What's My Motivation...?

By Tony Lee

Amusingly, today I am creating worlds and characters. And of course that's something that many people may think I do on a regular basis, but this week I'm doing something a little different ... I'm doing this for non-comics clients.

Yes, I know little ones ... have no fear, I'm still working in the funny books, but this week I had several non-comic options all appear at once, and it's a teeny bit overwhelming. One of them, a BBC pitch has already gone the way of the Dodo, media's fickle nature already off with a PR company instead, or something similar. An ITV project that I can't talk about is proving to be most enjoyable and apparently I get to call myself some kind of producer, which is probably Television talk for 'shut the fuck up, wordmonkey and go sit in the dark room with all the other writer minions.' Or something.

But what I will talk to you about is a game I've been involved in. Mainly as I had to stand down from it, walk away as they couldn't quite grasp what I was trying to say. And even though it was money on the table, there are some things I won't write, mainly as I feel that I'm bastardising my profession to do so.

Basically they want to create a world and some characters for some console ... it's scary but pretty much all three projects shared a lot of similar themes, and this week I've pretty much had the same conversations with the people in control of the projects, but whereas both BBC and ITV 'got it' when I spoke, these games guys... just didn't.

Now, I'm a writer. I'm a creator by trade and definition. It's what I do. But there have to be some ground rules when creating or it never works out ... and so when the conversation starts like this, I get a little concerned.

'We want to do a game like City Of Heroes.' He says. 'So we need some basic characters for the world. Oh, and the world they're on.'

Okay. Can do. Not a problem. So it's similar to City of ...

'Oh, and it's not really like City Of Heroes.' He continues. 'It's a different thing altogether. It's more a combat game where you fight other characters. In this world. That you're creating. '

Okay. Can do. Not a problem. You're a fighter in a world and there are other fighters. Not quite the same as a multi player interactive world of heroes, but I can kinda see where they're going with this. And then I make the mistake of talking.

'So these characters. They're fighting.' I say. 'Why? '

There's a pause. I can almost imagine our friend on the other end of the line clutching at his heart as he spasms in silent apoplexy.

'What ... what do you mean?' He whispers. The air in the room cools down by several degrees.

'Well.' I start. 'They're all on this world, right? Fighting? Why? What's in it for them? What's their motivation?'

Bam. Hit between the eyes with the favourite question of every actor on the planet. There's another pause.

'They... like fighting?'

Now you might laugh at this, but it's a common problem for writers. Hey, we need some cool characters to stick in this game / TV show / porn movie. Get the guy with the comics to so the writey stuff and let's make the magic happen.

But it doesn't work that way. Okay, perhaps it does for the porn movie, but in the main? There needs to be far more here. You have a gameworld to create, okay I can get that. But there need to be some foundations to build on. Firstly, the world can't just be a stage, you have to have a history. Is it natural? Artificially created? Is there a government? A feudal system? What's the technology? The atmosphere? How do surrounding planets relate to it? You can't just go 'It's three p.m. on Fightland and the sun is shining.' Well, you can, but then you'd just be a shitty writer.

So. You work out the game world, where the player is. Perhaps it's a coliseum run by an evil villain - if so, are you fighting against him? Has he or she placed you here to pay for a crime? To keep you out of the way? Do you even care about him? The motivation as to why you're here is key to how you act. And then you have other characters, the fighters that I've also been asked to create. Why are they there? If we've decided that this is a prison arena, then are they fellow inmates? What were their crimes? Are they innocent? Maybe they're not prisoners ... perhaps they're bored prison guards? If your motivation is to be the best of the best, is that the same for them? What happens if they fail, when your character beats them? Have they been beaten before? Are they likely to help you if they think you might have a better chance of taking down the bad guy?

Wait ... there isn't a bad guy? So you're doing this all for respect and money? Then is that what they're doing? How long have they been doing this? Once you make your money, then what? Can you retire? Can they? Do any of them know you from before the game started? Perhaps one used to be your lover or a friend? Would this cause your character problems to fight them to the death?

The questions that you could and should ask are endless. And, are relevant in all forms of creative media. Bruce Wayne wears a Bat insignia and fights crime. That's what the guys in the games company want. But of course we all know the rest. Why does he wear a Batman costume? Easy. Because his parents died.

No. Uh-uh. That's a definite reason, but not his motivation. He wears it to instil fear into criminals. Why does he want to do this? Because he wishes to fight crime. Why does he fight crime? Because his parents died. Why would their death affect him so? Because it was a violent death, killed in front of him. Was the killer caught? No. So is he doing this to catch the killer? In a way, yes. So why doesn't he become a policeman? What does he do when he catches the killer? Why wear the mask... and so on.

