Gavin Hignight is a film and television writer whose credits include Fox Kids’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and numerous short films and screenplays. He is also the author of the novel Sweater Party, and has contributed to magazines such as Geek, and L’uomo Vogue. Motor City is his first comic book series.
Jetilla Lewis is an illustrator and designer whose work has appeared in American Junior, and throughout independent comic festivals and at Comic Con International. She counts Koshun Takami, Matsuri Akino, and J. D. Huxtable among her inspirations. Motor City is her first graphic novel.
Carmine Magazine: For the readers who are not familiar with Motor City, can you please describe it?
Gavin Hignight: Motor City is a graphic novel somewhere between Japanese style Manga and American style comic books. It’s a mix of retro, horror, and a coming of age story. It follows Lexi, the youngest member of a 1950s era human street gang trying to defend their turf from all kinds of monsters.
Jettila Lewis: Motor City is a unique comic. It’s like classic horror with a bit of a modern twist.
You know those movies about the 50’s with the neighborhood of trouble makers and gangs? Picture that with ghouls and monsters! It’s pretty neat!
CM: Why did you decide to work on a comic book? Has it been as fun as you had hoped?
GH: After writing tons of scripts, trying to sell ideas in Hollywood, etc… I got frustrated. I just wanted to tell the kinds of stories that were floating around in my head. The medium didn’t matter. I was doing some work on the Fox Kids Ninja Turtles cartoon and I started thinking about its roots, about Eastman and Laird, about how awesome the original black and white TMNT comics were. And I thought to myself, I’m gonna do that. I’m gonna tell my story one way or another.
Although I read comics I had never really planned on being a comic guy. But writing it, and with artist Jettila Lewis, finally getting to see these worlds in my head realized in a quality manner, I really grew to like the medium. Now I will always do comics–Hopefully in addition to other mediums. It’s such a great way to write and experiment with ideas I never want to abandon it. The other thing about comics is that they have made me a much better writer of other material. Writing comics forces you to really analyze your dialog, because you don’t have that much room, so what your characters say really has to matter. No space for dribble.
JL: Comic books have always been a major interest of mine. Both reading and drawing them. I decided to take up working on Motor City because before, I’ve only made comics for my own enjoyment. I wanted to take the next step in making illustrating a career.
I’m not sure if the word “fun” would be an appropriate description of the experience, although I did very much enjoy working on it. I saw it more as a learning experience than something “fun” to do.
I had to do research, find reference photos and study things which I’ve never done with the little comics I would make for myself.
CM: What has been the hardest part of working on Motor City? The easiest?
GH: The Hardest… Being the little indie guy. Showing up at comic con and selling 4 books in an entire weekend cause you can’t compete with the multi thousand dollar display that Sci Fi channel has down the isle from the small press indie comic tables. It’s rough, being the little guy, but at the same time it’s nice to be completely in control of the story and product. For me the fun part was telling a story, and making something. That’s all I want to care about, making something cool. When it comes to sales and marketing (which as an Indie you have to do yourself) I’m not as excited about that part. I enjoy the creation, but I also know I have to sell it, no one else will. And we live in a time when people are so visually overrun… needless to say making the book was the easy part (and it wasn’t easy…)
The easiest part of that process… getting Jetti, the illustrator to draw horror images. She loves her ghoul-gore.
JL: For me, the hardest part was finding the right reference photos and getting it right when I drew the pictures. Things like cars and motorcycles. Those were not easy to do because I always stayed away from drawing anything mechanical. Now I am more willing to draw things that are out of my element. I’m trying to expand my drawing abilities.
The easiest part? I don’t want to come across as too sinister, but the easiest parts to draw were all the gory scenes. I’ve always had a thing for shock and horror. My goal when I drew the gore scenes were to make the reader uncomfortable or say “Ew, gross!”
CM: What are some of your favorite comic books series and characters? Do you prefer older or newer comic books?
GH: A huge influence on me for comic books were the 90s Vertigo titles. That’s when I came of age as a comic book fan. I just love when people break stereotypes and experiment or surprise me. So many influences… A few of my favorites off the top of my head… Dragonhead (manga), Monster (manga), Tell me Dark (DC graphic novel), Planetary (Wildstorm), Walking Dead (Image), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I also just finished Road to Perdition and highly recommend it! As for Characters… Death (from Vertigo), The Punisher, Elijah Snow, Captain America, Batman!!
JL: I have very few favorite comic series. My 3 favorite are Batman, Gantz (Hiroya Oku) and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (Hirohiko Araki). I always gravitate toward characters with major flaws and issues. I find it refreshing as well as entertaining.
I don’t care whether or not if a comic is older or current. As long as there’s a great story line with artwork to match, then I think it’s worth reading.
