When it comes to comics, writer Steve Orlando has worked with most of the prominent publishers and with many of the mainstream characters. Each time infusing the characters with his original spin on them. The same can be said for when he takes on an original story. Such is the case with his upcoming series for Mad Cave Studios Exorcists Never Die with talented artist Sebastián Píriz. A mix of action adventure and Christian Mythology.
We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with both of the creative team behind this exciting new title, starting with writer Steve Orlando. We talked about his education, his commitment early on to working in comics, his approach to writing for both established mainstream characters and original creations, and of course Exorcists Never Die. So, let’s welcome writer Steve Orlando to GVN’s Talking Comics.
GVN: Thank you for sharing a bit of your day with us Steve.
SO: My pleasure, as always! Never a problem to talk mythology and violence.
Beginnings
GVN: Since this is our first opportunity to chat, let’s start with some of your beginnings. You graduated with a degree in creative writing from Hamilton College. At that time, did you consider comic book writing as a possibility, or did you have bigger ambitions for your writing career?
SO: It’s funny you say that! Comic writing has always been the goal, ever since I went to my first convention at age 12 and began trying to break into comics. So, by the time I was out of college, I’d already been pitching comics and learning the craft for a decade. But my degree is actually in Russian Studies. Because while I did double major in Russian Studies and creative writing and was lucky enough to take part in an exclusive Senior Fellowship program and spend my senior year writing, illustrating, and producing a graphic novel, at the end of the process, the powers that be decided what I had done didn’t qualify as “writing” by their standards, and I did not receive that degree. To be fair, they claimed the Senior Fellowship in creative writing was at least as meaningful, but that’s for history to decide.
Influences and Mentors
GVN: Well, how absolutely judgmental of them. I believe that history is leaning toward YOUR side. Regardless, as you contemplated getting into the comic field, were there any particular creators that piqued your curiosity or inspired you to pursue that genre of writing?
SO: I think I tend to wear my influences on my sleeve, honestly – Grant Morrison, Rachel Pollack, Ann Nocenti, Peter MIlligan, Russ Manning…but also folks like Mikhail Bulgakov, Werner Herzog, and Hideaki Anno and John Milton. However, I also need to mention the mentors without whom I wouldn’t be here, the creators that looked over new work from me multiple times a year for the almost twenty years it took for me to break into the business – Steve Seagle, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau, and Joe Casey. Without those four, I might still be asking people whether to number my speech balloons or not.
The Pressures of Writing
GVN: During your career, you have written for just about every major publisher and worked with a literal who’s who as far as characters go. From Avengers, Spider-Man, X-Men, Batman, Superman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman…the list is endless. Did you at any time feel any pressure when writing for some of these iconic characters? (For some writers, there is an inherent intimidation factor).
SO: I think you hit the nail on the head – I feel that pressure every time I come onto a new book, regardless of who the character is. If it’s an established IP, then the pressure is both to make good on the faith your employers have in trusting the character to you as well as the weight of meaning the character has for fans. And if it’s an original, the pressure is almost just as great to show your homegrown ideas can go toe to toe with the rest of the industry. In a project like “EXORCISTS NEVER DIE,” you have something that’s original but also making use of mythology that means something massive to many people, so there’s that weight again. But I think that weight has a different connotation than intimidation – it’s a realization of meaning, of responsibility, and of your place in time as part of a character’s story that, in some cases, will almost certainly outlive you.
Taking on Scarlet Witch
GVN: Great answer. SO, among your many ongoing projects, you are now writing for Scarlet Witch. A character that has really blown up since the MCU’s emphasis on her. Going in, what do you hope to explore that hadn’t been delved into at that point?
SO: I think with SCARLET WITCH, for the first time in a long time, I don’t want to say ever, but a long time, we’re showcasing a Wanda Maximoff who is unbound from her past mistakes. She’s not ignoring them, she’s allowing them to inform her present. But they’re no longer shackles. She’s allowing herself power and joy, and with that comes her unique perspective as one who overcomes. This isn’t the first SCARLET WITCH series, but I do think it’s a first for Wanda, with the specter of the Darkhold and her actions against mutants no longer looming. It’s a new day for one of Marvel’s most powerful characters – and as you might expect, that has plenty of villains worried.
