Adding yet another group of stellar creators to their already envious lineup, Monkeybrain adds yet another title with the Ryan K. Lindsay/Eric Zawadski/Chris Peterson/Marissa Louise title Headspace. The book launched this Wednesday and writer Ryan K. Lindsay was kind enough to chat about Headspace, working with two artists on one book, and more.
Leo Johnson: Tell us a bit about yourself, if you would.
Ryan K. Lindsay: I’m an Australian writer. I’ve published the FATHERHOOD one-shot with Daniel Schneider through Challenger Comics, written an arc of GHOST TOWN with Daniel J Logan on art for Action Lab, and wrote the Rainbow Dash MLP one-shot at IDW which Tony Fleecs illustrated. I also edited a book of essays about Daredevil called THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS: EXAMINING MATT MURDOCK AND DAREDEVIL. I like to write.
LJ: Headspace, your book with artists Eric Zawadski and Chris Peterson, is coming to Monkeybrain. What’s the elevator pitch, for those that don’t know?
RKL: Carpenter Cove is a town where the inhabitants don’t know how/when/why they got there and yet they continue to muddle through this existence until something strange occurs. The sheriff, Shane Garraty, discovers that they are all in the mind of a killer and have been placed there by the government to mine memories and information. We then watch as he tries to get out.
At the same time, the killer in the real world goes on the run from his government handlers.
LJ: Headspace is joining the ranks of other stellar titles at Monkeybrain. How did that come about and how has it been working with Chris Roberson and Allison Baker so far?
RKL: I got super lucky and people are really nice, that’s how. I took the pitch with me to ECCC in Seattle last year and was able to meet with Chris Roberson when Christopher Sebela decided to be a gentleman and introduce me. Roberson and I got to chatting over the weeks and then he decided to greenlight a dream of mine.
LJ: The book features two artists, Eric Zawadski and Chris Peterson, telling intertwined stories in two different worlds. Was the intent always to have two different artists on the book or did it come about out of necessity?
RKL: Originally, Eric was going to handle everything but due to some future things impacting now he didn’t think he could handle the full case load so we decided having someone else do the section of the story showing the killer in real life would be the best way to go so as not to jar on the narrative. We got insanely lucky that Chris Peterson has able to come aboard and once we locked in Marissa Louise to colour over Chris’ art we knew we were onto a winner. Everyone is pulling out all the stops on every page for this book, I’m floored by how good it all looks.
LJ: Has working with two separate artists on one book been a challenge or has it been easy to coordinate the two stories and keep the tone right?
LJ: Where did the idea of Headspace come from and what made it such an interesting one to explore?
RKL: Initially, waaaay back when, the first part of this story came from the concept which at the time was just being shrunk and placed in someone’s mind. I was going to tell a prison story with this plot device but that slowly changed over time. I can’t remember how much I had when Eric hit me up to collaborate. I brought him this story and he dug it and we got to bashing it back and forth – Eric is a great story guy so he really helped make it what it is today.
The idea of being trapped inside someone else is just an insane idea – and we all loved INNER SPACE back in the day – and I just needed the right reason to be there and how to get out.
LJ: The first issue of Headspace is 22 pages and the rest will be about 12 pages to go with the digital format. Did the smaller page count or the digital format change how you wrote the book in any way?
RKL: We did a lot of story breaking once we were welcomed into the Monkeybrain home. To make each shorter issue feel worth your time and 99¢, I fiddled so each issue ends strong. I also tried to make each issue feel like it was tackling its own specific part of the story, not quite connecting one-shots but worthy chapter instalments. I didn’t want too much to feel like it was just getting people from one point to another. I look at an issue like #4 and I feel like we’ve done something superb that anyone could dig.
LJ: Where can those interested keep up with you and your projects?
RKL: I’m always active on twitter, I’m @ryanklindsay, and I talk a lot of smack about writing, pop culture, and comics.
You can hit up ryanklindsay.com for the serious stuff of announcements and links.
My tumblr is like someone used the Head Key on me, it’s ryanklindsay.tumblr.com
And you can scope my writer page on facebook.com/ryanklindsay
Across those four platforms you’ll find out plenty about HEADSPACE, as well as the other books I’ve got planned for 2014.
You can also go to headspacecomic.tumblr.com for specific Headspace sneak peeks and behind the scenes process stuff.
LJ: Finally, is there anything else you want to add?
RKL: I want to thank everyone that’s tried HEADSPACE, your support or curiosity or ‘hate reading’ is insanely appreciated. I promise if you dig the first issue then you’ll love what we’ve got coming down the pike so tell your friends, discuss it on social media, spread the gospel, gift the book to smart readers you know, and we’ll love you eternally.
Ensure you don’t miss an issue by subscribing to Headspace today!
