Trash Mutant Interviews (TMI): Dan Abnett

- by Ninja Ross, 8 October 2014

Dan Abnett

Dan Abnett is one of 2000AD’s most prolific writers, having created titles such as "Kingdom" and "Sinister Dexter". For Marvel, he has worked on the likes of "Annihilation", "Punisher" and "The Guardians of the Galaxy", co-writing the team that inspired James Gunn’s movie of the same name. His body of work doesn’t stop there, though! He has also written for DC Comics, working on titles such as "Batman" and "Legion Lost", as well as contributing to Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40K series, including “Ultramarines: The movie.”  Add to that his own original novels and you’ve got one heck of a busy guy. Having done away with sleep many moons ago, Mr Dan Abnett has agreed to answer my silly questions!

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TRASH MUTANT: The first chapter of "Kingdom: Aux Rift" featured in Prog 1900, sees the return of Gene the Hackman. Is it difficult to return to characters when spending time writing other universes or is it the writing equivalent of riding a bike?

DAN ABNETT: A little like riding a bike. I move ‘between universes’ (not as supernatural as it sounds) a lot, and Kingdom is a great place to return to. I love working with Richard Elson.

What can we expect from Gene the Hackman and his crew in upcoming chapters?

We’re going to learn a lot more about the organised dynamics of post apocalypse society, with Aux and humans alongside each other, plus a bigger (really big) threat.

Speaking of Gene, what made you call him Gene the Hackman? Are you just a huge Gene Hackman fan or is there something more sinister going on?

The Aux all know they are named after stars. They think this is a references to stars in the sky. But of course, it was just a jokey naming convention created by their human designers, naming them after film stars and giving each name a ‘barbarian’ twist. Every Aux character has a dog/war/film star pun for a name. 

Gene, as seen in Prog 1900.

You’ve written a lot of comics on both sides of the Atlantic, writing for 2000AD, DC and Marvel among many other publishers. Are there any differences between working on American and British comics?

Primarily, it’s format - the US publishes stories in monthly, 22 page issues, whereas 2000AD is a weekly anthology with 5 or 6 page episodes. UK delivery rate is ‘quicker’, and the pacing needs to be different because of episode length. But I also think there’s a deeper, darker flavour of SF and horror in the UK comics, in contrast to the superhero fun that dominates the US mainstream.

Abnett's Guardians.

Your work with Andy Lanning on "Guardians of the Galaxy" was a big influence on the successful movie adaptation. Were you approached by the film makers at all? Were you happy with the result?

James Gunn, the director, acknowledged that the 2008 run was the inspiration for the tone, line-up and style of his film - hence the screen credit - and I got a couple of great set visits as a result. I met the cast, read the script, talked to James and clambered aboard the spaceships. I loved the film. It was beautifully designed, action-packed, but it had character and humour and some pathos too. Loved it.

The Dredd movie has become something of a cult hit since its release in 2012 and has even inspired a petition for a sequel. Do you think there’s room for even more 2000AD adaptations? Which 2000AD would you love to see on the big screen?

Well, I’m biased, but Sinister Dexter, Kingdom or Grey Area, obviously.

You’ve worked on a lot of iconic characters in your career so far, including Judge Dredd, The Punisher and the aforementioned Guardians of the Galaxy. Do you feel any pressure when taking on characters created by other people?

I just want to do them justice... but no, there’s real pressure. Just a proper professional concentration. It’s a pleasure to play with great characters, and in comics you do that all the time.

You have contributed quite a lot to the Warhammer 40K universe, including several novels and the movie "Ultramarines". Do you play the table top game?

“Several” is an understatement. It’s over 40 now :) Yes, I do play. As a kid, I was a role playing gamer (D&D, Traveller, Call of Cthulhu) and knew all about Games Workshop. I do play, as often as I can... which isn’t that often, as I’d never get any writing done.

"Ultramarines"

A lot of stories in 2000AD, your own included, tend to mix absurdity, seriousness and pop culture references. Is it difficult finding a balance between all of these things?

Sinister Dexter

I have no idea. Seriously, I just write what feels right for a given strip. Some are more absurd than others... I guess Sinister Dexter is more humour driven than Kingdom, yet still can be very dark, and Kingdom is more ‘serious’ yet has a deep vein of absurd, ironic humour... Each one tastes different to me.

You’ve been championing cosmic characters for years now, especially at Marvel where you worked on Guardians of the Galaxy and Conquest. What is it about these kinds of characters that fascinates you?

The general difference I mentioned earlier between UK and US comics means that, as a Brit, I’ve always liked SF, so putting super heroes in an SF context, where their costumes are less costumes and more uniforms or environment suits gives them a reality that appeals. Plus, I’ve always loved the Cosmic comics, especially Marvel, and especially Jim Starlin’s work. 

If you had to choose, where would you rather live: The post-apocalyptic Earth seen in Kingdom or Downlode, the setting of Sinister Dexter?

I guess you’d feel safe in the Big Wander if Gene was around to protect you. Downlode is more dangerous, frankly, but I bet it’s a hell of a lot of fun too.

"Fiefdom" and "Embedded", some of Dan Abnett's novels.

Not only have you written many comics books, you’ve also written a few novels including "Fiefdom" and "Embedded". What kind of approach do you take to writing a novel? How does it compare to writing comic books?

It’s all about the time scales involved and the sheer weight of work. You might be able to write a comic script in a day, but a novel is weeks or months of commitment. Obviously, there’s format too, writing a script for visual storytelling. Novels are interesting because it’s the writer’s most direct interface with the reader... the words going directly without the translating filter of an artist. I love doing both... which is why I do both. I literally split my days between comics and novels. Oh, and writing for the games industry too, but that draws on both the novelist and the comic writer in me.

Thank you for the interview!

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For more info on Dan Abnett's work, head on over to his official website. And if you haven't yet picked up the brilliant (and new reader-friendly!) "2000AD" Prog 1900, do so now! Read our review of it, if you need more persuading!

Tagged: comics, TM Interviews.

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