Tony Lee: Comic Book Trooper
Perhaps the name Tony Lee doesn’t ring a bell, and maybe it doesn’t grab your attention right away. It should soon enough, though, especially if he keeps writing as well as he does. Stepping first into the grinder with X-Men Unlimited #1, it wasn’t long before Tony blasted his way into many a reader’s heart with his outstanding work in the new Starship Troopers comics. He certainly got my attention.
So much, in fact, that I managed to trick him into taking part in what you see below. Poor guy! I would like to point out that any harm that comes to any gnomes out there has nothing to do with this piece…
Steven G Saunders: Tony, thank you for doing this interview! First off what projects are you currently working on?
Tony Lee: Ha! Now that is definitely the question of the week - I have several I'm working on but I have five, maybe six that I can't say a bloody thing about. So, let's look at the things I can say. Starship Troopers is ongoing from April, and I'm currently scripting issue #2. Raven's Gate has an artist agreed hopefully over the Christmas season, and so I'm finishing edits on that. Robin Hood – Outlaw’s Pride is on re-dialogging before Sam Hart gets hold of it, and I'm wrapping up my novel, King Bill – And The Spirit Of Albion.
SS: Damn, you like to keep yourself busy!
TL: Apart from that, I have a one shot, two minis, one ongoing and two graphic novels to wait on. Oh, and I'm currently editing the trade of The Gloom, and writing Dashing Tales - For Young Chaps with The Gloom and Tizzle Sisters artist Dan Boultwood. I'm also writing a book for teens called Rahbin Hood - an Alternative Tale of Sherwood. And two children’s books.
SS: Nice... So a trade of The Gloom is to be expected then?
TL: The script is done, Dan is drawing it as we speak, I have Rich Nelson ready to re-letter the entire thing in the New Year and we hope to have it packaged and ready by March. The question of who will be publishing it will be sorted by then - we actually have a bidding war of sorts. It's all rather quaint. I expect fisticuffs or we're walking.
SS: Ha! Well, it's good to hear (er, read, rather) that the trade will see the light of day. One way or another.
TL: It's been a long slog, but finally it'll be out. Expect joyous rioting in the street. 
SS: Nice! Now, if I may, let's focus on Starship Troopers... How did you get involved with writing the ST comics in the first place?
TL: Luck, pure and simple. And minor nepotism. Let me explain.
SS: Please do.
TL: I dealt with Mongoose Publishing when they first got the Judge Dredd license - I put together a plot called the 'Sleeping Kin' for them. It came out, I moved on - about two years later I'm holding the X-Men Unlimited #1 in my hand and feeling pretty cock sure and I hear that they're looking to do a set of three Starship Troopers graphic novels - and they're looking for three writers. I contact Alex, who I'd done the Dredd project with, and ask how to get involved.
"Have you written comics?" He asks. I know he's about to let me down gently, but I have this ace. I say yes, mention that I happen to be in an X-Men book out this month. Silence. Then "You're drunk. Call me later."
So I send him a copy, I'm invited to pitch. But my story is big - too big for one book, and I think 'fuck it, nothing ventured' and pitch a trilogy. I'm going up against a lot of big name UK and US writers here, but they liked what they saw, the fact that they knew me helped, and I was hired shortly after.
SS: That's awesome! Are you a big fan of Heinlen's source novel?
TL: I love the novel. In fact, I was criticized when I first pitched because I was too close to it, I needed to relax a little and let elements of the movie and TV show come in. I have the novel on audio as well.
SS: Very nice...
TL: In fact, it's still on the bookshelf in front of me.
SS: I have Starship Troopers right here, as well. I take it you still had to do a bit of research and preparation before you set out plotting and planning a trilogy? Also, I'm wondering, do these new comics follow the novel more, the show more or the movie more? Or is it more of a mix? (And the real question is... Can I fit "more" in more?)
