If you follow the comic book news cycle, you may have run into a brand new little super-powered conman book called “SCAM.” The series is being released from upstart comic book publisher ComixTribe, a company who is making headlines for their latest billboard sales tactic and shows passion and belief in the comic book industry through social media outlets like Twitter.
After all, when was the last time you saw this from a major publisher?
But it would all be for naught if the series wasn’t worth the effort. Fear not, the 44-page “SCAM #1” is really good. It opens with a heist scene that becomes a fast-paced ticking time bomb for our heroes, the fallout of which opens up the rest of the story. From there, we get a fun “getting the team back together” dynamic and several tense action scenes before an ending that promises the stakes will only get higher. The action is tense and things can get grim, but there’s also a lot of humor throughout and the team dynamic is generally kept light and fun. There’s a lot to like here. Check your local retailer or the Comixtribe website for a copy!
With that said, I had the pleasure of talking to SCAM’s writer/artist, Joe Mulvey, and ComixTribe editor/publisher, Tyler James. These guys are as passionate as anyone about the comic book medium and its potential for storytelling. Let’s see what they had to say about SCAM, storytelling, and the business side of comics:
Joe, this your first comic book release, correct? That being the case, how long have you had “SCAM” swimming around in your head?
Joe Mulvey: SCAM has been a story in my head for about 15 years. It started with the idea to name a conman “Tru” and the rest of the story and world built from there. And trust me when I say WORLD. By the time SCAM #5 wraps up, you will be introduced to a fully shaped universe. And I hope you’ll want to come back for more.
If I had to sell this book to the average person on the street, it’d be easy to tell them it’s like Ocean’s Eleven meets X-Men, but funnier. A surface-level comparison like that can be helpful, but what specific influences are you drawing off of from a conceptual standpoint? What creators or stories were you passionate about as a reader, that have made it in to your work?
JM: I’ve always liked stories centering on criminals with flare, like Oceans 11 (both the original and the remake), The Sting, Confidence, Catch Me If You Can, and a ton of other conmen movies have definitely influenced me. Even the last two Nolan Batman movies had elements of a con that greatly affected the story. Plus, let’s be honest…EVERYONE lies. Developing characters, with powers, who use something as simple and powerful as a lie to do their job is pretty fun.
As far as creators and stories that have influenced me, that’s too big a list to name. But I will say, among the films I listed above, the biggest point for me story-wise with SCAM is to do something most con stories don’t do and show a somewhat darker side to people who live their lives through a lie.
I mentioned it in the last question, but the most pleasant surprise from reading “SCAM #1” was how genuinely funny it was. There’s well-paced wit, as well as an instance or two of fun toilet humor. What is your opinion of humor in storytelling? Is there a time and a place for it, or do you believe that it is essential?
JM: I used to do stand-up comedy in high-school and college. Being able handle life with humor can be a valuable asset to keeping your sanity. My intent with SCAM is to give the reader a fun ride from page one through the end. And humor does have a big part in that, just like I think it has in life. So where we have some dark or crazy stuff going on, we’ll also be adding in the humor. Hopefully the readers enjoy it as much as you do.
Continued belowTyler James: Joe’s a naturally funny dude. It’s not surprising that translates to the page.
If you don’t mind me saying so, your art has a style that mixes the cartoony with the realistic. I mean this as a compliment when I say that I saw bits of Amanda Conner’s exaggerated facial expressions and Humberto Ramos’ sense of dynamic motion. That said, your style is your own. What influences have shaped that style?
JM: You mentioned a big influence of mine right there, Humberto Ramos. That guy’s energy on the page is infectious. He’s a big influence, artwise. Amanda Connor, not really, since I’m just getting into her stuff now, though she might be an influence in the future. Steve McNiven, Travis Charest, Art Adams, Juanjo Guarnido, Will Eisner, Todd McFarlane, Joe Quesada, Frank Quietly and honestly too many others to mention are always in my head when I draw. Hopefully I mix it all up and throw whatever I have to contribute onto the page and the readers respond to it.
Each issue in SCAM is a progression of my style in a big way. I can’t wait to get readers’ reactions. All of my progression in comics has a great deal to do with the guidance and help from all the people over at ComixTribe. That collective comic mind has been instrumental in helping me develop. I can’t say enough good things about ComixTribe and what it’s contributed to my career in comics. It’s something I’m very appreciative of and a resource that I think more people should know about.
One of the other things I really noticed about the storytelling in “Scam #1” was how well you balanced the action with the quieter moments. This is a robust and engaging script, but it also lets the action speak for itself. It’s light on exposition, and I mean that as a compliment. Was economy of words something you paid attention to? What specific things do you try to accomplish with an action-heavy story?
JM: SCAM is a super powered conman story, so I want the reader to enjoy the action-paced scenes as well as the downtime, but always be wondering what the hell is going on. In a conman story, you always have people playing angles, lying and cheating each other and this is no different. So my intent is to make every scene as interesting and engrossing as possible, while always making the reader question everything they are seeing. It’s tricky but if I can pull it off right it should be fun as hell.
