?

SE: 8. What does it take to make a woman scream?

ZW: The sight of my legs usually does the trick.

SE: 9. Why not for your next film, a spoof on superhero sex?

ZW: Because we'd take it too far.

SE: 10. If heaven exist what would you like to hear the angels say as you approach the pearly gates?

ZW: "Hey, sorry about that body you had to live in, we thought it'd be funny, but after a while it just made us cry. Any way we can make it up to you?"

Discuss this interview on the Feature Fiends Forum!