Halloween comes early for fans of writer Keith Giffen and artist Ben Roman this year. And it’s presented in the form of I Luv Halloween: Ultimate Twisted Edition,
a full-color collection of the previously published volumes of the
creative team’s global or original English language (OEL) manga from
TokyoPop.
With the release of the collection this week, we sat down with Roman to
briefly chat about his experience in sharing the joys of
trick-or-treating with fans again.
Newsarama: Hi, Ben. I Luv Halloween: The Ultimate Twisted Edition
is coming out at a time when the effects of the company-wide
restructuring exercise are still being felt across the industry with
some, if not most, of the OEL creators having gotten their projects
either cancelled, postponed or moved to the web. How would you sum up
your own experience with Keith Giffen and TokyoPop on I Luv Halloween?
Ben Roman: I was fortunate enough that the release of my book
wasn't compromised, but I know fellow creators who had to go through
those issues. The creative collaboration with Keith was great. He's
such a significant creator in the industry, so having him on board for
my first professional book was a definitely an honor and an invaluable
learning experience.
NRAMA: For a creator like yourself, why does a project like I Luv Halloween appeal to you?
BR: That opportunity came along at an appropriate time for me,
in terms of where I wanted to go creatively. I wanted to do something
that was offbeat and a little gory, but with a kind of humor and
playfulness. Doing something that excessive and obscene was great
because I could almost say, "Okay, now that I've finished something so
over-the-top, I can afford to reign myself in a little and do something
different and a little more sober." But it was great and a lot of fun.
I would definitely work on something as unusual like that again,
especially with Keith.
NRAMA: However, comics and its Japanese cousin, manga, have
increasingly been target of mounting public criticism for their content
and their potentially harmful effects on children. Was this a factor in
the creation of Finch and gang?
BR: No, we didn't really take into account any public responsibility with the I Luv Halloween
books. In fact, I think that we were seeing how irresponsible we could
go with that story and still get away with it. We were just trying to
let loose with the characters, however violent that mentality my have
turned at some points. I don't personally read manga, so I'm a little
unaware of what is considered so corruptive about other books
comparatively to ours, but a little supernatural-themed violence can't
be too morally reckless or damning to anyone, I figure.
NRAMA: Over the course of the three volumes, the
trick-or-treating buddies found themselves encountering not only bad
hats in their neighborhood but also zombies and aliens. What went into
your mind at that time when you were designing the various characters?
What're some of your influences?
BR: I didn't draw on any specific influences when I was creating the Halloween books, but I grew up reading Calvin and Hobbes
and all the Marvel books. I also take a lot of inspiration from old
horror and sci-fi movies, and I think that some of that same kitsch
finds itself in I Luv Halloween.
NRAMA: Obviously, publishing the entire story in full color
provides a totally new reading experience but looking back now, were
there things that could have been presented differently the first time
around?
BR: Because Volume I was my first professional release, there
are definitely certain aspects of the book that now, having had a lot
more experience, I look back on and wish I could fix. But having the
book coming out in full color will be a great new visual experience
because I think it will correct some of the things that I am unhappy
with, like the coloring in Volume I.
NRAMA: Other than the printed edition, there were at least four animated shorts on I Luv Halloween released on MySpace TV, right? Are there more in the works?
BR: There might be, however I am unaware at this point.
NRAMA: You've also got the trade paperback edition of The Cryptics
coming out this month and I'm sure that you've got some other projects
in the works as well. Can you spill the beans on some of them?
BR: I have a book coming out through Image Comics in Nov called, Douglas Fredericks and the House of They
written by Joe Kelly. I am also working on a few new concepts, but I
can't go into any details quite yet. I can, however, say that they take
a different direction than my previous books. I really knew that I
wanted to pursue a more "serious" project, so to speak, after The Cryptics and I Luv Halloween.
The books that I am currently working on are more realistic, both in
the narrative and artistically, and though they don't deal in the
supernatural, that same sort of macabre tone from my other work is
still present. I am definitely drawn to projects that have a darker
feel to them, and right now I am interested in working on more suspense
stories. I have a few projects lined up and none of them are anything
like what I have done before, so I am excited.
Check back this weekend for a preview of the full-color version of I Luv Halloween