In “SCAM” our heroes seem to be highly skilled at the con game without even using their powers. By the end of the issue, we’ve seen just a few of the promised super-abilities of our heroes. Am I right to expect that this is just a taste of bigger things to come? What can you tell us about what you’re saving in your back pocket?
JM: SCAM #2 will have a big reveal of one specific character’s powers, and I’m hoping readers enjoy it. It’s certainly a power I wish I had. But as far as the SCAM universe and powers are concerned, my take is that these abilities have limitations. They are a drain on the human body. The characters are not meant to have these abilities, so the more they use them, the worse they’re going to feel. Which heightens the drama and the cost for using them at all. So, yes, these characters have special abilities, but the effect they have on them will be one of the driving issues for the series.
“Scam #1” starts with what I think will be one of the most entertaining and surprising opening sequences in comics this year. An opening sequence that serves as the springboard for the revenge plot that will drive the rest of the story. What sort of scale did you set out for with SCAM? Is it as simple as a compelling revenge plot, or are there greater forces at play?
JM: The story in SCAM is HUGE! I have, at the moment, a series of at least four mini-series planned. Where this first one ends will hopefully shock the reader. Again, I’m building a world. When readers are done with issue #5, they’ll know a whole new universe in the comic landscape. And hopefully they’ll want to come back for more.
Continued belowI have to mention the Scam billboard you rented in Las Vegas. You’re probably tired of answering this question, but it’s hard to ignore such a massive display of marketing. (I’ll include a picture with the post) As a comic fan that wants the business to succeed and grow, it’s quite an inspiration to see the faith you put behind your book and the comic medium in general. Even the biggest comic book companies don’t make moves like this! Where did the idea for the billboard come from? What does it say about your feelings on the “comic book industry” as a business?
JM: First, let me just address how I feel as the comic book industry as a business. Comics are (and pardon my cyber screaming for one moment) THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE ENTERTAINMENT MEDIUM AVAILABLE TODAY! It is no shock to me, or ANYONE whoe reads comics, that Hollywood has come looking to comics for original ideas and properties. Once special effects stepped up to the level to be able to properly tell these stories, a floodgate was opened and we’re seeing the results right now. From The Avengers to The Walking Dead and countless other successful comic properties, comics have shown that they are the new cool in entertainment.
Unfortunately, the business/publishing side of comics seems to focus less on getting new readers, and more on squeezing every dime they can out of current comics readers. 95% of comic book advertising is insular, and does nothing to reach out to new readers.
While I can go on for another ten pages about his topic, the answer is easy to me: ADVERTISE. So when I brought the billboard idea to Tyler James, publisher of ComixTribe, he and I worked out a plan to be able to get the comic media’s attention as well as people outside that circle. It’s working so far, but honestly it’s an uphill battle, and one I hope the bigger publishers will join in on. Comics are an amazing and underappreciated form of entertainment and I just want to help comics get into more hands.
TJ: For the record, I thought Joe was completely nuts when he brought me the billboard idea. (Part of me still does.) But it gave us the opportunity to reach out to a local retailer and make it a co-promotion, and make a loud statement that ComixTribe is here and looking to affect positive change in comics. And there’s nothing crazy about that.
While we’re on the subject, I follow you both on Twitter. You’re both very active and savvy in promoting this material, but you’re also heavily involved in the #comicmarket discussion on twitter. How do you approach your social media presence? What would you like to see from the future of comic book marketing?
TJ: Twitter, social media, and the #comicmarket hashtag have been instrumental in getting the word out about SCAM, connecting with retailers and engaging with readers.
JM: When it comes to the #comicmarket, I think the best thing that can happen is smart and savvy retailers working with like-minded creators to help expand the fan base of comics. As a creator I would be nothing without the retailers who gave ComixTribe and myself a chance to be on their shelves. Working together and knowing how to market and sell books is what the #comicmarket is all about and I’m happy to be a part of it.
I’ll just say that the amount of time, talent, ability and work ethic that goes into producing a comic book is extensive. It’s not easy and this industry has survived because a relatively small group of people see the importance, validity and uniqueness in comics a storytelling medium. It’s time that more people recognized comics for the entertainment resource that they are. I know ComixTribe and myself are working hard to do that.
TJ: You won’t find a more active advocate for comics than Joe Mulvey. It was his “What Do You REALLY Know About Comics?” series of articles that first got Joe on my radar, and I don’t think there’s a clearer indication that there is hope to grow the comic market than that series. Joe has been bringing new readers to comics one at a time. ComixTribe’s hoping to take that to the next level.
JM: Thanks for doing this and helping us spread the word on SCAM, Comixtribe and all the stuff we’re trying to do. It’s really appreciated. Hope to catch you at a con soon.
Follow Joe Mulvey @JoeMulv and Tyler James @TylerJamesComic on Twitter for more of this kind of comic book enthusiasm every day!
