Eric J. Moreels
Jan 30, 2002, 01:35 am
{Originally posted at X-Fan v3.0 on January 10, 2002}
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/sabretoothcover1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/sabretoothcover1t.jpg" align=left alt="Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive #1 preview"></a>Writer Dan Jolley's upcoming four-issue Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive limited series for Marvel Comics in May is set to be anything but "jolly". The mini, which will be Jolley's first solo writing gig for Marvel, is set to feature art from newcomer Greg Scott along with painted covers by Jolley's Jolly Roger Studio buddies Tony Harris and JD Mettler.
Whilst the new series marks Sabretooth's third limited outing, following on from 1993's Sabretooth: Death Hunt and 1996's Sabretooth & Mystique, this time around Jolley said that fans will learn more about Creed than they ever have before.
"What I really set out to do from the beginning with this was to show what Victor Creed was like when he WASN'T doing stuff like helping megalomaniacs try to take over the planet," Jolley told X-Fan about the series' premise. "Who is this guy, really? How does he make a living? Where does he live? What are his favorite TV shows, favorite meals, what kind of car does he drive? I've never seen Victor Creed treated as a real PERSON before - he's so often depicted simply as this huge, vicious, out-of-control killer in a furry orange body stocking. And don't get me wrong, he IS huge and vicious and a killer, but I didn't want him to be out of control. I wanted to take him away from the whole can't-control-my-psychotic-rage issue, and show him for what I believe he'd have to be: a highly disciplined, consummately professional assassin. Sure, he's ruthless and he'll take whatever steps necessary to accomplish his goals, but if you're going to live in today's society, you HAVE to follow rules, to an extent. You can't kill your landlord if he ****es you off - not unless you want to deal with the police and then find someplace else to live. You can't slice up the guy at the bank if you think he's too slow, unless you want to have your accounts seized and become a fugitive. Essentially, unless Victor Creed wanted to go and live like a hermit out in the woods somewhere, he would HAVE to follow society's rules, to one degree or another."
"So that's the guy I've put into this story: a ferocious, deadly killer, but also a PERSON. A man who, in many respects, is like any other man. Along those lines, there are no costumes in this story, and no one ever uses the codename 'Sabretooth' at all. He's simply referred to as Victor Creed - a hitman who gets embroiled in a rotten situation in the course of carrying out a hit. In fact, the whole story takes place over the course of about nine hours on a Tuesday night."
"Concerning the story itself, I donšt want to go into too many details, because I want the readers to experience as much surprise as possible as they get into it. I will say a few things, though: one, it's called 'Mary Shelley Overdrive' because the group of a dozen antagonists Creed faces have altered themselves in a manner somewhat reminiscent of Frankenstein - and are each easily as tough as Creed himself. Two, there are some beauty-and-the-beast elements in it, as we meet a human woman who, to Creed's immense surprise, can keep up with him sexually. And three, while I don't believe it's ever gratuitous, this is one of the most violent stories I've ever read, and hands down the harshest one I've ever written. Drew Johnson (penciller on the current series Tomb Raider Journeys and colleague of mine in Jolly Roger Studio) read all four scripts, and was literally trembling when he got through with them. I took that as a pretty good endorsement!"
"This is both my first project for the X-office and my first solo writing project for Marvel, and as a largely unknown quantity, I had to choose from characters that people like Paul Jenkins and Grant Morrison hadn't already staked out," Jolley said with a virtual wink. "First and foremost, {Sabretooth} WAS available. Second, I wanted someone who didn't have tons and tons of backstory to wade through; it was very different, coming to understand Creed's background, from the way it would have been if I were using Cyclops, for instance, or Jean Grey. This is not to say that I don't respect all of the X-characters' histories; but I wanted to put my own singular spin on this character, and I think it's more easily done this way, since in many respects Creed is as much a cypher as Wolverine. But third, and this is the reason that grew to prominence in my mind very quickly, I LOVE writing this guy. There's nothing quite like the unhindered expression of the id that writing a basically amoral character can give you. I could easily do a monthly series with Creed, if Marvel would let me!"
