Special Edition Podcast
Show Notes
Staff writer Paul Montgomery and Josh Flanagan spend some quality time with John Arcudi, best known for his recent work on Dark Horse Comics’ B.P.R.D., Aliens and Predator series and the Superman strip in Wednesday Comics from DC Comics with Lee Bermejo. You may have also seen his work in USA Comics 70th Anniversary Special from Marvel Comics as well. John is a veteran of the industry, and we spend a lot of time talking about his recent projects, as well as how he thinks about writing, as well as wondering if there’s anyone better for killing than Nazis. Hint: there isn’t. Plus, at the end, we get a little inspirational, with help from John Mellencamp.
Running time: 00:56:14
Music:
“Not a Robot, But a Ghost”
Andrew Bird
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Great!!!! My favorite comic writer finally speaks!!!
Lx
Paul has a very gentle and soothing voice.
Paul sounds like one of those radio hosts with a soothing voice.
Like Peirre Robert of WMMR fame…but without the duck laugh.
Shucks, without the autotune I sound like Harvey Fierstein.
Just wanted to add a thought here. On the Starman show we talked a lot about economy of language. I think Arcudi is a really good example of a writer who can get big impact out of a really spartan script. BPRD is all about minimalism, and part of that is Guy Davis, but it all starts with Arcudi reigning in the dialogue and making sure his characters only say as much as they need to say. I like great dialogue as much as anybody, but some of his silent panels of, say, Johann or the Wendigo are even more powerful.
Anyways, just something I’m trying to take to heart in my own scripting.
I think that’s what I was trying to get across when I said the work is effortless.
@Josh – Oh, yeah, definitely. I just wanted to tie it into the Starman debate. On the surface, big flowery prose looks much more difficult than simple, bare bones prose. And while both are tricky (when done right), keeping it simple is probably the bigger challenge.
Haven;t listened to this one yet, does it spoil anything in BPRD, also is there talk about his work on the mask for dark horse
There is one real spoiler for an early BPRD story. We do mention the Mask series, but the majority of the discussion is focused on his current projects.
Nice episode. Well done Paul.
Thanks much! If I do manage to sneak into his comics writing class, I will report on my experience.
John Arcudi’s slam against Hitchcock was completely ridiculous. I guess he thinks the same of Kubrick and Scorcese. For that matter, Monet and Rembrandt too. Hitchcock has 1000X the talent and storytelling ability of a guy who writes Alien/Predator comics. Jesus what arrogance!
I don’t think he was slamming Hitchcock, but rather saying that that’s a kind of artistic voice he chooses not to use. But I don’t have to defend the guy. He said what he said.
I always find it hard to believe that this is the same guy who created "The Mask"
Cause the stuff I have read of other then that is nothing like his baby. USA Comics, his Superman Wednesday Comics, and BPRD are nothing like his previous work. He certainly has evolved.
So he doesn’t like Hitchcock. What’s the big deal? I don’t like Kubrick much, does that make me arrogant? Thanks for this. I don’t know much of Arcudi’s work, but at least now I can pronounce his name.
No one ever asks him about his Gen13 run with Gary Frank. That’s too bad. Those were some pretty good comics and even though Frank has blown up and become a Big Name, those dozen or so issues are more or less lost to history now.