Michael Moreci has worked with
several publishers and even had the opportunity to craft a story about the Man
of Steel, but what’s it like being such a busy writer and what motivated him to pursue this career? Let’s get to know Michael a
little better in the third edition of Comic Book Conversations!
MICHAEL MORECI: You know, it's hard for me to say. I've honestly wanted
to be a writer my entire life. This is all I've ever wanted to do, it's all I'm
probably capable of doing. I think of my childhood--which is riddled in nothing
but stories, from movies, books, comics, and video games--and I can remember,
clear as day, how badly I wanted to tell the stories that I loved so much.
GK: What did you do for work before you became a writer?
MM: Yeesh, what didn't I
do. I've done it all, from being a security guard (believe it or not) to
writing research reports at one of the top colleges in the country
(Northwestern, my alma mater). I've worked in bars, office supply stores, you
name it. But never, not once, did I
stop writing and creating.
GK: What was it like getting to write a Superman story, knowing that
you’re writing a new tale for one of the most iconic characters of all time? No
pressure, right?
MM: Nope, not at all (he said, tugging nervously at his collar). It
was great, for real. I mean, that's a bucket list item right there. No,
actually, it wasn't even on my bucket list because I never dreamed it was even
possible. But once I got the chance, I was able to tell a story I wanted to
tell, this kind of nostalgic tale about fathers and sons, where Clark is trying
to teach Jon while looking back to his own past with Pa Kent. It's sweet and
innocent, and as a father of two sons, it was tremendously meaningful for me to
write.
GK: Before getting published, did you ever have doubts about this
career choice? If so, how’d you manage to deal with them and move forward?
MM: I STILL have doubts about my career! No joke. But, if life has
taught me one thing, it's that nothing is guaranteed. Nothing. You can take the
straight narrow path, become a lawyer or a banker or something like that, and
then your firm closes or the market crashes or who knows what else. Tomorrow's never
a given, so you might as well live for today and do what you love.
GK: What was your first big break as a writer?
MM: My big break definitely came courtesy of Tim Seeley, who gave me (and his brother, Steve Seeley) the
opportunity to write a backup comic in his newly relaunched Hack/Slash at Image
Comics. That backup ended up being Hoax Hunters, then Hoax Hunters became its
own series, and my career grew from there.
Don't get me wrong, there were still a lot of hurdles--a lot of mountains to
climb--but that was where it all started.
GK: What advice can you give to aspiring comic creators? You know,
aside from “keep at it!”
MM: Don't let anyone tell you what you can or can't do. I see so many writers get their story rejected by a
few publishers and they think that's the end. Trust me, that's not the end.
Publishers, editors, etc.--they're not infallible. If they were, they'd release
nothing but hits. Right? If you're passionate about something and want to make your story happen, then make it happen.
Don't sit around and wait for someone to tell you it can happen. Don't wait for
permission.
GK: What’s the most rewarding and most challenging part about being a
writer?
MM: The most rewarding thing is being able to make up my own stories every single day. The most challenging thing is having to make up my own stories every single day.
GK: I know at one point you were reading reviews of your work. Do you
still do that, and if so, what’s it like? Has (hopefully constructive)
criticism in a review ever had an impact on the way you write? Also, is there
anything you’d like to say to comic book reviewers? Maybe offer them some
constructive criticism?
MM: The most rewarding thing is being able to make up my own stories every single day. The most challenging thing is having to make up my own stories every single day.
MM: I read reviews, we all do. And anyone who says they don't is
lying. We can't help ourselves. I mean, far be it from me to tell someone how
to do their job. But if I could offer one bit of advice, it would be to read
the text for what the text is, not for what you hope/expect it to be. Nabakov
has this great quote, where he says something to the effect of every story
teaches you how to read/experience. Now, there's a curve here, between the ease
of, say, Stranger Things, and the challenges of Gravity's Rainbow. The point,
though, is that you have to approach stories for what they are and nothing else.
They exist in and of themselves, and they should be understood and valued on
their own terms.
GK: What is the comic book that has had the biggest impact on your life
and why should fans check it out?
MM: There's so many, but basically anything in the golden era of
Vertigo. Nothing has influenced me more than Preacher, Y: The Last Man,
Scalped, etc. That and ‘80s superhero comics. That right there is my bread and
butter, particularly X-Men. I looooove ‘80s X-Men. Also John Byrne's Superman
and The Great Darkness saga. So. Good!
GK: If you could change something about the comic book industry, what
would it be and why?
MM: Money. I'd get each and every person working in comics more
money, because it's totally deserved.
GK: Is there anything you'd like to add about your career and upcoming
work?
MM: I would! I have a new series launching this April with Vault
Comics called WASTED SPACE. It's a trippy, weird space opera that's a cross
between a Philip K. Dick fever dream and Preacher. It's tons of fun. Also, my
second novel, a spy thrilled called THE THROWAWAY, releases in June!
GK: Thanks, Michael!
Follow Michael on Twitter,
order his new book Black
Star Renegades, and check out his site.
Thanks for reading the third Comic Book Conversations interview! Links for the other two interviews are below. Be sure to follow me on Twitter for updates about the site.
Good Article !
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