The Origins of ‘Exorcists Never Die’
GVN: That sounds like an exciting take on the character. We will look forward to that. But let’s get onto what this is all about. Another of your upcoming projects is a collaboration with artist Sebastián Píriz on Mad Cave Studio’s aforementioned Exorcists Never Die. What was the inspiration for this story and how long have you been working on this premise?
SO: It’s been a minute, for sure! Mad Cave reached out to me about EXORCISTS NEVER DIE in, I believe, 2020? But I could be wrong. Either way, we’ve been cooking for a while – and the challenge of making a fight comic built around exorcism and Christian Mythology was a challenge I didn’t have to think twice about taking. One of my advisors in college was a Milton Scholar, and since then, I’ve always been excited for any chance to dig into Christian Mythology, anything dealing with angels and demons, especially if the lore can be grown into something truly surprising.
GVN: So, it was Mad Cave that presented this concept to you. Did they allow you the freedom to approach the story as you saw it, without any strict ground rules?
SO: Mad Cave reached out to me with a very broad mandate, as we hinted at above. And from there, they couldn’t have been more supportive as Sebastian and I made the concept our own. I’d say it’s their seed, which was then germinated by us all as collaborators. And that’s not unusual! Editorial is a key part of the creative team, and there’s no reason to say anything different about publishers.
Rule Breaking: Advantage vs. Disadvantage
GVN: In reading the first issue, one of the elements you touch upon is the challenge of battling evil when unlike your enemy, your heroes must follow a certain guideline of rules. (Considering their profession, that’s kind of a must). I am almost embarrassed that the thought never really occurred to me. It would seem a real disadvantage in a fight. Was this a concept that was an original plot point, or did it evolve as you wrote?
SO: This was absolutely part of our lore from page one paragraph one. But it’s interesting – yes, demons in this world do have an advantage in that they break the rules and directly possess humans. But there’s a downside as well. But overtaking a human body, they lose the human perspective. And it’s that perspective, and lived experience, that lets our combat exorcists figure out how to counter each of our seven deadly sins not with force, but with strategy.
Artist Sebastián Píriz
GVN: That comes through, right from Issue 1. Which was pretty cool. As I mentioned, you are working with talented artist Sebastián Píriz, whose work on the first issue is exemplary. How did this collaboration come about?
Also, as you first started receiving some of Sebastián’s pages, did it surprise you in any way or perhaps, make you view your story in a different manner than you initially conceived it?
SO: Every page from Sebastian is a surprise – and absolutely an improvement on what I envisioned, which is how it’s supposed to be! Comics are a collaboration. And part of that is knowing when to check yourself, be humble, and give yourself up to the fact that you’re not in charge. Every member of the team is vital, every member of the team is talented, and every member of the team needs the space to do what they do best. Sebastian is an absolute murderer on the page, and as the artist, he’s my first audience along with editorial. If I can get him excited, make him feel challenged and respected, the pages are only going to be better and better, and yes – surprising. But that’s part of what makes comics unique and special as a medium.
New Projects and Social Media
GVN: From my conversation with Sebastian, I think your collaboration was a success. I want to thank you again, Steve for visiting with us. Before I let you go, I want to give you a chance to promote any other projects you might have and tell our followers where they can follow you on social media or the web.
SO: Thank you! I’m easy to find on twitter (https://twitter.com/thesteveorlando) and instagram (https://www.instagram.com/the.steve.orlando/), and as for future projects…well! Keep an eye on X, as always. There, there’s the BEFORE THE FALL one-shots coming out very soon, as well as the ongoing X-MEN GREEN plus some unannounced titles. There’s SPIDER-MAN 2099: DARK GENESIS coming this spring from Marvel, and a massive unannounced project that’s been five years in the making, which should finally be announced this summer! There’s BULLS OF BEACON HILL, a gritty queer crime epic that’s coming out from AfterShock right now, too! And that’s just a hint – keep your eyes to the sky, folks.
Mad Cave Studios Exorcists Never Die, Issue 1 by Steve Orlando, Sebastián Píriz, and Carlos M. Mangual is available on April 12. Be sure to check out our conversation with Steve’s artistic counterpart Sebastián Píriz here.
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.