Busch and Henderson, the interview at the center of new comics Chameleon
Written by Kiwi Kid October 28, 2013 in Focus
Original Link: http://www.comicschronicles.fr/2013/10/cameleon-interview-au-centre-dune-nouvelle-serie/
Translated by: Google Translate
There are beings endowed with above average intelligence, geniuses who have among others the ability to assume any identity. In 1963, researchers from a company called “The Centre” put in solitary one of these beings, a young boy named Jarod and exploited his genius for secret research. But one day their “Chameleon” escaped …
If this intro reminds you of something, it’s that you too have watched the TV series The Pretender (The Pretender VO). From 1996 to 2000, we followed the adventures of Jarod, a gifted man who can interpret any role and practice any profession. Operated by the Centre, a secret society, to develop strategies, attacks and other crimes, Jarod spent his life trying to repair the injustices experienced by strangers. A super modern hero, he hides his identity behind the mask of a profession, but he’s relentlessly pursued by the Centre who wants its human strategic weapon. If we could see the characters evolve and Jarod forward in its quest for truth, some gray areas still remain, thirteen years after the end of the series.
Today, The Pretender returns as a comic led by the authors of the original series. With a preview scheduled for late 2013 in the U.S., and a French translation scheduled for early 2014, the first mini-series is not interested in the characters but the organization: the Centre where not much is known.
This interview with Jenna Busch (writer) and Jeffrey Henderson (artist) was conducted October 8, 2013 by Julien Leconte, a reporter for the Daily Film, Magazine series, and Radio Campus Lille (106.6, “Adventurers of cinemas” Saturday from 14h to 15h).
Hello to you both, a few words to introduce yourself?
Jenna Busch: Hi, my name is Jenna Busch, I am “Entertainment Editor” for Fan Voice website, and I am a journalist for JoBlo, AOL Popeater, Huffington Post , SCI FI Wire, IGN , UGO, Newsarama , AOL TV, Geek Week, Collider … I also have a show on the internet with Stan Lee titled “Cocktails with Stan Lee”, I wrote and participated in two comics for Womanthology there. In summary, I did a lot of things geek … (laughs)
Jeffrey Henderson: I am Jefferey Henderson, I am basically a story-boarder and artistic designer. I previously worked on films such as Spiderman, Sam Raimi, The Amazing World of Oz, The Dark Knight, and Inception. I worked a lot on graphics or very closely related to the world of movies, comic books, as well as animation. I also do some dubbing.
How did you find the project “The Pretender: The Center Chronicles,” a comic derived from the TV series The Pretender / The Pretender?
JB: I came to this project through friends of Jeffrey who introduced us to Steven Long Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle (creators of TV’s “The Chameleon” series). Basically, we were left on a community project, interactive social networking for fans of the series. Craig and Steve have recently relaunched the Chameleon via a first novel (The Pretender: Rebirth, released October 7) that follows the TV series. Telling them about my participation in comic books, it came to this idea of graphic novels and they asked me to write a story first. Jeffrey was available for the project, it was a fluke and we could offer them a preview of 8 pages which explored how the Centre (the dark institution at the heart of the TV series) and they loved them.
You were both fans of the series?
JB: Oh, yes, I’m a big fan of the series, and this is partly why Craig and Steve asked me to do the writing. They are both very passionate about the world they have created, and absolutely wanted someone who is familiar with the series and the mythology of the Chameleon / The Pretender.
Without revealing too much, can you tell us what will the first cartoon involve?
JB: Of course! It will focus on the origins of the Centre. The story takes place at the same time that the novel Rebirth comes out, that is today, but also back up to the time of Eva Peron (Argentina political figure in the 40s).
JH: The narration of the TV series was quite unique. During the development of the project, discussing with Craig and Steve, we quickly came to wanting to develop the Centre’s history itself, not only as an institution or as a building, but as a character. A bit like an original story, superheroes, the Centre itself has created all the characters found in the series. We develop a part of the comprehensive history of the Centre … let’s say we throw the first stone into the pond!
Chameleon is originally a TV series, moreover, quite complex in terms of intrigue, and based on a rather rich mythology. Is the transition from the small screen to the graphic version giving you any trouble?
JB: No, because we have the chance to work directly with the creators of the series. They are very available at the slightest question and at the slightest blockage. We can call on them for some indications. In addition, the relationship with fans Chameleon fans is such that we know specifically how to address certain ideas.
JH: I agree completely. Steve and Craig are a great help, and better yet, they have given us free reign on many aspects of the comic. A great feature in this project is that it’s rare – the two creators of the TV series, Craig Van Sickle and Steven Long Mitchell, recovered the full rights of the Pretender, which allows them to have complete freedom to develop their stories now, in all forms.
