After reading issue one of NuWorld Chronicles, eventhough it wasn't something that resonated with me personally, I was curious to find out what went in to this series. So I had a catchup with writer and illustrator Dante Maddox about his work.
You mention in the synopsis how this story has been years in the making, can you explain your journey from it's beginning to now?
Well, I turn 43 in a little over a week, but back in the early 90’s I really got into reading comics. I had tried my hand at drawing characters in the years prior but didn’t really develop the skill. When I first had the opportunity to go to my first comic shop (Golden Apple in Southern California) I could then follow the narratives and not just enjoy the cool pictures for the most part. I had read a few stories prior, like 90% of Crisis on Infinite Earths in the Inglewood, CA county library, but for the first time I could follow along with characters and stories and that’s when the bug hit me. I started creating my own characters and writing my own stories, and drawing them very badly. The first books I collected were Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor, The New Warriors (right there at issue 1!) and What if…? Those comics and others would serve as my earliest inspirations as I made my own stories.
By the time I got into Highschool I had tons of stories and characters and because I couldn’t draw I decided I would try and be a writer. I read about Stan Lee and the history of Marvel and by extension DC comics as well. As I read about the various real life events that formed the history of Marvel comics, an idea struck me. What if Stan Lee could do it all over again knowing what he was going for in the future? I took all my individual stories and characters that were isolated in their own worlds and I created a brand new timeline containing all the characters, and the NuWorld Universe was born. The NuWorld Chronicles is set on that timeline, and begins with characters I wouldn’t create until college. Precisely, the exact story that helped me put all this together in the first place, kickstart the whole thing was that first issue of What if…? I picked up. A multipart storyline called What if Captain America lead an army of Super Soldiers into World War II.
Did you face any challenges when developing this story in to a comic book?
Yes. But, a lot of your biggest obstacles are the ones you create yourself. By the time I got to college I still couldn’t draw. I was a sub par student in general so it was no surprise. I did have the desire however, just no understanding of the fundamentals at a point where that was supposed to be established. Luckily, the world can be really small. At the same time I was in college I spent many nights at an arcade where I would play Street Fighter vs. X-Men with my friends and oddly enough, actor Todd Bridges of Diff’rent Strokes fame. We weren’t super tight, but we would chat while we were there. He had a couple of buddies, one of which was friends with my college art professor. One day he pops into my class and I perk up because I’m wondering how he found me. He waves at me surprised and my teacher says, “You know this guy? Teach him how to draw because I’m going to fail him.” So my friend from the arcade that I don’t know very well at all, like i think his name was Mike, took a piece of chalk, walked me outside the class and taught me how to draw on the metal door. It took 15 minutes.
I immediately improved ever since, I had spent years developing muscle control. Someone finally explained what I was supposed to see on the page when I first got started. Comics are the finished product, now I knew how to start.
But I was still really bad though. I failed that art class too. My major was english, and I wasn't even taking that seriously. I would go on to art school however, but I never built a network, never met others who shared my interests in those places. I just worked on my stories alone, constantly dissatisfied with all of it. Once it no longer seemed like working for marvel or Dc as a writer was possible, I just treated my art and stories as a hobby that could maybe be something.
In 2006 I first started having trouble mentally that was so noticable I saw a professional. There was a diagnosis and that became a part of my life. Still I got a job reviewing comics and things started looking up. However despite the culture change about accepting mental illness, there’s still the problem of the illness itself and the struggle. I had the best job in the world, interviewing celebrities, watching free movies and lots of free comics, but I spend my lunch break crying in my car. It became too much, and I couldn’t continue. My employers were awesome but i gave them no choice. After that happened in 2011, things just sort of didn’t go well. All the while I still drew occasionally, and wrote stories in my head. It wasn’t until maybe 2014 that I decided that I wanted to try again. So, while I’ve been technically doing this for a long time, I’ve been doing all wrong that entire time.
In terms of genre, what other book would you compare this to?
While Marvel and DC are the biggest influences, they are never ending stories. The Chronicles have a definitive End…? Because of that I want it to feel more like Grendel or even Robotech manga’s. The idea is that what the characters do impacts the world so much, that coming back a few seasons later will mean reading an almost entirely different book, with the throughline being that it’s the same world.
Which writer or artist do you admire most?
When it comes to the first season especially there is no bigger influence than Gail Simone. Her stance on writing and the entire ‘head in a refrigerator’ concept had a massive effect on me. I was working on this story at the time, and in that early concept it was quite different. The major difference being that Fiona, in that early run spent the entire 12 issue arc in the ICU. Bandaged from head to toe. Why? Because I need to show the reader of bad a certain bad guy was, and to motivate her partner/love interest Simon to exact vengeance. See? I was a terrible artist and not good writer. There is probably a good reason I’m just to this point now, it takes longer when you suck at it. I read about Gail and got my hands on some other work, she is the best. I completely rewrote Fiona, struggled with it and decided that the best thing I could do was channel my struggles through her. Her illness is PTSD, and while I can't directly relate to that particular issue, I use my own issues to give her a voice, or me a voice. In my ‘super hero’ story she’s the only Super Hero in the first season. I even named her The Lightningale after my hero, who convinced me to get her off of that gurney.
How has your book been received with friends and family?
Comics are still comics, so if they aren’t your bag… Plus, as you can imagine, to be my friend, family member or co-worker you’ve heard all about the NuWorld Chronicles. For 20 years. My friends and family have heard enough. We’re a decade past crapping or getting off the pot. They do like my developed skill as an artist though, as inconsistent as it can be.
Who, in your opinion, would find this book most appealing to them?
I’m hoping the sci-fi crowd gets into it. While superheroes are in the mix, the idea is a backdrop for a more sci-fi leaning affair. NuWorld is certainly not alone in the universe.
Did you use Kickstarter or crowd funding, if so what was your experience with those like?
I am trying to figure out the best way to take advantage of those platforms. I’m putting together a digital package that I hope will attract some investors. I know I can deliver whatever incentives I offer on the digital format. When it comes to print, I’m not confident in my abilities to navigate those waters at this point. My next goal is to get my books on comixologies database now that I’m not going through amazon.
What's the key to writing a good indie comic book?
I don’t know! I’ll let you know when I write a good one. I’ve written several things, that’s not that hard. All you need to do is hold onto as much false bravado as you can for about 600 words and then hope no one actually reads it. It was a living.
If your comic book was adapted in to a film/TV series, who would play the lead character?
It is an anthology I think, there is no real star. The answer to that question would be the same if the question of who is the star of our history? However there are a few characters that are aesthetically based on real people. Most notably Max Turliss who you see briefly at the end of the issue is based on comedian D.L. Hughley, and a new character in the companion is based on Zazie Beats.
What does the future hold for NuWorld Chronicles?
Season One: MPD
Season Two: Delta
Season 3: (King’s book)
Season 4: Legend of The RavenDark
Season 5: The Five Forgotten
Season 6: Rome’s Rise
Season 7: The NuWorld Universe
Season 8: Clan Destiny
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