@’s by DEPT. H and POPPY writer/artist Matt Kindt!!!
AMBUSH BUG (BUG): For those not in the know, what is DEPT. H?MATT KINDT (MK): It’s a locked-room murder mystery that takes place 6 miles deep in the ocean. Mia (our protagonist) heads down to solve the crime and realizes the victim is her father...who also happens to be the smartest man on earth. Mia has about 24 hours to solve the crime and get out of there before the base fills up (it’s flooding.) So the entire series kind of takes place in “real time” – as much as you can do that in comic book form.
BUG: The technology in depth is something I haven't seen in other deep sea diving stories. How much of it is based on scientific face and how much did you just make up?
MK: The general science is all real but I definitely took liberties with the ease in which they move around and actually built a headquarters six miles deep in the ocean. The cost and technology of doing something like that would be cost prohibitive to say the least. And it’d be a feat of modern engineering. So while I’m playing by the rules of how diving and pressure work – some liberties were taken. It’s grounded in real life – our world – and then sort of twisted about 15% or so.
BUG: Talk a bit about your take on Mia, our detective in this mystery.MK: Well, she’s thrown in to this mystery a little unprepared. The entire series will take place in about 24 to 36 hours – and she won’t be sleeping that entire time – so eventually that’s going to get to her. She’s already starting in issue one a little bit at her wit’s end. She’s frazzled. And it’s only going to get harder for her. She’s stuck in tight quarters with 6 other misanthropes.
She’s also dealing with a lot of complex emotions (not to mention life-threatening peril) that involve the loss of her father and the relationship with her brother (who is a researcher and a suspect in the deep-sea base.) So all of that background and history is going to color how she goes about investigating the murder. At it’s heart, we’re sort of catching the tail-end of a decades-old family drama and Mia is left to pick up the pieces and take action. I think if anyone’s suffered the loss of a loved one or had difficulties with family or siblings...there will be some familiar notes that Mia will hit.
BUG: Are you a fan of locked room mysteries like TERROR IN THE RUE MORGUE and the like? What made you want to do a locked room mystery in the deep seas?
MK: I’m actually not particularly a fan of locked-room mysteries. I loved Sherlock Holmes growing up and Columbo and...Magnum P.I. So somewhere between those things is probably where the inspiration for Dept. H came from. My problem with locked room murder mysteries as a genre is that they usually end up being so focused on the clues and myster that you end up speeding through the story to get to the answer – like a joke with a punch line – or any movie with a twist ending. The trick is to make something that has that twist – and compels you forward but also becomes about something more. This series is going to stand up to re-reading even after you know the solution to the “whodunit” aspect. That’s really what’s important to me. I love Agatha Christie books but those are all about the clever crime. I’m trying to do something a little more here and use the genre and elevate it a little at the same time.BUG: This first issue's structure is very meticulously structured and really sets up the entire mystery. I for first issues, it's make or break in the comics biz because that's your one shot to snag the reader. What elements do you put into your first issues to get the reader's attention and make them stick around until the end?
MK: I honestly can’t say I’m too aware of any formula to make a first issue great. But I love a good opening scene – in books and movies. Something that draws you in right away. I’m a fan of 70s cinema too so I like the slow burn, but hitting a reader with action from the very beginning is always something I’ve loved to do. I think the James Bond cold openings are the best parts of the movie...you’re in – no matter what happens after that first 10 minutes – you’ve already gotten your money’s worth. The trick with a monthly book is that you’ve got to have that pay-off – that excitement – every month for the length of the series. That’s the challenge – and honestly that’s the fun. Comics ain’t easy – but it definitely keeps me interested. And if I’m not bored – the reader probably won’t be either.
BUG: Can you talk a bit about your own drawing style and how you tweaked it for this specific story?
MK: Definitely concentrating on spotting more blacks – making the pages heavier and more claustrophobic. To that end I went back and immersed myself in Alex Toth’s work – there are a ton of great art books now collecting everything he’s done – and he was just a master. So it’s been fun to sort of employ some of his techniques in a way that make sense to the story. My wife is painting the series too – so that adds another layer of thought to the entire process. So it’s been fun to sort of keep the interior headquarters shots really dark and oppressive and then leave a few panels of big wide open ocean scenes that she can really go to town on with watercolor. It’s a great visual break and really helps open up or close the space as the story dictates.BUG: Once this mystery is solved (I'm assuming it will be solved), is there room for more DEPT. H stories in the future?
MK: Oh yeah. Dept. H. is really an adventure/exploration organization – and we see glimpses of their past ventures during this series. They did a lot of space exploration – which could be enough material for another entire new series – and then they story of how the headquarters was built six miles deep is another story all on its own. There’s plenty of material that I’d love to get to.
