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Mark Wheatley is an accomplished illustrator,
writer, editor, and publisher. The winner of the prestigious
Inkpot, Speakeasy and Mucker awards, he has also been nominated
for the Harvey and Ignatz awards for his comic book and pulp
creations, among them: 'Breathtaker', 'Radical Dreamer', 'Mars',
'Jimgrim and the Devil at Ludd' and 'Titanic Tales'. His illustration
work has been chosen for inclusion in the annual Spectrum
selection of the best in fantasy and science fiction art,
and has also appeared in magazines, books, comic books and
games. His original art has been featured is a number of gallery
showings including a special show at the Library Of Congress,
where several of his original works are held in the LOC permanent
collection.
A new showing of his originals from
the issue #0 of Frankenstein Mobster begins October 18th and
continues through the end of 2003 at the TRUE BELIEVERS GALLERY
435 S. Guadalupe, Santa Fe New Mexico 87501-2652.
Mark is also a writer, with many books,
comic books and television shows behind him. He founded Insight
Studios with Marc Hempel in 1980 as a design, illustration
and art production studio.Currently Mark is working with Mike
Oeming on the popular HAMMER OF THE GODS series from Image
Comics and his own FRANKENSTEIN MOBSTER as a new bimonthly
ongoing series also published by Image Comics. The first issue
of Frankenstein Mobster "Frankenstein Mobster #0", hit the
stands October 8 and we at P.C.U. have asked Mark to talk
us more about this exciting new series.
PCU : Mark, we heard that "Frankenstein
Mobster" is a project you've been at work on for ten years
now. How come it took so long to see it finally published?
Mark : I've been busy. We have
quite a few talented people working with Insight and every
one of them turns out wonderful, beautiful stories, comics,
illustrations, you name it. But usually it requires me to
kick in and help at some point. During the exact same years
that I've been attempting to get FRANKENSTEIN MOBSTER on my
front burner, ISG has had some of its most successful years.
So all my time was going into building the business, making
a firm, solid base of operations for our team of artists and
writers. But success is a jealous mistress. She always wants
more from you. I finally just had to say no to the direction
I was getting pulled in. And with the help of my studio mates
I've been able to re-imagine ISG as a maternity ward for ideas,
rather than the sausage factory, so to speak. And that, along
with help from the folks at Image Comics, has given me the
extra time I needed to put the finishing touches on Frankie.
PCU : Recently New Regency Productions,
the film people and you put together a deal to turn "HAMMER
OF THE GODS" into a major motion picture. Any plans that "Frankenstein
Mobster" is going to follow suit?
Mark : I've had producers and
studios after me to sell the rights to FRANKENSTEIN MOBSTER
for eight years. I didn't sell it way back when because even
I didn't know what Frankie was going to be. All I had was
the high concept and some nifty visual designs. So I put the
film community off while I worked to develop the material.
In that time I wrote a screenplay for a Frankenstein Mobster
movie, and then turned that screenplay into seven issues of
the comic book series. Right now I'm just starting on the
drawing for the fourth issue (issue #3). And I now have been
contacted by a list of ten producers/studios all wanting to
get a crack at the Frankenstein Mobster. But my manager and
I think we need to keep them waiting until I get closer to
the finish line on issue #7 (where I tie it together - or
sew it up - for the first story arc). So check with me again
in about six months and I might have a bit more to tell you
about a Frankenstein Mobster film.
PCU : Frankenstein Mobster series
started with issue #0. Why #0 and not #1?
Mark : Lots of reasons. The
major one was that my screenplay has a great opening for a
movie - but not so great for the first issue of a comic book
series. A comic book series has more in common with a television
series than a motion picture. The TV and comic book story
structure relies more on character and establishing a sense
of community. Also seeing a real person acting a part on screen
goes a long way to convince a viewer that a character is also
real. In a comic book I need to go a much longer distance
to convince readers that my quaint little drawings are real
people, with lives and personalities. The motion picture is
all about spectacle and epic sweep. So I came up with a prologue,
an issue #0, to introduce the cast of characters. And that
will give more meaning to the later events of the series.
