MattGrant
Thursday, April 10, 2008, 04:36 PM
Michael K. Easton, creator of Paradox City, recently took some time to talk with Project Fanboy about his creation, his inspirations, and his downright love of superheroes!
<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/mkeaston77/l_a9c72f29903c6fe23bd89d2d0edbb8d2.jpg" align="left" hspace="10" width="250" height="188">
Project Fanboy: First off, Michael, thanks for taking the time to talk with ProjectFanboy.com.
Michael K. Easton: Thank you. I just recently came across your website and I've been finding it very enjoyable. You guys write really thought provoking reviews. He he.
PF: So, let's start at the beginning, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself, and how you got into doing comics?
ME: Well, I was born and raised in the Mid Ohio Valley. I consider that a blessing and a curse, mind you. I am a 30 year old self-made artist that has slowly spent the last 10 years trying to break into the wonderful world of comics. At 19, I self-published a black and white book called "Paradoxity" (a nice little wink to Paradox City, since Paradox City came out 10 years later). I spent the next 8 or so years learning what I was actually doing. Then around 2001, I started working on the Impossible Family. (The Impossible Family is based mostly on my wife's family-- and they debuted in another self-published book.) Unfortunately, the story line dealt with a drug addiction my brother had at the time. Issue 2 dealt with the drug consuming him and him dying. As issue 2 was ready for printing, my brother passed away from a drug overdose. Even though issue 2 and 3 were almost complete, I shelved the project and it was a long time before I was able to work on them again.
Luckily my wife Kristy has stood by me through all of it and believes in my work and continues to encourage me to keep marching on. I have 3 sons that keep me very busy and keep asking me when the next Impossible Family comic book is coming out. Between the comics and my family, I remain a pretty positive happy-go-lucky kinda guy.
As for comics, they have been a lifelong passion of mine going back to the 4th grade. The first comic I remember buying was Avengers #290. The Revenge of the Supreme Adaptoid---back when Captain America was still alive and going around in the Cap costume. I was immediately hooked. But what really got me full blown was Superman #21, part 1 of the Supergirl Saga. That really blew my mind! Up to that point, I wanted to be either a scientist or an astronaut. I guess you could say comics ruined me. Actually, I can thank them for saving my life! They helped me get through a lot of rough times growing up. And ever since that fateful day, I have been in love with comics and have always dreamed of working on comics.
PF: Now, Axiom Digital Media is also, a design company, correct?
ME: Yes, we work on pretty much anything that has to do with art. We have produced posters for doctors' offices, designed T-Shirts, Wall Murals, Wedding Invitations, done Web design, Marketing, etc.
Actually the Design and Media part was originally going to be 2 separate websites, but that proved to take up too much of my time to maintain 2 websites.
PF: How did you and Jordan Lowe come together to start AXDM?
ME: He he! Well, on a fateful day driving down Second Street in Marietta, I passed a new store opening up -- "Asylum Comics & Videos." Jordan had gone and opened a real, full-fledged COMIC BOOK STORE in Marietta!
I was looking for a writer at the time and I knew if I could find the right writer for my stuff, it would work. As luck would have it, Jordan was a writer and had the same pains as me. We had both been part of Internet start-ups that went nowhere fast. Both being local, collaborating face to face, I thought maybe we could create something worthwhile.
I had just started working on the material when Jordan came along. I had the initial concept, but with Jordan on board, it became fully formed and almost an entity in its own right.
PF: Do you have plans to expand the AXDM comic book line, or is Paradox City the primary focus for right now?
ME: "Paradox City" is our main focus right now, but it is also the launching pad for everything else to come. We do have a few things in the works though---
"Pair a Docs"- A web strip about a doctor's office that takes care of the heroes, villains and freaks of Paradox City. I think it is brilliantly funny! In the first story line, a Freak has a weird pain in his stomach and lower intestine. You gotta see it to believe it!
"The Impossible Family" is also slowly making its way back. They are the primary protectors of Paradox City and set an example every other hero should follow (but usually doesn't). The best way to describe them would be to compare them to another company's characters. What if Superman and Wonder Woman got married and had a family? It takes place when they are older and have grandchildren.
