Those of you who have followed Multiversity Comics for any prolonged period of time know that there is one webcomic that we have enjoyed since the site first opened: EmiTown. A charming and quaint little look into the writers life, EmiTown is full of energy, music, reality, and cats. LOADS of cats. In addition to that, our very own David Harper appeared in a comic once, so obviously now we support it times 2.
With the release of a collection of EmiTown from Image Comics imminent, we got a hold of Emi to chat about the upcoming book. Take a look behind the cut for our chat, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled in your LCBS on December 1st.
So for those unaware of the concept – what is the elevator pitch of EmiTown?
Basically it’s a day by day sketch journal about what happened and/or how I was feeling. It’s drawn in a stream-of-conscience manner much like the randomness of thought.
Can you talk about your process in creating a comic a bit for the newbies as well? Specifically in terms of what makes it to the page and how?
Generally, when I’m at work I will pull out this mini notebook I have and recollect what had occured of note the day prior. I would make little notes and then choose 
what I want to draw. On days where I have an itch to draw something more detailed I will draw a splash page of that image. Those are generally sparked from listening to a song.
You’ll be moving out of working solely online to even larger audiences with Image Comics. How does that feel? I’d imagine it’s probably a bit intimidating.
All of it is highly intimidating. The fact that I have a book coming out is highly unreal. Right now, I’ve been taking things day by day and working on the current goals I have. I still plan on putting EmiTown online!
How did you get hooked up at Image Comics? And why Image out of all possible venues?
I had met Image publisher Eric Stephenson at ECCC ’10 and gave him one of my minis that I had printed. I received an email later and the rest is history. That second question is kind of hard to answer because I wasn’t actively seeking other venues. Image approached me and I liked the foundation that Image was built on a lot and thought it was a grand way to go for my first book.
I know you’ve made your own personal mini comics to sell (of which I totally own!), but what’s it like to move your comics from digital to print through a company like Image?
It’s definitely an experience! I learned a lot from working with a production team. Everything definitely looks more legit than my little Kinkos printed mini comics!
How would you say EmiTown is different from other webcomics that get print publishing? Which do you see yourself being most in sync with?
EmiTown is different I think in the fact that there it is not drawn on a paneled layout. Also, there isn’t a specific topic or theme for the entire book. Sure, I have a lot of running metaphors and themes in it’s own sense but the book as a whole is not like a journal about a specific trip and or time. It’s a journal that was journaled for the sake of being journaled! I think it’s similar with Carnet de Voyage, American Elf, etc…
So you start with May 2009 and go all the way up to April 2010, giving us a year of your life. But what makes this interesting is that there is no straight plot throughout like most comic books. How do you think that translates in terms of the EmiTown “story”?
Instead of having a straightforward plot, EmiTown’s “plot” is the growth of a human 
being. Growth from trying to be a better person, striving to have a career in comics, relationships, and even the visual growth of the improvement in art from drawing on a daily basis.
Is it nerve wracking to publish this? You’re essentially selling your diary to random people all over the country.
It is and it isn’t. I feel comfortable with what I put out there else I wouldn’t have to begin with. What I’m still working on getting more comfortable with is the idea that there will be people out there that know more about me than I know about them. That’s a strange concept.
On top of the fact that this is your diary, there is a LOT of personal stuff in here, although it’s all veiled in various metaphors. Is it still kind of scary to be putting so much out there?
Not really. the metaphors really help me out. I don’t think it’s straightforward… and if it is, I’ll pretend for myself that it’s not. I think the army cats and other metaphors are pretty vague and open to many interpretations (I hope).
What is your favorite thing to play around with EmiTown? There certainly is a set of recurring characters, even though their meanings are often abstract.
My favorite thing is drawing over-exaggerated faces! I also really like taking the time to draw an image that was influenced by a song I was listening to. I enjoy most of it actually. I mean, the journal was for my enjoyment after all!
Out of all of EmiTown’s year worth of content, are there any entries that really stick out in particular as favorites to you?
I really liked my entry where I was doing air guitar, air drums, and air violin. I don’t remember what day it was but it’s in the book. I also really enjoyed my little 
story of Ocean Girl and Octozoid. It was fun drawing them.
What would you say is your ultimate hope with EmiTown being published now?
I hope it’s received well. That’s all I can really ask for. I’m not looking for fame or profit or anything like that. If anything, it would be awesome if it helps open new doors for my comic career.
I also hope there will be an EmiTown Vol. 2!
Last time you spoke with MC (now over a year ago!), I remember you had quite an affinity for classic Batgirl Babs, but are there any other shared-universe heroes you fancy taking a crack at these days?
I wouldn’t mind trying the Runaways if it is ever revived.
Speaking of chatting a year ago, how different is your comic book life now than it was last October?
Well, I definitely have more of a comic book life now! These days it’s been working on my own comics, some guest comics for other series, promoting the book, and even starting to organize a collective studio to work in with some other comic pals. My comic book like seems to continue to grow and I hope it keeps up the momentum!
Do you have any other projects going on that you could per chance tell us about?
Keep your eye out! There are a couple things… and then there are some that are my own. I’ve been working on some more Perfecting Loneliness stuff… so hopefully I’ll have some more for that next year!