BUG: Switching gears, what is POPPY?
MK: That’s the new all-ages adventure book that I did with my good friend Brian Hurtt (SIXTH GUN, THE DAMNED). We cooked the idea up for a sort of Tin Tin-esque adventure with a girl and her grumpy old uncle – traveling the world and solving a very bizarre mystery that involves giant octopus, super rare fish, islands that are really turtles, and a mysterious abandoned city of canals. It’s just straight-forward fun adventure with some heart and a little streak of sadness running through it. If you’re a grown-up fan of comics and you’re looking for something you can read along with your kid and both enjoy it for different reasons...this is the book.BUG: Most of your works have rather adult themes. Did you have to tweak this project a bit for it to be a young adult story?
MK: Not so much. You’d think it would be hard – but we just came up with some fun visual ideas and then built a story around it and a sassy super smart girl (and also the ugliest cat on earth – “Krums”.) I think the key with writing for all-ages or a younger audience is to NOT really think about it. Just write a good story. I think the problem with a lot of kids literature today is that it’s so targeted, so specifically marketed to an age group that it really dumbs the work down. I don’t think you should be writing down to kids – the kids should work to read up to what you’re doing. I loved that when I was younger – I was always picking up and looking for books above my level – curious – trying to read Crime and Punishment in sixth grade – that kind of thing.
BUG: Why did you choose to do a young adult series for POPPY?
MK: I have a daughter and she’s aware of all my work and what I do for a living – but there’s nothing I can really hand her to read. She’s just turning twelve and she’s doesn’t like anything too dark or sad. Which is great – but super-sad is one of my specialties. So it was important to me that I eventually get around to doing a book that would be something that would appeal to her – not necessarily in her age bracket – but something with a tone that’s more fun and adventurous. I never really thought of myself as a “humorous” writer at all – but writing this book was such a blast. There’s bits in there that make me laugh – even though I wrote it and know what’s coming. But a lot of that I think has to do with Brian Hurtt’s art. He’s a master at “acting” with the characters. I really think that’s the key to great comic book storytelling – getting the characters to act – and the expressions and gestures – all of that – when done well, can eleveate nearly any story. And he really knocked it out of the park. It’s my favorite stuff he’s done – it’s a lot looser – the lines are fresh and much more gestural – it looks amazing.BUG: Are there any other projects you have brewing at the moment?
MK: I’ve got another creator owned book from Dark Horse coming out at the end of the year – not announced yet – I’ll be writing only - -and I’m writing a bunch of great stuff for Valiant – DIVINITY, NINJAK, RAI, and their 4001 event series this spring/summer. Amazing artists on all of it – can’t recommend them enough. They’re line is the smartest bunch of super hero books out there.
BUG: Last chance, why should folks pick up DEPT. H #1 which hits stores this week?
MK: Support your local shop and support creator owned books. We live in a golden age of comic books really – so much good stuff out there—and 90% of it is creator owned. It’s honestly an amazing time to be a working cartoonist. I couldn’t be happier – and if you like issue 1, keep picking it up. I’m pacing the story and designing each issue to work well as a monthly read. Don’t wait for the collection or the trade. It’s the difference between binge-watching a TV show and following it week to week – when you follow it every week it gives you something to look forward to – a mini event. And you end up putting more thought into what you’re reading or watching. You think about it periodically over the course of the week and talk about it with other readers/watchers. It’s what makes serialized fiction so amazing.BUG: Last, last chance, why should folks take a chance with the POPPY Graphic Novel?
MK: There’s no chance involved – absolutely no risk. If adventure has a name...er...well, it’s POPPY! [laughs] Honestly – kids or no kids, it’s a fun read – lots of diagrams and even a couple puzzles and cross-section views of submarines. It’s a great book to use to bond with a younger reader – your kid, or your cousin, or nephew. Let’s get kids reading more comics – there’s a lot more out there for kids to read then the mainstream stuff being laser-guided at them via movies and cartoons. Open ‘em up to creator owned books and unique voices. Not just POPPY. There’s a lot of great all-ages stuff out there. Comics is really enjoying a golden age in all respects.
BUG: Thanks, Matt! DEPT. H #1 is out today in all comic shops from Dark Horse Comics. POPPY will be out June 21st from Penguin Random House!
Ambush Bug is Mark L. Miller, original @$$Hole/wordslinger/writer of wrongs/reviewer/interviewer/editor of AICN COMICS for over 15 years & AICN HORROR for 5. Follow Mark on the Twitters @Mark_L_Miller.
Proofs, co-edits & common sense provided by Sleazy G
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