SE-G: Please describe what will make up the new Star Wars Tales anthology-- is it all comics?
PJ: What, comics aren't enough? Star Wars Tales will consist primarily of comics, of course. However, there will be room for other things: the occasional pinup; editorial pages devoted to this and other Dark Horse Star Wars titles; a letters column, etc. The comics stories themselves will feature situations from all corners of the Star Wars universe. Format-wise, Star Wars Tales is a 64-page perfect-bound comic, otherwise meeting the standard comics dimensions.
SE-G: You've referred to this in the past as an "ambassador title." What do you mean by that?
PJ: As Dark Horse's line of Star Wars titles has grown and the story lines gotten harder for new readers to fully absorb, we've decided to launch several projects that offer a solid fix of Star Wars in a format that any reader, well-versed in Star Wars lore or not, can pick up and have a satisfying, complete reading experience. The Star Wars Handbooks are one example of this; Star Wars Tales is another. But Star Wars Tales is an ambassador title in many other ways. Readers who are fans of specific artists and writers can come see what their favorite comics professionals are doing in the Star Wars universe. Those same comics professionals who may be interested in contributing to Star Wars but don't have the time to engage in a lengthier project now have a place to tell short stories. Casual fans of Star Wars will be exposed to elements of the Star Wars universe that they might not have ever heard of, and dedicated fans will get more stories about the characters they love. Plus, both casual fans and dedicated readers will have the ability to generate feedback about the title, which is critically important: ask any Star Wars comics reader of the last couple of years and they'll tell you that Dark Horse likes to hear what fans want, and we like it even better when we can give it to them!
SE-G: The first issue isn't too far off--which creators will be included in that first issue, and how did you determine whom you wanted to help kick off the title?
PJ: It's a long list! To kick off the title, I wanted some comics professionals whose work Star Wars readers had seen previously, but I also wanted a mix of talented newcomers and skilled veterans. I also wanted a story mix that would cover several genres and concretely establish the look of the title. And I think I got it: Best-selling author Timothy Zahn's work is instantly recognizable to Star Wars fans, and we've teamed him with the phenomenal Igor Kordey (The Protocol Offensive) to tell a story about Mara Jade, one of the most popular non-film Star Wars characters. Eisner-nominated Claudio Castellini makes his Star Wars debut with writer's writer Ron Marz as they tell a story of one of Vader's last Jedi hunts before A New Hope. Independent comics legend Jim Woodring and artist Robert Teranishi (Episode I Qui-Gon Jinn one-shot) go into Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's past for "Life, Death, and the Living Force." And finally, comics über-scribe Peter David adapts one of his Comics Buyer's Guide columns with artist Martin Egeland (Episode I Obi-Wan Kenobi one-shot) to create the whimsical parody "Skippy the Jedi Droid."
SE-G: That's a great list, and the issue seems well-constructed--especially for something that covers so many bases. How long has this project been in the works? It's one of those topics people in fan newsgroups and magazines have been discussing for quite a while--were there any hold-ups in its development?
PJ: The concept of a Star Wars anthology title has actually been kicking around the office for some time now, but it was former Star Wars editor Bob Cooper who deserves the `Most Tenacious Award' for keeping the idea alive. The anthology went through numerous iterations: at one point, it was going to be a children's title; at another, it was going to be black-and-white. When I took over the Star Wars office, I made the anthology project top priority, and found a format that was both financially sound, and representative of the kind of quality Dark Horse wants to offer to comics readers.
Then of course, there were lots of questions that we had to ask ourselves. Are comics professionals who are only casually interested in Star Wars going to be interested in doing Star Wars comics, or are they going to be turned off by the strict continuity? Should we do complete stories in each issue, or serialize stories over several issues? If we do stories that are not part of the continuity, will hardcore fans be disappointed? We don't necessarily have all the answers yet, but it's time for Star Wars Tales to move forward, nonetheless!
SE-G: Especially over the last few years, the world of the Star Wars comic book has become increasingly diverse--Star Wars comics are almost as likely to be lighthearted and quite funny as they are more traditionally serious and complex. Will these same aspects routinely be reflected in Star Wars Tales?
PJ: George Lucas was somehow able to fuse elements from many different genres when he created Star Wars, and we try to emulate that. A core of action/adventure is supplemented by romance, comedy, tragedy, horror, and any number of specific sub-genres: westerns, samurai epics, science fiction, fantasy, American car culture--lots of things, really. It's a brilliant concept, insuring appeal across a wide range of the potential audience. The first issue's creative lineup is a great microcosm of the diversity we hope to continue with Star Wars Tales. All of these creators (and many others) have their own personal favorite things about the original source material, and it's going to be half the fun to find who likes what.
SE-G: It seems like most of the readers of Dark Horse's line of Star Wars comics are fairly die-hard Star Wars fans. Do you think this anthology will appeal to these guys as much as you're expecting new readers to appreciate it?
PJ: Star Wars Tales is specifically designed for the casual reader. While each story will be crafted to meet the demands of quality that dedicated fans have come to expect, we are endeavoring not to assume that our readers have already read everything there is to know about a specific character. If readers desire more, a bibliographical section will direct them to specific titles.
SE-G: That's a cool approach to take, because you're not leaving anyone out.
PJ: That's exactly the point.
SE-G: Now that we've covered the general approach you're taking editorially, can you give us any glimpse into the future of the title? Are there any storylines in particular you're looking forward to?
PJ: As much as I'd love to, my implant is buzzing with me just thinking about it! If I say too much, BLAMMO! And my bosses don't take to kindly to editors' heads exploding . . . what I can say is: if you like the Prequel Era, check out Star Wars Tales. If you like the Classic Era, check out Star Wars Tales. If the Expanded Universe is your bag, check out Star Wars Tales.
SE-G:After the whole fanfare that surrounded Episode I, have you noticed an increased interest in Star Wars, say, based on responses to letter columns?
PJ: It's hard to tell. The sales figures on Episode I-related titles are some of the best Dark Horse has seen in years, but fan commentary has slowed considerably. However, I think it's safe to say that a whole new generation has fallen in love with Star Wars, and now it's our job to give them more of what they love.
Look for Star Wars Tales #1 September 29, when this 64-page, full-color anthology brings four great Star Wars stories in one big collection to comics shops everywhere.