Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: alan robert, Comics, idw, idw limited

Alan Robert On Crawl To Me – And Getting An IDW Limited Deal

IDW editor Nate Murray talks to Alan Robert about the IDW series Crawl To Me. There's no conflict of interest here. Not one bit. Shush.

Tell us a little about Crawl To Me.

Crawl to Me has come such a long way from the little idea I had a few years back to the exciting stage that it is now. The hardcover edition is an awesome representation of the complete story and I just read through the final draft of the film's screenplay and it is amazing. The film version just might be even scarier than the book and it elaborates on a lot of the relationships between characters that were only alluded to in the graphic novel. It has been a very exciting rollercoaster ride seeing this come together, to say the least.

You've described this book as a "Twilight Zone episode on steroids." That description feels accurate. Is Twilight Zone a big influence of yours?

I grew up watching TheTwilight Zone with my dad. When they run marathons on TV during the holidays, I'll still sit and rewatch them like it's the first time. The ironic twist endings, the inclusion of its countless guest stars, and even its black and white format just made such a timeless, lasting impression on me.

Do you have a favorite Twilight Zone episode?

"Eye of the Beholder" is probably my favorite, with "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" being a close second.

Being a musician, you must pull a lot of influence from music as well. Do you listen to anything in particular when you work on your comics?

Drawing as many hours in a row as I do, the playlist varies drastically from hour to hour depending on my mood. I usually start off pretty mellow with Radiohead's Kid A, or Alice in Chains' "Jar of Flies" and switch to heavier stuff along the way. Anything from Slipknot or Slayer to Rage Against the Machine. Maybe some old school rap like NWA and Old Dirty Bastard. But in the home stretch of a long drawing session its always punk rock – Ramones, Rancid, Sex Pistols, Social D, you name it. For me, it's all about staying focused and motivated. Music ramps me up or chills me out. I use different music for different headspaces.

This book is now going to be an IDW Limited title. How did that happen?

I should probably be asking you that question! First of all, I am THRILLED that we're doing this… couldn't be more excited. I was out at San Diego Comic Con over the summer and met with Jerry who heads up the new IDW Limited division. He expressed interest in turning Crawl to Me into one of the first-ever Limited books for IDW and I was honored. He explained to me what was involved and it sounded like a great idea… that each Red and Black label book would come with an original piece of art. They printed up these great sketch cards and I got started right away. I've seen some artists include some quick head sketches with their signed books, but I wanted to give the fans more than that. I spent a lot of time creating these pieces and I'm very proud of them. I hope the fans enjoy 'em, they are certainly one of a kind.

What's your experience been like, working with IDW Limited?

My experience with all the folks at IDW has been amazing. Everyone across the board have been super genuine and passionate about making comics and all about helping creators like me achieve their vision. They live and breathe comics everyday and it really shows in the quality of the products. I'm grateful to IDW's Chief Creative Officer, Chris Ryall, for taking a chance on me back in 2009 with Wire Hangers and for continuing to allow me to tell my crazy stories these past years. You really have no idea how special it is to me to have the opportunity to put out my books through such a prestigious and well-respected company. IDW also allows me the creative freedom to tell my stories the way I want without any interference. I can't imagine a better situation for an artist.

The new Limited division is really exciting to me because not only are they creating unique, top-level products for fans, but as a creator, to see your work presented in this high quality packaging is beyond cool. I can't wait to get my hands on this new version of Crawl to Me and I am already brainstorming on ways we can make Killogy really special for this new format.

What exactly have you contributed to these special editions?

I've been extremely involved with everything, really. From ideation and art direction, to providing new packaging designs and creating the one-of-a-kind original art pieces. It's been a lot of work, but well worth it. It's not often you have the chance to see your own stuff presented in this rich format and I'm really proud of it.

Are you a collector yourself, any prized limited edition books or albums?

Well, I have my share of collectables, sure. My most prized books are my Amazing Fantasy #15 and Amazing Spiderman #1. But I proudly display Walter Simonson's Thor Artist Edition (IDW) on my top shelf right next to Ralph Steadman's Gonzo: the Art hardcover. I also look forward to getting my hands on the giant TOME book by 44Flood, which I contributed to recently. It's a giant art book filled with some of the best talent around. It's gonna be absolutely amazing.

