Jeffrey Brown: To Die For
Earlier this year celebrated Indie creator Jeffrey Brown (Big Head, Clumsy) wrote and drew a non-commissioned, 20-page story called Wolverine: Dying Time that pitted the popular mutant against a horde of bloodthirsty zombies. In an effort to get the book noticed Jeff printed up a very limited number of copies and gave them away to friends and fans. In time, word about the book spread. Wizard magazine recently named Dying Time one of the best Indie books of 2004 and other publications like Punk Planet and Giant Robot have praised Jeff’s little Logan tale. Now, Jeff is trying to get the book published by Marvel Comics.
I talked to Jeffrey Brown about cuttin’ sick on the undead, the possibility of Dying Time being published and the innermost emotions of a man called Wolverine. Oh, and there’s also an exclusive, 11-page preview of Jeff’s story.
MARKISAN NASO: As far as I know, Dying Time is the first Wolvie story to pit Logan against zombies. It's one of those ideas that is so beautifully simple it's hard to believe it's never been done. Very much like the concept for 30 Days of Night. Where did the idea for your comic come from?
JEFFREY BROWN: I think I first came up with the idea watching 28 Days Later. Other than that, I'm not sure where a lot of the other little things came from.
NASO: Why did you decide to write, draw and publish Dying Time rather than simply write a one-page pitch and send it to Marvel?
BROWN: I didn't think Marvel would get the pitch. I think it's a comic that makes sense as a finished product, but trying to explain how it'd be worthwhile without seeing it to a publisher...especially a publisher as big and mainstream as Marvel...that's a bit difficult, I think.NASO: Wait a second, Jeff. You're telling me that Marvel wouldn't get a pitch that read, "Wolvie fucks up a bunch of zombies!?" Why?
BROWN: Well, that part they'd get, I'm sure. But having it drawn in a cartoony style, with a weird kind of mood...I mean, Wolverine/Zombies they might get, but then why would they need me just for that? So it's the way I draw and the way the story is told kind of humorously that they might not see.
NASO: How long did it take you to put Dying Time together? Talk about the process of self-publishing something like this..
BROWN: I came up with the story a year ago and kicked it around in my head, and then started doing little Wolverine drawings. I drew it over a week or two, photocopied it. It was pretty lo-fi, so I'm not sure I could in good conscience refer to it as 'publishing.' I printed copies of it would be more accurate, I guess.
NASO: I assume you've sent a copy of Dying Time to Marvel? Have you received a response?
BROWN: I did send a copy to their submissions department, but I'm sure they're just really busy and will be getting back to me any moment.
NASO: How have you tried to promote Dying Time since you printed copies of it? How many have you handed out?
BROWN: I made 150 copies which I gave to friends mostly, a few to fans. I haven't really tried to promote it, but I've had the good fortune to have friends who happen to be in place to write about it, like the guys at Giant Robot magazine or Wizard. It even got a little review in Punk Planet magazine.
NASO: Obviously you don't own the character Wolverine. Were you (or are you) at all concerned about violating copyright laws by distributing Dying Time?
BROWN: Well, I couldn't sell it, I guessed, but as long as there's no profit, and technically it can be considered a parody, I don't see what the problem would be. Maybe if I somehow made a ton of money from printing it. So I don't know what they could get out of me. At most maybe they could tell me to cease and desist distribution, but I've already distributed all the copies I made.
NASO: I'd call Dying Time a mature comic because of the violence and language. Now, I've heard writers have tried to sell Marvel on the idea of a MAX Wolvie title. This book wouldn't replace the Marvel U one, it would simply be an alternative book for older fans. So far, Marvel hasn't embraced this concept. Why do you think Marvel has decided not to offer mature take on Wolvie? Do you think comic readers would support such a title?
BROWN: I think there's a definite market for it. But who knows why Marvel does what they do. Maybe they're more concerned about the money they make at this point? If the movie studio doesn't want a mature Wolverine getting mixed up with their movie version, I'm sure Marvel Comics isn't going to rock the boat. It seems to me for the most part, the mainstream comics companies are content to continue to cater to the established fan base, and work with the sure bets, rather than takes risks or push the limits with their comics. I'm sure there's some exceptions. But any company that big tends to look at the bottom line first.NASO: Your artwork is very unique. It's much different than what you'd see in superhero books. So, given this need for big companies to cater to the established fan base, do you think Marvel might consider Dying Time too much of a risk?