We are also developing a Silver Age story that delves into the city of Cornerstone. Cornerstone was the city that was destroyed in our prequel story "Paradox City: The Beginning," and is the site modern day Paradox City is built on. Let's just say THAT city was full of heroes and villains too, but the city was starting to show its age.
"Rejected" is a full color book we are working on that deals with a lot of teen angst. One of the things we pride ourselves on is that everything we've done is connected---but you don't have to read everything to understand it or enjoy it.
PF: As far as I can tell, Paradox City and AXDM stuff is only available through your website, are there any plans to work with distributors in the near future?
ME: Slowly but surely. We are looking into it and it may be possible in the near future. The Main thing is just working on producing new comics in a timely manner for our fans to enjoy!
PF: Jordan Lowe is credited for the script in Paradox City, you're credited for the art (so far one story out of four also has Hoon Jae and Pete Green on art duties), but both of you are the creators of PC. How much do each of you contribute character-wise, and story-wise?
ME: Well, we have one of the most perfect collaborations you can get. While I may have come up with the initial idea, TOGETHER we fully-formed it into a whole world. We co-create all the characters. It's a real 50-50 split. We go over plots and story ideas--bounce things back and forth until they are solid. He then, will write the script. I will read it and make any suggestions. Then I draw it, and we look over it together. He makes suggestions, if this panel should be bigger or pulled in tighter. Then, I letter it and make a finished copy. We will then sit down together and go over it page by page, looking at each page together objectively to see if we need to make any changes. The best part of it is just sitting down at his comic shop, riffing back and forth about plot ideas and coming up with new characters.
PF: I reviewed "Paradox City" for ProjectFanboy.com recently, but before that you did "The Impossible Family," which I've also read. They're connected, but I'd say TIF has a much more upbeat, almost comical tone to it, compared to the more ominous and tragic PC. How did that shift come about?
ME: Well as I explained earlier, the death of my brother in 2003 took a toll on me. I DID do an Impossible Family online strip for a while as an experiment to see what I was capable of, but nothing took hold yet.
With Paradox City, we are able to say a lot of things about the world and society today in a small number of pages. We are able to tell any kind of story without any limitations. In our storyline, we are commenting on the present day world. How, not everyone -but a lot of people- have become self-centered and more worried about their self image than what's really important in life. The drug references and overtones in the book are another stab at reality. You can't turn on the tv without an ad for this drug or that drug popping up. You can't lose weight or be perfect without this little "pill." The same goes in Paradox City. If you need to be faster or stronger, there is an enhancer pill, but I've got to warn you about the side effects! We need better role models and people to stand up for what's right and what's wrong in this world. That's what the Impossible Family is trying to accomplish, but other forces in the city have different ideas.
PF: So far, Paradox City's stories have focused on different characters each time around, with a little, yet brief, overlapping. Obviously PC is loaded with enough heroes and villains to last a lifetime, but are we going to see some re-occurring characters or ongoing stories in the future?
ME: Yes and no! Just hop over to the DC Animated Universe and ask The Question, "Everything is connected!"
Each character is connected to someone else in Paradox City and it will be fun as it plays out to see how they are connected. I can bet you we have not heard the last of the Shannon and Mech story from issue 1. Their complicated relationship is just getting started. So far, we've set the stories up in 8-issue arcs that deal with a variety of characters while telling one overall story about a particular corner of Paradox City. Every issue is stand-alone, but they all link together to form a much fuller picture.
The girl from issue 1's back-up is the main focus for issue 3. Her name is Rally Guerrero and just like everyone else in Paradox City, her life has not gone according to plan.
In issue 4, we are introduced to a childhood friend of Jimmy Wilkes, the corporate hero killed in issue 2. He has a lot of questions about Jimmy's death. And one of the more fun stories coming up is a series of job interviews when the CEO of Eclipse Corporation is looking to hire Jimmy's replacement.
PF: Focusing on the art side of things for a bit, who are your influences, who really gets you going, art-wise?
ME: Man, as a teenager, you could not get any better than Todd McFarlane. He was number 1 in my book and Erik Larsen was my number 2. He always had a distinct style.
