My name is Larry, and I’m a comic book fan addict.
What can I say?
I’ve loved reading comic books all my life.
I’ve worn many hats in our industry over the years. I created advertising campaigns for a comic book distributor, a comic book collecting supplies brand, and a big chain of pop culture retail stores. I ran a major comic book publishing outfit and served as an executive of an action figure toy company. I really liked doing all of those things.
I’ve only worn one hat that I truly loved: comic book creator.
I don’t think I will ever get over the thrill of sitting down in the morning and facing a blank page, or lately a blank screen, and experiencing the joy when something thoroughly surprising tumbles out of the tip of my moving pencil, pen, or stylus.
Oh yeah, in case you didn’t know, the comic book I’m the creator of is Beanworld, and it has firmly taken root in the soil of Dark Horse Comics.
Beanworld is a series of humorous adventure stories that unfold in a weird fantasy dimension featuring a tribe of talking Beans. It’s like A Bugs Life meets Mutts, as told by Dr. Seuss and Joseph Campbell. Beanworld operates under its own rules and laws. All the characters, whether they are good friends or terrible adversaries, understand that ultimately they depend on each other for survival. More than anything else, Beanworld is about the affinity of life. Folks tell me that, in doing so, it also reflects some deep truths about our world.
You can start at page one of the Beanworld mythos this month with the publication of Beanworld Book 1: Wahoolazuma! I’m biased, but I think this is a really handsome 272-page hardcover book at the affordable price of $19.95. I’m just blown away at what a great job the Dark Horse staffers have done, including rescanning all the original artwork, fantastic art direction, and impeccable production work. They really made Beanworld sparkle! You can purchase Wahoolazuma! this month wherever Dark Horse products are sold.
I’m really proud to have Beanworld be part of the Dark Horse line-up and to be in the same ranks of high-powered projects like Hellboy, Umbrella Academy, Star Wars, Sin City, Indiana Jones, Buffy, and Conan. And it’s even more fun to be in the corral with some of my favorite publications of all time: Herbie, Groo, Usagi Yojimbo, Grendel, Concrete, Little Lulu, Hot Stuff, Creepy, Eerie, and even the amazing run on Tarzan by the legendary Jesse Marsh.
As the long, tall Dark Horse head wrangler Mike Richardson said when we shook hands on the deal, “I always thought Beanworld belonged at Dark Horse.” I couldn’t agree more!
--Larry Marder