Off the Record...

Loki, the Frost Giants and the Absorbing Man couldn't kill Thor. But Michael Avon Oeming, perhaps best known for co-creating and drawing Powers, destroyed Asgard and the God of Thunder in his recent run on Thor. Now, he brings many loose ends to a close with the new Stormbreaker: Saga of Beta Ray Bill mini series. We chatted with Mike about his current Beta Ray Bill project, his upcoming Red Sonja series and how Brian Michael Bendis is his lackey...

CBEtc: Recently, you had the daunting task of not only ending the Thor series, but also bringing a close to the great legend of Thor and the realm of Asgard. Do you feel you have staked your part in Thor history as one of the best Thor stories of all time?

OEMING: Hah! I hope not. I hope there are lot better Thor stories to come than mine. I'm happy to hear people say it was second only to Walt Simonson's run. I can die happy with that.

CBEtc: Your "Ragnarok" story arc quickly sold out and is now going for as much as $25 an issue in the Wizard price guide. Are you surprised by the strong reaction from the fans?

OEMING: Yeah, I've never been part of a book like that before.

CBEtc: What about the early issue of Powers?

OEMING: Even Powers' back issues never jumped like that. It feels nice, but a bit strange.

CBEtc: With your creator-owned Hammer of the Gods series, as well as your run on Thor and now Stormbreaker, it appears safe to say you are a Norse mythology expert. How much research have you done over the years?

OEMING: I'm hardly an expert. My memory is too bad. But, I have tons of books and have done lots of reading over the years. I've had interest in mythology and Norse mythology since childhood. I'd love to take some mythology courses if I had the time. I'm a huge fan of Joseph Campbell.

CBEtc: In the last issue of Thor, you wrote: "Such is an irrefutable truth: Life consumes life." That's pretty cheery. Is that an Oeming philosophy or a Norse philosophy?

OEMING: Errr... (more of a Joseph) Campbell philosophy. At a least a philosophy he came to from his findings. But it's a truth it makes sense. It's why almost all sacrifice involve blood: blood is life, the end or beginning.

CBEtc: When it comes to comic fans, what else is an irrefutable truth?

OEMING: They love comics. There seems to be two kinds of fans: one that loves comics and stories in general, and those who love the characters, and the characters come before story.

CBEtc: With every ending, they say, another story begins. In your case, with the end of Thor, comes the current mini-series Stormbreaker: The Saga of Beta Ray Bill. Bill has to deal with the aftermath of the end of Asgard. What can Thor fans expect from this series?

OEMING: The story never ends, really. Ragnarok leads into Bill; Bill sort of leads into the Thor relaunch. There's always hope for more Bill stories, which we set up with the end issue. We also tie up a lot of the loose ends from the Thor run.

CBEtc: One of the cool things about Stormbreaker #1 is we actually get to see some of the final battle missing in the pages of Thor. We witness heroes fall and perish a noble warrior's death.

OEMING: Yeah, I only wish Dan and I had more room for it. The issue was already crammed. First issues are tough.

CBEtc: Fans can't seem to get enough of stories like these. Is it as much fun writing the end of characters? Or after seeing what Bendis went through with Avengers Disassembled, is it more stressful due to the care you have to take in respecting the creators before you and the fans of the characters?

OEMING: I think it was easier for me because I wasn't getting rid of main characters like Bendis did in Disassembled. I really didn't deal with a backlash. The Thor message board has been hugely supportive, although I had to win a few over first. [Laughs]

CBEtc: You are currently co-writing Stormbreaker with Dan Berman, whom you have also shared writing chores on other projects like Thor and The Six. What is the process for the two of you working together?

OEMING: Each step gets ping-ponged back and forth. I start it out and end it; Dan writes full scenes that I indicate or can't figure out and vice versa. On Thor, he was helping out, but on Stormbreaker, he's full on co-writing and has projects of his own coming out.

CBEtc: How is your collaboration with Berman different than working with Brian Michael Bendis on Powers?

OEMING: I rule Powers and Brian does as he's told. I say jump, he says, "Oy, again?" [Laughs]

CBEtc: When you broke into the comic industry, you started out as an inker. How did you go from that to getting together with Bendis and coming up with the idea for Powers?

OEMING: A long progression. I started out as a strong inker, who did pin-ups, and as my pencils got better, I started getting more work. I met Brian after Foot Soldiers and he encouraged me (along with David Mack) to do creator-owned stuff at Caliber. We started our friendship like that, just fellow creators.

CBEtc: So, you and Brian were close friends?

OEMING: Brian and I got closer and closer and around the time of Bulletproof Monk, I say we became good "phone-pals." When Ship of Fools was done, I contacted him and new we wanted to work together. SInce then he's become one of my best friends.

CBEtc: When you and Brian first started Powers, did you ever imagine it would become this popular or last this long?

OEMING: No, we had hopes we could make a living off it, but that's it. We are both hugely excited and grateful for all we have.

CBEtc: In "Forever", the final story arc of the first volume of Powers, you had the opportunity to draw different genres. There were some definite homages being paid to Conan, Death Dealer by Frazetta, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and so on. Was that fun?

OEMING: Hell, yeah! Especially the Gora issue. I'd love love to do more Gora stories. The Einstein issue was a ton of fun as well, doing that '30's stuff.

CBEtc: Did it help spark interest in trying other projects, like your upcoming Red Sonja series?

OEMING: I think Sonja was a natural step. With Thor, Hammer of the Gods and such, it's obviously a genre I love.

CBEtc: From what I have read, Red Sonja: She-Devil With A Sword, will be an ongoing series published by Dynamite Entertainment and will feature art by Mel Rubi. What can you tell us about it?

