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The Question About Rick Veitch
In addition to The Question and the first 12 issues of the current Aquaman series from DC, Veitch is a versatile creator who has worked as an artist, writer, writer/artist and even writer/artist/publisher. Swamp Thing (DC), Miracle Man (Eclipse), The One (Epic), Supreme (Awesome), Rarebit Fiends, The Maximortal, and Crypto Zoo (King Hell) have all featured his distinctive imprint. With Steve Conley, Veitch runs Comicon.com, the online comics news and conversation emporium. Scoop talked with him about The Question and his other upcoming projects. Scoop: Do you have any background with the Question as a fan or professional? If so, what? Rick Veitch: I remember it when it came out waaaay back. The Charlton books were badly printed and lettered and most of the stories seemed pretty dumb to me. But Question was one of the few Charltons that I would buy. Something about Ditko's art always caught my eye even as the ghastly Charlton ink rubbed off on my fingers and clogged my pores. Scoop: Out of the many writers who have taken on the character, there have been a couple distinctive interpretations of the Question. How would you describe yours? Rick Veitch: We're probably farther out there than even Ditko got. Our Question has been out prowling the mean streets so long he thinks he's in a dialogue with the city itself and that he's in touch with another level of reality entirely. At first the reader doesn't quite know if Question has gone off his rocker or not. Scoop: What do you like about the Question? Rick Veitch: I think his mask is the coolest thing about the Question. So simple and perfect; it sucks you in like a Black Hole. I also dug Ditko's smoke, especially the way it would come out of the belt buckle. Ditko's smoke is like Kirby's crackle; it's almost a character in his books. Scoop: When you come up with a mini-series, do you think of the beginning, middle and end in one concept, or do you just start writing and see where it takes you? Rick Veitch: For mainstream work I like to start with an interesting concept built around a solid framework of beginning, middle and end. I don't lock myself in too tightly; I like to leave room for discovery along the way. But if you know where you are going to end up you can plant all kinds of subtle clues and resonations into the early part of the book even if you're writing it in chapters issue by issue. Scoop: How did this project and team come together? Rick Veitch: DC was interested in bringing some other characters into Metropolis to give Superman a bit more depth and contrast. Jim Lee brought Tommy and I together and we're coordinating with Brian[Azzarello] and [Jim] Lee's Luthor, using the unifying element of Luthor's scheme to build an architectural wonder on the scale of the pyramids in the middle of downtown Metropolis in both the series. Scoop: Have you been a fan of Tommy's work before? Rick Veitch: I'd heard his name spoken in hushed whispers by awed fellow cartoonists. When I finally saw his stuff, one look and I was hooked. He draws incredibly well and his pacing and storytelling are light ears beyond what you see in run of the mill comics. His coloring is drop dead gorgeous too. If there is anyone alive who isn't yet a fan of Tommy Lee Edwards, they will be after they read The Question. Scoop: How is it different writing for another artist rather than something you're going to draw yourself? Rick Veitch: If you see something cool or interesting you want to do really clearly, then that has to be explained clearly to another artist. While if its just me, I only need a couple notes to jog my memory when I'm drawing. Scoop: As a writer, who are some of your influences? I studied under Joe Kubert who's own writing style had been heavily influenced by Bob Kanigher. Kubert School was where I started to seriously write scripts for publication so of course I picked up a lot from Joe and Bob. My first editor was Archie Goodwin who also shaped my writing style early on. Then I got work with Alan Moore, who's approach was so revolutionary while maintaining perfect pitch that it altered the whole commercial side of the medium. Drawing one of Alan's scripts is like taking an intensive course in comic book writing! Lately I've been developing more of my own style doing a graphic novel for Vertigo. Some of the new style surfaces in The Question. Scoop: Do you bring visual influences into your writing? Rick Veitch: In comics you're always looking for a visual hook. In The Question we bring back a terrific visual device that Carmine Infantino created forty years ago. It perfectly sets the weird mood for The Question. Scoop: What's the toughest thing about comics? Rick Veitch: The old ways of doing business. Scoop: What's the best thing about them? Rick Veitch: The people. When a group that's collaborating on a project gets a real creative spirit going, its like a peak life experience. Scoop: Do you have a favorite Question story from the past? If so, which one? Rick Veitch: I can't remember which issue, but Denny O'Neil and Denys Cowen did a bit where Vic Sage was reading a Watchmen comic and musing about Rorschach. I think he's on a plane and he falls asleep and kind of dreams of himself as Rorschach for a bit. That was cool. Scoop: What, if there is such a thing, is an average work day like for you? Rick Veitch: I work constantly, but probably 5 to 6 hours of that is real creative work on any given day. Scoop: What's your work area like? Rick Veitch: I live in the hills of Vermont and I've got a studio tucked in the trees across the road from my home. If I'm in the midst of a drawing job, there is usually a giant stack of books in a pile next to where I sit. I've got an XM satellite radio, which is usually tuned to jazz, world music, film music or ambient music while I work. I like XM radio because there are no ads. In the front of the studio I've got my computer set up, so that's where I write or work with the scanner and Photoshop. I have internet access but no phone in my workplace (that really helps me stay on track). Scoop: When are you at your most creative? Rick Veitch: Mid-day. Scoop: What else are you working on? Rick Veitch: I'm about two thirds finished with a 350 page graphic novel for Vertigo titled Can't Get No. The first trade paperback collection of my run on Swamp Thing comes out in September. I've got my own imprint, King Hell Press, up off the slab so I'm self-publishing again. Last year we shipped new editions of Brat Pack and The One. My third Rare Bit Fiends collection, Crypto Zoo will be in stores in October. And I'm co-founder of Comicon.com with Steve Conley, so some of my time goes into keeping that running smoothly. Scoop: Anything else you'd like to add? Rick Veitch: Yes, I've relaunched the old Rare Bit Fiends letters page, "Little Omens," over on the Comicon.com message board. I'm posting previously unseen dream comics every day for the next few months and inviting everyone to join in and post their dreams and dream art. The thread is at: http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=010679
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