May 28, 2014 marked the release of Empire, Vol 2 Issue 1, a release, which has been long in the making. Mark Waid and Barry Kitson released the first Empire in early 2000 as an independent comic, and it was finished through DC later on. Since that time Waid has been waiting to reacquire the rights and continue the story.
Waid is the CEO of a new comics distributor known as Thrillbent. Through the website or app you receive unlimited access to their comics for a scant $3.99 per month. New subscribers, also receive the entire “Empire: Volume 1” as a DRM free PDF upon sign up, so they can catch up on the story. Today marks the release of Empire Vol 2: Issue 2, and in celebration everyone is able to read issue 1 for free Here.
Check out our interview with Mr. Waid, below.
BSR!: Where did the story of Empire come from?
Waid: The first run I did 15 years ago, so it isn’t a brand new idea as much as something that has been percolating all along. The original emphasis when Barry and I started talking about it was emotion; I’ve always been taken with emotion. I love the movie “Citizen Kane” that’s my inspiration first off. You know a man who has every piece of power and works to acquire more in his life and never succeeds. So, as someone who has written super-hero stories his whole life, how do I translate that? So here we have Golgoth with super powers and a guaranteed plan to take over the world. With this plan 2 years in, he knew 2 things, one he was guaranteed a success and 2 does he want the job anymore? I don’t mean to have that be comical, but we all have that in life, the things we want and need aren’t necessarily the same thing. So volume 2 is, now that he’s conquered the world, what else? This is it for him, and the problem with being the ruler of the world that puts a target on your back. With the world being marked on your crown, anyone that has a problem with that knows where to go.
BSR!: Golgoth has a very doomesque presence, how did you design him? This is a totalitarian serious story, yet everyone looks very much like a super-hero.
Waid – All of that is Barry Kitson, we talked design briefly. But anybody who has seen me in public knows I shouldn’t be allowed to dress myself, let alone design characters. So Barry went with the beast, we needed somebody who is colorful, interesting looking and flamboyant and yet, struttable. We wanted that character where you don’t really know what is going on under the mask. We’ve never seen under the mask and really never need to, since the mask is the symbol. It’s highly stylized and I’m pleasantly surprised that after 15 years the look holds up.
BSR!: Where do you want to see Empire Vol. 2 go?
Waid: The first volume was about establishing the characters and the world. With the second volume, what we’ve had percolating for years is the question “what does this guy want now that he has everything”, and he has a new weakness now. The one thing and person that kept him tied to humanity, the one he was working for is no longer in the picture. So, what motivates him now? This is a loss that he will never admit out loud, but we see it in the story that this is a guy who has everything, but has lost. So those around him know that this is a chink in the armor, a moment of weakness. The problem is he’s surrounded himself with people who’s loyalty ties to him based on their benefit.
BSR!: How has releasing this under your own brand been different than the creative process with a different company.
Waid: The control has been very different, you know we can do what we want without thinking about crossovers or merchandising. The difference with Thrillbent is that it is an extension of comics. The way we are delivering is a whole new medium, since we’re doing it specifically for mobile devices and computer screens, it’s a different medium. You know with a comic you can go ahead or flip around and see what is coming, but with Thrill bent every screen or “page turn” is a surprise.
BSR!: Everything through Thrillbent is digital?
Waid: That is correct, you can subscribe to Thrillbent for $3.99, which gives you a months worth of “Empire” every few weeks, as well as full access to every new series for the price of one comic. Even if you’re just reading “Empire” which I don’t recommend, but even so, you’re getting your moneys worth.
BSR!: Why do you think other comic distributors haven’t looked at a model like this?
Waid: The entire comics industry is still very dependent on brick and mortar stores for survival. If the stores went under tomorrow, there would be no comics. There is a larger potential for digital but we’re still finding them. The reason DC/Marvel can’t just launch into digital and not pay attention to their print partners is because that isn’t the way the business is set up. So, unless you’re a mega corporation like Disney or WB print is expensive, so as an independent publisher, digital first makes a lot more sense. Which gives you the opportunity to turn around and do print later.
BSR!: What else are you working on sir?
Waid: Well, I’m still working on Daredevil and Hulk for Marvel Comics. I have some stuff at Legendary Publishing that comes out some time next year. I own my own comics store out here in Muncie, Indiana, so I’m also a retailer. So…I just need a nap!