Eric J. Moreels
Feb 13, 2002, 05:45 am
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/wolverine_175.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/wolverine_175t.jpg" align=left alt="Wolverine #175 preview"></a>Wolverine 'Talent Search' winning writer Jason Aaron has had a nervous wait ever since he received the news that his story had been chosen to see print in an upcoming issue of the comic book. But that wait will soon be over, as Aaron's story will be included as the back-up feature in the upcoming Wolverine #175 in April.
X-Fan recently caught up with Aaron to find out more about his winning entry.
X-FAN: What was your reaction when you got "The Call" from Marvel?
AARON: I couldn't believe it. I mean, I hoped my entry was pretty interesting, and I knew it would be different, but I never really expected to win. By December, I had actually forgotten all about the contest. So the call from {editor} Mike Marts at Marvel came completely out of left field. It was an extremely pleasant surprise to have on a dreary Monday morning.
X-FAN: What's the basic premise of your story?
AARON: It's set on a dirt road in the middle of the woods, somewhere in the deep South. A middle-aged African American woman is driving around, looking for an old country church, when she gets a flat tire. And then Wolverine steps out of the woods, shirtless and bloody, just hoping he can get through the rest of the day without having to kill anybody else.
X-FAN: Who and/or what was your inspiration for the story?
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/wolv175001_150c.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/wolv175001_150ct.jpg" align=right alt="Wolverine #175 back-up story page 1 preview"></a>AARON: In general, I was thinking of Brian Azzarello's current run on Hellblazer. I love those story arcs where John Constantine just wanders into some small town and lands in the middle of some bizarre situation. He's away from his normal surroundings and his usual associates. He's interacting with normal people who have no idea who he is or what he can do. I think those type of stories would work great with Wolverine, and that's sort of what I was trying to do. I was also thinking specifically of the Flannery O'Connor short story "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" where a family wrecks their car on a remote dirt road and ends up encountering a notorious murderer called "The Misfit". Great story.
X-FAN: Who would you cite as having influenced your writing?
AARON: I first got into collecting comics back in the early 80s when Alan Moore was just starting on Swamp Thing. Moore and Grant Morrison are two of the main reasons it's always been impossible for me to stop buying comic books. And lately, Brian Michael Bendis has been a big influence. At WizardWorld last year, listening to the panel where Bendis and Paul Jenkins discussed writing, I realized I'd never forgive myself if I didn't at least try to do something as a comic writer. Another early influence was my cousin, Gustav Hasford. He was the Vietnam veteran whose novel, The Short-Timers, was the basis for Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket. I've spent the last few years learning a great deal about him, and creating a Web site devoted to his writings at GustavHasford.com (http://www.gustavhasford.com/).
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/wolv175004_150c.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/wolv175004_150ct.jpg" align=left alt="Wolverine #175 back-up story page 4 preview"></a>X-FAN: Do you know who the artist for your story will be and what issue it will appear in yet?
AARON: It's being drawn and colored by the cool dudes down at Udon Studios. It's pretty damn exciting to know my story is being brought to life by professional artists who are buzzworthy to boot. The story will appear as a back-up in Wolverine #175, due out in April, at a comic store near you!
X-FAN: Have you any other projects in the works at the moment?
AARON: I have a couple ideas I'm working on and plan to bother Marvel with, but nothing definite yet. I'm very excited about getting the Wolverine story published, but hopefully it won't be my last.
X-Fan recently caught up with Aaron to find out more about his winning entry.
X-FAN: What was your reaction when you got "The Call" from Marvel?
AARON: I couldn't believe it. I mean, I hoped my entry was pretty interesting, and I knew it would be different, but I never really expected to win. By December, I had actually forgotten all about the contest. So the call from {editor} Mike Marts at Marvel came completely out of left field. It was an extremely pleasant surprise to have on a dreary Monday morning.
X-FAN: What's the basic premise of your story?
AARON: It's set on a dirt road in the middle of the woods, somewhere in the deep South. A middle-aged African American woman is driving around, looking for an old country church, when she gets a flat tire. And then Wolverine steps out of the woods, shirtless and bloody, just hoping he can get through the rest of the day without having to kill anybody else.
X-FAN: Who and/or what was your inspiration for the story?
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/wolv175001_150c.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/wolv175001_150ct.jpg" align=right alt="Wolverine #175 back-up story page 1 preview"></a>AARON: In general, I was thinking of Brian Azzarello's current run on Hellblazer. I love those story arcs where John Constantine just wanders into some small town and lands in the middle of some bizarre situation. He's away from his normal surroundings and his usual associates. He's interacting with normal people who have no idea who he is or what he can do. I think those type of stories would work great with Wolverine, and that's sort of what I was trying to do. I was also thinking specifically of the Flannery O'Connor short story "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" where a family wrecks their car on a remote dirt road and ends up encountering a notorious murderer called "The Misfit". Great story.
X-FAN: Who would you cite as having influenced your writing?
AARON: I first got into collecting comics back in the early 80s when Alan Moore was just starting on Swamp Thing. Moore and Grant Morrison are two of the main reasons it's always been impossible for me to stop buying comic books. And lately, Brian Michael Bendis has been a big influence. At WizardWorld last year, listening to the panel where Bendis and Paul Jenkins discussed writing, I realized I'd never forgive myself if I didn't at least try to do something as a comic writer. Another early influence was my cousin, Gustav Hasford. He was the Vietnam veteran whose novel, The Short-Timers, was the basis for Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket. I've spent the last few years learning a great deal about him, and creating a Web site devoted to his writings at GustavHasford.com (http://www.gustavhasford.com/).
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/wolv175004_150c.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/wolv175004_150ct.jpg" align=left alt="Wolverine #175 back-up story page 4 preview"></a>X-FAN: Do you know who the artist for your story will be and what issue it will appear in yet?
AARON: It's being drawn and colored by the cool dudes down at Udon Studios. It's pretty damn exciting to know my story is being brought to life by professional artists who are buzzworthy to boot. The story will appear as a back-up in Wolverine #175, due out in April, at a comic store near you!
X-FAN: Have you any other projects in the works at the moment?
AARON: I have a couple ideas I'm working on and plan to bother Marvel with, but nothing definite yet. I'm very excited about getting the Wolverine story published, but hopefully it won't be my last.