Trash Mutant Interviews (TMI): Brian Wood

- by Jacurutu99, 26 July 2017

Titan Comics has had a lot of success in these last few years through popular licensed properties that lend themselves to comics storytelling. Long running sci-fi series like Doctor Who, the Horror Hammer films and video-game ties in such as Tekken and Assassins Creed.

​The latest addition is Robotech, a personal favorite of this Interviewer, which introduced many to their first taste of Anime on American airwaves in 1985. Robotech has been kept alive for 30 years via novels, Role-playing games and many different comic series. 

​Now, Robotech is sure to find an even larger audience in a new generation with an impending feature film. Andy Muschietti, who directed the coming-very-soon movie adaptation of Stephen King’s creepy clown classic “IT”, has been hired to helm the long-in the works live action Robotech. I would expect things to move very quickly from here. You can also get in on the ground floor with Brian Wood's (DMZ, Briggs Land, Northlanders) and Marco Turini’s new comic series! I chatted with Brian recently on all things Robotech!

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​TRASH MUTANT: There have been several Robotech comic series in the past, and some have suffered from some not-so-great art. Marco Turini has some stunning art in the preview pages, did the two of you sit down and develop a specific look for the series you wanted to go for? Anything the two of you wished to avoid? Any other notes on conscious creative decisions you wanted to make for the series?

BRIAN WOOD: We didn’t really sit down and hash it out – honestly, I find its sometimes easiest to just sit back and let the artist just go, and not try and put my two cents in or otherwise influence his or her direction. And when it’s something other than creator-owned, at the end of the day the decision lies with the license holder, so I find I can sometimes do the most good by letting the artist have as much of a voice as possible so we’re equally represented.
 
Marco’s work is great, I agree, so I’m happy to let him run with what he’s doing.

The Robotech story overall, is a multi-generational story told in three parts, originally from 3 separate anime series imported from Japan, which Carl Macek then unified with a single narrative. The Macross saga is the first and most well-known, but do you have plans to incorporate other characters and themes from THE MASTERS and THE NEW GENERATION? 

Sure… but man, that would be a long way away - years, really, so for now it’s just an idea.  I think my vision for this when I pitched it was to eventually tell the whole 85 episode saga, and my fingers are crossed we get there.
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The original cast of characters

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You have mentioned the J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek universe as something similar to what you want to do in this Robotech series. Will there be an actual diversion in the timeline from what fans know? 

​I think when we reference the Star Trek reboot, we really mean a couple different things. Most importantly, it’s that idea of a modern version of a classic that feels modern, but doesn’t betray the core of the classic. That’s a fine line, sometimes a difficult line to walk, and I believe that the hardcore Robotech audience is just as passionate as the hard core Star Trek people. But that’s what we’re striving for.
 
As far as diversions – lots in this series will divert, since it isn’t a strict 1:1 adaptation, but the story remains intact and fans of the show will recognize it and feel familiar with it. I want to defer confirming any strict, continuity-style timeline diversions, since it’s the sort of pre-release reveal that can get misconstrued and ruin expectations and I always think its best to just let people read the thing and see what they think for themselves.
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Was Robotech in itself a big influence to you, creatively? Any other anime series that aired on television you found early inspiration in?

Yeah, I absolutely watched it as a kid.  I grew up in a rural area and we never had cable TV or a VCR, so my exposure was limited. But those Americanized shows we got in the 80’s, like Robotech, Voltron, and Tranzor Z stuck with me, and once I got into my teens and my college years I expanded my awareness from there.

Music plays a big role in Robotech. Was there any music that inspired you particularly during your time in putting this new series together?

No, not really… I work in silence most of the time, which is lame and boring, but it’s the only way I can focus my brain.

One of the covers for the first issue!

​Robotech has always had some memorable characters in the supporting cast. Captain Henry Gloval, Lisa Hayes, Lynn Minmei, Roy Fokker, Claudia Grant. Did you find yourself unexpectedly gravitating toward any of them? An opportunity to try something with one of them you haven't seen done yet? Also, will there be any "solo" spotlights on any of these characters?

As a kid, I always liked Max and Miriya, but now I’d count Roy and Claudia as my favorites… it’s interesting those are both couples, and I think that speaks to the power of relationships in Robotech, how well they were carried off, even in adaptation. 
 
In writing the comic, I enjoy Gloval’s voice, and finding a way to modernize Minmei - to get her out of that ditzy, super submissive role she plays in the show and into something modern is an interesting creative challenge. 
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Issue 1 preview pages. Click on each to enlarge.

Thank you so much for the interview! Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?
 
I like to tell people that with any adaptation I’ve done, whether its Star Wars or Aliens or Conan or whatever, my goal is always to expand its appeal rather than write to its existing audience (not that that’s necessary with Star Wars!).  This Robotech is no different – my goal was a comic that doesn’t look like just another anime knockoff, or that 1:1 adaptation I mentioned.  I want everyone to feel like this is something for them, whether they know the original show or not.
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Big thanks to Brian Wood for taking the time to answer our questions! Make sure to pick up "Robotech" #1, out today, and let us know what you thought!

Tagged: comics, TM Interviews.

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