Today as a part of Multiversity Comics Presents, we sit down and talk with Ben McCool and Nate Cosby the creators of the new Image book PIGS. They’re both mainstays in the business, with titles from companies like Marvel and DC, and now they’re releasing a book together from Image Comics.
Check out the interview beyond the cut, where we talk about PIGS, what it is and where it came from, and what to expect!
So tell me guys, how did this book come about?
Ben McCool: A bit of a funny story, this. Me and Nate were enjoying a few ales with our pals Becky Cloonan and Rich Ginter, and Becky (for reasons that escape me) mentioned a “Cuban sleeper cell”. This stuck with Nate, who started thinking long and hard about it. He then suggested fleshing out the idea with me, and so we began discussing the logistics: How would the cell work? What would it do? Who’d be behind it? The potential seemed abundant, the idea fresh and original, and so we started talking about possible characters and their agendas. And this is where things started to get really interesting. Before we knew it, we’d conducted a wealth of research, meticulously plotted a tight and eventful story, and were ready to start scripting. A little less than 12 months later, and hey! Presto! We have the first issue of the book [in stores now].
Nate Cosby: Yeah, all the ideas started flowing so quickly. We’d have four or five hour plotting sessions, just mapping out all the chronology, then mixing it up like a bunch of puzzle pieces. Once we had the story in place, we assembled the rest of the team: Breno Tamura (an awesome artist that Joe Prado showed us), Chris Sotomayor (best colorist in the biz) and the amazing Rus Wooton (who letters Walking Dead, did Thor the Mighty Avenger, and bazillions of other books).
The idea of a story told by the “other guys” is something that isn’t exploited nearly as often as it should be. Will they be the main characters throughout, or will we see the perspective of every character involved?
Ben: Indeed, the ‘PIGS’ themselves are the book’s central focus, and their own unique attitudes and perspectives will be very much explored. But other characters will also play prominent roles in proceedings. We figured that our chosen approach to the story (as in, hanging out with the “bad guys”) would generate some controversy, and rightly so. But that’s not to say that all of the characters are necessarily dedicated to their mission…or even willing to comply with it.
Nate: Thing is, we’re not really approaching the book as if it’s about “villains.” Cuz most villains don’t think of themselves as villains. They’re doing what they feel is right, they just have a different set of methods and morality when it comes to getting what they want. The Pigs are conflicted, because they grew up being told how to think, how to act, what is right and wrong. Then they get to America, and start to realize the ways they were taught may not necessarily be what they want to follow.
You both have a history of working with Marvel, and Nate, you recently left your editorial position. What made you decide to publish this with Image as opposed to Marvel or even one of the other publishers?
Ben: I’m a huge proponent of creator-owned comic books, and I think Nate will agree with me in saying that PIGS is a perfect fit for Image Comics. This is an incredibly exciting time for the comics industry in general, and pretty much every publisher out there, from Marvel to DC to Archaia to Dark Horse, is putting out quality material; I’m struggling to think of another period of time in the history of comics where such a diverse array of high quality books have been available to readers. Not least from Image Comics, and this is one of the many reasons we decided it’d be the ideal home for PIGS.
Continued belowNate: Ben’s right: Image is on such a winning streak with so many books. They really believe in letting the creators do what they want with their stories. We wanted a place that’d let Ben and I grow the story organically, and let us be as dark and dirty as we want. (And believe me, PIGS gets DIRTY)
What do you guys to do get into “writing mode?” Is there a process, like your “If I Wrote Them” Series on Tumblr, Nate?
Nate: Yeah, the Tumblr exercise is a new trick I’ve found to get into heads that aren’t my own. I think of my favorite characters, and try to distill the attitudes and voices that made me love them in the first place. Then when I move on to writing characters I created (or co-created), I’ve got a cheat-sheet in my head of what makes people in stories interesting and relatable (to me, anyway).
