Just beyond the final breath of our years lies a field... the Field on the Edge of the Woods. To the north, the Great White Wall, a beacon of hope on a remorseless landscape, and to the south . . . the Woods, the dark twisted closet of the world . . . a place that never forgives, and never forgets

Ray Tate:
Karyn Pinter:

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Ray Tate: So the book is called The Field on the Edge of the Woods. Lengthy but apt title.

Karyn Pinter: It's obviously Hell and whatever lies beyond.

RT: And the Field could be limbo--though probably derived from the Elysian Fields.

KP: That's what I thought. It isn't heaven, more of an inbetween. I really liked that Gary, the man who dies, is running from all the terrible things he has done and said in his past.

RT: Yeah, and I like the idea that people who make these mistakes are not necessarily judged evil but they have to fight or run to heaven.

KP: Also in the background of page 4 the signs that lead to Traffic School and Tech Support. That's a nice touch of evil right there.

RT: Karaoke and a School Board. That was pretty neat.

KP: The subtle humor in the book reminded me in a way of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet's Good Omens or The Hitchhiker's Guide books.

RT: I'm glad you said that. I was thinking of Terry Gilliam and Douglas Adams. Time Bandits especially.

KP: So which is the real story we're to follow in this book? The one about Gary or the one about the White Rider and the mystery bundle?

RT: That's a good question. My feeling is that Gary is the POV character, and I think it was daring that they used an older man. The book is more about the characters in this strange environment. Do you think the change in voice hurt the story at all?

KP: No. I actually like the little Grim Reaper fellow. Although to me the switch to "How I Got My Ugly Face," The Reaper's screenplay, was a little- harsh isn't the word I want to use. Maybe bumpy. Like hitting a pot hole

RT: I would view my reaction as more of a very small speed bump rather than a pothole. I agree with you on the Grim Reaper--selling a screenplay. That's pretty original.

KP: To me it almost reads as a great story cut short, or a bad script written by an first time writer. If it's meant to be the second, then great, it's dead on.

RT: The story within a story?

KP: Yeah. Like all those waiters/writers in Hollywood who try and pass their work off to anyone who buys a coffee. It's really not great, but it's their baby pet project.

RT: I'll buy that. Plus, it's yet another impediment to reach heaven for Gary. All his life he's listening to guys like that, and it turns out the Grim Reaper's antother one.

KP: You're right. I'd hadn't thought about that.

RT: So it works both ways I think--for the story within the story and for the main story which is Gary's encounters on the road to heaven, if he makes it.

KP: Obviously the story with in the story will wrap around, sort of acting like a epilogue. Who do you think the Grim Reaper is? The Gov'ner or the White Rider?

RT: I think it's too early to tell. His sense of humor strikes me as more leaning toward the Gov'ner. But I could imagine something happening to the White Rider to make him more human.

KP: That's who I'm leaning towards.

RT: The Gov'ner is supposed to be Pontius Pilate? Having left the Church for the Banana Splits, I'm afraid I don't know what a Pontius Pilate is. :)

KP: He's a prelate in Rome, or Prefect

RT: Ah, a Roman. So the enemy of Christians.

KP: He approved Jesus' crucifixion.

RT: Okay. That makes sense. Interesting enough, I really didn't need to know who he was in order for him to have an impact. Calling him the Gov'ner and showing him in action was enough.

KP: Well, I don't know if Gov'ner is Pontius. The Rider just asks who pulls his strings, as if Gov would know.

RT: Oh, like "Who is Number One?"

KP: Yes!

RT: Ah!

KP: Gov and that Native American girl seem to hover on the edge of the woods. So them seem to be a bit grey in character.

RT: Chenoa. The name of the Native girl doesn't ring a bell.

KP: No, and she doesn't really speak much.

RT: She fights well. The fights are extremely well staged. They're visceral, and they're bloody without being gratuitous.

KP: Indeed. It was set up as explained.

RT: Yeah, and what's also notable is that the fights are occurring in what amounts to the setup of the story. I'm sure you've read setups that simply don't move. This sucker moves.

KP: I am interested in what happens next, and what's down that well

RT: I agree. What did you think of the Woman of the Woods?

KP: Greatly fascinating. She's the Woman of the Woods, which we've seen are a bad place, but she wants to help Gary and sends Gov to help the White Rider.

RT: She's built like a temptress but she issues the opposite of temptation. And you know both of the female characters were interesting, defying expectations. As well as stereotypes.

KP: How about the numbers tattooed on the Gov and Chenoa?

RT: Odd. At first I thought it was an allusion of Nazi Germany. But then I was thinking what's Chenoa's crimes How could they be as great as the Gov'ner?

KP: Chenoa's a Native. We all know what the Christians did to them. That's why I'm stuck on them being at the edge of the woods. They're not really evil, but in the eyes of Christendom they are bad.