As to the inevitible question of whether or not Sabretooth's life-long nemesis Wolverine will appear in the mini, Jolley's response was short yet succinct: "NO! Never. He's not even mentioned. The story isn't about him."
Jolley also had nothing but praise for neophyte artist Greg Scott who makes his debut on Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive.
"Pencils and inks are provided by an astounding newcomer named Greg Scott. He has perfectly captured the scratchy, rough, kind of dirty feel that this story demands, and I think this project will shoot his star right up to the top," Jolley said. "Computer colors and painted covers are being handled here at Jolly Roger Studio, courtesy of our resident color wizard, JD Mettler, and our resident mad genius, Tony Harris, respectively. I've seen the first twelve pages colored, and my God, this is going to be a beautiful book."
Jolley wrapped up by telling X-Fan that 2002 is shaping up to be a busy year for himself and his cohorts in the Jolly Roger Studio.
"I do have plans for more projects in 2002, with a couple of editors at the X-office, but they're not quite at the stage yet where I can talk about them. Currently in production at Jolly Roger is the sequel to our DC project, JSA: The Liberty File. It's called JSA: The Unholy Three, and should be out this summer. Also in production is the one-shot follow-up to our Top Cow project, Obergeist: Ragnarok Highway. It's a 22-page story called Obergeist: The Empty Locket, and I'm IMMENSELY proud of both of these books. Jolly Roger has its fingers in a few other pies, too, but once again, those projects are not at a stage at which I can talk about them. Suffice it to say, though, that you should keep your eye on us this year. Some big things are in the offing!"
Featured below are four preview pages from Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive #1. Click a thumbnail to view the full-sized preview page in a new browser window.
<table border=0 align=center><tr><td align=middle><a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001007_150.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001007_150t.jpg" align=left alt="Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive #1 Page 7 preview"></a></td><td align=middle><a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001010_150.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001010_150t.jpg" align=left alt="Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive #1 Page 10 preview"></a></td></tr><tr><td align=middle><a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001011_150.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001011_150t.jpg" align=left alt="Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive #1 Page 11 preview"></a></td><td align=middle><a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001012_150.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001012_150t.jpg" align=left alt="Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive #1 Page 12 preview"></a></td></tr></table>
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/sabretoothcover1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/sabretoothcover1t.jpg" align=left alt="Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive #1 preview"></a>Writer Dan Jolley's upcoming four-issue Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive limited series for Marvel Comics in May is set to be anything but "jolly". The mini, which will be Jolley's first solo writing gig for Marvel, is set to feature art from newcomer Greg Scott along with painted covers by Jolley's Jolly Roger Studio buddies Tony Harris and JD Mettler.
Whilst the new series marks Sabretooth's third limited outing, following on from 1993's Sabretooth: Death Hunt and 1996's Sabretooth & Mystique, this time around Jolley said that fans will learn more about Creed than they ever have before.
"What I really set out to do from the beginning with this was to show what Victor Creed was like when he WASN'T doing stuff like helping megalomaniacs try to take over the planet," Jolley told X-Fan about the series' premise. "Who is this guy, really? How does he make a living? Where does he live? What are his favorite TV shows, favorite meals, what kind of car does he drive? I've never seen Victor Creed treated as a real PERSON before - he's so often depicted simply as this huge, vicious, out-of-control killer in a furry orange body stocking. And don't get me wrong, he IS huge and vicious and a killer, but I didn't want him to be out of control. I wanted to take him away from the whole can't-control-my-psychotic-rage issue, and show him for what I believe he'd have to be: a highly disciplined, consummately professional assassin. Sure, he's ruthless and he'll take whatever steps necessary to accomplish his goals, but if you're going to live in today's society, you HAVE to follow rules, to an extent. You can't kill your landlord if he ****es you off - not unless you want to deal with the police and then find someplace else to live. You can't slice up the guy at the bank if you think he's too slow, unless you want to have your accounts seized and become a fugitive. Essentially, unless Victor Creed wanted to go and live like a hermit out in the woods somewhere, he would HAVE to follow society's rules, to one degree or another."
