Many people know Dustin Weaver as the artist on the acclaimed series “S.H.E.I.L.D” with writer Johnathan Hickman. Or maybe you know him as artist on “Secret Wars: The Infinity Gauntlet,” “Avengers,” or “Edge of Spiderverse #3.” Maybe you know him as one of the writers who brought Bebop and Rocksteady back into this version of the “TMNT” series with Ben Bates. Maybe you missed that but read his work as the writer on “Bebop and Rocksteady Destroy the Universe.” However you may have known him, he is now writing, drawing, coloring, and creating his own anthology series from Image Comics called “Paklis.”
Debuting May 31st, “Paklis” is a collection of both long form and short stories from Dustin, collected in a monthly anthology format. In anticipation of the first issue, we were able to talk to Dustin about what to expect, working on creator owned comics, and of course the questions we all always want answered. A big thanks to Dustin for taking the time to answer out questions and be sure to look for “Paklis” in stores this May 31st.
These stories are projects and all ideas you have been working on for a while right? What makes this the best time and format for finally telling these stories?
Dustin Weaver: Both ‘Amnia Cycle’ and ‘Sagittarius A*’ I was working on and putting on line for a while. Some of the other stories in “Paklis” are things that have been on my mind for a long time and some are completely new ideas.
I really couldn’t say what the best time for this book would be, but I am sure this is the best format. An anthology coming from a single creator is a format that has been used well in alternative comics. It offers a lot of freedom creatively. You can create different ideas of varying length and style and have a home for all of them. I’m working a lot on my own but I will be collaborations with other creators as well. Anything goes. And as a fan of comics, this is exactly the kind of book I’d want to be reading.
What has it been like finally getting these stories ready for print and ready for people to read?
DW: For ‘Amnia Cycle,’ it’s good to be able to do some rewrites. I’m trying not to change it too much though. The point of ‘Amnia’ has always been to be flying by the seat of my pants. It’s supposed to be raw and flawed, so to go back and fix it up undermines that idea a little. Some of the other stories are ones I’ve wanted to do for a very long time, it’s really rewarding to see them finally become real. I’m pretty happy with how it’s all coming together.
With breaking away from your other work and exploring the anthology format does this project give you a lot of room for experimentation?
DW: I feel like I’m experimenting a great deal on a personal level. Not having to honor anyone else’s vision or intellectual property, I really have all the room I could want to try things I wouldn’t try otherwise. For instance, there’s a cyborg character in issue 2 of “Paklis.” I wanted to create his machine parts by collaging photographs of motors and machinery. I really wasn’t sure how it would turn out because I’ve never done that sort of thing before. I’m certain I wouldn’t have tried it on a book for Marvel. I wouldn’t have even thought of it if it was for Marvel. There are ideas that are only there because their in service to my vision.
At this point in your career you have done both art and writing duties on series. What is it like tackling both on one big book, oh and you are also coloring it all too right?
DW: What’s proven to be a challenge is changing gears. I’m switching between different stories, often in different stiles. I’m moving from drawing to coloring then to writing then to design, on their own these things would have a certain level of difficulty, but to switch from doing one to the next, it’s compounded. It’s hard to build up the momentum I’m used to with just drawing. I’m finding the undertaking of creating a comic on your own is greater than the sum of it’s parts. I think eventually I’ll get used to it. Hopefully I’ll gain more confidence in the aspects that I’m more insecure in, and I’ll be able to build that momentum I want.
Continued belowFrom your previous work and having interviewed/talked to you on a few occasions, this seems like this is Dustin Weaver times 100 percent. Is this series a bit of culmination of where you were, are and going at this point as a creator?
DW: Haha You know that “times 100 percent” Is the same as saying “times 1” right? I know what you mean though, and I think so. My whole career has been me working towards a point where I felt ready to break away and create something of my own. The question has always been when to take that leap and how to make it as risk free as possible. I think everything I’ve ever done is “me,” but it’s me when I’m in that specific box. Now I’m designing my own box.
Will the series expand beyond the initial 3 stories (‘Mushroom Buddies, “Sagitarious A*,” and “Amnia Cycle”)? I’ve read you have ideas past issue 10 maybe to 20?
DW: “Mushroom” is a short story and is featured only in issue 1. ‘Amnia Cycle’ will be around two hundred pages and will run through the first ten issues. Issue 2 will feature a short story called ‘An Empty Shell in The Ocean,’ which will have a much longer sequel story called ‘Hiro.’ ‘Hiro’ will begin in issue 9. In issue 5, I’ll start a three part story called ‘1949.’ This is how this is working. A lot of ideas, some short and some long. Right now, I have enough ideas to last at least through issue 20.
What sort of stories/themes can readers expect through “Paklis?”
DW: I like genre. There will be a lot of sci-fi, some crime thriller, a little action, horror, and westerns. I think you can expect it all to lean a little towards the surreal. I feel like you can ether try to make your genre stories seem as real as possible or let them be strange. I think genre is inherently surreal.-
Actually. I think life is inherently surreal. Maybe that’s why I think the harder you try to make a story real the more contrived and unreal it seems. Life is mysterious. A lot of these stories are basically mysteries of sorts.
I know you are an amazing artist but the previews on “Paklis” and the work you have posted on it over time is really something else. It looks/feels very European and manga inspired. What has been the inspiration or goal for “Paklis,” especially for someone who has been working in major western style books like Avengers?
DW: I like Manga, European comics, American Mainstream, and American Alternative comics. I’m always thinking about how I can take the things I like from each of those four corners. I think when I’m working on my own and not working on something like Avengers, you’ll see less of the American mainstream influence in my work. It’s still there, I’m just not pushing it as much. So those Manga and Euro tendencies will come more to the forefront.
I think the alternative comics influence is pretty nonexistent in most of my work so far. The reason is that I’m more influenced by the content and stories in alternative comics and rarely the drawings. With “Paklis.” there might be some of that influence. Actually, like I pointed out, the format it’s self is inspired by alt comics.
Ok so the question you always get and hate to ask. Hickman has kind of teased it on Twitter as well so had to be asked: when are we getting a follow up to “Bebop and Rocksteady Destroy Everything?”
DW: Hahaha You got me. Really thought that was going a different direction. But really, in regards to what Hickman says on Twitter, don’t believe any of it. And as for “Bebop and Rockstead Destroy Everything?” We have no plans, but Ben Bates and I will certainly work on something together again at some point.
All kidding aside now that its done what do you think the timeline is we will see Eve from “Secret Wars Infinity Gauntlet” pop up in Marvel U as a Nova?
DW: I’ve heard it will happen. Maybe within the next year or so. I won’t be involved so I hope they treat those characters right. I’m less interested in seeing Eve as I am of seeing Anwen. She was the hero of that story.
“Paklis” sounds like a very personal project for you, What do you hope readers get out of this series and what do you hope to get out of the experience?
DW: What I hope for myself is to just get to make the comics that I want to make. “Paklis” is my way of getting that freedom and it only needs to be successful enough for me to keep making it. As for what I hope others get out of it? Honestly, I hope people are inspired to create their own comics. I hope other comic artists look at it and think “I can do this” even if it’s because they don’t think it’s as good as it could be. All of my favorite comics make me want to create, I’d like to do that for others.
