BPRD Chat with Cameron Stewart and Jason Latour

**Middenway** · 06-28-2012, 08:41 PM

This is an edited transcript. Twitter the way it is, I had to juggle things around a bit so it was easier to follow who's saying what to who in response to what. Lots of interesting stuff in here (CONTAINS SPOILERS for Exorcism):

Cameron Stewart
I've never done a Twitter chat before but at around 4 I'll be doing one about #BPRD. Search that hashtag to follow along.

‏@theBPRD
Welcome everyone to the BPRD Chat! Let's get this thing started! We're chatting with Writer and Artist Cameron Stewart about his work on BPRD Hell on Earth: Exorcism that hit shelves Wednesday! Please give a big welcome to Cameron Stewart and then get your questions rolling. What did everyone think of the new issue?

@loerwyn
To me, Exorcism is everything that makes BPRD one of the best series on the shelves. The character interactions, the personalities, and even the art. All superb.

‏@mortalforms
I haven't made it the shop yet, but all the previews and reviews make this book sound awesome!

‏@MarkTweedale
I loved it. Drawing, story, characterisation, all of it.

‏@mabooa
Cameron Stewart, welcome and the art was fantastic and the characterizations

Cameron Stewart
Thanks!

‏@dishwasherlove
Okay I'm going to hit this one on the head. Tell me who "The Master" is or the fishman gets it.

‏@dishwasherlove
but seriously, the reapperance of Kroenen and Kurtz at Zinco makes me all kind of happy #nefariousnazis

‏@Dablackgobbo
I don't hesitate saying BPRD is plain and simple the best comic-book regular series in History.

‏@mortalforms
Cameron, how does it feel to be back in the Mignolaverse...?

Cameron Stewart
It's great! I'm happy to have had a more significant contribution this time around. Last one was just a short.

‏@MarkTweedale
I'm actually pretty curious about the writing side of Exorcism. Did you pitch this to Mike or was the story his?

Cameron Stewart
Mike & Scott asked me to come up with a story featuring Strode and Ota, since they were underused. The plot was mine, then Mike & Scott went over it and tweaked it, offered suggestions (mostly pacing and some cosmology), then I rewrote.

@loerwyn
I want to add to Mark's question. Why Ash? Why not someone old or new?

Cameron Stewart
I guess she seemed like she could have been fleshed out a bit, rather than adding another new character

‏@loerwyn
You had this young, spunky, girly-but-not character who was... different. But good

‏@MarkTweedale
I gotta say, the writing was really tight. I finished it and loved it so much I immediately read all of Sin Titulo.

‏@KtBabkoff
I'm kind of the opposite. Read all of Sin Titulo and just now read Exorcism. :D I'm liking it. I like the pacing.

@MarkTweedale
Yeah, the pacing was something I LOVED. It felt like a really satisfying chunk of story. Didn't end too soon.

@mortalforms
More collabs in the future I hope...!?

Cameron Stewart
We've got some plans…can't say when though.

‏@mortalforms
Good to hear. I've been a fan of yours since I stumbled across your work on the DrawingBoard forum way back when...

‏@KtBabkoff
I'd be happy reading more stories by you. I'm quite enjoying them.

Jason Latour
Just read issue 1. Nice job, sir. Can't go wrong with flaming swords.

Cameron Stewart
Thanks JLa! Loved yours too.

‏@MarkTweedale
... Cameron Stewart AND Jason Latour are here. Awesome.

‏@theBPRD
We're definitely lucky to have you on board Agent Cameron Stewart. Looking forward to more of Agent Jason Latour as well.

Jason Latour
Ecstatic to be around. Especially with cartoonists like Cameron and the other guys. Really inspiring

‏@habitualwinner
Although my criticism of exorcism is me fishing for a criticism, overall it is an ungodly fantastic issue of BPRD.

‏@MarkTweedale
I don't have a single quibble with Exorcism. And that last page left me with the impression #2 will be even better.

‏@loerwyn
I have a quibble, and that's that I don't have the second half yet and I have to wait a month for it

‏@habitualwinner
Don't remind me!

‏@loerwyn
I noticed you emphasised Ash's interest - professional or otherwise - in Liz. Will we see more of that?