OEMING: Mike Carey is co-writing it. We are exploring her character in the Robert E. Howard world. It's not about fantasy, but about characters in a fantasy world. I think Sonja is hugely interesting physiologically.

CBEtc: Conan fans everywhere want to know: Will there be any connection to Conan?

OEMING: You never know. No plans right now though. Conan is a great book, isn't it?

CBEtc: Absolutely. The work Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord is doing is wonderful. So, is it possible to have Conan in future Red Sonja stories? Or, is licensing an issue?

OEMING: I have no idea how the licensing would work out. But it would be cool.

CBEtc: Based on the legion of big-name cover artists lined up (Alex Ross, Gred Land, Michael Turner, J.G. Jones, Joseph Michael Linsner, John Cassaday, Adam Hughes, Art Adams, etc.), there is still a huge love for Red Sonja. Or, are you just shelling out big bucks?

OEMING: No, there's obviously love for the character. She's the original bad girl. While that craze came and went, she is the original.

CBEtc: You live in New Jersey. Do you get tired of the "what exit" jokes?

OEMING: [Laughs] Never tired of it, because it's true. We are also very mobbed up; it's no joke. I'm exit 7, although you can also take 7-A to Route 206 and then 130. [Laughs]

CBEtc: You donated the cover to Powers #5, as well as three pages of original art to help those in need after the terrible tsunami disaster. That was very generous. What has fan reaction been like?

OEMING: Very supportive. We raised way more money than I dreamed. Over $4,000 I think, and that was just for the covers and pages. If you go to the Bendis board you'll find more info on it.

CBEtc: You have a very unique art style. Who were your greatest influences?

OEMING: Alex Toth, Steve Rude's Nexus, Bruce Timm, Frank Frazetta, Mike Mignola.

CBEtc: What was the weirdest sketch request you ever had at a convention?

OEMING: Either naked Walker or just breasts. Actually it was one breast and it connected with the Powers Einstein issue.

CBEtc: The comic industry lost a legend recently with the passing of Will Eisner. Did you ever get the chance to meet him?

OEMING: Yes! He was very kind to me, a really happy guy. A living legend. It's amazing to see what he did, blazing a path in comics storytelling. He had an amazing life. My hopes are that I can live as long as he did and continue drawing until my last days.

CBEtc: What other projects are on the horizon for you?

OEMING: They can all be seen on my Web site, www.mike-oeming.com.

QUIXOTE, 86 VOLTZ the DEAD GIRL, both written by Bryan J.L. Glass are next to be released. People can keep track of such things through my e-mail newsletter by e-mailing me at oeming@AOL.COM

Okay, now is the time for the "2099" portion of our interview. This is where we ask you 20 questions in 99 seconds. It’s basically an "either/or" type of response, but you can answer whatever first pops into your head.

Interiors or Covers: Interiors. Covers slow me down.

Writing or Drawing: Drawing. Writing is hard.

X-Box or Playstation: Playstation. I can't wrap my hobbit-sized hands around X-Box controls.

First print or trade paperback: Trades.

Eat out or delivery: Eat out. I'm in the house too much.

Beta Ray Bill or Billy Ray Cyrus: [Laughs]

Star Wars or Star Trek: Star Wars, but I love original Star Trek series.

Eagles or Giants: I hate sports, but I like to hear the Eagles do well. Keeps the natives calm.

Squeeze from the middle or at the end: From the middle, but I roll it up to make sure I get it all out.

Ongoing or mini-series: Mini, I guess.

Worse temper...Deena Pilgrim (Powers) or Red Sonja: Deena. Sonja vents by killing people all the time.

Late night or early day: Late night. I hate mornings. Even the morning light depresses me.

Big screen or rent: Big screen.

Play with toy or keep it in the box: Play.

Fly or drive: Drive!

South Park or Simpsons: Simpsons.

Big Sword or Big Hammer: Sword, but a hammer is more dangerous. I saw a special on it.

Sleep in or make deadline: Sleep. I almost always make my deadlines.

Lou Ferigno or Adam West: Ferigno has been mean to people I know, and he pushed me once. So I go with West who was nice to me.

Buffy or Vampirella: They both suck. Get it? its a jo... nevermind...


WRITING CREDITS

Red Sonja (Writer, upcoming)
86 Voltz: Dead Girl (Co-Writer, Artist upcoming
Mice Templar (Co-Writer, Artist upcoming)
Cross Bronx (Co-Writer, Artist upcoming)
Quixote Novel (Artist upcoming)
Stormbreaker: The Saga of Beta Ray Bill #1-6 (Writer)
Powers (Vol.2) #1-present
Powers (Vol.1) #1-37, Annual, Coloring Book, Scriptbook
Thor #80-85 (Writer)
Six (Writer)
MATRIX (Vol.2)
The Black Forest
Doctor Cyborg: Outpatient
B.P.R.D. The Soul of Venice & Other Stories
Common Grounds #1
Bastard Samurai: Samurai Noir
Ultimate Spider-Man Super Special
Bulletproof Monk
Hammer of the Gods: Mortal Enemy
Hammer of the Gods: Hammer Hits China
Hammer of the Gods Color Saga
Knights of the Dinner Table: Everknights
Xin: Legend of the Monkey King #2 (cover art-limited edition)
Catwoman: Secret Files
Grendel Red, White and Black
Oni Press Color Special
One Plus One (Oni, covers)
Heroes
Parliament of Justice
Spider-Man Super Thriller #1: Midnight Justice
Ship of Fools
The Footsoldiers #1
Frankenstein Mobster
Gene Fusion
Judge Dredd