Present day, it's a wide variety. I really dig Mike Allred's Pop art style. His RED ROCKET 7 is one of my all time favorites. I have been really enjoying Gary Frank's style on the Superman books even if I think he draws Superman's eyes too big! The 2 main styles I really enjoy the most are either a real hardcore detailed style like David Finch, or a real cartoonish style like Todd Nauck or Ramos. I was and still am a huge fan of Mike Wieringo. I was deeply affected by his untimely death even if I never met him. I was amazed by his blog. He was constantly updating that thing like a madman. Lately, I have been re-examining Jack Kirby's work. Everyone knows he is the King of comics, but his level of detail, structure and design is out of this world. I never dug it as a kid, but I have learned to really appreciate his work. I also really dig the works of Darwyn Cooke, George Perez and Jerry Ordway. Some Indy guys that are tweekin' my interest are Lynx, Michael Tyler, Terry Huddleston, Javas and Mario Espinoza.
PF: When I read The Impossible Family, and then read Paradox City, it's very clear that both are done by the very loud (can a drawing be loud?), very exaggerated Michael K. Easton, but there are some significant differences between the two. PC includes, what seems to be, more use of computers and a collage effect vs more traditional methods in TIF. Can you take a moment to talk about this difference and what prompted it?
ME: Reality. I look at more and more movies that use green screen. It's very similar to what we do in Paradox City. I am trying my best to converge Reality with The Impossible. The collage effect is my way of giving people the most bang for their buck. I know a black and white book is a hard sell in today's market. I want to do as much as I can to give this the feel of a color book in a gray scale book, if that makes any sense. The gray scale painting and the merging of real photos is really just a natural progression of my art.
I really just started getting into coloring my own work on the computer in the last 2 years and it has been a learning experience. With Paradox City, I am trying out a couple of different styles. Issue 3 has more of a Jason Howard style to it. Issue 4, I am possibly doing a really detailed style, but I'm still working that out. I guess it depends on what I am drawing. I have learned a wealth of knowledge about coloring. (Fun Fact: I draw with my left hand and color on the computer with my right hand with a mouse.) It also depends on what mood I'm in. Sometimes I like a more exaggerated style like Ed McGuiness or a more somber style like Alex Ross.
PF: On a more fanboy-ish note, I think it's pretty clear that you're a big-time superhero fan! Who's your all-time favorite superhero, and why?
ME: Just come over to my house and you will know the answer to that question. It's Superman all the way. The Favorite and the greatest. My son, who is 10, has his own room painted in all Superman colors with a Superman border I designed. Also, two of our rooms downstairs have an antique Superman border I made from an old issue of Superman's Return Trip to Krypton. He is my favorite because of his character and motivations. He has all the power in the world and could destroy it 10 times over, but he chooses to fight for good and do what's right. Plus, when it comes down to it, he just wants to be normal and accepted. I think that is something we all need.
PF: If you could work with any creator on any book... who, what, and why?
ME: Mark Waid. I have always been a big fan of his. I would love to work with him on a Flash book. No one writes him better. Geoff Johns also! His passion and characterization of heroes are spot-on. He's got the Justice Society perfect! Plus I have a strong feeling we would get along great since I have a million ideas when it comes to characters and stories.
PF: In addition to being an artist, writer, designer, and publisher you're also a husband and a father. Being a family man myself, I know what that's about! How do you manage your time and balance it all? I'm in the market for a big hat-rack myself...
ME: Umm, "sleep is overrated" or "I'll sleep when I'm dead" are always true statements. It is not easy by a long shot. Luckily, my wife and kids enjoy my art too. Since everyone in the Impossible Family is based on them, they always want me working on that. But without their love and support, there is no way I could keep it going. I guess the answer is through love and hope.
PF: Am I cool enough to call Paradox City "the Dox" or do I need to take some enhancers and beat down some villains for street cred first?
ME: Well, I think Mayor Joe Tomorrow could get you a personal tour of the city to show you how he keeps it running so perfectly. But if you wander off into the Dox area, be careful of the Suicide Kings and the Smokin' Aces. They will beat you up, dress you in spandex and lock you in the Gatlinburg's bathroom.
PF: Last question, do you have any plugs or shout-outs you'd like to make before we're done here?
ME: Well, of course to my mom and dad for always believing in me. To my wife who has always supported me. To my best friends Jessie and Jill for listening to me. To Jordan Lowe, for working just as hard as I do to reach our common goal. But most of all, to the fans who make every late night WORTH IT.
