The Swordsmen

With two maxi-series from Image Comics under their belt (Ultra and Girls) and a mini-series in the can with Marvel Comics (Spider-Woman Origins), The Luna Brothers (Jonathan and Josh) are on a roll. Their latest creation, The Sword, is a revenge tale revolving around Dara, a young woman whose life is destroyed by the ominous Strangers. When she discovers a mysterious but powerful sword in this desperate hour, she plans to take vengeance upon her assailants. With the book just released this past October 17, also by Image Comics, the brothers took time out of their hectic schedule to share some thoughts about the new series.

JXM: What do you miss the most about Girls now that it's all over?

Josh: Well, I love the horror and sci-fi genres, so I miss not being able to tap into the world we've created for Girls, where those elements were always readily available month after month. Not that our future titles, or even The Sword, won't have those elements. It's just that Girls had its own specific tone.

Jonathan: I miss the characters, as well. They were a colourful bunch.

JXM: With The Sword just released, how does it feel to have a third maxi-series on stands? Do you still get butterflies before a new book is released, or is it just another day's work?

Josh: We always try our best to put out good work, but when you're working so close to the material, you never know how it will be received once it gets out there. So yeah, I do tend to feel a bit anxious when a new book launches. But if it did get to the point, where making comics became "just another day's work," I think I'd have to quit. Personally, making comics, or doing anything you love for that matter, should never feel like a nine to five.

JXM: Would you call The Sword a tale of one woman, like Ultra, or a story of many, like the ensemble cast of Girls?

Jonathan: A tale of one woman, though she has companions through her journey. Dara, our protagonist, also comes into contact with a number of adversaries.

JXM: Solicitations for The Sword claim, "If you liked Kill Bill, Highlander, and/or Blade of the Immortal, you'll like The Sword." What else can we expect from the book?

Josh: Other than the fact that a sword and some supernatural elements are involved, I think those titles share only a few similarities to The Sword. I think readers can expect a grounded attempt at a supernatural story. They can also expect to be entertained... so we hope!

Jonathan: We can safely say that The Sword has more action than our previous books.

JXM: The dialogue in your books is one major aspect that seems to bring readers back again for every issue. How much of the same can we expect from The Sword?

Josh: Thank you. Well, each of our titles carries a slightly different tone. For example, a survivor/horror story like Girls probably wouldn't have as many conversations about dating and weekend plans as a superhero/drama like Ultra. In that sense, the dialogue in The Sword may be different. But I'm still the same writer, so it's most likely a matter of injecting my sensibilities into a new type of situation and conflict.

JXM: Your penchant for dark humour usually comes out in the strangest of places, but the timing is almost always impeccable. What is your approach when incorporating the comedic elements in your stories? Is it conscious or something more organic? Can we expect the same humour in The Sword?

Josh: I guess it's a little bit of both. It's something I consciously set out to do, but let happen organically - if that makes any sense. But yeah, I've always had a tendency to look for humour in any given situation.

JXM: What inspired the main character of The Sword, Dara? Who would you compare her to, real or fictional?

Jonathan: To be honest, I don't know. We came up with The Sword a couple years ago, so it's hard to pinpoint how it all originated. Considering that this is a revenge story, I've always been a fan of The Crow. Maybe some of that channeled into it. There really isn't one thing. All of our stories are inspired by life in general.

JXM: What can we expect from "the strangers" in The Sword?

Jonathan: They're supernaturally powerful.

JXM: Working in a genre known for its badass characters, how do you plan on redefining "badass" to make it fresh for fans?

Josh: I don't think we'll be redefining as much we'll be doing our own take. But we definitely want them to be fully, fleshed out individuals with specific, yet complicated motivations. Not clear-cut heroes or villains.

JXM: In terms of both story and art, what do you plan on doing differently with The Sword that you may not have necessarily got to do in Ultra and Girls?

Josh: More epic-ness. I just made up a word.

Jonathan: I'm always trying to improve my art, despite the challenge of doing a full page each day. The biggest change on my end is the more painterly covers.

JXM: Are there any other projects you're working on right now, outside of The Sword? Can we expect more Spider-Woman in the future? Sequels to Ultra or Girls?

Jonathan: There are other things that we're doing, but it may be awhile until we can announce anything. Maybe even stuff outside of comics.

I can't remember if Bendis, Reed, and I have talked about more Spider-Woman. I know Maleev is supposed to do the ongoing, which I can't wait to see. But I'm open to something if my schedule permits.

Girls is complete. There's a possibility with Ultra down the line.

JXM: What advice would you give to writers and artists with aspirations of making it in this exciting industry (outside of lots of practice)?

Josh: Give up, it's not worth it.

No, but seriously, my advice to aspiring writers and artists is to read, watch, and experience everything you can.

Jonathan: There is nothing outside of lots of practice. Be the best you can be. Keep drawing and never quit. Never quitting is the key. I've heard "I used to draw" too many times.