Who does one call when there are problems, cases, too strange for US law enforcement to solve? They call Pitor Wyrd. He also just so happens to be the subject of a new Dark Horse series, “Wyrd”, launching this January from the creative team of Curt Pires, Antonio Fuso, Stefano, Simeone, and Micah Myers. “Wyrd #1” will mark Curt Pires return to comics and Dark Horse after about a year since the final issue of his last series “The Forevers” was released. To learn more about this new series we were able to talk to Curt about the book, Pitor Wyrd, and working with Dark Horse again. You can find out interview with Curt below and look for “Wyrd” in stores and online this January 30th.
For those who have not seen any previews of “Wyrd” yet how would you describe this book? For those who were fans of your work on previous series what would you say to them about the series?
Curt Pires: The short hand we’re using to pitch it is “Bond” meets “Hellblazer”–older hellblazer think Ennis / Dillon. Even the Azzarello stuff. Back when it was exciting and rough around the edges. It’s a man solving the unsolvable, and taking on things too weird for our world. Anyone who liked the other books will find similarities here that they’ll enjoy.
I saw one promotion mention that “Wyrd” is your first series since “The Forevers” in which launched in 2016 which I thought was crazy. Maybe it’s because books like “The Fiction” really stuck with me for a long time but I could not believe it had been a year since the last issue. What is it like being back putting out a new book? What is the difference in Curt Pires the writer 2016 to now?
CP: Hopefully, I’m better than ever. I’ve been through a lot in the last couple years and been challenged, humbled and hardened. I’m trying to move with purpose but stay humble. I believe in my gifts and storytelling abilities and I just hope people enjoy it. I just want to tell stories to the best of my abilities and hopefully make people feel good for a few minutes. All I can do is my best.
There is a mix of detective, special agent, espionage tones that come across in the first issue of the series. I feel like these are some of the themes that have existed in a lot of your work maybe more so in the extreme in series like “Pop” or “The Tomorrows.” For “Wyrd” what sort of style are you hoping to achieve?
CP: I think “WYRD” is a more nuanced look at things. He’s the main character but he’s not exactly a total force of good. The world is complicated and I want my stories to be too.
For any series named after the main character it would seem like it is a story that is really sold on the strength of character for “Wyrd.” For you what makes him an interesting character and how have you tried to express that to readers?
CP: I think what makes Pitor so interesting is that his past is as big a mystery to him as it is to us. That and he’s not a perfect person. He’s flawed. He wants to be better than he is. He’s struggling.
There is a challenge in creating every first issue of a comic but I have to imagine there is possibly an even greater challenge in a first issue of a mini series. How do you approach a first issue to bring people back for issue two instead of trade waiting?
CP: I try to make every comic packed with content. A lot of bang for buck. I’m not Grant Morrison or Garth Ennis, so I appreciate anyone throwing down $4 for one of my stories.
I want to give them a whole experience. A full narrative. A lot of that results in me doing these 28 page issues.
“Wyrd” is called in for the stranger cases others can not handle. What can you tease for some of the difficulties he may face issue to issue? Are you drawing inspiration from any specific realm of strange?
Continued belowCP: A child in Kansas. A politician in london with Dark Powers. And a stolen piece of Technology that people will recognize.
It would be a crime to not mention the art from Antonio Fuso, Stefano Simeone’s coloring and Micah Myers’ lettering. What does those three bring to the series?
CP: Everything, they breathe life into the world. Nothing would exist without them!
“Pop” and “The Tomorrows” were both Dark Horse series as well. What is the experience like putting out your third series with them?
CP: It’s nice. I’m a lot more experienced, and know more know, so it’s a lot smoother. Those were my first two books I ever pitched and sold, so I was sort of learning as I was going, and there was definitely a learning curve. I’m happy with our deal on this book, and my collaborators, and the story we’re telling. I’m grateful for my editor(s) helping sheppard my vision creativity, and trusting some of the risks we want to take.
I know reading your previous work I felt like I came away with either a thought, new idea and maybe even a new perspective. Whether it be social, political or even about the comic medium. What do you hope readers take away from “Wyrd?”
CP: I hope it feels like a fully realized immersive narrative. That they got their money’s worth. And that I don’t suck. I wanna make things that will stand the test of time. That people will still read when my bones are dust. That’s the ultimate goal.