PF: Michael, thanks again for taking the time to talk to Project Fanboy, I'm looking forward to where Paradox City and Axiom Digital Media go from here!
<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/mkeaston77/l_a9c72f29903c6fe23bd89d2d0edbb8d2.jpg" align="left" hspace="10" width="250" height="188">
Project Fanboy: First off, Michael, thanks for taking the time to talk with ProjectFanboy.com.
Michael K. Easton: Thank you. I just recently came across your website and I've been finding it very enjoyable. You guys write really thought provoking reviews. He he.
PF: So, let's start at the beginning, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself, and how you got into doing comics?
ME: Well, I was born and raised in the Mid Ohio Valley. I consider that a blessing and a curse, mind you. I am a 30 year old self-made artist that has slowly spent the last 10 years trying to break into the wonderful world of comics. At 19, I self-published a black and white book called "Paradoxity" (a nice little wink to Paradox City, since Paradox City came out 10 years later). I spent the next 8 or so years learning what I was actually doing. Then around 2001, I started working on the Impossible Family. (The Impossible Family is based mostly on my wife's family-- and they debuted in another self-published book.) Unfortunately, the story line dealt with a drug addiction my brother had at the time. Issue 2 dealt with the drug consuming him and him dying. As issue 2 was ready for printing, my brother passed away from a drug overdose. Even though issue 2 and 3 were almost complete, I shelved the project and it was a long time before I was able to work on them again.
Luckily my wife Kristy has stood by me through all of it and believes in my work and continues to encourage me to keep marching on. I have 3 sons that keep me very busy and keep asking me when the next Impossible Family comic book is coming out. Between the comics and my family, I remain a pretty positive happy-go-lucky kinda guy.
As for comics, they have been a lifelong passion of mine going back to the 4th grade. The first comic I remember buying was Avengers #290. The Revenge of the Supreme Adaptoid---back when Captain America was still alive and going around in the Cap costume. I was immediately hooked. But what really got me full blown was Superman #21, part 1 of the Supergirl Saga. That really blew my mind! Up to that point, I wanted to be either a scientist or an astronaut. I guess you could say comics ruined me. Actually, I can thank them for saving my life! They helped me get through a lot of rough times growing up. And ever since that fateful day, I have been in love with comics and have always dreamed of working on comics.
PF: Now, Axiom Digital Media is also, a design company, correct?
ME: Yes, we work on pretty much anything that has to do with art. We have produced posters for doctors' offices, designed T-Shirts, Wall Murals, Wedding Invitations, done Web design, Marketing, etc.
Actually the Design and Media part was originally going to be 2 separate websites, but that proved to take up too much of my time to maintain 2 websites.
PF: How did you and Jordan Lowe come together to start AXDM?
ME: He he! Well, on a fateful day driving down Second Street in Marietta, I passed a new store opening up -- "Asylum Comics & Videos." Jordan had gone and opened a real, full-fledged COMIC BOOK STORE in Marietta!
I was looking for a writer at the time and I knew if I could find the right writer for my stuff, it would work. As luck would have it, Jordan was a writer and had the same pains as me. We had both been part of Internet start-ups that went nowhere fast. Both being local, collaborating face to face, I thought maybe we could create something worthwhile.
I had just started working on the material when Jordan came along. I had the initial concept, but with Jordan on board, it became fully formed and almost an entity in its own right.
PF: Do you have plans to expand the AXDM comic book line, or is Paradox City the primary focus for right now?
ME: "Paradox City" is our main focus right now, but it is also the launching pad for everything else to come. We do have a few things in the works though---
"Pair a Docs"- A web strip about a doctor's office that takes care of the heroes, villains and freaks of Paradox City. I think it is brilliantly funny! In the first story line, a Freak has a weird pain in his stomach and lower intestine. You gotta see it to believe it!
"The Impossible Family" is also slowly making its way back. They are the primary protectors of Paradox City and set an example every other hero should follow (but usually doesn't). The best way to describe them would be to compare them to another company's characters. What if Superman and Wonder Woman got married and had a family? It takes place when they are older and have grandchildren.
We are also developing a Silver Age story that delves into the city of Cornerstone. Cornerstone was the city that was destroyed in our prequel story "Paradox City: The Beginning," and is the site modern day Paradox City is built on. Let's just say THAT city was full of heroes and villains too, but the city was starting to show its age.