"So that's the guy I've put into this story: a ferocious, deadly killer, but also a PERSON. A man who, in many respects, is like any other man. Along those lines, there are no costumes in this story, and no one ever uses the codename 'Sabretooth' at all. He's simply referred to as Victor Creed - a hitman who gets embroiled in a rotten situation in the course of carrying out a hit. In fact, the whole story takes place over the course of about nine hours on a Tuesday night."
"Concerning the story itself, I donšt want to go into too many details, because I want the readers to experience as much surprise as possible as they get into it. I will say a few things, though: one, it's called 'Mary Shelley Overdrive' because the group of a dozen antagonists Creed faces have altered themselves in a manner somewhat reminiscent of Frankenstein - and are each easily as tough as Creed himself. Two, there are some beauty-and-the-beast elements in it, as we meet a human woman who, to Creed's immense surprise, can keep up with him sexually. And three, while I don't believe it's ever gratuitous, this is one of the most violent stories I've ever read, and hands down the harshest one I've ever written. Drew Johnson (penciller on the current series Tomb Raider Journeys and colleague of mine in Jolly Roger Studio) read all four scripts, and was literally trembling when he got through with them. I took that as a pretty good endorsement!"
"This is both my first project for the X-office and my first solo writing project for Marvel, and as a largely unknown quantity, I had to choose from characters that people like Paul Jenkins and Grant Morrison hadn't already staked out," Jolley said with a virtual wink. "First and foremost, {Sabretooth} WAS available. Second, I wanted someone who didn't have tons and tons of backstory to wade through; it was very different, coming to understand Creed's background, from the way it would have been if I were using Cyclops, for instance, or Jean Grey. This is not to say that I don't respect all of the X-characters' histories; but I wanted to put my own singular spin on this character, and I think it's more easily done this way, since in many respects Creed is as much a cypher as Wolverine. But third, and this is the reason that grew to prominence in my mind very quickly, I LOVE writing this guy. There's nothing quite like the unhindered expression of the id that writing a basically amoral character can give you. I could easily do a monthly series with Creed, if Marvel would let me!"
As to the inevitible question of whether or not Sabretooth's life-long nemesis Wolverine will appear in the mini, Jolley's response was short yet succinct: "NO! Never. He's not even mentioned. The story isn't about him."
Jolley also had nothing but praise for neophyte artist Greg Scott who makes his debut on Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive.
"Pencils and inks are provided by an astounding newcomer named Greg Scott. He has perfectly captured the scratchy, rough, kind of dirty feel that this story demands, and I think this project will shoot his star right up to the top," Jolley said. "Computer colors and painted covers are being handled here at Jolly Roger Studio, courtesy of our resident color wizard, JD Mettler, and our resident mad genius, Tony Harris, respectively. I've seen the first twelve pages colored, and my God, this is going to be a beautiful book."
Jolley wrapped up by telling X-Fan that 2002 is shaping up to be a busy year for himself and his cohorts in the Jolly Roger Studio.
"I do have plans for more projects in 2002, with a couple of editors at the X-office, but they're not quite at the stage yet where I can talk about them. Currently in production at Jolly Roger is the sequel to our DC project, JSA: The Liberty File. It's called JSA: The Unholy Three, and should be out this summer. Also in production is the one-shot follow-up to our Top Cow project, Obergeist: Ragnarok Highway. It's a 22-page story called Obergeist: The Empty Locket, and I'm IMMENSELY proud of both of these books. Jolly Roger has its fingers in a few other pies, too, but once again, those projects are not at a stage at which I can talk about them. Suffice it to say, though, that you should keep your eye on us this year. Some big things are in the offing!"
Featured below are four preview pages from Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive #1. Click a thumbnail to view the full-sized preview page in a new browser window.
<table border=0 align=center><tr><td align=middle><a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001007_150.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001007_150t.jpg" align=left alt="Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive #1 Page 7 preview"></a></td><td align=middle><a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001010_150.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001010_150t.jpg" align=left alt="Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive #1 Page 10 preview"></a></td></tr><tr><td align=middle><a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001011_150.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001011_150t.jpg" align=left alt="Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive #1 Page 11 preview"></a></td><td align=middle><a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001012_150.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/SBRTH001012_150t.jpg" align=left alt="Sabretooth: Mary Shelley Overdrive #1 Page 12 preview"></a></td></tr></table>