Mel Smith – The Man Who Resurrected Gumby!
By Terry Hooper
TERRY HOOPER:: Hello, Mel. I wondered whether we can start with the really easy question here: where and when were you born?
MEL SMITH:Well a hello back at you my friend ! I was born in Evensville, Indiana on December 19th -- SUPPOSEDLY DURING A TORNADO which would explain a lot about me!TH: Always interesting to know is when someone "discovered" comics and what their first comics were -do you recall?
MS: My first introduction --because like any " true " fanboy we leave the nest for a while but always come back-- my first memories, are of Classic Illustrated (Man on the Moon) a Spiderman issue with Mysterio as a giant over a rollercoaster cover, X-Men, BATMAN!, Mad (Mort Drucker stuff), Cracked (John Severin stuff).
The second time was like seventh grade and Contest of Champions followed by Tales of the Teen Titans mini series then Bill Willingham’s Elementals, Mike Grell’s Sable, anything Byrne of course, Matt Wagner, by the time I was out of High School I was into Mignola's EARLY stuff (Rocket Racoon, High Adventures, Alpha Flight) But I also gravitated towards the indies a lot like Pacific, Comico, First, Eternity, Pinnacle, and a slew of others.
TH: So, you discovered and read comics. At what point did it suddenly hit you that you wanted to work in the comics industry?
MS: I still haven't figured that one out yet really! I have thought and thought about when and why but so far all I can come up with is just hanging out with that certain group that makes it infectious (Mark Buck, Brandon McKinney, Darick Robertson, Ken Hooper, Ron Lim) we all just seemed to be into the same things. I remember attending Dan Vado's Americons before he was a publisher and seeing all these great guy's come through (Dave Sim, Mike Grell, Jerry Ordway, Jack Kirby, George Perez THEN there were the regulars Mike Mignola, Art Adams, Brent Anderson, Steve Leialoha, Tim Vigil, Mark Bode, Chuck Beckum (not Austen then) Tom Yeates, and tons more) and learn what paper to use, inks, zips, ahhhh the memories. I remember Mike Richardson JUST starting out and sitting next to him in artist alley with his Dark Horse comic.......and now look where he is!TH: I know you worked on Child's Play for Innovation Comics, s well as work for Marvel and the much lamented Malibu -was Child's Play your first pro work in comics?
MS: No but it was the first pro work published with my name on it.
TH: So, can you give us an idea of the titles/characters you worked on?
MS: Man ,there were quite a few ranging from indies to mainstream I was young and eager then for sureTH: Then you seemed to drop out of comics -was that through choice?
MS: When I left the industry it was changing drastically people were changing I was changing......It went from being a fun thing to suddenly a negative thing all wound up about money and prestige and sucking the fans DRY it was pathetic and I just walked away from everything not only comics but drawing for hire in general-- I had had enough of it and myself.
TH: Right, I see. I guess a few of us have gone through that. Next thing I heard, though, was that you had joined up with your friend Clark Castillo to set up Wildcard Publishing and publish Feed America’s Children. How did that come about?
MS: Funny, I wrote Feed after I left comics and thought of the name Wildcard. I think it was my ode to what I wanted to see as a comic but I am not the world’s greatest writer I don't make myself out as one nor do I rank myself with that title but I had pretty much fleshed out what I wanted and how it was to flow I just needed someone to sprinkle their magic on it and “poof!” – I met Clark through a mutual friend one night and we hit it off.....That was ten years ago.
TH: I know the intention was to use up-and-coming talent but by the time Feed was published some of the contributors had gone on to become professionals. What were the problems in getting the book together?
MS: A huge drug and alcohol problem! I was allowing my world to crumble around me and no one was going to stop it but myself so I went and sought help night (getting help) but when I did it stuck (five years clean and sober) so once I had rid myself of that monkey it took about a year to fill the remaining spots and onto production which was amazingly fast due to the nature of the project and how it was done.
TH: Would you say Feed had achieved its aims -was it as successful as you had hoped -regrets?
