This week our spotlight is on Terry Moore, author, creator and writer of the long running Strangers in Paradise, and the hot series, Echo. In this article we discuss Terry’s newest project: Rachel Rising and a special treat for San Diego Comic Con fans.
In case you missed the rest of my interview with Terry Moore: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
TGO: You had talked about Strangers in Paradise being like a TV series. If so then would it ever truly have a ending?
TM: Well, actually I did come to a nice ending where I resolved the main line between Francine and Katchoo. So, I did wrap up almost all of the story in the last few issues.
TGO: There are no plans to have a sequel, a rerun or an extension of Strangers in Paradise?
TM: It’s not on my schedule book right now, but it was one of my options after Echo, as I have ideas in mind. I have a lot more story in my head, whether or not I do it in comics or in novels I’m not sure yet. But I left big holes, plus there is the next year issue.
TGO: So fans may have something to look forward to – there no guarantees right, but there may be something?
TM: If you were just following me no matter what medium, there’s going to be more.
TGO: Okay. You have another project ready to arise in Rachel Rising, correct?
TM: Yes. Rachel Rising is a supernatural story, and that’s a genre I haven’t played with yet for the public. Actually, it
was the first short story I ever wrote at the age of 13–the supernatural horror stories. So it’s been a love of mine all along, and I’m looking forward to diving into it.
TGO: Is it going to maintain that kind of same grounded humanity where the story is driven by a relatable character dealing with extraordinary circumstances like in Echo?
TM: Yes, because I think it’s more interesting if it has a sense of normalcy and then weird things happen. It’s weirder if things happen in normal setups. If everybody is a little scary then you don’t care, nobody’s scared.
For instance, that’s why one of my favorite movies is Serial Mom, John Waters’ Serial Mom, with Kathleen Tuner, because
Rachel Rising #1
she plays Leave it to Beaver’s mom who’s slashing everybody’s throats. It’s so great. That is so much better than some psycho walking around and you know what he’s going to do. So I enjoy that kind of contrast in characters, and that’s what I go for in Rachel Rising.
TGO: That reminds me kind of what Lovecraft was playing around with, which was normal people exposed to a horrifying new reality that’s so beyond comprehension, the character is psychologically attacked by this “new” reality.
TM: That was the basis of Poe as well. Any man can get scarily over his head and it’s frightening. For instance, if someone decided to jump to their death and they are hanging on by their fingernails. Now they’re hanging by their fingernails and, they change their mind. There they are, at six floors up, looking down at the concrete, but they don’t have the strength to pull themselves back up. That’s terrifying. That’s a normal person who got in way over their head, and it’s a lot more horrifying than somebody racked out on drugs just walking off the ledge.
TGO: You’d go for scary.
TM: It’s not a slasher kind, but I’m going for scary. It was so unusual that people would say, about Strangers in Paradise, they would read some pages in that comic book, and it would make them cry. That is so hard to achieve through a comic page. If I could do something like that with Rachel Rising, where I could actually get weirdness, just get those hairs standing on your arm through the reading, that would be my goal. That would be a huge accomplishment for me.
TGO: So the ultimate fan letter would be “I was reading Rachel Rising, I was so freaked out I put it in my freezer.”
TM: Yes, I would like that. That would be, to me, a high-five moment.
TGO: Your protagonists, Rachel Rising and Echo, are female. How come you chose a female protagonist versus a male protagonist? Do you find that there’s a difficulty or challenge writing a female hero?
TM: It’s really not more difficult. I write from a female standpoint because it’s more interesting to hear these brave conversations coming out of the woman’s mouth when typically we’re so used to them hearing come out of a guy. With Echo, I took the classic male viewer journey and I put it on to a woman’s shoulders. But instead of giving her a woman’s turf, I put her on a man’s turf. It’s a mean playing field. How is it going to turn out? How is she going to handle it?
My premise is that “They’ll can handle it bloody well, thank you very much,” and that things will get done. I think it’s just more interesting to see that.
TGO: How have your female fans reacted? Do they see Julie as a symbol of empowerment? Do they see her as a victim of circumstance? How are they relating?
TM: I haven’t seen anybody cast her in an iconic way. They always talk about her as a person, like she’s a sister going through something and they’re concerned about it. So it’s stayed on a personal level. I haven’t seen any of the characters turn into icons of any type. All the conversation coming back to me is personal observations, personal support, concern about the person. Maybe when the story is over, and everybody can quantify it, then we’ll know.
TGO: You’re going to be at Comic-Con?
TM: Yes. We’re actually going to be in a lot of shows this year. For the rest of the year we’ll be at New York show, Boston show, Pittsburg. So, a lot to look forward. It’s a very busy year, 15 shows this year. I want to stay in touch with what’s happening, I think 2011 is a critical year, and I want to be a part of it.
TGO: Not just because 2012 is going to be the end of the world.
TM: Right, we’re just trying to cram in as many Cons as we can before the end of the world. That’s our goal.
TGO: What else do you have lined up?
TM: In June, I’m gonna put out a “How to Draw Women” comic book, and it’s one chapter of many that I’m going to start putting out, like two or three times a year, and I’ll put out another one about a different topic. When I get enough different chapters, I’ll put them together in one How To Draw book
I’m not going to talk about it the way the generic art instruction book would approach it. I’m just going to talk about it with what I do, how I do it, what I look for when I think about what I’m drawing, how I make my comics and stuff like that.
TGO: Anything special for Comic-Con in San Diego?
TM: Yes, a hard cover omnibus of Echo. Just a hundred copies and just for Comic-Con and you’re the first we told this about.
Author’s note: I want to thank Terry Moore and his wife, Robyn for this interview. I had a great time talking with Terry, and are both just extremely cool and friendly. If you are going to be at Comic-Con in San Diego, make sure to stop by his booth.
Don’t forget to check out Terry Moore’s website!
Just a quick note to thank you SO MUCH for posting the Terry Moore interview. I am fascinated by his ability to make his characters seem so real, both through his drawing and his storytelling. I was saddened to learn that the Echo Omnibus will only be available to the Con folks. Could he have been referencing a limited edition? I know many of us would like to purchase an Echo Omnibus. I look forward to Rachel Rising and to the drawing series.
This is from an email I received:
“Hi Eric,
Yes, we will be publishing a softcover Omnibus that will be available in comic shops in August. The hardcover Omnibus will only be available through Abstract Studio, and we plan to offer it on our website for those readers who cannot attend San Diego Comic-Con.
Hope all is well!
Robyn”
There you go!
I’ve been a fan of Terry Moore’s work since I read I Dream of You back in the 90′s. After enjoying Echo I’m very excited to pick up Rachel Rising.
Rachel Rising is definitely not going to disappoint you. I am amazed by Terry’s ability to switch genres from science-fiction to romance/relationships and now to horror and supernatural themes. The one thing I absolutely agree with, is that he still makes his characters grounded and relatable, regardless of what genre the story is in.
Stephen, I am gonna try to get you an answer to that question.
Brilliant series of interviews, thanks so much for sharing them! I have been a huge fan of Terry Moore’s work since the early 90s. Back in the day after a visit to our local comic shop, my husband (then boyfriend) and I would tussle over who was reading SiP first – these days it’s Echo, lol
I’m not a fan of horror, but wouldn’t miss Rachel Rising for the world. If any one can convert me to a new genre, its Mr Moore 
It was a pleasure interviewing Terry. I love it when authors I enjoy reading, or actors for that matter, are just nice, down-to-earth people. It makes the stories more personable for me. Terry is one of those. Right now, my wife is enjoying Echo: Atomic Dreams, but I got to it first. Muhahaha!