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The Adventures of Augusta Wind #1
J.M DeMatteis is the writer of lots of books including Moonshadow as well as Adbadazad, as well as has serviced series such as remarkable Spider-Man as well as Justice League. Now, he returns with The Adventures of Augusta Wind, an all ages fantasy from IDW. Westfield’s Roger Ash contacted DeMatteis to discover a lot more about this series.
Westfield: What was the genesis of The Adventures of Augusta Wind?
J.M. DeMatteis: Unlike a lot of stories, which grow from a plot nugget or a specific character, this established from the name—Augusta Wind—which dropped into my head one morning while I was sitting on the back deck with my wife. The immediate the name appeared, I understood I was on to something—but I had no concept what. I made a decision to tuck the name away as well as see what evolved.
As time passed, no story developed, however Augusta didn’t go away; she was always reminding me that she was close-by as well as that, when the time was right, her tale would emerge. I waited patiently but, instead of a story, what emerged were a lot more names: a listing of wonderful—and incredibly peculiar—names for characters that, just like my primary character, I understood absolutely nothing about.
Eventually, details of the story began emerging. I started to get a sense of who my primary character as well as her cohorts were (among other things, I discovered that Augusta has the capability to trip the wind as well as lives in the ruins of an old castle) as well as what their adventures were about; not sufficient to begin writing, however definitely sufficient to keep me ecstatic as well as intrigued. then something genuinely wonderful happened.
I satisfied the Greek artist, Vassilis Gogtzilas, with my son, back when Cody was an editor at Devil’s Due, as well as I instantly responded to the energy as well as creativity of Vassilis’ work. considering that 2008, we’ve had an continuous correspondence as well as Vassilis has been kind sufficient to share the development of his art with me. We’ve talked, extremely vaguely, about doing a job together, however the stars never rather aligned.
Until the day I went to the mailbox as well as discovered a sketchbook Vassilis published called Splat! Leafing with it, I was impressed, as always, by Vassilis’ work, however particularly interested by a specific drawing of a young woman holding an umbrella, a castle far in the background. There was a tone, a feeling, a gentle magic, in that photo that seemed different from Vassilis’ normal work. a lot more than any type of other picture in Splat!, that a person burrowed into my head as well as took up lodging there. I was sitting by the piano at the time and, extremely spontaneously, nearly entranced, started to play as well as sing a tune about Augusta Wind. As I was singing, I was gazing at the drawing of the umbrella-girl. somewhere in the middle of the tune I stopped, my head virtually splitting open, as I realized that the woman in the photo was Augusta Wind. Vassilis had sketched her, brought her to life, without even realizing it.
I ran to the computer as well as sent Vassilis an email, telling him about the piano-side miracle he’d manifested as well as asking if he’d work together with me on this new story, bringing it to visual life. A few minutes later a resounding “Yes!” shown up from Greece—and we were off.
Westfield: What can visitors look ahead to in the book? Anything you can tell us about the story?
DeMatteis: The story kicks off in the (so-called) genuine world where a woman named Augusta Webster has been having odd dreams…or maybe they’re memories…of one more life, in one more world. After an strange creature named Mr. Snabbit shows up at her window one night as well as another—even odder, as well as far a lot more terrifying—creature called an Omniphant appears in her therapist’s office, Augusta realizes that she’s not who she believed she was…and that she’s part of a big secret that spans lots of worlds as well as realities.
Westfield: who are the primary characters the visitors will encounter?
DeMatteis: There’s Augusta as well as her “real world” family, the Websters…the previously mentioned Mr. Snabbit as well as Omniphant…a cosmic librarian named miss Information…and a group of mysterious kids Augusta when dealt with in a location called Castle Zero, on the island of nowhere (which exists on the edge of a cosmic fog called The Swirl). There are likewise the demonic BaLLoonies who serve a mysterious entity called The Terriible Something. among others!
Westfield: You’ve done all-ages fantasy stories in the past with Abadazad as well as Stardust Kid. What is the charm of this specific genre for you?
DeMatteis: the very best children’s stories charm not just to youngsters however to any individual who still has eyes of innocence as well as a working sense of wonder. reading Baum’s Oz stories as an adult is as bewitching an experience as it is when you’re six. exact same with Dr. Seuss, Narnia, Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh. I like the concept of a story that can nurture the kid in all of us. There’s an inherent openness to awe as well as the mysteries of the world in the genre that enables for the exploration of metaphysical themes—the huge “Who Am I as well as Why Am I Here?” questions—that some adults have long considering that provided up on since they’re as well locked in the “real” world. The fantastic Madeleine L’Engle stated that when she had something to state that was as well tough for adults to swallow, she’d compose it in a book for children. I like that quote.
Stories like Abadazad, Stardust youngster as well as Augusta Wind likewise enable for the type of world-building that I truly enjoy. producing an entire fantasy world as well as populating it with a cast of rich characters is a challenge…and a joy.
Westfield: What can you tell us about artist Vassilis Gogtzilas’ contribution to the book?
DeMatteis: The immediate I got that sketchbook in the mail, the immediate I saw that Vassilis had drawn my primary character without even understanding she existed, it was remove that we were indicated to work together on this project—and that our partnership would be something special.
Vassilis is an artist with an astounding imagination. He keeps coming up with styles for the most extraordinary creatures, a few of them discovered in my scripts, a few of them popping, full-grown, out of the top of his head. I’ll look at some remarkable creature he’s created as well as know, instantly, who it is as well as where it will in shape in the story. That’s the type of partnership that works so beautifully in comics: show me a photo as well as let it influence me. Vassilis influences me every day. His visual contributions have been important as well as it’s been an absolute happiness working with him.
Vassilis is likewise one of the fastest artists I’ve ever worked with. I send him a script, blink a few times, as well as my in-box is full of artwork. since of his astonishing speed—and my determined efforts to keep up with him—I suspect we’ll have most, potentially all, of The Adventures of Augusta Wind completed before the very first problem even comes out.
Westfield: This is arranged as a five problem miniseries. Do you have plans for Augusta Wind beyond that?
DeMatteis: Yes! This very first five-issue tiny is just the beginning for Augusta. It’s, essentially, book One in a multi-part fantasy epic. The very first part will have closure, certainly, however it will likewise be the very first step up a ladder that ascends with lots of universes as well as into a much bigger story. We look ahead to chronicling Augusta’s adventures for lots of years to come.
Westfield: Do you have any type of other upcoming jobs you’d like to mention?
I’ve got a great deal of irons in the terminate at the moment—including a new job with my old friend Mike Ploog—but none that I can talk about just yet. I’ve spent the past year producing a hold of new jobs for comics as well as other media and, with a bit luck, in the coming months you’ll begin to see them step out into the world.
I’ve likewise introduced a series of composing workshops—called creativity 101—that I’m extremely ecstatic about; in addition to a one-on-one mentoring program, development point story Consultation. You can discover info about both at my website:
Westfield: any type of closing comments?
DeMatteis: I just want to motivate people who have took pleasure in my work—especially huge fantasy jobs like Moonshadow as well as Abadazad—to inspect out The Adventures of Augusta Wind when it comes out in November. as well as please feel complimentary to get in touch with me by means of Twitter as well as my web site to let me understand what you think.
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The Adventures of Augusta Wind #1