Owly's Andy Runton: Q&A

Posted: Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Posted By: Tim O'Shea

Andy Runton’s Owly is one of those rare projects that gets praise and attention from a variety of audiences and ages. Top Shelf will be shipping Owly 2: Just a Little Blue in the first week of March. Runton and I recently got a chance to discuss his work and craft in general. Before launching into the questions, here’s some background on the author and his work: “Andy Runton is the creator of Owly, the breakout, all-ages graphic novel series that follows a kind, yet lonely, little owl who's always on the search for new friends and adventure. Since the debut of his series in November 2004, it has quickly become a hit, and is touching the hearts and minds of everyone that comes in contact with it. Relying on a mixture of symbols, icons, and expressions to tell his silent stories, Runton's clean, animated, and heartwarming style makes it a perfect read for anyone who's a fan of Jeff Smith's Bone or Mike Kunkel's Herobear and the Kid. He currently resides in the greater-Atlanta area, where he works full-time completing two Owly graphic novels a year.”

Tim O’Shea: How much revision is involved in your work? Why I ask is that when you're telling a tale that is conveyed without words, but rather with symbols, icons and expressions, there's a major challenge (as you well realize). The symbols and imagery may speak volumes to you, but you have to ascertain if it speaks to the average reader. Did you run them by Chris Staros and Robert Venditti (who edited the book) or were there other folks that you "tested" the stories with, to make sure the imagery conveyed what you wanted?

Andy Runton: All the stories have come together differently. The first long story I attempted was The Way Home and that one that was revised the most. I had met Chris and Rob at a few of the shows and they had been very encouraging of my work. I showed a very early version of the story to them and they gave me lots of tips and suggestions. Owly rescuing Wormy was always there, along with their trip home and the lightning bugs. But they taught me a lot about thinking through the reactions and motivations and all of the things that make characters feel so real. Without their help, I don't know what I would have done. But after we talked about it, my head was just swimming. I combined all of the stuff we talked about and finished up the story. It was shorter than I had originally expected, but that's just how it worked out. I really can't gauge length or anything while I'm writing. I just have to let it happen. Also, I say writing, but I don't write anything out, really. I just have general ideas, like, "Owly goes to the store," then I draw it out and all of this stuff happens that I never even thought about before.

The Bittersweet Summer had an entire section that was cut. I was trying to do too much... with the arrival of another more militant hummingbird and fights breaking out... it just got too complicated. Rob suggested I just cut the section out, since at the time I couldn't make it work without drastic changes. But the story is definitely better because of that.

Rob and Chris have also helped with all of my other stories, their feedback is critical. I also have to say that I have another editor who I haven't mentioned, and she's one that I couldn't do this without... that's my mom. She actually sees everything first and calls me on the stuff that's confusing or unclear. We also talk out the stories before I start writing... adding and taking away bits and pieces as we go along. I also share my stories with a few of my friends to get feedback from different perspectives. It gets harder and harder to make changes the further you go... so early feedback is critical.

As far as the language... I really try hard to make it as understandable but I'm always sure to run it by as many people as possible before I'm comfortable that's it's easy to understand.

O’Shea: By the same token, have there been surprises where a scene communicated one thing to you, but communicated something completely different to the reader that you'd not even considered?

Runton: Well, not that anyone has told me about. Although I'm sure some people may be able to relate to different scenes on different levels, maybe even deeper than I can put into words. So I'm sure it happens. But usually the underlying meaning comes through.

O’Shea: In The Bittersweet Summer Owly takes photos and makes a photo album Owly's Friends, complete with captions detailing the fun that he, Tiny, Angel and Wormy had together. Did you hesitate using captions and had to be convinced by your editors, or was that your intention at the outset of developing the tale.

Runton: Those pictures are actually where the story comes from. When I was writing it out, it was early November and I had just said goodbye to the hummingbirds, so I really missed them. Those were some of my memories from the Summer. They really do take showers when you water the plants, etc. So I had all of theses scenes or pictures in my mind that I wanted to show in the story. I wrapped up most of them within the comic itself, but some of them were going to get left behind and I needed a way to make the time pass... so it seemed like a perfect fit. The captions were there from the beginning. I wanted a way to name the characters without having a cast page. I ended up doing that in the new book as well on a much smaller scale.

