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Ridley Scott’s ‘Modville’ graphic novel debuts during a tough time for comics. Can it survive?

BBG News

If the acclaimed filmmaker behind “Alien,” “Blade Runner,” and “Gladiator,” Ridley Scott, takes interest in your narrative, then it’s likely worthwhile to develop and share it across various creative formats.

The graphic novel “Modville,” a neo-noir story set in New Orleans in the year 2169, revolves around crime and artificial beings known as mods. This gripping tale was penned by Jesse Negron, with Joe Matsumoto as co-writer, and beautifully illustrated by Hendry Prasetya and Eko Puteh. The narrative delves into the complexities of father-daughter relationships, morality, and what it means to be human. Unlike many contemporary comics that rehash superhero narratives, “Modville” offers an innovative concept. Instead of being published by a major company like Diamond or Penguin Random House, this series will be made available directly to consumers. It will debut as a prestige format (a 200-page hardcover rather than individual issues). Additionally, it will follow an unusual publishing schedule without the usual monthly pressures.

Previously associated with both the director and his late sibling, Tony Scott, Negron proposed an unconventional concept – creating a comic book – to Tom Moran, a high-ranking executive at Ridley Scott’s multimedia production company, Scott Free Productions.

In their conversation, Moran discovered that Tony admired Jesse greatly and they discussed Jesse’s creative ideas. When asked about his preferences between film and television, Tony expressed a desire to work on comics, but was under the impression that this wasn’t an option. Moran then inquired, “Why not?”, to which he replied. As an entertainment company, it is crucial to adapt and explore new avenues of entertainment. In truth, Ridley may have thought, ‘We should have done this long ago.’ Given his own artistic talents, Ridley certainly fits the bill.

Working alongside Jesse Negron and Mechanical Cake on comic books seems like the next logical step for me and Scott Free, according to an email from Ridley Scott.

This weekend at WonderCon in Anaheim, Negron’s firm, Mechanical Cake, is set to debut its graphic novel, along with a booth reminiscent of Modville. In a panel on Saturday, Negron, Moran, publisher and editor Dave Elliott, and Anthony Francisco, a senior visual development artist from Marvel Studios, will share insights about the company in a lively discussion.

Awards

In an era where stories about women are becoming more prominent due to heightened sensitivity, this director has consistently crafted complex, intelligent female characters for quite some time.

Launching ‘Modville’

For at least five years, Negron has been developing the concept of “Modville”. In 2015, he and Chief Financial Officer Tom Sanders established Mechanical Cake with a dual purpose: producing comic content as well as nurturing innovative concepts across multiple media platforms.

According to Sanders, “Mechanical Cake” is a team that produces unique worlds for stories in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, action, and adventure. Essentially, their aim isn’t just to narrate these tales but also to share them globally and engage the audience as well.

Obtaining Scott’s approval certainly lends prestige to the position, but getting it was just the beginning; now we must secure his full endorsement as well.

Negron stated, “It’s clear that working alongside Ridley Scott is indeed a significant source of pressure for me. Frankly, it can be challenging to maintain the same caliber as him because he might casually say, ‘I don’t know.’ Working at his professional standard where he might exclaim, ‘Wow, you guys keep doing this! Wow, you did that?!?’ was something I found very important.

Coordinating with your business partners in the creation of an independent comic book is just one challenge you’ll encounter when launching a new project. The recent change of ownership from Diamond Comic Distributors to Alliance Entertainment might bring some relief to the industry, but it still remains that major players tend to garner most of the focus and retail space, leaving smaller presses and self-publishers with limited sales opportunities. Diamond played a key role in promoting lesser-known titles through its Previews catalog, however, their bankruptcy and subsequent sale leaves us uncertain about the future impact on the comics market.

40 of the most widely sold graphic novels in 2024 were dominated by six major publishing companies: Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Image Comics, IDW Publishing, Dark Horse Comics, and BOOM! Studios. Remarkably, only four titles from these lists didn’t originate from these companies; they are “Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder” by Graphix, “Uzumaki” and “Chainsaw Man, