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Lately, I've become a huge fan of crime fiction in comics. I'm lovin' me some Criminal by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, and Scalped by Jason Aaron and R. M. Guerra. And it looks like Loose Ends, the new 4-issue limited series from 12 Gauge Comics, is on its way to joining those gully ranks.
Written by Jason Latour, and illustrated by artist Chris Brunner and colorist Rico Renzi (aka the Kickstand Kids), Loose Ends delivers big time. So, why not have the writer and co-creator of the book on to chat about career and his new project, right?
Though coming into his own as a writer, you'll probably know Jason best as an artist whose star is fast on the rise. His partial resume is listed below with more to come, but by all means, please pick up Loose Ends #1 (out right now). It's Southern-fried crime noir, but it's served up scattered, smothered and covered — just the way we like it!
Chris and Rico, Latour's collaborators, are doing some of the best work of their careers on the art and Jason's dialogue in the script is dead on.
As alluded to above, the story takes place in the Dirty South with specific mentions of some Atlanta landmarks. And since the entire SiDEBAR crew lives in the metro Atlanta area, we've figuratively met these characters before and literally been to several of these places (... no, we weren't slangin' in "the trap").
In the interview, we get some background on Jason's upbringing, how he broke into comics, how he almost broke out (ha), and how Noche Roja, an OGN from Vertigo's recently departed "Crime Noir" line, turned it all around for him.
Hats off to JLa and the Kickstand Kids for putting it down with their first creator-owned book. A lot of people in comics talk about doing one, and while Ends was a long time coming, they did it.
Nuff respect, fellas.
- SWAiN
Jason's partial resume: Battle Pope, The Expatriate, Pop Gun, Daredevil B&W, Wolverine, Noche Roja, Captain America and Loose Ends.
I've loved this classic Spidey image that Jason did from day one!
Thanks for posting this interview.
It's pretty inspiring hearing him describe his difficulties with his artwork and his attempts to make a living in the industry.
Not the right term I would suppose - "inspiring", but I can understand how it's like.
"I've been busting my ass drawing for all these years, why aren't I good yet? Why can't I get into the industry? And why am I drawing such lousy work when the deadline's looming?"
But he's gotten through all that, so he's stronger for it.
Posted by: Chew Zhihao | July 18, 2011 at 08:48
Loved Loose Ends. Haven't been so excited for a book for a long time. Loved Brunner's art from the first time I saw it. Love Latour's art too and never would have expected such a great story and collaboration first time out!
I too love me some Criminal and Scalped but I don't see any love anywhere for Stray Bullets anymore. When I heard the concept for Criminal of self contained crime stories jumping around in time that all take place in the same world, I was just waiting for someone to mention Dave Lapham's work but no...
Anyone loving the current comic crime wave needs to put in the work to find Stray Bullets!
Posted by: Billy Hynes | July 19, 2011 at 22:23