Ben: It varies! Some mornings I’ll wake up; all ready to go after a cup of strong coffee. Other days, however, are more of a challenge… A good movie, book or comic can help kick-start the imagination/motivation, and if all else fails, a few tasty ales. Hey, I am English, after all…
What’s the collaboration process like for a creator owned book? How does it differ from working on a work for hire title? How do you divide the work?
Ben: We’ve basically split the workload down the middle, and it’s worked out extremely well for us. Surprisingly well, in fact–I’d never even co-plotted a book before PIGS, let alone co-written one, but the transition has been very smooth. We plot the story arcs together, and then start to break them down issue-by-issue. Next: once we’ve got a particular issue nailed in terms of content; comes the dialogue for each scene, which is then incorporated into panel descriptions. Er, I’m sure that sounds horribly confusing, but trust me: it works!
Nate: Ben and I already had a working shorthand, since I’d hired him to write a mini-series when I edited at Marvel. We’re both enthusiastic about story and character, and we seem to get each other more excited as we bang out ideas. It’s such a big story, with so many characters and different points in the timeline, that I couldn’t imagine either of us trying to write PIGS alone.
How much creative control did you give the art team when it came to art composition and storytelling? How do you script to suit their needs as artists?
Ben: I always try to give the artists as much creative freedom as I can. Some writers like to dictate exactly how each panel should look, from position of characters to location of speech bubbles. I like to think of myself as being a little more flexible; to me, an artist who’s provided with opportunity for composition and design is way more likely to feel inspired and motivated, and that should be evident in the final art! And that’s definitely been the case with my books so far.
Nate: Unless it negatively affects the intentions of the script and story, my opinion is that the artist should be able to do their own thing (that goes for coloring too). With PIGS, Breno shows us layouts to make sure we were clear in our descriptions, but for the most part I want an artist to be empowered to bring their own ideas to the table.
Was the cold war and espionage something that always interested you? Are there any movies or books that inspired you or the way you write it?
Ben: Oh, absolutely. Researching the Cold War has been as fascinating as it is entertaining; it barely feels like work. So much corruption, double-crossing, dodgy dealings… Perfect fodder for PIGS! I always imagined this book to be a contemporary noir, complete with similar characters to the shifty and sleazy guys that graced the books of Mickey Spillane and Raymond Chandler. So with a bit of luck, and help from our studious research, we’ve pulled that off!
Continued belowNate: The Conversation, All The Presidents’ Men, The Manchurian Candidate, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold…I watched all these and more growing up (even when I was too young to really understand what conspiracies and politics were). In a weird way, I’m nostalgic for the Cold War…I know it’s simplistic, but there was something so interesting and romantic about the Cold War. Information and misinformation were equally important, communication wasn’t anything like it was today, crosses/double-crosses/triple-crosses…I can never get enough.
Even though the current series is slated to be a six issue mini-series, are there plans for more minis or an ongoing book afterwards?
Ben: PIGS is an ongoing series, and we’re working as hard as we possibly can to ensure that it ships on time every month!
Nate: Yeah, after the script is locked, my asshole-editor-mode kicks in. Let it be known: PIGS is monthly, and it will NEVER be late. Or I’ll eat a Che Guevara shirt.
The buzz for the book is already pretty strong, going back as far as WonderCon in April, and the inevitable question these days is “have the films studios been interested?”
Nate: dummmm dee dum dummmmmmmmm…
Ben: We have to stay tight-lipped about this kind of stuff for now, but will be sure to keep you posted…
And finally, is there anything you’d like to add regarding the book?
Ben: To reaffirm a point I made earlier, this book will ship on time every month! We’re very aware that scheduling problems can really sabotage a book’s momentum, particularly with ongoing titles. And so we’re doing plenty of work in advance to ensure that readers can pick up PIGS on a consistent monthly schedule!
Nate: This is a LONG story, with tricky missions, mayhem, murder, flashbacks, conspiracy, love, redemption, seduction, danger, banishment, and we know the ending. Strap in, we’re JUST gettin’ started.