"Rejected" is a full color book we are working on that deals with a lot of teen angst. One of the things we pride ourselves on is that everything we've done is connected---but you don't have to read everything to understand it or enjoy it.
PF: As far as I can tell, Paradox City and AXDM stuff is only available through your website, are there any plans to work with distributors in the near future?
ME: Slowly but surely. We are looking into it and it may be possible in the near future. The Main thing is just working on producing new comics in a timely manner for our fans to enjoy!
PF: Jordan Lowe is credited for the script in Paradox City, you're credited for the art (so far one story out of four also has Hoon Jae and Pete Green on art duties), but both of you are the creators of PC. How much do each of you contribute character-wise, and story-wise?
ME: Well, we have one of the most perfect collaborations you can get. While I may have come up with the initial idea, TOGETHER we fully-formed it into a whole world. We co-create all the characters. It's a real 50-50 split. We go over plots and story ideas--bounce things back and forth until they are solid. He then, will write the script. I will read it and make any suggestions. Then I draw it, and we look over it together. He makes suggestions, if this panel should be bigger or pulled in tighter. Then, I letter it and make a finished copy. We will then sit down together and go over it page by page, looking at each page together objectively to see if we need to make any changes. The best part of it is just sitting down at his comic shop, riffing back and forth about plot ideas and coming up with new characters.
PF: I reviewed "Paradox City" for ProjectFanboy.com recently, but before that you did "The Impossible Family," which I've also read. They're connected, but I'd say TIF has a much more upbeat, almost comical tone to it, compared to the more ominous and tragic PC. How did that shift come about?
ME: Well as I explained earlier, the death of my brother in 2003 took a toll on me. I DID do an Impossible Family online strip for a while as an experiment to see what I was capable of, but nothing took hold yet.
With Paradox City, we are able to say a lot of things about the world and society today in a small number of pages. We are able to tell any kind of story without any limitations. In our storyline, we are commenting on the present day world. How, not everyone -but a lot of people- have become self-centered and more worried about their self image than what's really important in life. The drug references and overtones in the book are another stab at reality. You can't turn on the tv without an ad for this drug or that drug popping up. You can't lose weight or be perfect without this little "pill." The same goes in Paradox City. If you need to be faster or stronger, there is an enhancer pill, but I've got to warn you about the side effects! We need better role models and people to stand up for what's right and what's wrong in this world. That's what the Impossible Family is trying to accomplish, but other forces in the city have different ideas.
PF: So far, Paradox City's stories have focused on different characters each time around, with a little, yet brief, overlapping. Obviously PC is loaded with enough heroes and villains to last a lifetime, but are we going to see some re-occurring characters or ongoing stories in the future?
ME: Yes and no! Just hop over to the DC Animated Universe and ask The Question, "Everything is connected!"
Each character is connected to someone else in Paradox City and it will be fun as it plays out to see how they are connected. I can bet you we have not heard the last of the Shannon and Mech story from issue 1. Their complicated relationship is just getting started. So far, we've set the stories up in 8-issue arcs that deal with a variety of characters while telling one overall story about a particular corner of Paradox City. Every issue is stand-alone, but they all link together to form a much fuller picture.
The girl from issue 1's back-up is the main focus for issue 3. Her name is Rally Guerrero and just like everyone else in Paradox City, her life has not gone according to plan.
In issue 4, we are introduced to a childhood friend of Jimmy Wilkes, the corporate hero killed in issue 2. He has a lot of questions about Jimmy's death. And one of the more fun stories coming up is a series of job interviews when the CEO of Eclipse Corporation is looking to hire Jimmy's replacement.
PF: Focusing on the art side of things for a bit, who are your influences, who really gets you going, art-wise?
ME: Man, as a teenager, you could not get any better than Todd McFarlane. He was number 1 in my book and Erik Larsen was my number 2. He always had a distinct style.