MS: Is anything ever as great as we hope? I always said if we sell one copy we have done our job and I'm proud to say we broke that mark! I don't know if Feed achieved its "aim" but I can say I tried to make the situation noticed in the best way I know how - comics. Again, success is all relevant to me. We do have some things getting worked up for new stories that I'm excited about by Paul Birch and Clark Castillo (doing separate material) and a special one page snippet by Clark and myself that continues were the book left off that should surprise people going into a book called Harsh Realities we have lined up. So all this is awesome for sure. Regret is such a horrible word because you can't correct what you've done so no regrets only lessons learned indeed! And it exceeded my hopes by leaps and bounds like you would never imagine.TH: I understand you intended to publish an anthology along the lines of Metal Hurlant, titled Harsh Realities (with Clark?) but that you then met Art Clokey, creator of Gumby. What were your plans for Harsh Realities and might it still go ahead?
MS: Harsh Realities is still a go and I'm jazzed with this one a lot! My good friend Paul Birch and I will be running it (most likely Paul as I will be doing Gumby) and just doing the stories with the guys we feel work with the material......Pro's, Indies, Pop, whom ever and whatever come one come all! I had intended to shop Harsh around at the 2005 Comic con and I did gather quite the list of guys but then Bob Burden and I were talking about him doing a cover for Harsh when I blurted out Gumby to him and the rest is history.......kinda crazy.
TH: Art Clokey created Gumby; a little clay boy who gets up to some surreal adventures -I believe it was a very popular show in the US? So was it a "buzz" to meet Art?
MS: It was cool but as I see it I'm just happy to be allowed to play in his sandbox that's what trips me out. When I sit back and realize WOW! I am adding a piece of history to Gumby someone I grew up watching it kinda stops me once in awhile in my shoes. And Mr. Clokey is one sweet man (along with EVERYONE at Premavision) I was breathless when he told me how much he loved us doing the book THAT says it all.
TH: Comico produced a 1980s Gumby mini-series which I've never seen. However, I believe that Bob Burden, the genius behind The Flaming Carrot and The Mystery Men film (the latter VASTLY under-rated in my opinion!) and who I briefly met at a UK convention while Flaming Carrot was flying high, was involved. As I understand it you spoke to Art then Bob who, as the saying goes, "still had stories to tell" and negotiations got underway-can you fill us in on this process?MS: Actually I spoke with Bob first (I have known Bob since I was 16) at Comicon about it–I actually pitched something else to him first-- and he told me get the license and we'd chat. At this point we both knew Arthur wouldn't be able to do a full book then since he was obligated to DC but we knew he could do covers and spot illo's for sure until we could get him full time for a special project. So as for a series penciller, Bob mentioned Rick Geary everytime we spoke - it was the first thing he would say but it didn't take much selling on my end I can tell you (my choices were Bill Willingham or Jason Pearson). I wanted Bob to at first use the original second issue he had written for Arthur that sounded AWESOME for our first issue but Bob began just spouting off these amazing blurbs that had me rolling and aaahhhing at the same time and I knew then we had “something” and to just back off and watch magic being made.
TH: Okay, the B -I - G question: when will Gumby debut, how many issues and will Bob be writing AND drawing the stories-or do you have an artist signed up to do the work?
MS: Gumby hit stands in July followed by four more issues to end out the year followed next year with a "special" graphic novel and a monthly series by Bob Burden and Rick Geary with Steve Oliff on electric colors. Bob has mentioned drawing the little guy with me helping out so you never know I would love to do ANYTHING Bob needs concerning helping out his creative process I love how he draws! And his writing is top bill!
TH: Hey, I almost forgot to ask: are we talking a series of short stories featuring Gumby or a long, several parts storyline?
MS: Stay tuned my friend and find out. What I can say is this - the readers won't be disappointed at all on any of the stories or art plus with every issue this year we will be giving something " free " ( The first comes with a free bendable Gumby, the second a glider, the third something very cool, and the fourth I won't spoil either.
TH: OOH-OOH! Now you’ve gotten me more excited than a veteran cop in a doughnut factory! But, after Gumby-what? Any other projects lined up or is it "one step at a time"?!
MS: I am always looking at other things but for now it's Gumby and another project I am working on with a good friend of mine Paul Birch who is overseeing the project called Harsh Realities We have James O'Barr, Mark Bode, Clark Castillo, Frank Bella, James Padscoe and a few others on board so far contributing material and maybe do some storyboards if all works out on some gigs.
TH: Mel, thanks for sparing the time to answer these questions and let me be the first to wish you the best of luck with Gumby and any and all future projects!
MS: Thank you, Sir, for the luck; and for your time also to the fans out there of everyone involved on this book we won't let you down for sure !! See ya in July!
Visit GumbyComics.com for more information.
Discuss this interview on the Feature Fiends Forum!