Last year, IDW put twists on their biggest licensed properties. Some of their biggest series including “Ghostbusters” and “Transformers” did “what if” style stories that changed one core thing to see what could have been. The most interesting twist of them all took place in “The X-Files” where instead of Samantha Mulder being abducted by aliens, Fox Mulder was and it led Samantha to a career in the F.B.I. This year, IDW revisits this with a new grouping of “Deviations”. We had the chance to talk to Amy Chu about her follow up to last year’s “X-Files” story.
The first “Deviations” issue introduced this new altered world so where are we when this one starts? Does it continue from there or is it a separate tale?
Amy Chu: You can read them both together or separate – they are written as standalone stories, but it’s like the TV show – the first “Deviations” was similar to the pilot, introducing the characters and The X-Files. This took a lot of work, by the way!
The “Deviations” one-shots were received pretty well but I think “The X-Files” had the most interesting spin. What inspired you to approach it as Fox being abducted instead of his sister? What made that the most interesting direction for you as a creator?
AC: Thank you! I wish I could take credit. The editor, Denton Tipton, approached me with the idea first and I thought it was brilliant. One simple twist and an entire universe of new stories opens up…
The X-Files is one of these things that proven to have true staying power. As a super fan myself, I have my own reasons but I’m curious what you think has made this series remain so popular all these years later.
AC: I am with you on that. Some if it was just great writing and strong characterization, I think, but also the ability to straddle multiple genres- i.e. horror, sci-fi, paranormal, detective.
Has it proven tough to keep your “Deviations” stories contained to these one-shots? Would you want to do more in this universe?
AC: One-shots are tough, but fortunately the original universe is very familiar to me and a lot of readers so it makes things a bit easier. Yes, I would definitely love to do more, especially with the same creative team. It’s so wonderful to work with the artists Silvia Califano and Elena Casagrande, and Monia Kubina doing the colors- they nail every scene so well. It’s not often I get to work with all women in comics, either!
Do you draw your inspiration for this story from any specific time period of the show?
AC: I’m sticking to early The X-Files, as the plot gets quite complicated as the seasons go on. This is Scully’s first encounter with the Lone Gunmen, and I think that happens in the first season of the show.
How do you keep Samantha Mulder as her own character and not a caricature of her brother? We don’t get a ton of her in the show and even then, we have to question all of it, so does this give you a little wiggle room in giving her a voice?
AC: Oh good question- I felt it was really important not to make her just a female version of Fox. There are some similarities, but she needed to have her own voice and dynamic with Scully. I also made her a little more kooky and fun to offset Scully’s seriousness. As for the rest, imagine being a really smart female FBI agent working in a high testosterone environment, pursuing some tenuous conspiracy theories in the basement… she’s got to have a little bit of a chip on her shoulder too, right?
Finally, what’s your favorite episode?
AC: Huh, hard question. I’d have to say “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” in Season 3. Eek, was that over 10 years ago? The feels for Peter Boyle’s character – I like a little dark humor in my TV.
“Deviations: The X-Files 2017” is on sale today!