BROWN: I think they would definitely see it as a risk. If you look at their history, they play it safe. Most publishers do, because ultimately they're a business. Of course, I don't think it would be a risk. I think it's the opposite - you'll have your fan base that'll be into it because it's Wolverine, and then you'll have people who aren't normally into superheroes that would be interested because it's different. Like DC's Bizarro.
NASO: Let's talk a little about the story. I don't want to reveal the climax in Dying Time but what happens is pretty emotional. It really affects Logan. We seldom see such a vulnerable side to Wolverine. Why did you choose to portray this side of him?
BROWN: I think there are a lot of characters that have been looked at in that way - as more vulnerable and human - but Wolverine remains this stoic being with everything locked inside. So I wanted to take a look at how he might act when he's all alone behind closed doors.
NASO: Even though Dying Time gives readers a lot of zombie ginsu, like all great X-books it captures what I think is the essence of the X-Men - relationships between the characters. What intrigues you about the X-Men concept?
BROWN: I think the misfit/martyr/unappreciated hero type is very appealing because it gives a reader a good place to go; they can apply their own feelings of rejection but then take a sense of righteousness also. Plus, they've all got pretty cool powers. Claws coming from your arms? Turning into a steel giant? Great stuff.
NASO: Do you have other ideas for Wolverine stories or was Dying Time a one time thing for you?
BROWN: It was written as a one time thing, but there's still more I could do with it. I did entertain the idea of making the story 200 pages, but I just don't have that kind of time to devote to something I'm essentially losing money on. I wouldn't be opposed to doing more Wolverine though.
NASO: What kind of story would Dying Time be if it were expanded to 200 pages?
BROWN: Hm. There'd definitely be a lot more looking into the whole Kitty and Logan relationship. There's a lot there that's never been touched, ways their relationship could have more complexities, because they're so close. And there'd be a lot more zombie fighting, with Wolverine having to figure out where the zombies are coming from and how to destroy them, maybe bring the other X-Men in to finish the job and show how Wolverine would have to deal with them in terms of what he's done.NASO: Dying Time was mentioned in the recent issue of Wizard. They named it one of the best Indie comics of 2004. Have you gotten any response to that coverage?
BROWN: A few people who know my work have written asking about it, and a few people who didn't know my work as well have asked about it.
NASO: You've made a bit of a name for yourself with Indie works like Clumsy, Bighead and Be A Man. Do you think your Indie background gives you a different perspective on the established characters at DC or Marvel? How so?
BROWN: I guess one thing is that it's been a long time since I've read mainstream superhero comics, so my sense of what to do with superheroes may be less influenced by the current trends. I have a weird sense of humor sometimes, also, so I think that shows through.
NASO: Are you interested in playing with other established characters at Marvel or even DC?
BROWN: Sure. I'd love to do Batman, but I guess he's an easy one. I'm not as familiar with DC, since I was a Marvel guy growing up. I'd like to do a whole X-Men team comic. Thor. I would've liked to do a Hellboy story, but I think Weird Tales is ending. Oh, the Fantastic Four would be fun. Or even a giant Secret Wars crossover. Dig out all those old Marvel Universe issues and make a new Secret Wars story. I loved all those 1980's Marvel comics...
NASO: Thanks for talking about Dying Time, Jeff. Feel free to let folks know what other projects you're working on..
BROWN: I'm working on a lot of small projects - short stories and whatnot - for a variety of publications. As far as actual books, I've got some more autobiographical work on the way, this time dealing with life outside of relationships. I'm also going to do a Transformers parody called Incredible Change-Bots sometime in the next year or so.
Here is an exclusive look at the first 11 pages of Jeffrey Brown’s Wolverine: Dying Time. If you want to know how the story ends write Marvel’s Wolverine Editor Jenny Lee and let her know you’d like to see this comic published.
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