Present day, it's a wide variety. I really dig Mike Allred's Pop art style. His RED ROCKET 7 is one of my all time favorites. I have been really enjoying Gary Frank's style on the Superman books even if I think he draws Superman's eyes too big! The 2 main styles I really enjoy the most are either a real hardcore detailed style like David Finch, or a real cartoonish style like Todd Nauck or Ramos. I was and still am a huge fan of Mike Wieringo. I was deeply affected by his untimely death even if I never met him. I was amazed by his blog. He was constantly updating that thing like a madman. Lately, I have been re-examining Jack Kirby's work. Everyone knows he is the King of comics, but his level of detail, structure and design is out of this world. I never dug it as a kid, but I have learned to really appreciate his work. I also really dig the works of Darwyn Cooke, George Perez and Jerry Ordway. Some Indy guys that are tweekin' my interest are Lynx, Michael Tyler, Terry Huddleston, Javas and Mario Espinoza.
PF: When I read The Impossible Family, and then read Paradox City, it's very clear that both are done by the very loud (can a drawing be loud?), very exaggerated Michael K. Easton, but there are some significant differences between the two. PC includes, what seems to be, more use of computers and a collage effect vs more traditional methods in TIF. Can you take a moment to talk about this difference and what prompted it?
ME: Reality. I look at more and more movies that use green screen. It's very similar to what we do in Paradox City. I am trying my best to converge Reality with The Impossible. The collage effect is my way of giving people the most bang for their buck. I know a black and white book is a hard sell in today's market. I want to do as much as I can to give this the feel of a color book in a gray scale book, if that makes any sense. The gray scale painting and the merging of real photos is really just a natural progression of my art.
I really just started getting into coloring my own work on the computer in the last 2 years and it has been a learning experience. With Paradox City, I am trying out a couple of different styles. Issue 3 has more of a Jason Howard style to it. Issue 4, I am possibly doing a really detailed style, but I'm still working that out. I guess it depends on what I am drawing. I have learned a wealth of knowledge about coloring. (Fun Fact: I draw with my left hand and color on the computer with my right hand with a mouse.) It also depends on what mood I'm in. Sometimes I like a more exaggerated style like Ed McGuiness or a more somber style like Alex Ross.
PF: On a more fanboy-ish note, I think it's pretty clear that you're a big-time superhero fan! Who's your all-time favorite superhero, and why?
ME: Just come over to my house and you will know the answer to that question. It's Superman all the way. The Favorite and the greatest. My son, who is 10, has his own room painted in all Superman colors with a Superman border I designed. Also, two of our rooms downstairs have an antique Superman border I made from an old issue of Superman's Return Trip to Krypton. He is my favorite because of his character and motivations. He has all the power in the world and could destroy it 10 times over, but he chooses to fight for good and do what's right. Plus, when it comes down to it, he just wants to be normal and accepted. I think that is something we all need.
PF: If you could work with any creator on any book... who, what, and why?
ME: Mark Waid. I have always been a big fan of his. I would love to work with him on a Flash book. No one writes him better. Geoff Johns also! His passion and characterization of heroes are spot-on. He's got the Justice Society perfect! Plus I have a strong feeling we would get along great since I have a million ideas when it comes to characters and stories.
PF: In addition to being an artist, writer, designer, and publisher you're also a husband and a father. Being a family man myself, I know what that's about! How do you manage your time and balance it all? I'm in the market for a big hat-rack myself...
ME: Umm, "sleep is overrated" or "I'll sleep when I'm dead" are always true statements. It is not easy by a long shot. Luckily, my wife and kids enjoy my art too. Since everyone in the Impossible Family is based on them, they always want me working on that. But without their love and support, there is no way I could keep it going. I guess the answer is through love and hope.
PF: Am I cool enough to call Paradox City "the Dox" or do I need to take some enhancers and beat down some villains for street cred first?
ME: Well, I think Mayor Joe Tomorrow could get you a personal tour of the city to show you how he keeps it running so perfectly. But if you wander off into the Dox area, be careful of the Suicide Kings and the Smokin' Aces. They will beat you up, dress you in spandex and lock you in the Gatlinburg's bathroom.
PF: Last question, do you have any plugs or shout-outs you'd like to make before we're done here?
ME: Well, of course to my mom and dad for always believing in me. To my wife who has always supported me. To my best friends Jessie and Jill for listening to me. To Jordan Lowe, for working just as hard as I do to reach our common goal. But most of all, to the fans who make every late night WORTH IT.
PF: Michael, thanks again for taking the time to talk to Project Fanboy, I'm looking forward to where Paradox City and Axiom Digital Media go from here!