Michael Conrad is celebrated for his exceptional writing skills, crafting stories for iconic comic characters like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Doom Patrol for DC Comics. His talents also extend beyond DC into his own work, creating original narratives for publishers such as Oni Press and ComiXology Originals. His newest book, “Neptune,” soon to be released by ComiXology Originals and illustrated by Nathan Ooten, narrates the story of Corey Harrison. Singularly taking the fall for a crime his brother and friends had also participated in, Corey emerges from a 17-year imprisonment on a mission to uncover the truth behind his brother’s mysterious death during his time in prison. A journey that plunges him into the deep darkness veiling his family’s past.
In anticipation of his new book, we recently had the opportunity to talk to Michael about his beginnings, his willingness to take on other comic tasks, and his upcoming book “Neptune“ with artist Nathan Ooten. So, let’s welcome talented writer Michael Conrad to GVN Talking Comics.
Beginnings
GVN: Thank you for sharing a few minutes of your time Michael. Since this is our first opportunity to chat, I want to start with your beginnings. When did you first take an interest in writing, and whose work inspired you to consider that profession?
MC: My mother was a writer. She mostly worked for local papers, but I always admired her passion for language and storytelling. In addition to this, we were poor, so books were something that was cheap and provided hours of enjoyment. In many ways, literature was my babysitter. It made me fall in love with the concept of projecting our hearts broadly through the written word.
As far as writers go, the list of influences is vast, I will mention the low hanging fruit though. I love Moore and Morrison, and I continue to find their work foundational. With storytelling at large, David Lynch’s influence is ever present in the way I approach a script.
Indie VS The Big TWO
GVN: You have done work for the “Big Two” as well as for Indie comics. Do you have a different writing process when it comes to working with established characters, like Doom Patrol or Batman than you do when creating your own projects and stories?
MC: With creator owned work I experience a degree of freedom that doesn’t exist when writing characters owned by others. With the books I have done outside of the” Big Two” I don’t have to concern myself about toy sales, or the legacy of the characters. In my own work morality can be more complex, and the stakes can be as high or low as I’d like.
Developing Empathy
GVN: As I have looked at your website and your bibliography, you have tried your hand at a little bit of everything in your comic creations. From writing, drawing (Unlucky), lettering (Sleight), and all points in between. What do you feel you learned from each endeavor, and did taking on more ever change how you approached your writing process?
MC: My website is woefully past due for an update, and as such is a poor representation of where I’ve been and what I’ve done at this point. That said, it does reveal (for those who know my current bibliography) how hard I’ve worked to get to the place I am. In having some experience with nearly every element of comics, it’s created a degree of understanding and empathy for those who fill the various roles in comic production. Comics are a wild amount of work, and our compensation financially is often incongruent to the hours invested. The thing that unifies most comics creators is an undying love for the medium, and with projects like Neptune I have had the chance to pull in likeminded creators who are willing to bleed for our shared creative moment.
Neptune
GVN: Your upcoming book from ComiXology Originals is Neptune, which you did with artist Nathan Ooten. You’ve described it as a horrific tale without necessarily being a “horror” story. Please share with our readers a bit of the story behind ‘Neptune’ and what it is about.
MC: Our world is horrific. This is a great opportunity to talk about the book, but honestly, it’s a response to unspeakable and well-known acts of economic aggression. I’m not happy with the state of the world right now, and frankly, no one should be. Neptune is in many ways an exploration of those hard feelings and finding a way to better understand the troubling things we have to engage with as privileged Americans.
The book is about eggs, that’s the simple way to put it, but really, it’s about being broke, being manipulated, and ultimately finding that the rabbit hole goes very deep indeed.
Nathan Ooten
GVN: As I mentioned earlier, you collaborated with the upcoming artist Nathan Ooten on “Neptune.” How did this collaboration come about and how closely did you work with Nathan as the story progressed? His art is unusual yet evocative, and it excels at supporting Neptune’s intense narrative.
MC: Nathan was someone who I could always count on. Someone who would bust his ass to go wider, go different, to challenge our idea of what comics are. Nathan does things in his own way, and I wanted to honor that. You don’t tell people like him how to behave, you know what you’re getting into…An artist, someone with a vision–that’s exactly who I wish to work with. someone with a full spirit.
Latest Projects
GVN: I do appreciate your kind attention, Michael. Before I let you go, I want to give you an opportunity to tell our fans where they can follow you and about any other projects you have upcoming.
MC: I’m online @michaelwconrad on most platforms, but beyond that I’m out here just trying to exist. It’s quite hard. I hope everyone is well, and that you can see through the illusion. Neptune is my effort to tell our story, the one that binds us together.
I have a number of other creator-owned projects in the works, and of course more books featuring the heroes many of your readers love. The end of 2024 going into 2025 will reveal a number of these and will hopefully pleasantly surprise people who are interested in reading more stories by me.
ComiXology Original’s ‘Neptune’ by Michael Conrad and Nathan Ooten releases digitally on September 3rd. It will then be published by Dark Horse Books on March 4th, 2025.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst 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 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
