26Aug/092
Two Books, Same Time
The final issue of Rex Mundi hits stores today. So long, Rex Mundi!
And, as if that weren't enough, Zero Killer #4 is out today, too. Finally, after two years.
What can I say? It's a good day to be Arvid.
Arvid Nelson (me!) is a comic book writer, responsible for Rex Mundi and Zero Killer, among other things. I live in Northampton, Massachusetts with my lovely wife. more...Coming Up
- Feb. 15: Dejah Thoris #10
August 28th, 2009 - 22:59
So a few months ago I picked up Rex Mundi for the first time. I was floored, and literally within two weeks I owned and had read all the trades. That literally was the first time I have worked my way through a series at that fast a clip since I discovered Preacher and Transmet.
Giddily, I picked up the last copy of Rex Mundi this past Wednesday at Forbidden Planet in New York. Then by chance (I don’t follow the comics press that closely) I saw your name on the cover of another book, Zero Killer. And now I actually think it is superior to Rex Mundi, and can’t wait to work my way through the rest of the story.
What can I say? I love well-written alternate history, and unfortunately that’s a very sparsely populated category. And while I think both Rex Mundi and Zero Killer are well-researched and thoughtfully worked out, what’s really striking about both is how compelling the characters are, visually, thematically and psychologically.
Suffice to say, I’m pretty astonished by what I’ve read of your work. I would love for you to continue writing stories set in either world. And consider one copy of your novel already sold. In hardcover.
I am curious though as to why I’m not seeing your name on more comics from the Big Two. It seems as if both Brand-Brian Bendis and Brand-Geoff Johns could use an infusion of new blood, but I wonder if it is more a matter of your work being too aggressively different for them to really embrace, or whether you’re not entirely comfortable working with spandex.
August 30th, 2009 - 19:40
Thank you very much! Might I say you have impeccable taste in comic books? I completely agree with you about Zero Killer vs. Rex Mundi. Rex Mundi’s a little chaotic. I had a (better) game plan for Zero Killer. I’m just glad I got to finish both.
And I appreciate you supporting my foray into the world of novels. I think I had a breakthrough today…
As for writing for the Big Two… stranger things have happened! There’s nothing in the pipes right now, but I would love to take a stab at an ongoing superhero title. I’m immersed in the Arkham Asylum game right now, and it proves you can tell a fantastic, genuine Batman story that’s really good and really faithful to the source material.