Cameron Stewart
Possibly! I haven't plotted my followup yet so I don't know what I'll include. She's definitely got girlcrush, but don't go expecting any kind of romance there.

@loerwyn
I'm not. I think me and @marktweedale have discussed this a lot. Just some confirmation on Ash's side is enough. We think that "outing" Liz would be a bad move, but Ash? We kinda hope she is. 'Cos that's been my gripe with BPRD. We have a fishman, pyrokinetic, etc, but no LGBT? That's weird to me.

‏@MarkTweedale
It'd be a nice addition to the BPRD universe. Such a diverse mix of agents.

‏@loerwyn
Indeed. I'd love to see it 100% confirmed in print, too. One day. Hey, a girl can dream.

Cameron Stewart
I have my opinion on Ash's orientation from her earlier appearance and I'll be going with that.

‏@loerwyn
I have a feeling we read that issue in the same way. She totally didn't deny it.

@mabooa
While hinted at and can be well done it might be considered a stunt (like some other publishers of late have done)

‏@loerwyn
So? Archie's "stunt" gave them their first sell-out issue in years. And it improves LGBT visibility, which is NEVER bad.

Cameron Stewart
I'm not a fan of stunts or soapboxing either, and my preference is for subtlety.

@mabooa
And I'm glad of that, I prefer a good story and the soapbox (and stunts) should be expressed in other forums

@loerwyn
And I don't think B.P.R.D. can ever be a vehicle for either, personally, but, a single panel clarification is just as good as anything

@MarkTweedale
Yeah, it should come out of the story naturally for sure. Like when we learnt Kate Corrigan or Johann were straight.

‏@loerwyn
YES! This! But it was clarified, if that makes sense. It was ambiguous, but clarified. It's like Liz. She's still ambiguous, because Dead Remembered was too far in the "past".

‏@MarkTweedale
I'm curious how much freedom you have with Ashley. She's pretty much yours to do with as you see fit for the story?

Cameron Stewart
I'm sure I don't have *total* freedom (It's Mike's baby), but Ash seems to have been earmarked for me.

‏@habitualwinner
Is this your favorite work for BPRD?

Cameron Stewart
Prior to this I'd just done a short and a pinup AGES ago, so I definitely prefer this :)

‏@mortalforms
Jason Latour, I heard rumors a new mini was announced at HeroesCon... true?

‏@MarkTweedale
I heard this too, but as to what was announced, I've no idea.

Jason Latour
Mignola said what it is in the panel. Not BPRD but related. I'd say more but I don't wanna screw anything up

‏@MarkTweedale
Cameron Stewart, I noticed in Exorcism you used way more panels than is usual for a Hellboy universe story. I loved the extras panels though, It really worked for me and still felt like that world.

Cameron Stewart
That's just lack of space. If I'd have had 80 pages I'd have far more open pages. Sadly I had to sacrifice a lot of the ideas I had for issue 2, mainly because of space. But yet I didn't want to stretch the story out for more than 2 issues, since I felt like it was unnecessary

‏@theBPRD
Issue 2 is gorgeous. Can't wait for all the Agents to read it. BPRD Splash page that just kills it.

Cameron Stewart
Most of what I cut was action stuff, which I don't feel would have worked had it been isolated in an additional issue

‏@mortalforms
Give the man 80 pages next time!!!!

@MarkTweedale
YES. It'd be cool to do a slightly longer issue when the story calls for it, like 32 pager or something. Extended edition for the trade maybe. #JustKidding #NotReally #ITotallyMeanIt

@loerwyn
On an art note, I felt your style worked *really* well for Exorcism, and B.P.R.D. as a whole

‏@KtBabkoff
Your art style is quite loose in Sin Titulo, compared to BPRD. Is it good to be able to go back to that?

Cameron Stewart
I try to draw differently for different projects to keep it interesting for myself and to be appropriate for the story. Sin Titulo is something I started 5 years ago (!) though and I'm trying to remain consistent (even though it has changed) In many ways I'm deliberately drawing Sin Titulo more crudely than I would otherwise, for consistency. It's weird.

‏@habitualwinner
Awesome! Do you feel like your art style was unique this issue in any way? Or was your approach the same pretty much?

Cameron Stewart
I think I made some significant advances in my own art style for this, which felt great.

@mortalforms
Love to see you get to draw the BIG RED GUY...

