Last night I saw a preview for FOX’s Gotham, which is supposed to be a prequel for Batman. On the top of the screen it said “Viewer Discretion Advised.” This struck me as earlier in the day I had just spoken with a former Batman artist who lamented that comic books were not longer inclusive of kids. Isn’t it weird that a show based on a comic book requires even adult viewers to be weary? I understand that some great comics and comic inspired-film have come out of “going dark” but shouldn’t there be comic content that is inclusive of everyone?
Luckily, Disney has decided to get into the comics game with their first original graphic novel Space Mountain. (I know Disney owns Marvel, but this book is coming out of Disney publishing). What I enjoyed about the book is that, much like Disneyland itself, is a book both kids and adults can enjoy. This is not an all-age title which really means it is for kids. It exemplifies the Disney tradition of serving both audiences. The book never talks down to its audience. In fact, there are quotes by Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, George Orwell, Benjamin Franklin, and Yogi Berra littered throughout the book that could do worse things than encourage folks to learn more about these legends.
Space Mountain is an action-adventure type tale that takes place in the year 2125 where two lucky cadets win spots on a time-travel mission into the future. But of course, things go horribly wrong and the cadets must save themselves, the crew, and all of Space Mountain. Much like the ride, you have no idea where the book is headed, and that’s a good thing.
Space Mountain makes the wise decision of telling a great story without trying to force the Disney connections. The book lives and breathes on its own while stilling making subtle nods to its Disney legacy such as The Moonliner and Tomorrowland’s Clock of the World. The book also has a larger than expected scope adventuring off to prehistoric times, the renaissance, and the era of pirates that flesh out the story.
The entire tale features strong characterizations with great illustrated acting. The style is rooted in comic books but appears to be influenced the 50’s science fiction with the retro-future style Disney utilizes in Tomorrowland. A lot of thought went into the plotting to ensure it was fantastical while being grounded (no pun intended). This may be due to the length of time the book has been in development with work having begun in 2010.
Many of us have fond memories of different extensions of the theme park attractions that have been released throughout the years. Whether it is the Haunted Mansuon album or the Country Bear Jamboree storybrook, each of these served the dual purpose of expanding the attraction, and bringing a piece of the experience to us at home. Space Mountain is another one of those extensions that will be remembered fondly for years to come.
I had the opportunity to talk writer Bryan Q. Miller and illustrator Kelley Jones about the book. Miller has worked in television on such shows as Syfy’s Defiance and the CW’s Arrow and Smallville. Jones is best known for his work at DC Comics on such titles as Sandman, Deadman, and Batman. It was Jones’s ability to transition from some of the darker characters in the DC Universe to this optimistic yet adventurous tale that was surprising and showcased his versatility. He is truly a storytelling artist of the Disney tradition. He does not just draw the story, he tells it through his imagery.
As our conversation began, it was very interesting to hear the passion they had for setting the tone right. They kept mentioning that they were looking for the 80’s Amblin kid-adventure vibe. They also used the Disney 80’s adventure films such as The Black Hole and The Witch Mountain movies as a benchmark.
While you may think that Disney would be conservative with such a strong brand as Space Mountain, Brian and Kelley said they never felt confined. They told the surprising tidbit that the Disney team actually pushed the creatives to go further. Proof of this is that the book expanded from 68 pages to 154. This gave the story some more breathing room. In fact, Bryan’s favorite part of the book was added after they were give more pages. One thing I found interesting was that the book’s format, which is a little shorter than a traditional comic book, was a blessing in discuise for Jones. While he first felt the format would be restrictive, 8 pages in Jones felts he could work that way for the rest of his life. It says it forces himself to be his own editor, focusing the action of the pages.
Jones mentioned that working on this book was a kick as it finally gave his parents a project they could understand. The universality of Disney makes this an accomplishment he feels he can share with everyone. He mentioned that when he received the book he was so happy that he could not do anything for the rest of the day.
Having both Bryan and Kelley on the phone, you can tell they are a great team. Kelley praised Bryan’s characterizations while Bryan praised Kelly’s illustrations. They also wanted to make sure they recognized Hi-Fi Design who did the colors. As they say, the book without colors is like watching Star Wars without the John Williams score.
For those wondering, Walt Disney Imagineering did approve everything in the book. Kelley Jones said that he was expecting a nightmare approval situation, but they ended up being on big happy family as they have approved everything. In fact, they enjoyed it so much that they asked Jones to send over artwork to be a part of their collection, which made Jones very proud. And if you are wondering if the Brad Bird Tomorrowland film had any impact in the book, the creators said that filmmaking team has been very supportive of the project. The only change they could recall having to make was changing the name of the book as it was originally entitled Tomorrowland.
The best part of the interview is that they are currently working on Book Two which is envisioned as the middle chapter of a trilogy. Kelly’s enthusiasm for the project kept his pencil going so they already had design work done for Book 2. If the trilogy is successful, they have big ideas of what the series can become. So if you are a fan of Disney storytelling, pick up the book so we can get more!
Look for more on the book and my interview with the creators on the next Laughing Place Podcast.