By Matt McGloin • 5/4/09

Declaration Of Independents: Josh Wagner

To say that independent comic book creator Josh Wagner pioneered the "sci-fi/western" genre is an understatement.

His comic, "Fiction Clemens," takes a genre, gaining some ground with the likes Joss Whedon's amazing Firefly and Serenity and the forgettable Will Smith movie Wild, Wild West , and brands it his own.

Writer and artist, Michael Oeming, describes Fiction Clemens as:

"If Terry Gilliam and Tim Burton had a love child, it would be the world of Fiction Clemens. The comic
is a full meal, every page will fill your eyes and
mind like few comics can."

And CosmicBookNews caught up with Wagner. He discussed how the concept of Fic began, the indie comic scene and what projects he has coming up.

CosmicBookNews: When did you first know you wanted to write comic books? Did you want to be a writer first, or was it "comic book writer" from the start?

Josh Wagner: Strangely enough, not until I was given the chance. I’ve read comics somewhat fanatically ever since I was a kid, and I’ve been writing stories since before I have memories—but for some reason I never thought of putting the two together until I got a chance to do so. By then I had already cut my teeth on dozens of shorts, a few novels, and some screenplays. Writing comics came as a weird and pleasant surprise. I’m still laughing about it, and in a way I’m still learning how to do it.

CosmicBookNews: Can you tell us about Fiction Clemens?

Josh Wagner: Fic is a little bit country, and a little bit rock and roll. I’d call it Steam Punk, but the world isn’t realistic enough. Above all, Fiction Clemens is satire, a strange mix of comedy and philosophy. The story developed naturally and intuitively, and I have learned a lot since I wrote it. I probably have a lot to unlearn before I’ll write another book quite like Fiction Clemens.

CosmicBookNews: Where did you get the inspiration for your characters?

Josh Wagner: The name "Fiction Clemens" was given to me by a dear friend over a decade ago. The characters themselves were built Frankenstein style, bits and pieces stolen from old friends, new acquaintances, and strangers in the street.

CosmicBookNews: Can you tell us a little bit about how Fiction Clemens came together and how you made the sale?

Josh Wagner: An archipelago of projects led to Fic’s final production. From a short story, to a novel, to an attempt at a film, and finally to the comic. Some friends and I spent 9 months shooting footage that would become our 3-minute teaser. A friend of a friend (the ridiculously magical Lauren Perry) was editing for Silent Devil at the time. She took a look at what we had and determined to get the book out, and the rest is history.

CosmicBookNews: How did you end up working with your collaborator on this project?

Josh Wagner: Fiction Clemens was originally conceived as a screenplay. I hired Joiton to do some storyboards for the project. He was perfect, and seemed to intuitively understand the world I was trying to create. When we got the go to make the book, he was a shoe-in for the job. From this side of the story, I can’t imagine anyone else as the artist for Fiction Clemens.

CosmicBookNews: What collaborators have you worked with?

Josh Wagner: Joiton and my colorists Alek Marmontel, Nico Pena, and Veronica Gandini. Veronica and I are still working together on various projects. Other than my Argentineans, I’ve done shorts with Robbi Rodriguez, Joshua Boulet, and Jose Jaro. I’m working with Freedom Drudge on a few large-scale project. Probably the most exciting thing at the moment is the book I’m writing for a Nintendo DS game. The lovely and talented Camilla d’Errico is penciling that one.

CosmicBookNews: What challenges did you face getting Fiction Clemens published?

Josh Wagner: Well I was living in a pull-trailer in New Mexico at the time, so finding clean water and electricity was a pretty big hurdle [laughs]. Actually, it was surprisingly smooth sailing, with the occasional galactic-scale disaster to make things interesting. I ended up changing publishers just weeks before the book was supposed to go into print, delaying Fic’s release by a year. Production itself was a breeze, and I’ll be surprised if it’s ever that easy or magical again in my life.

CosmicBookNews: Looking back what would you have done different, if anything?

Josh Wagner: I ended up selling some of my rights to the Fiction Clemens. I definitely wouldn’t go that route if I had a “do over”. But at the point where a creator is putting out their first book, all that matters is getting into print. I don’t regret anything. A first book is the creator’s business card and his magic carpet. I never expected to make any money; money should be the last thing on an aspiring creator’s mind.

CosmicBookNews: Now that Fiction Clemens has been published, what advice would you give for aspiring creators?

Josh Wagner: Your first book is your golden ticket into the publishing world, and if you have to create and publish it yourself, do it! I know you’ve heard this a million times, but go to conventions!! As many as you can. Make the most of your time. Meet people, network, mingle. Develop relationships. Above all, have something to show. A finished product that looks good. Publish your own small book if you have to; it proves that you’re serious.

CosmicBookNews: How did Fiction Clemens end up with Ape Comics?

Josh Wagner: After signing my contract with Spacedog, they went about hunting for a publisher in the comics industry. They sent the proposal to Ape, who turned out to be a darned good fit.

And can you give us some background on SpadeDog Entertainment?

Josh Wagner: They’re expanding in new directions these days, but when I discovered them they were essentially an agency that hooked up concepts with publishers. I’ve done some other work for them, but in general the kind of books they make are on the other side of the spectrum from the kind of books I like to write.

Indie creators usually have a pretty strong do it all yourself ethos. Do you do it all yourself?

Josh Wagner: I only wish I could, but I have zero skills with the drawing. Thanks to computers, I can do some lettering and post-production, though. I try to know everything I can about every part of the process from development to publishing/printing.

CosmicBookNews: What writers have influenced you in the past? Who are you reading now?

Josh Wagner: My oldest comics influences are Chris Claremont and Sergio Arigones… Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns made me realize comics could be literature. From there I found Alan Moore and Sam Keith. In the last few years I’ve discovered an enormous stack of under-the-radar talent. Josh Haglar, Chris Moreno, and Theo Ellsworth, just to name a few of my favorite creators you’ve probably never heard of. This year I’m trying to knock out some of the “must reads” in comics that I missed, like Transmetropolitin and the Invisibles.

What projects are in the works, and when might we see them?

Josh Wagner: You’ll find my latest story in Outlaw Territory coming out through Image sometime this spring. Billy Boom Boom and the Sky Pirates of Neo Terra is a book I’m writing for Big Sandwich Games, drawn by Camilla d’Errico. We’re trying to get that one out late this summer. I’m also writing a book for QEW publishing, and I’m involved in project called Salvus with co-writer Steve Saunders, that just found a publisher last week.

CosmicBookNews: What do you foresee for the future for independently created comics?

Josh Wagner: An explosion. The good kind. I predict the 21st century is the century of entertainment independence. As usual, music is leading the revolution. 90% of the music I listen to these days is either 50+ years old, or “Indy” in the legitimate sense of the word—self-labeled or part of a small collective. I expect the same thing is going to go down in comics before too long. Mainstream publishers like Oni, Vertigo, and Fantagraphics are still making quality books, but the cutting edge in creativity will always come from underground, and now the underground is attaining the tools to become widespread.

CosmicBookNews: Thanks for your time, Josh!

For more information on Fiction Clemens a three part mini series visit: fictionclemens.org.

To purchase Fiction Clemens visit: ape-entertainment.com

For information on Josh's current artist, Camilla d'Errico on Billy Boom Boom and the Sky Pirates of Neo Terra, visit camilladerrico.com.

Information on the soon to be released Outlaw Territory can be found at: myspace.com/outlawterritory.

Discuss This Article in the CosmicBookNews.com Forums