If you can't have this conversation with every character that you create, then it's a crappy character and you shouldn't create it. Comics on paper may only be shown in a two dimensional medium, but that doesn't mean that the characters, the worlds, the situations can't be three dimensional. And once you delve into your character, you learn things about him or her that you didn't realise before. Perhaps you discover a new flaw, perhaps a story from their past creates a new villain or foil, perhaps you just understand them that little bit better. Which makes creating them easier.

But sometimes? They just want a name and a pair of tights. Oh, and a world to fight in.

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In other news, in less than two months are the Golden Champagne Glass Awards, and we've had several responses to our suggestions to what awards we shall be giving out this year. Remember, this is purely a satirical award ceremony aimed mainly at friends and colleagues, but that said last year voting was in the hundreds, mainly because All The Rage picked up on it and ran with it.

So, this year we have the following awards:

• Best Comic Created By A Friend


• Hardest Drinker


• Best Journalist (US)


• Best Journalist (UK)


• Gayest Gay Creator In Comics*


• The James Redington Memorial Award


• Hottest Creator


• Best Online Podcast


• Scariest Fan


• Breakout Award For Best New Talent


• Favourite Writer


• Favourite Artist


• Favourite 'Other' (Letterer, Colourist, Editor)


• Lifetime Achievement Award


• Best Website


• Best 'YoYo' (person who bounces back from adversity)

Best Shameless Promoter

But who do you think should be nominated for these awards? As ever, send an email to itsonlyacomic@gmail.com with your suggestions. In the next couple of weeks we shall announce the finalists to the world.



*Otherwise known as the 'Hell, let's give it to Bevis Musson again' award...

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So it's Easter soon. And for many of you there'll be four days of no work whatsoever. And when you sit there, stuffing your faces with chocolate egg and baby chicklings, please remember these poor, harassed writers and artists and editors and letterers and inkers and colourers and fluffers and pimps who all have to work over this holiday so that you, the reader can still have the comic that you want released on the day that you want it. Or at least within a week. Or a month or two, depending on which publisher you're waiting for.

We do it because we love you. Not you, no you can fuck off over there ... but you. Yes, you. Mmmm, we all love you.

Me? My Easter is already booked up, a week before it even happens. I'm writing for a lot of it, I have some deadlines to hit and also I'm finally going to restart my novel, The Stage Magician's Nephew, and also my Steampunk Graphic Novel Steam Babies. I'll also be editing a special Starship Troopers two parter that I've co-written.



Yeah, that perked you right up, didn't it! That's right, buckaroos ... Daddy's back in the saddle and Tanner's Tigers are returning.

I know, I can see the questions already being formed. 'But how? How can this be? ' Well, let me explain. And it's even more awesome than me being back.

From issue #4 of the ongoing, Cy Dethan took over writing duties of Starship Troopers ... The Ongoing Series. And issues #5 to #8 were a four part story featuring Vanauken's Vandals, a pathfinder unit. But, with the new movie coming out soon and a new PR/Marketing guy involved with us called, now what was his name again? Oh yes, Christian Beranek, we thought it was time to push the boat out.

And pushed out it is—because issues #9 and #10, coming out in June and July are a two-parter called "Triple Threat". Why? Because there are three stories involved over the two issues ... one involves Vanauken's Vandals and a threat to the federation from the guerrilla force of the Civilian Militia, the second is a different perspective —Tanner's Tigers perspective, and the third? It's a little more complicated, and involved a group of psychics called the Reaper Cell...

Excited yet? Here's the cool bit. The three stories weave around each other, and are written and drawn by three different creative teams. Firstly, we have current scribe Cy Dethan and up and coming artist Scott James on the Vandals ... Scott's worked on some Savage Dragon and RPG designs in the past, is currently working on "Rough Trade" with me and Burn Notice Producer Mike Wilson and has an incredible eye for this. Secondly, we have Christian Beranek and newcomer Jim Boswell on the Reaper Cell ... Christian's a well known and respected writer and it's a real boon to have him writing this, and Jim's style knocked us out of the hall last October when we first saw it. I'm also working on a couple of things with Jim outside of this and know that by the time this comes out? He'll be too big for me. And thirdly (and finally) we have good old yours truly on the Tanner's Tigers tale ... and my artist? It's none other than Starship Troopers: Dead Man's Hand art genius Neil Edwards, who's returned with me for this two-part reunion.

It shall be mighty. Characters will die. And only one can win...

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And that's it for this week ... remember to pop by the Firzrovia if you're passing on the 18th, if not have a cold one and we'll see you on Easter Monday...

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Discuss this column at the Only A Forum forum.
© 2008, Tony Lee

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