RT: That's an intriguing thought that I never considered, and I'm the one who always brings up Indian baiting in conversation. So we would have to be in a Christian realm.

KP: I love getting all philosophical on comics.

RT: They rarely give me any meat to give me the option :) Would that make the Woman in the Woods--Eve then? Because of her tempting Adam and releasing evil like Pandora, she's now doing penance by warning people away from the woods?

KP: I was totally thinking that, but I just can't commit. She's almost faerie-ish.

RT: Well the faerie are linked with Christians as well.

KP: Well, they are a pagan figure, which is evil... in certain eyes.

RT: What I was thinking of was the legends of Arthur. And how faerie characters such as Morganne from the The Fata Morganna were reduced to being enchantresses and such in King Arthur's Court. It was usually Christians translating myth to reduce its power. Faerie stories also got that treatment. So what it looks like to me is that Weber, Skinkis and Morgan are well aware of this sort of jumble that became Christian mythology. So Eve could be faerie-like, and she could be like Pandora, yeah?

KP: She very well could be.

RT: What did you think of the demons?

KP: Cheeky little buggers. Makes me want a Mallo-cup.

RT: Reminded me of Muppets, which is a good thing. A lot of imagination went into this, and I think it's successful.

KP: I really liked this when I got to read the preview, which was only half. I think it stopped at the beginning of the Ugly Face story. I'm glad I got to finish it.

RT: Oh, wow. So, for you this took off into a whole different direction?

KP: Yeah, which is why I was a little jarred at the which in the story pace and direction. I reread the book again, and it's sitting better this time around.

RT: That's amazing though. Because it all gels so well.

KP: I really think this is one of the more original pieces I've read.

RT: It's original and attractive. The art is really gorgeous. The black and white is crisp, and the linework evokes all this texture.

KP: Love the art. The expressions on the Gov's face are intense.

RT: Yeah, and I didn't notice any swipes. You know nothing depresses me more when I see an independent with a good idea but lousy art. This is just perfect.

KP: It is. I know a lot of people are turned off by the lack of color and I just think that horrible. To not give something the chance because it's not bright. Sometimes black and white is more soulful.

RT: I don't think this needs to be in color. I think color just might mask the extraordinary brushwork.

KP: what could be more black and white then death and life?

RT: I'm not sure I would like this book as much as I do if it were in color to tell the truth. I think it's clearly designed to be black and white.

KP: I don't think it would add anything if it were in color.

RT: The inking was as strong as Gene Day's. And I saw that the talent behind the book produced some equally tight pencils. It's so varied too. There's plain line work, crosshatching, thick blacks, soft blacks. I love it.

KP: I don't know if you got the CD with it too. I didn't look at it, but when I talked to Frick way back for the preview he gave me this little bit:

KP: There will also be several groups of characters joining the story, such as Hair Band Nasties, Tech Support Chickens, Dark Meter Maidens, and War Pigs. Our starring duo, Gary and the White Rider, will also be catching up with several long since departed historic and religious figures.

KP: Hair Band Nasties... can't wait.

RT: Dark Meter Maids--effin' awesome! Meter Maids as devils, that makes so much sense!

KP: Ha ha!

RT: Well, do you have anything else to add? Cause I'm ready to give my rating.

KP: Not really. In a summing up, I'd have to say it's a really good first book, and I'm looking forward to the next. Art was great. The depth of the story is- let's use a big word... grandiose. I'd put a 4.5 on it.

RT: I'm giving the book 5 bullets. Not only is it exactly as you say, it's more so because of its independent status. It's "amateurs" creating a professional looking work.

KP: I have to hold my last .5 bullet because although I loved it, I wasn't awed beyond belief.

RT: Well, I'm just not used to this sort of thing. I opened it up and I thought...huh. The art looks good, and as I read on I just became really wrapped up in the story. The comedy made me laugh. Those fight scenes and the characters put it over for me. So I liked it more than I thought I would. It's not even my usual kind of thing.

KP: Yeah. I mean for an indy comic from guys I haven't read anything from before I was really surprised at how great it was. It's the kinda of comic I would pick up from a small press booth at a con. A hidden gem.

RT: Yeah, exactly! And it would be something that the creators might have to go "Oh, come on. Try it." I'd have to be cajoled into it.

KP: If you can find a copy of Cursed Pirate Girl get it. That's a 5 bullet comic to me. It's just beautiful.

RT: Is it available in graphic novel form?

KP: No, it's out of Olympian or Olympic Publishing in three issues.

RT: You know with independents I'm seeing the value of waiting for the trade. Because usually these things are labors of love by people who have you know day jobs, and it takes awhile for the next issues to arrive.

KP: well I hope book 2 of Woods won't take too long.

RT: I hope so too.

For more information about this comic, visit FilmsandComics.com.

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