Scott Davis: It starts with the source material. In the case of TekWar, Shatner created a potent mix of genres. You have your classic science fiction combined with detective noir. He has infused these with themes that make for great drama: loss, faith, redemption, injustice, frailty hidden by a facade of strength. Being able to build on his original work and expand on the mythology is very appealing to me.
If a person hasn’t read any of Shatner’s novels, how will this be as a jumping on point for new readers?
Scott Davis: We are creating a universe that I think will please both fans of the book and the uninitiated. For the first volume (the first six issues) we are concentrating on the events from the first novel. So those who are not familiar with the characters and the themes will have a proper introduction. Although it will be faithful to the storyline and some of the characters, fans of the book will find new wrinkles and details that give the story more dimension and gravitas. After the initial six issues, we will be exploring brand new stories while incorporating some ideas from the other books. On the whole, what we are trying to create is interesting plots, believable characters and more twists and turns than a bowl of spaghetti.
Anything you can say about the fourth as yet unnamed series?
Darren Davis: We are just beginning some early discussions with Mr. Shatner as to what he would like to do. This fourth title will be his book. He will develop the concept, write the treatment, choose the artists and oversee the entire production.
In a world filled with stories about smaller publishers not being able to pay their creators, you’ve been chugging along strongly for a bit now and are adding new and unusual comics (like Bartholomew of the Scissors) to your lineup. What’s something that has been pivotal in Bluewater's success?
Darren Davis: Finding the right talent at the right time. Bluewater has been fortunate in being able to attract both new and established talent based on the strength of our titles. I will admit it is very tough being an independent. You don't have the same distribution channels, marketing reach and budget for marquee name artists as the major players. So you need to be different. You need to continually do things that will make you stand out from the pack. But, you have to back up all the talk and positioning with quality product. Bartholomew of the Scissors is a great example. Chad Helder wrote an original and compelling horror tale that was illustrated using a unique wood burning technique by artist Daniel Crosier. The finished product is amazing. Your average comic book collector has only a finite amount they will spend on their collection, so we try to honor their investment in us by making sure the writing is strong, the art is polished, professional and unique, and that the physical product is good or better than other books.
Thanks Darren and Scott! Look for William Shatner Presents, coming to your local comic shop next year.