I also restructured the screenplay to function as episodes,
single issues. There are continued elements, but this is NOT
a series of slices from a graphic novel. I consider it quite
a challenge to structure this series so that it will be entertaining
on an issue by issue basis and also make a well structured
longer story. Anyway - when you read issue #1, you will essentially
be starting just as I envisioned the opening of the FRANKENSTEIN
MOBSTER film.
PCU : Now, "Frankenstein Mobster"
takes place in "Monstros City", a place where the lower class
are monsters, where corruption and mob-rule holds power over
the cops and citizens. Was Monstros City inspired by our on-going
growth, crime and civil problems in our own cities? Or, is
it more like the societies run by the mob in the 20's, 30's
and 40's?
Mark : First - it is spelled
Monstros City. I got a typo on page one, word one, of my issue
#0. One of those computer things. I fixed the file long ago
- over a year ago. And then managed to send the old version
of the file to the printer! Damn! I could not build a convincing
fantasy if I didn't see this world as having ties to our reality.
The social concept that lies under my creation of Monstros
City, the fantasy city, is the real world emigrant journey.
Coming to a new world, running from something in the old country.
Or seeking a better life for your family, new opportunities.
Promise, possibility. And then the reality of culture clash,
language barriers, discrimination and the potential of a second
class life. I just cranked this up by making Monstros City
the worst of the best and the best of the worst! Crime, mobs,
monsters, class war, and much more that I have waiting in
the wings!
PCU : The main character is
Frankenstein Mobster, a sewn together body. In that body there's
Terry Todd, who used to be the best cop of Monstros City and
three of the worst mobsters.... who will be in control? Are
the mobsters possessed of a strong enough will to subjugate
Terry Todd?
Mark : This is a constant battle
of will, of reason. Terry Todd was a good cop. He studied
the mobs. He knew the players. This gives him the advantage
now. He can reason with his body mates. He knows their personalities.
But they are criminal sociopaths. And there is only so far
these goons can be manipulated. So we will never be sure that
Frankie will do the right thing or the wrong thing. The part
of Frankie that is Terry Todd is at his weakest in the battle
of wills when he loses. Because he feels so compromised, so
used, so dirty. In life Terry held himself to a very high
standard. In death he is forced to try to wring out some fragments
of good from a corrupt body and mind.
PCU : In the first sequence
of Frankenstein Mobster #0 we see Detective Terri Todd (Terry
Todd's daughter) arriving in Monstros City. Do you plan for
her to ever know that the "Frankenstein Mobster" is actually
her father rebuilt and existing with men she is dedicated
to hunting down and stopping?
Mark :That's the core question
of my first story arc. Will she figure it out? Does Frankie
want her to know? Will these two find themselves on the same
side of the law? Stick around and you will have your answers.
PCU : Are there going to be
other Frankenstein Mobster related projects we should keep
an eye open for ?
Mark : I'm always generating
ideas. So far the dedicated Frankenstein Mobster fan should
look for the on-line daily strip that features Vampirella.
There was also a Sunday style comic strip in an issue of CBG
in July. The second issue of HAMMER OF THE GODS; HAMMER HITS
CHINA has a short back-up FRANKENSTEIN MOBSTER story and the
new MORE FUND COMICS collection has a nice, edgy, FRANKENSTEIN
MOBSTER story. The new VAMPIRELLA MAGAZINE #1 has a cover
that features Frankie and Vampi as well as an interview with
me and one with Frankie! Currently there is a collection of
Halloween masks of the FRANKENSTEIN MOBSTER characters available
for free download on the Image Comics site. And you can also
find the theme music for FRANKENSTEIN MOBSTER as an MP3 file
on the Image site as well as at FrankensteinMoster.com There
is a more in the planning and about to come out. So fans should
keep an eye on the ISG message board for announcements.
PCU : Thanks for your time
Mark!
Mark : Thank you !
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