Was there a singular event or time in your life that prompted you to start work on Scar Tissue – Bargains?
It was a combination of things, really. I’ve been insecure about my work, writing and drawing, most of my life. I think I’d been trying to prove something with my art – wanted to demonstrate I could draw at a professional level. I spent a lot of time trying to fit that Marvel/DC mold. That’s just not how my hands work, though.
About five years ago, I went through a significant series of ideological shifts. Some of it had to do with my own observations about faith in the world; some of it was the result of being a husband and father. I felt very adrift. I lashed out and sort of spiraled into a depression. I didn’t feel like myself and I didn’t behave like myself.
I spent a long time trying to discover what all these big pieces meant to me. What was being a good father? What did I believe in? What the hell was I supposed to do about either of those things? I kind of discovered, thanks to a patient wife and loving kids and a truly humbling amount of therapy, I thought I had control of life. I never had. When I thought I did, it was just a really convincing game of prediction and insurance.
Letting go of control is difficult – especially for me, and especially as a dad. You raise your kids believing your duty is to protect them. At some point, though, they aren’t yours to protect anymore – you can only accompany them as much as they allow.
I’d tried to sit art aside while I struggled. I just didn’t feel like I had time for it. All this new information was just banging against my skull, though. Creativity started seeping in. My questions started forming backbones inside some older (and cornier) ideas.
I started my sort of second creative life with a pseudonymous nonfiction book about my feelings on modern faith. Then, I wrote and drew a dark fairytale called The Path: Rae’s Crusade. about folks who use authority and ritual to build obedient societies. Scar Tissue – Bargains is an allegory for the beautiful mess of being a deeply flawed father.
The art style is so cool! Were you tempted to use color with any of the pages or was it easy to get into the flow of it using purely black and white art?
That question made me smile. What a diplomatic way to ask. 🙂 Oh, yeah. I was tempted by that same old voice that told me I wasn’t good enough to tell the story. Color comics are more marketable and scannable.
I love color comics, but I don’t think that’s me – at least for this story. I love ink. I love the drama of the light. This book is about blood and water, light and dark. I wanted the rain and flying blood to get lost in one another. I wanted the darkness to encroach on the light like an ominous cloud.
What has been the most challenging part about working on Scar Tissue – Bargains?
The length, I think. Working alone, for another. I think those were both necessary, though. Truthfully, this book could be another chapter long. I wanted to keep it tight on Arthur, though. I wanted it to feel a bit overwhelming and a bit claustrophobic. The story is so personal – it would be hard to share. I have an excellent friend named Joseph Christy; I invited him to illustrate a four-page sequence. I trust him that much. He very wisely turned me down. “It’s such a personal story…” I think he was right. Still – he’s a badass artist. It would’ve been wonderful to have some Christy pages in the book.
Do you have one specific page or panel that is your favorite or is it hard to choose?
Maybe the first page. It’s a first-person perspective. The camera is aimed directly and the ground. A hand presses hard against an asphalt alleyway. Rain sort of hangs in the air all around it. I put some radial ripples on the ground – my subtle homage to Brian Bolland who did it way better in The Killing Joke. That particular story isn’t my thing but Bolland’s artwork is immaculate.
What kind of reading experience should folks expect from Scar Tissue – Bargains? Is it geared towards adult readers?
It’s not horror in a scary way, necessarily. It’s more brutal and gory. It’s definitely a story for adults. Some intense violence. Blood and guts. It’s there for a reason, though – at least in my mind. I hope the experience is less “a fun read” and more lingering. I hope it communicates feelings and ideas more than story, even. That might be a tall order but it’s what I was trying for, at least.
We’re excited about your Kickstarter! Where else can readers find out more about you and your work?
Instagram is where I post most often. @FoxStorytelling. I also have a website at FoxStorytelling.com; all my current books are on there.
Thank you so much, Jeremy and NASH Illustrators. I’m grateful for the time and interest.
Don’t miss your chance to get a copy of Scar Tissue – Bargains!
