Matt Kindt has been a very busy creator as of late. Between his creation of Flux House, an imprint of Dark Horse, and the books he has written for it, he barely has time to think. However, he has continued to let his creative energy take over with the final issue for Boom Comics BRZRKR, the 12-part comic book series that was co-created and co-written by movie star Keanu Reeves. With all of that, Matt was still kind enough to give us another visit to discuss all of his recent projects. So, let’s welcome back talented creator Matt Kindt to GVN’s Talking Comics.
Flux House
GVN: Welcome Back Matt. Way back in June of last year, I had the pleasure of talking to you about your new imprint for Dark Horse,‘Flux House.’ Starting with Mind MGMT: Bootleg. Fast forward to now and you have so much going on this spring that it’s a wonder you can keep up. So, in the 7 months that has passed since then, what would you say you have learned since establishing Flux House? Has it been more challenging than you imagined or more rewarding than you can imagine?
MK: It’s a lot of work. It’s nearly as much work as running a publishing company. Responsibilities of story and sometimes art…but also the art direction and design of everything. I’ve always been involved but it’s become more of a formal thing now. I’m involved in pricing and production and pushing the printer (and probably everyone I work with) out of comfort zones – to try new things. New paper – different and possibly money-losing production ideas. It’s an amazing experiment and really all credit to Dark Horse for letting me take these chances.
Mind MGMT: Bootleg HardCopy
GVN: I had mentioned Mind MGMT: Bootleg and the original 4 issue mini-series came to hardcopy on March 21st. We had talked a bit at the time about you handing over the artistic reins over to someone other than yourself. You had mentioned at the time that it was only possible because of the comfort and faith you had in the team doing the art. Now that you have some distance and have seen the results, will you find it easier to pass off the artistic piece of your creations to others or would it still depend on the creators and the project?
MK: It’s never easy. And it’s always a little nerve-rattling up front when I haven’t collaborated with an artist. You’re not quite sure what you’ll get and if all the ideas are coming across…but I’ve been lucky enough now to have repeat-collaborations with a few artists and we’ve developed a kind of shorthand. Trust is there. It makes it really easy. MIND MGMT was a little tricker – having only worked with two of the four artists before. But I think the results came out great.
Any collaboration sort of blooms into something you wanted…but with unexpected subtleties. If you’re not a little scared while making art – you’re not doing it right. Fear of failure means you’re pushing into interesting territory. I’m working with a few friends this year on new books – so our collaborations will be familiar territory, but the formats and stories are going to be a little wilder. We’re doing some larger magazine style format stuff – European album-sized books…David Rubin, Wilfredo Torress, Tyler Jenkins, and Danny McDaid – all favorites of mine – all doing something completely different than anything any of us have done before. Superheroes, horror, hard sci-fi, mind-bending sci-fi…so many good pages being put together even as I write this!
Spy Superb
GVN: In addition to Mind MGMT: Bootleg, you have a number of other projects coming out. One of those being Spy Superb #1 courtesy of Flux House and Dark Horse, which launched on January 11th. If you would, share with our readers what Spy Superb #1 is about?
MK: An idiot who thinks he’s a spy…or a spy who’s so idiotic, he doesn’t realize he’s a spy. And he’s a bit of a narcissistic jerk. We spend 150 pages or so finding out if someone like this can survive in the real world of espionage…also – there are instruction on how to make a poison throwing star out of paper…and a LOT of secret codes hidden inside for readers to decode…
GVN: You partnered with your wife, colorist Sharlene Kindt on Spy Superb, (Just as you had in Dept. H). Which is remarkable since you had mentioned in our previous interview that she hadn’t even read comics before she met you. Now you two are a well-oiled creative machine. How did that come about? Had she been a painter before you sweet talked her into working with you?
MK: Yeah – we met in art school. I was making black and white comics and she was painting with watercolors…like chocolate and peanut butter. We ended up having a daughter that’s better than both of us at her age…but we’re limping along – still making comics together. I really came from an indie scene of comics where color was just too expensive – to print or to produce. But as my books became more successful – I realized I wanted color but wasn’t sure how to get the results I wanted. Sharlene gave me many watercolor lessons…and I spent 36 issues of MIND MGMT practicing what she showed me. But you can tell – it’s a huge leap in color from MIND MGMT to Dept. H and now Spy Superb. She’s the best.
Mister Mammoth
GVN: Released in late March, you had another Flux House publication, Mr. Mammoth, who is known as the World’s Greatest Detective (which will come as a surprise to Batman and Sherlock Holmes). What is the premise for Mr. Mammoth and how did you join up with internationally acclaimed artist Jean-Denis Pendanx for the project?
MK: I’ve been working with an amazing editor in France for translations of my books (Alain David) – at Futuropolis. He’s been a huge champion of my work and has hosted me many times. He’s become a friend over the years, and we got to talking. There are so many great artists in France that I love. I asked for an introduction to Jean-Denis…and we hit it off. I pitched him the idea – a few ideas actually and he chose this one. A big 7-foot detective with scars all over his body – with a mysterious past…who has solved every crime he’s ever investigated. But he’s a pacifist. He gets beat up a lot because of his smart mouth. And his love of TV soap operas…and a particular actress. It’s a film noir style story set in the 70s with a really fun/dark sci-fi flavor to it. Imagine Will Eisner collaborating with Paul Auster to make a 70s sci-fi detective novel. That’s what this reads like.
BRZRKR Final Issue
GVN: Well, THAT’s an intriguing comparison. However, you are not only working through Flux and Dark Horse. Although that would be enough for most creators. In addition, coming also in March through Boom! Studios, you are releasing the final issue of BRZRKR, the 12-part comic book series that was co-created and co-written by movie star Keanu Reeves. This final issue is co-written by Reeves and yourself, and features artist Ron Garney, colorist Bill Crabtree and letterer Clem Robins. Now that the series is ending, (and I know you can’t speak for Keanu), but do you feel good about the series and has it reflected everything that you aspired it to be from the start?
MK: I think we put a lot of balls in the air…started a lot of threads – and I think we didn’t drop any balls…and we tied off the threads that needed tying off. It was a wild story and I think we landed the plane…haha! The last two pages of this book…are wild. Exactly what I was hoping we’d get to when Keanu first pitched me the idea…we made it!
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
HairBall
GVN: Finally, apparently not being one to rest on your laurels, on April 5th, you have another Flux House/Dark Horse publication with the artistic team of Tyler Jenkins along with colors by Hilary Jenkins in the supernatural thriller Hairball. What was the premise for this tale what is it about cats that seem to work so well in such stories?
MK: Ha! I don’t know. I’ve had a few cats in my life – and they’re enigmatic. I don’t think they’re evil by any means. I think they just have their own agenda. Sometimes it lines up with yours and sometimes it doesn’t. The cat in this book definitely has an agenda…it’s just that sometimes that agenda causes house fires, deadly allergic reactions, and missing fingers…
GVN: I would imagine cats being less popular if they ALL had that kind of agenda. That’s a lot of activity for the beginning of the year…ANY year for that matter. Thank you again Matt for your time. But before I let you go; are there any OTHER projects you have in motion that you want to talk about. Perhaps something I missed?
MK: There are a BUNCH of new books – but all at various stages of completion – stay tuned for more Flux House – 2023 and 2024 are going to be jam-packed.
Dark Horse Comics/Flux House’s ‘Hairball’ by Matt Kindt, Tyler Jenkins and Hilary Jenkins drops on April 5th.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.