TL: They're a hybrid of show and novel, because that was what the game brief was - and these books were to compliment those. For research, I was given a pile of upcoming Starship Troopers gameplay documents; I was sent DVD's of ‘Roughnecks' and I re read the book about four times. But the guideline was always thus - I couldn't do the further adventures of Johnny Rico and his Merry Men - I could have him come by for tea, but that was it – there was no drama there. We knew he lived. So, I created my own unit. Which in effect made it easier for me, as I could let loose, kill with impunity and all that. All I had to do was follow the timeline - i.e. not mention aspects of the world that hadn't been announced in the game.
SS: And what has been done so far, comics-wise? Blaze of Glory and Dead Man's Hand, yeah?
TL: Yup. The final part, Damaged Justice came out in the States this week. Actually, to be pedantic -
SS: And I haven't read it yet! Yeah?
TL: Blaze of Glory was the trilogy's title - book one was actually called Alamo Bay. But when Markosia took it over, Rich Emms, who was designing it, forgot to add it and the book was renamed overnight.
SS: Ah, interesting. Hopefully it all worked out for the best.
TL: Yes. Totally. Book three ends with a definite ending, but one that can move on. When I pitched it originally, the High concept was 'Sharpe in Space' - that is a rise, fall from grace and then the final clawing his way back to the top. As for the name? Well, it could have been worse - he may have been watching something on TV and the title could have been anything...
SS: Desperate MI Wives, perhaps?
TL: Isn't that the high concept for THE UNIT?
SS: I think so... I don't watch much TV, actually.
TL: Gotta love a show where Robert Patrick of all people is the 'totty'....
SS: Well, yeah. There's to be an ongoing series?
TL: So yes, the ongoing.
SS: Yes…
TL: We're doing a four issue arc to start with and then seeing where we go. I wrote the trilogy a long while back and now Mongoose have moved along that timeline. I can bring in new enemies, new units, Exo suits, I can really play around in that ol' sandbox.
SS: That's great! So, you're pretty much the only one handling the writing of the Starship Troopers comics, right?
TL: Yup - they can prise it out of my cold, dead fingers.
SS: So, what is it that sticks out most to you about the current Starship Troopers books you're doing? I mean is there any one character, event, thing that you just go: "Damn. I really nailed that"?
TL: Well, the first part of book three is out, so I can pretty much say that Tamari's death and the repercussions I think I nailed.
I had people sending me mail after issue #4 of book two because not only did I kill her and frame Will, but I made it look like it was all going to be okay before smiling sweetly as I stabbed them in the eyes. So as for the build up, the lead in, all that - yeah. Tamari was my one great moment. And it was hard as I loved that character. She was the Den mother, the glue. But you have to remove the linchpin to see what happens sometimes.
Funnily enough I was asked to write an issue #0 that came out halfway through book 2 that focussed on Tamari and, knowing what happened to her, it was really emotional.
SS: It's always nice to see that kind of love for a character... Even if you end up killing them. And, um, that's not supposed to come across as snotty as it looks.
TL: I was taught many years ago to 'kill your darlings' and more than anything it shows that war is a crapshoot. Fans now know that I could kill any of my characters. Any I tell you!
SS: Yep! Exactly... The kind of audience that reads that sort of thing pretty much expects it... So, speaking of the fans, how has fan response been? Were there any rough patches or have the readers been on board and with the program all the way "from boot", so to speak?
TL: In the main it's been positive, if anything it's been 'when will we see the skinnies' or 'when are the exo suits coming' etc. I had a notorious banter session with some of the Millarworld lot when it first started and, after twenty or so pages there still hadn't been a single bug sighting, but it was more them mocking me than the book. But then as anyone who's read the novel knows - the bugs barely appear in the source material.
SS: Right. What were they mocking you over? It wasn't bad mocking I hope? Dim Mock can be nasty.
TL: The mocking was the lack of bug action.
SS: Ah, yes, and the movie liked to focus on that. That might explain the need for bug action.
TL: that just sounds so... wrong. There. I've said it. Millarworld mods want Bug Action.
SS: Man, you read it here first, folks!
TL: Yeah buggy baby - bow chikka bow wow.
SS: I'm... a... visual thinker. Perhaps there's a new Hentai themed Starship Troopers anime of the horizon then? *laughs*
TL: Well, we did have a shower scene in Damaged Justice #1 - so who knows...