JB: Absolutely. The comic follows from this “new-found freedom”. There are so many people involved in creating a series of comic-books, here in the United States, when someone wants to extend a universe or even develop his ideas, this is very problematic. For the Chameleon it’s almost unique in its kind, and it is the chance to tell everything that could not be developed in the series.
JH: Indeed, this is unheard of in the world of entertainment, be it TV, movies or comic-book level. It’s very motivating from a creative point of view, there are more external pressures on the development of projects, whether comics or novels to come. This is a chance for us to be part of this adventure, and I’m delighted that Craig and Steve had the chance to recover their “baby”!
How do you operate as a duo for the writing and composition of the BD?
JB: For the record, it was a little easier for me. I brought the fact to integrate the political side with the story of Eva Peron, as a joke (I played Eva Peron during a year at the theater), and Craig and Steve liked the idea of releasing the shackles to develop the story. They wanted a more international dimension to the Chameleon. Then Jeff’s expertise in layout and narrative, helped me a lot to organize ideas.
JH: It’s very easy to work with Jenna, she has a contagious enthusiasm. In addition, she is very open to ideas and suggestions. This is far from being a tyrant who imposes his ideas by saying, “Well, are you gonna do to me, and this …”! She has very clear ideas, which helps me to implement, and in addition almost encyclopedic knowledge of the series and Eva Peron … In our history which certain passages back to the Second World War, it m has led to further research on the clothing styles research, architecture, classic cars for the sake of artistic precision.
JB: So far, we conclude the preview of 8 pages, and ultimately there will be 6 issues of 22 pages each.
It is little enough to cover a story that spans decades, right?
JH: Not really, this is a classic cut. Personally, I like the classic old-school approach of comic books, which greatly cut out scenes. I am not a fan of boards showing the characters body-hair and build winds in unnatural postures. I have a very narrative storyboard approach.
What are your favorite artists, or at least those who have most inspired you?
JB: Wow, there are so many that I love … (laughs). When I participated in Womanthology, I was in contact with a lot of cartoonists and independent artists. They do almost anything but conventional. In comics, I love Fables, and The Last Man …
JH: My favorite artist is Juanjo Guarnido , author and designer of Blacksad. In Blacksad, stories take place in an alternate universe of the 40s (the detective is a cat) and in a very dark movie atmosphere. He really inspired me to BD we develop, I love his attention to detail. If not among my favorites, I will quote Frank Miller, Dave Gibbons (my only tattoo is derived from Watchmen is to say), or even Ralph Steadman, Brian Bolland. But more broadly, many inspire me, I am very curious by nature and I am very interested in the work of others. I could cite a thousand others …!
JB: There’s one that I read recently and I find incredible: Return of the dapper man , by Janet Lee (designer) and Jim McCann (scenario). The cutting is original, and it is graphically beautiful. I worked with Janet on Womanthology, she inspired me a lot.
Is there a date scheduled for the release of “The Pretender: The Center Chronicles”?
JB: Not yet, but the preview will be published for the Comikaze convention in Los Angeles (from 1 to 3 November), but we will try to disseminate more widely, probably via the official website of Chameleon / The Pretender .
JH: We will try to also broadcast via the new media, but so far nothing is decided.
JB: This is the only story that we participate in, against others coming from other artists. There are still many issues to be addressed, stories which will be developed on new characters, or other best known as Miss Parker “young” which will have its history .
JH: The stories may have no direct connection between them, except that the Centre will always be “the center” of each of them.
You seem to be both very busy with your projects in multiple domains. What are your plans for the future?
JB: Once “The Pretender: The Center Chronicles” is curly, I have a project to show on the internet, in addition to the numbers “Cocktails with Stan Lee”, I will also continue to work for Fan Voice full time … I get bored easily, so I accumulate a lot of things (laughs)!
JH: From my side, I have a big project I can not talk about yet, a project on which I have work diligently for a year. I’m still dubbing, I am also a musician and I record. I’m also working on a TV series that will happen in 2014: “Crossbones” with John Malkovich (big production on a pirate theme, Malkovich will play Blackbeard)
JB: Jeff and I usually work late into the night, with all these projects. It is a true passion, we love it, although some projects may remain in the form of projects.
A final word (and a little spoiler) to conclude on your BD forthcoming?
JH: Haha! All I can say is that the story sums up the following proverb: “Hell is paved with good intentions!” (Laughter)
JB: Well, for fans of the series, this is an opportunity to learn a lot about some big questions left unanswered at the end of the series, and also about the characters like Miss Parker.
