But, I do remember the first time I received a comic. I was FOUR, it was Saturday and A giant sized Star Wars #1 sat upon my dresser. I was desperate to read it...But my eyes were swollen shut from the high pollen count. I washed my face repeatedly and squinted through red, puffy eyelids to read the oversized comic.
I began buying comics sporadically...Then monthly...Then weekly. When I was 11, I saw comics leave the grocery store and reappear in the speciality shop. And I saw the specialty shop’s shelves explode with independent black and white comics. Fish police. TMNT. GreNDEL. Lone wolf and cub.
But nothing comes close to the summer of 1986. I stepped into my local comic shop and on the wall, already in plastic with the price hikeD up to 10 bucks, was The Dark Knight returns #1. I hadn't been in the shop for the past couple months and felt like I’D missed an event. Everyone was talking about it. I grabbed the second issue and the guy behind the counter said something like “it's going to blow your Goddamn mind, kid.”
He was right. Frank Miller showed me what comics could and should be. I saved my allowance for THREE weeks, walked into the comic shop and bought issue #1.
I’ve seen the comic book industry change over the decades. From the artist exodus at marvel to the rise of image to the collapse of independent publishers and the monopolistic consolidation of the last 20 years. I knew that if I ever had the chance to found a comic studio, it would be different.
TWO years ago I sold a tech company. The sale gave me the capital to build the tech company of my dreams, www.Evanswerks.com. But, the first thing I did...The very first thing I did...Was dusT off one of my screenplays and hire a comic book illustrator.
I kept it a secret. I was concerned people would think I’D lost my mind. Despite having spent my entire childhood obsessed with movies, video games and comics, I’M seen by most as a “technology guy.” I told only six people; my wife, my son, my best friend Jason Moore and THREE other people who won’t be named because they promptly wrote it off as “an odd choice, but waste your money if you want.”
I teased a few people with the first few pages. They didn't get it. When I explained it was going to be a massive 200 Page THREE volume graphic novel, everyone told me I was nuts. It was too big to start a company. TOO ambitious. “No one starts a comic book company like this. Just start with a monthly. Keep it simple.”
Except, this was my definition of different. I had studied the Japanese and European industries. I didn’t want to publish periodicals. Tailoring a story to be told in 24 page increments, creating false cliffhangers and then devoting a huge amount of staff and resources to printing & shipping every 30 days gives no time to pause, reflect and redraft.
I want to focus on one story at a time. Tell thAT story to the best of my ability. Give my illustrator and letterer time to craft their best work. And that can’t be done monthly. We’re not going to create a shared universe. We’re not interested in mimicking what the big two have done for 75 years. We’re going to stay small. And we’re going to focus on doing the best damN job we can. One book at a time. That's my definition of different.