SS: Erg, still haven't read it as the store near-by hasn't got it yet... Sounds like some "fan service"... heh heh. Okay, so, onto the art... It's good, solid work. How well would you say that you and the artist(s) work together on it?
TL: It depends. Sam Hart and I are good friends, and Book 1 was a joy to see drawn. Books 2 and 3 were handled primarily by Markosia, so there was a 'go between' in Rich Emms. Both Neil Edwards (book 2) and Andie Tong (issue #0) worked with me from the start and I was able to catch any problems.
Shanth, the artist on the third book? He's a hell of an artist, but we've never spoken. And I think this shows in the comic - there were a couple of script - to - art errors that had to be sorted before #2, but we're running along now. Chris Dibari, the artist on the ongoing is a star though. He was talking to me about designs before we even started the script. I'm looking forwards to working with him for a good long time.
SS: What can we expect in the future with the Starship Troopers comic? And are trades in the cards?
TL: The trade of book 2 is being sorted as we speak - and book 3 will be done early next year.
What do we have to look forwards to? A grittier story. The first three were written in my first year as a 'comic writer'. I've picked up more skills since then, and I’m using them. Expect more deaths. Expect surprises. Expect tangents, Pathfinder squads, mainly as Chris loves to draw them and I want to keep him happy. I've watched Band of Brothers recently and it's affecting the tone of this immensely.
SS: I was going to ask: You must do lots of research outside of the ST source material... Such as becoming more familiar with aspects of the military and so forth... What other research do you do?
And by the way, Band of Brothers is amazing... I own it and watch it from time to time.
TL: At any time I'm researching about five different things. At the moment among other things, I'm researching Victorian crime, Vietnam and Korea, 1950's mobsters, Epic Manga, The Fugitive, corrupt precincts and of course Starship Troopers. I find a lot of things in a lot of areas that fit with what I want to say. I have fantasy stories that I've read that have given me Starship Trooper pitches.
SS: Nice!
TL: That said, I have a ton of reference from Mongoose. I have the pocket edition of the roleplaying game right beside me. I watched Starship Troopers 2 - but I didn't realise it was a comedy.
SS: Heh, true, there.
TL: But for Troopers? The First World War, or Vietnam. They're the two areas that help with the mindset.
SS: I would think so... Good choices. Oh, and do you play the Starship Troopers Role-Playing Game (published by Mongoose)?
TL: No - I just use it for the source material. I have a roleplayers dream worth of Games Workshop and Mongoose source material on my reference shelf - and I’ve never played them, they just pad it out and make me look worldly.
SS: But you are a bit of a gamer aren't you?
TL: I've dabbled. Not so much since I found that writing takes effort.
SS: Hmmmm... Yes, so I hear. Do you have a few moments to go over some other things regarding your career?
TL: Totally.
SS: Excellent! So, you worked on an X-Men title, right? And what was the first comic you wrote?
TL: yup - I was lucky enough to get into Marvel as they were relaunching the Unlimiteds. I pitched about a dozen stories; they liked a Sage story and went with it. The first comic I wrote was in 92 for Twilight Zone Comics. It never got past the 4 page preview in Comic Speculator News. I know one other person who has a copy, and he's hoping I make it big and then die so he can Ebay it.
SS: Well, for the looks of things, he may not have to wait long... To see you make it big, I mean.
TL: We'll see.
SS: Comics International said you are "One of the fastest rising stars among the new generation of British comic writers". How does it make you feel when you hear things like that?
TL: Well, there's a serious urge to make mockery of it, to be honest. I mean, as far as I’m concerned, I'm just this guy, you know? Who was ballsy and blagged his way into comics and waits for the moment when someone looks at his pass at a convention and starts laughing.
Mike Moorcock said a great line about me. But then it was in an introduction for Midnight Kiss - what was he going to say? 'Tony Lee's a bit shit but he's a nice guy'?
I'm often incredibly humbled when someone says nice things about me. A review for The Gloom said 'Buy this book - sell a kidney if you have to' and it meant more to me than anything else. Someone really liked my stuff. Of course, nobody listened to him, the book bombed and it was cancelled, but cest la vie.