Do you have interest in working with IDW Limited again? Maybe on your upcoming Killogy for example?

Absofuckinglutely, without a doubt. Killogy is already being discussed for a Limited edition. I think there's a lot we can do with that, especially with the great celebrities we have involved. I think fans would be into getting their hands on one-of-a-kind books that have been signed by Frank Vincent, Marky Ramone and Brea Grant along with some original art by me. There are also a ton of other ideas that we're bouncing around that will really put it over the top, too. I can't wait.

Killogy is a really wild premise. Where did this idea come from?

I always wanted to do a comic series where I was able to tell short stories under one banner, like a Tales from the Crypt, The Outer Limits or my favorite, The Twilight Zone. Growing up, being a huge Stephen King fan, I really enjoyed his Night Shift collection of short stories too and that was a big influence on me.

The main difference between Killogy and the classics I mentioned is that in Killogy I'm telling a bunch of short stories that ultimately connect into a bigger overarching story arc. All of the characters throughout the stories are affected by events that happen within the short stories in the book. Throw in the celebrity guest stars angle and you have a comic series that I believe is very interesting and unique. I can't think of any other comic series out right now that I can compare it to. I'm just writing something that I'd want to read and having a complete blast creating it.

You rarely see (real) guest stars in comic books. What made you think of approaching these big names? (Frank Vincent, Marky Ramone, Brea Grant)

The celebs idea came to me after I signed the book deal with IDW. They had already dug the short stories and the how they all connected to each other but by adding the stars to it just brought the project to a whole other level.

Like I mentioned, I love The Twilight Zone and part of the appeal of that show was that they had these amazing guest stars each week starring in these short stories. As I was designing my characters for Killogy, it became more and more apparent to me that these characters should be based on real people. As a writer, I think you always aspire to have your characters speak and think with their own voices. But by adding well-known stars into the mix, fans can automatically connect with these characters and read the character's dialogue with their own signature inflections and personalities. I'm so familiar with all of the stars' past works that writing dialogue for them comes natural to me. I must've seen Goodfellas, Casino and Raging Bull forty times each by now. I've been a huge fan since I was a kid.

If you were to expand on Killogy, are there any other big names you'd want to pursue? Any kind of wish list in the back of your head?

Oh, definitely! And that's something I intend to do down the line… continue this storytelling format, involving more stars under the Killogy banner. I have my short list of celebs I'd love to approach for Volume Two, but I wouldn't wanna jinx it at this early stage. I was amazed to have landed the stars we got, actually. Without the books being complete, I had to pitch this concept to each of these stars with some limited visuals and some brief story descriptions. I admit, it was a little difficult to communicate to them what I wanted to do. This wasn't a simple licensing deal where you're looking to adapt a property that already exists. In Killogy, I'm basically having the celebs play themselves in a comic book… but they don't physically have to act. I'm writing dialogue for their characters based on what I think they're characters would do and say in the given situations. And of this is based on the way I believe their fans perceive them and what these stars are undeniably known for. I'm a fan first, so I think that's why I feel in touch with what other Goodfellas, Ramones and Dexter fans would wanna see from these characters.

I think once the series is collected it will be a little easier to show other potential stars what I'm trying to do. Like I said, I don't think there has been a comic done like this before so it's a little hard to compare it to something else exactly.

You handle writing and art duties for your comics, that must take a huge amount of time. Does it leave you enough hours in the day for your main profession – music?

This is the first year in the last two decades that I haven't toured at all. Honestly, I kind of needed a break from it. I've been really happy spending my time creating my books and spending time with my family. It's a big change for me and I've been enjoying every minute of it. The drawing part takes many, many hours, especially when I'm trying to capture likenesses of these recognizable stars. Killogy is a labor of love and it's incredibly challenging but extremely rewarding at the same time. I get the chance to interact with some of my childhood heroes on a regular basis and create something that they are just as proud to be a part of. It's really awesome.

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