CM: How has the world of comics changed with Hollywood’s current love affair with comic book based movies? Do you think this change is good or bad for the comic industry?
GH: I think it is both good and bad. I touched on a that a little about Comic Con. Being a small fry in this world is tough. Because of post-internet culture, I’m not sure there can ever be another TMNT. Funny thing about technology, it gives you a chance to compete with the big boys, but it also turns you into one of the many voices in the choir trying to be heard
What I now wonder is what will it be like when Hollywood moves on to whatever is next? What will it be like when Hollywood discards comic books like a used up lover? Cause it will happen. When? Who knows? But it will. Always does. Will that be great for comics? I really don’t know.
We’re already watching publishing slowly die. And yet the ideas that have come out of publishing are what mostly feed other visual mediums. Comic books are going to have some tough times ahead… some growing pains.
JL: You know…there used to be a lot of movies based on comic books when I was a kid. And you know what else? They were good! Lately I’ve not been too thrilled with the movie interpretations of a comic story. They are overly hyped and it feels they want to showcase the actors and special effects more than they want to showcase a great story.
However, in the passed year, I’ve noticed comic movie are becoming good again. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it stays this way because there are so many great comic stories out there that would make wonderful films.
The comic industry can only thrive on these Hollywood movies. Even if the movie is bad, people will still go out and buy a comic.
CM: Why did you choose greasers fighting monsters and driving hot rods for Motor City’s theme?
GH: Simple, I love all that stuff!
CM: Which is more challenging for you to draw, the greasers, cars or the monsters? Which is your favorite to draw?
JL: Cars!! Those were so difficult. Classic cars are hard to draw! But It was great learning how to.
At first, I had some problems drawing the pompadours for the greasers, but I learned quickly.
The ghouls were my favorite to draw. I had so many ideas for the different looking ghouls. I hope to draw more gruesome ones in the future.
CM: Who is your favorite character in Motor City and why? Who or what is your favorite villain?
GH: I am very proud of fan response to Frank, the leader of the 133rd. people really love him and I’m not sure I planned for that to happen. As for my favorite it’s like asking who is your favorite child… I love them all for different reasons. I will say I am super excited for the villains of Motor City Vol. 2, but that is further down the line. And I’m sure when we’re done with that book I’ll tell you I’m more excited about the villains in Vol 3. As for volume one… Larry the Ghoul is pretty awesome.
JL: My favorite character has to be Frank. He’s such a cool character. I like him because he’s a tough but fair guy. And he’s a total badass.
He’s someone I’d be friends with.
My favorite villain is Larry. Gotta love a creepy ghoul leader.
CM: What made you decide to host an art show at Meltdown Comics in L.A. for the Motor City release last year? Did it turn out well? Do you think you would ever set up an art show again?
GH: I didn’t want to have a boring comic book release party. We worked hard on the book and I wanted to party!! The last thing I wanted was a nerdy gathering in a comic store with punch and cookies that only my friends showed up to just to be polite. I wanted people to have a good time, see some kick ass art, and celebrate the themes that Motor City played with. It was a total success and a fun night!
CM: What does the future hold for Motor City? Where do you hope to see it in five years?
GH: Well, as Indie publishers, it’s hard to say for certain where and when Motor City will go. For now we have to stay focused on promoting and selling volume one. I can say as for the writing, that three volumes have been planned from the start, each focusing on a different classic monster as the villain. We also have a follow up book planned that would take place… after Motor City. But that is all in good time.
JL: In 5 years I hope to see Motor City as a well known indie comic. It’s an interesting story I think more people should get exposed to.
CM: Do you have any upcoming events, projects or announcements to share with our readers?
GH: Yes! Jetti and I are working on a web-comic. We wanted to create something completely different between our work on volumes of Motor City. So while we focus on the promotion of Motor City Vol 1 we can continue to be creating something. That’s the most enjoyable part after all. The web-comic will launch later this year at http://www.theconcreteworld.com.
For more information on the Motor City comic, as well as it’s creators, check out the following links:
2 Comments
Leave a Reply
ABOUT
An Online Magazine By Artists, For Artists. Carmine Magazine’s purpose is to be a place for artists and fans of art to find information. Everything from interviews with artists, tips on making better art, business advice for your art business, art news, featured artists, featured web stores, and product reviews.
RECENT POSTS
Quote
I’ll use anything I can get my hands on. I love experimenting with new mediums by I’m always faithful to my favorites: watercolor, acrylic, gouache, pencil, ink, canvas, wood, paper, journals, thread, fabric, vintage, & found elements as well as digital. I guess I use them because it’s what I’m used to, & I’ve found my own way of manipulating the materials to work in the ways I want. It’s a team effort.
— , Carmine Magazine Interview
Social Links
!!! Great interview.
Frank is my favorite too. :)
fabulous interview!