‏@habitualwinner
YES

Cameron Stewart
Ahhh my eyes! 2003 drawings!

‏@mortalforms
You were killing it 9 years ago as well!

Cameron Stewart
That's kind, but I honestly get stomach pains looking at old work

‏@mortalforms
I will never mention it again!

**Middenway** · 06-28-2012, 08:43 PM

Transcript continued...

‏@MarkTweedale
Gotta say, you guys do an amazing job of keeping such a sprawling universe cohesive. Are you able to write stories that will cross-over or contribute in a big way to the main BPRD plotline or is that something Mike has reserved for John Arcudi. Are your short stories compartmentalised in that sense?

‏@loerwyn
Plus is it easier if you're on the fringe? They tend to be the better, more natural stories IMHO

Cameron Stewart
I think I'm mainly on the side, with the occasional reference to the bigger storyline. I'm not butting in to the main

‏@habitualwinner
What do you think the advantages are of shorter stories are? Or do they have any?

Cameron Stewart
Short stories are a lot harder, I think.

‏@habitualwinner
Well you nailed this short story! It may have been said already but - seriously awesome work!

‏@MarkTweedale
So do you intend to draw all the stories you write for BPRD or will you write for other artists too?

Cameron Stewart
I think I'll be writing/drawing. I've never written for someone else. My process is very much for me. I draw first, dialogue after. The drawing IS the writing, for me.

‏@MarkTweedale
Totally makes sense. And I loved your art by the way, in case I haven't mentioned it.

‏@habitualwinner
Do you have a particular picture in mind before you start usually?

Cameron Stewart
Usually I have some kind of mental image but it takes sketching it out to refine it.

‏@KtBabkoff
Drawing first - do you make an outline, thumbnail it, and then write dialogue? Does it feel more natural doing that?

Cameron Stewart
I draw roughs, and think of what the dialogue will be as I'm drawing. Then when the art is finished I write final dialogue. The main benefit is it saves me from being too indulgent. I have to fit the dialogue in the space I've left for myself. Quite often I've found that a line works WAY better when it's hacked down to fit in a small space.

‏@KtBabkoff
Nice! Thanks for that. :D I'm always interested in the process and yours, as far as I know, is quite unique.

‏@loerwyn
What is it about BPRD that excites you the most? The depth, the monsters, the characters? Something else?

Cameron Stewart
I like that it's a smart, well-crafted series that has a strong singular vision despite being made by many people

‏@loerwyn
That sums it up well, I think. It's a series I fell in love with pretty much instantly

‏@mabooa
so have you ever wanted to do an issue where there is no dialog, the story being conveyed through the art alone?

Cameron Stewart
Sure. I have sections of Sin Titulo with no dialogue. I like silent comics.

‏@MarkTweedale
Those are really well done by the way, because I still linger on those frames even without dialogue.

‏@theBPRD
I'm a big fan of silent comics as well. There are some amazing pieces out there.

‏@MarkTweedale
That was one of the reasons The Fury #3 worked so well. Just letting the pictures speak for themselves can be so powerful.

‏@loerwyn
X-23 issue 21. One of the most amazing Comics As Art issues I've ever encountered.

‏@MarkTweedale
Side note, it's awesome that Dave Stewart is now getting credit on the covers. His contribution is invaluable. I couldn't imagine the Hellboy Universe without him and I don't want to either.

‏@theBPRD
Agreed

‏@loerwyn
Also agreed. I think it's important colorists get credit too.

‏@theBPRD
Alright Agents. That's the official end of the BPRD chat today. Cameron Stewart will finish up at his leisure. Thank You All!

Cameron Stewart
Yeah I gotta get back to work! Thanks, hope this was fun for everyone!

@theBPRD
Thanks Everyone!!

Whew! Writing this transcript took a lot longer than I thought. Won't be doing that again in a hurry.

**Storey74** · 06-28-2012, 09:56 PM

Excellent work transcribing sir! It was fun being part of the conversation.

**Middenway** · 06-28-2012, 11:16 PM

Never again! It seemed like a good idea at the time, but it was way too much effort. Once I started though, I felt like I had to finish it.

The BPRD chat was awesome though. It was a nice change to talk to a writer/artist. Plus Cameron Stewart was really good at keeping up with all the questions thrown at him.