Simon Fraser at 2009s Baltimore Comic-Con
On the concluding heels of comics events in 2009, the Baltimore Comic-con was a preface for the impact an Oct. release for the ACT-I-VATE Primer set in motion. The New York Time's named the graphic novel as one of ten Holiday Gifts labeled under the hardcover or softcover selections for sequential art.
As a webcomic, ACT-I-VATE has been well-received from an inaugural start online in 2006. ACT-I-VATE Primer comes to print as a spin-off introductory hardcover that displays original content with ties to the webcomic source of diverse stories
Last Oct. the graphic novel had an early premiere appearance at the wide ACT-I-VATE booth
responsible for reeling in gandering eyes of soon gathering comic book attendees'; where a handshake brokers the initial conversation with Simon Fraser, the creator that conceptualized Lilly Mackenzie. One post-New Year's holiday later, a second meeting with a visiting Fraser along with the team of ACT-I-VATE members Dean Haspiel, Joe Infurnari and Jim Dougan at the Big Planet Comics in Vienna came to initiate an agreed upon interview via email.
Lilly Mackenzie is one of two central characters in Fraser's satirically professed magnum opus. For the well-traveled Scot whose co-created popular series Nikolai Dante has been published in the vaunted British publication 2000 A.D., the marked State-side groundbreaker Lilly Mackenzie & the Mines of Charybdis clarifies as what Fraser and ACT-I-VATE deftly have to offer.
After an early childhood on the Canadian islands of Nova Scotia, prior to a move overseas where Fraser came to adulthood in Scotland.
"I call myself a Highlander because I was born in Inverness."
With a return to the country that hosts his Highland birthplace, an enrollment into college for artistic studies became the undergraduate launch pad into sequential art. Fraser later embarked on a span of continents career in comics that eventually brought him to a new home in NYC and, at a later 2006, with Dean Haspiel's burgeoning ACT-I-VATE. The Highlander's career induction into online sequential art began to take root.
"I did some self-published stuff when I was at Art College in the 80s ( the Heaving Cube, Atomic Comic ) then started to get small freelance gigs while at College. My first big job was ‘LUX & ALBY’ which was done through Acme/Dark Horse back in 1991, a 250 page series written by punk novelist Martin Millar. We’re trying to get that back into print soon as lots of people still ask me about that book."
As the title denotes, Lilly MacKenzie and the Mines of Charybdis has a futuristic setting for a science fiction oriented webcomic. In regards to his past work, the weighty bibliography marks a credited, and extensive, sojourn in printed graphic fiction. Judge Dredd. Richard Matheson's Hell House. Shimura. Family. At the present, a wellspring venture, which Fraser states came with Dean Haspiel's persistance, into webcomics brought about the adventurous science fiction series focused around the central character of a multiracial Lilly MacKenzie along with the dwarfish blue collar journeyman Cosmo.
Examiner: How did the concept of Lilly MacKenzie and the Mines of Charybdis come about?
SF: Cosmo was a character I have drawn since I was a kid. He was my Jiminy Cricket/Conscience character, he used to sit on my young male protagonists shoulder and give bad advice. He’s grown a bit since then and Lilly came along as a slightly more visually interesting protagonist, which creates a more complex sexual dynamic. A lot of the Charybdis plot was derived from real experiences I had while living in East Africa. Then I made it sci-fi because I’ve made my livelihood drawing sci-fi for 2000AD, it’s very much in my comfort zone.
Examiner: What narrative elements did you focus on for Lilly MacKenzie and the Mines of Charybdis?
SF: I want to carry the theme of mutual reliance, a friendship that is based on respect and mutual support. Where one person is weak the other can be strong and vice-versa. There is a certain sexual tension on Cosmos part and a certain defensiveness on Lilly’s , but ultimately it comes down to trust. Love can be more than just romantic.
Examiner: In your progress throughout your career, what strengths define your writing and artwork today as compared to your strengths earlier on?
SF: Well writing is a fairly new thing for me. I’ve done it fairly rarely. Lilly Mackenzie is the largest piece of writing I’ve done. I find that now I have my art at a level I’m fairly content with , I can tell any story that I want to tell, that I want to take on the writing too. I think as I’ve gotten older I’ve got a much better idea of how to convey character and I feel that’s a strength of my art and my writing now.
Examiner: What is the creative atmosphere like for you at ACT-I-VATE?
SF: It’s amazing to have this huge pool of very diverse talent and experience right here. I’ve made some great friends through ACT-I-VATE and my work has been pushed up a notch or 2 just by proximity to all this. I’ll admit that I’m a bit competitive too, so it’s always a challenge to up your game to keep up with all these inspiring artists.
Examiner: Outside of trade pundits’ favorable reviews, how would you describe your illustrative style?
SF: It’s heavily influenced by a French open line style that tends to suit clean flat colouring. I also enjoy doing more American style dynamics, so I tend to fall between two camps. The French think I’m quite American and the Americans think I’m very French. I’m British, deal with it!
Examiner: What are some interests outside of graphic fiction?
SF: I’m a big tech head, so there are multiple old computers lying about my house that I’m fiddling with. Some will work again… some may not. I enjoy giving my mind practical problems to solve. I’m also a big Foodie, one of the pleasures of travelling as much as I do is that I get to tour the world cuisine too. My next big project will be an adventure romance graphic novel about food and why it’s important.
Examiner: Can you let the readers know what’s oncoming from you in comics?
SF: I have a big arc of Nikolai Dante coming in 2000AD , called "Heroes Be Damned" which is as harrowing a thing as I’ve ever drawn. It’s pitching Dante very much into the last phase of his adventures. After 15 years we are resolving a lot of plot threads and some important characters will not survive.
The most recent Nikolai Dante collected trade ( Volume 9) is called "AMERIKA" and should be available in your local store soon.
The Lilly Mackenzie and the Mines of Charybdis will start appearing monthly in the Judge Dredd Megazine. I’ve expanded it , added a lot of new art, that hasn’t been seen in the online version.
In tandem with that I’ll be bringing LILLY MACKENZIE AND THE TREASURE OF PAROS to ACT-I-VATE, a page a week as before. Sometime in the summer I hope.
Then with luck I’ll be doing a new edition of LUX & ALBY: SIGN-ON AND SAVE THE UNIVERSE , the book I did with Martin Millar.
Then I’ll be starting my food comic , which is entitled KNIVES OF GLORY at the moment. It’s being written by Gabe Soria and St.John Frizelle, so guys with a passion for good food. I should have my buddy Nick Abadzis helping me on the art.
There are a couple of other things I’m lining up behind that lot, but that’s all I can talk about right now.
Examiner: Thanks for taking the time for this Q&A.
SF: You’re very welcome.
For more on ACT-I-VATE Primer & the webcomic: ACT-I-VATE site; The IDW graphic novel ACT-I-VATE Primer
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