O’Shea: You've been going to several conventions in support of this all ages book. Considering its broad appeal, I was wondering if you could share some of the more memorable encounters you've had with Owly fans from either age extreme--small child and older adults?

Runton: Wow. That's a hard one. I get wonderful reactions from kids and usually their parents. I'm just so overwhelmed that somebody can relate to Owly. These stories are very personal to me so I guess I never really expected it. I did have one funny story. When I was first drawing Owly, my friends told me he needed an accessory.... like a hat or something. Well, in North Carolina I was explaining the different minis that I had for sale to a little five-year-old girl and I told her to check out "the way home because that's where Owly meets his best friend Wormy." And she said, "What's he look like," and I said, "That's him on Owly's head, he's a little worm." And she said, "Oh, I thought that was a funny little hat!" That one stuck with me because it was so unbelievably cute. But every encounter touches me. When people buy the book I do free sketches, and I had an older gentleman specifically ask for a drawing of Wormy and his family. It's little things like that. Or when people bring their copy of Owly that they bought somewhere else, for me to sign and it's really been read. That almost takes my breath away.

O’Shea: Could you ever envision branching out the Owly universe and telling tales that focus solely on one of his friends, or is the constant focus meant to be Owly's quest for new friends and adventure?

Runton: Hmm. I could see that. I'd probably have to flesh out the other characters a bit more. Maybe after I gain a little more writing experience that won't sound so scary. Basically Owly is me. So, those stories are easy to write. Writing from another character's perspective would be a bit more difficult. I wouldn't want the other characters to just turn into Owly clones. It also couldn't be Wormy either, because so much of Owly is rubbing off on him as they become friends.

O’Shea: You're already at work on the next Owly story, any sneak peak as to potential new friends you hope to introduce or would that be giving too much away?

Runton: Well, in this story Owly and Wormy meet a family of Bluebirds. But it's not all smooth sailing. This one had to come together a bit more quickly and I wasn't sure how it would work until the end.

O’Shea: At your website, you have a couple of pieces connected to or inspired by Scott Morse. Have you two collaborated before? How has Morse influenced you as a storyteller?

Runton: Scott and Jim Mahfood were two of my early influences when I was just getting back into comics. I read Voodoom (which they collaborated on) and there was just something about that comic that struck a cord with me. I could feel that they were really enjoying this. It came through their drawings! Scott's style blows me away but no, I've never worked with him before or anything, I only recently met him this year's SPX, which was a complete honor for me. He's such a humble, cool guy. As far as his stories, I guess I'd have to say that his characters always seemed so perfect, the designs, the expressions and the way he's able to capture so much energy and emotion with his brushwork. Yeah, um... I'll keep practicing. :)

O’Shea: As a storyteller of clearly "sweet" (for lack of a better term) stories, how hard is it to ratchet yourself back so that you don't cross the line from sweet into sappy?

Runton: Um... not really. I really don't hold anything back. I just try to keep the reactions honest. I don't want the characters to react in a melodramatic way. There's a reason for the tears and there's a reason for the smiles. But, yeah, I don't ever have to make any excuses for the way I draw them and in the end, the Owly stories are exactly what I want them to be.

O’Shea: Would you ever consider doing a small DVD-ification of one of your stories (or a scene or two from one)? What I mean is drawing the tale as you normally would, but then making footnotes and callout boxes (like the old VH-1 Pop-Up video, but for comics [and of course on paper]) explaining the thought process of why you conveyed something or attempted a scene? Or does something like that not appeal to you, as it could limit the myriad levels a reader might otherwise take away from your work?

Runton: Sure, I wouldn't mind doing that. I don't think it would necessarily limit anyone's interpretation because all of the details are there for a reason. I'm not sure I'd be able to explain all of them, though, because I'm able to express some things through the artwork that are difficult to put into words. I guess that's why I draw the stories instead of writing them out. :) Also my personality also plays a big role in the decisions I make and the reactions the characters show. Some of the reasons might surprise the readers, I suppose, but I think it would be fun to show the process. However it does take a lot longer for me to do this than most people realize.... I hope it wouldn't get too boring. :)

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