But Comics International - when they said that, it was daunting, you know? Suddenly I can't fuck about. Suddenly I have to make that difference, prove them correct, and make my mark. And about two years later I'm still in the trenches, and newer rising stars are joining me.
SS: Yeah, popular praise can bring on some serious pressure. But you still seem to be having fun with it! Which is always a good thing.
TL: It's my defense mechanism. It's far easier in the comics press to have this persona of 'wacky funster Tony Lee! Look, he's up a tree! What WILL he do next!' than one that concentrates on my work...
SS: I can relate to that, actually. Okay, veering back into comic titles you're working on again... What's this Rahbin Hood - an Alternative Tale Of Sherwood you mentioned earlier?
TL: There was a point a few months back where I was talking to a production company about a Robin Hood movie in the States, based on my upcoming graphic novel. They liked it, were interested - but they wanted something radical. And well, this is Robin Hood. It’s a traditional tale. Nearly every radical version's been done.
Anyway, I throw a curveball in just to, I don't know, keep them happy - they had a serious Jones on Prince of Thieves and Morgan Freeman's character, and I said 'Okay - what if Robin died in the Crusades - and Morgan Freeman returned instead?' I never heard a reply, but the idea gestated - so much so that when I mentioned it to my editor at Walker Books, where I’m doing the graphic novel, it was felt that it could be a winner, and it was suggested I work on it, do some chapters, see if it worked.
And so we have Aashif Rahbin, a 15, 16 year old half caste who's saved by Robert of Locksley - but when Robert dies, he promises to go back to Nottingham to pass his last message to Robert's father. He travels back with a Friar called Tuck and, as he's an outsider with different skin etc - he wears a hood to mask his face. Once he's there the story carries on as per usual, but we touch on a lot of modern issues in a traditional setting - Marion falls for the man, not the face, the differing beliefs and traditions, what happens when the Merry Men discover they've been lied to, etc.
I'm expecting to get lynched for it, but hopefully this and Robin Hood – Outlaw’s Pride will regain people’s faith in the story and the character.
SS: Wow. That sounds awesome. I'm a lifelong fan on the Robin Hood stories, and what you came up with sounds great. When can we expect to see it?
TL: Not for a while, unfortunately - Rahbin Hood is a novel, aimed at the teen market. Robin Hood - Outlaw's Pride is a 140 odd page graphic novel with Sam Hart. These things take time. Hopefully around this time next year for both.
SS: Okay, got it. Now what's this I hear about Tony Lee and Manga?
TL: I've been asked to pitch a story to a publisher. It’s three books, approximately 180 odd pages in each. It’s epic, Akira ish in style with a bit of The Matrix thrown in. That’s all I can say.
SS: Fair enough... Besides, the blow-torch is out of fuel. And you've been doing research on Victorian stuff, yes? Any particular reason and can you talk about it?
TL: Again, it's still in the research stage, but if I had a high concept it'd be Great Expectations meets Oceans Eleven.
SS: Hmmm... That's sounds like it could be quite entertaining!
TL: Annoyingly I have so many things I'm doing with so many people that I just. Can't. Talk. About.
SS: No worries, there. It’s the nature of the industry. And hey, it's a reason to bug you for another interview in the future. I have to ask the inevitable question... Your influences. What are they exactly and why? 
TL: It's an inevitable question, but not one I have a ready answer for. I go through phases. I like several different writers and styles, I flit between Gaiman to Ellis to Johns to Waid to Morrison to Willingham - you see where I'm going here? I devour books. I watch television and films whenever possible. My influences are more genres than writers - a good crime movie will make me want to write something. I watched all four seasons of The Wire whilst reading some Carey Hellblazer - and the next thing I know I'm writing the first issue of Crowtown - the police precinct where corrupt cops go when they die. I watch Deadwood and Dawn of the Dead - and then I have Undeadsville, my zombie western. So influences? Whatever takes my fancy at the time.
Although currently I'd kill to be Brubaker or Fraction...
SS: Oh, yeah, those guys are doing some excellent stuff!
TL: Brubaker's Daredevil and Captain America are incredible.
SS: I think Brubaker is one of the best out there right now. That leads me to this question: What projects would you fight ninjas for? Any dream projects in mind?
TL: Nick Fury. In a second. It was the first thing I pitched Marvel when I sat with Teresa Focarile back in 2003. I love that character. The Hulk. It was one of the first comics I ever read and I loved Peter David’s Future Imperfect. The problem I have is that there are lots I'd like to pitch for, but I like the people doing it. But dream projects... these are the ones I don't think I'd ever get? I'd love to do a Hob Gadling series for Vertigo, but I don't think they'll ever go back down that route. I even pitched Will Dennis it once.
Nick Fury, as I've said. I regurally work out ways to pitch him. I'd love to do a six part Sage story, as I had a blast with her and to this day think she’s underused in Excalibur. Cornell beat me to Wisdom, damn him. I'd like to write a Lionheart mini - that's the ex-female Captain Britain.
I have a Spider-Man story in me. A Batman story in me. Who wouldn't want to write those? But to be honest? I'm happy just writing comics. Every comic I do is a dream project. As I get to play in the sandbox for longer.
SS: Dude, if you could write a Nick Fury story, that would be stellar.
Tony: I had a great pitch too – he’s forced on holiday and foils a kidnapping plot at the resort - and he's calling Dum Dum up as he's racing around on a moped firing at bad guys screaming for help, but they all think he’s just doing it for attention...
SS: Ha! That sounds great. Well, were coming close to the end here. Let's close out with a couple more questions. First, what comic or comics blew you away this year? Outside of your own, of course... *chuckles*
TL: This year had some good ones. In the mainstream we had 52, Brubaker's Daredevil - especially the ones in Rykers, I'm loving Civil War - Frontline for the Jenkins Speedball stuff, Nextwave - Warren's having fun there. Um... The Other Side, Was Paul Jenkins' Revelations this year? Neil Kleid's Brownsville... Hell, the list goes on. Oh, and Eternals. On the DC side, I also loved Infinite Crisis. I am such a sucker for the DC crossover. And I'm looking forward weekly to see what they do next.
SS: Excellent. Alright, is there anything you would like to add? Something that we neglected to touch upon? Then it's the final essay question.
TL: Keep an eye on my blog at http://www.tonylee.co.uk as I have some announcements coming up in the near future? Yeah that’s about it.
SS: Oh yeah, that was one of the questions I overlooked! Good call. So, this last bit will take some imagination... Or maybe you'll roll your eyes. Maybe even roll them a lot. But, please humour me, if you'd be so kind.
TL: Okay.
SS: Here we go: The situation is you and four gnomes must stop an out-of-control rollercoaster from going off of its tracks and flying into a pivotal bacon factory. You have a ball of twine, one pound of cheese (Stilton) and a doohickey that allows for you to defy gravity. The clock is ticking... what do you do?
TL: I would expect my Gnome minions to sacrifice their lives for me - but if not, and knowing their love for Stilton, I would tie the twine around one of them, throw him out the back and secure the other end of the twine to the rollercoaster. He would sacrifice his life by grabbing the rails and anchoring himself. I would then cast the cheese over the front, the Gnomes leaping out after it, their little Gnome bodies acting like fleshy brakes. If the coaster doesn't stop by hitting them, if it jumps the rails, the gnome anchor will allow us to swing safely.
Until his Gnome spine snaps.
Oh, and I would use the device to float off to the pub.
SS: Terrific! And this, folks, is why he's paid the big bucks! *laughs*
TL: You’re welcome.
SS: Tony, I'd like to thank you on behalf of SBC and thank you myself for taking the time to do this interview! Stunning performance, really. I sincerely hope we can talk again in the future about the new things you're doing. Cheers!
TL: Thank you. It's now 2am here and I'm off to bed!
I really mean what I said right up there. I totally look forward to another interview with Mr. Lee in the future, if he’s okay with it, that is. Of course, there are other, more insidious ways to get him to participate… Hmmmm… What’s that? Oh yes, lawyers. I always forget about them.
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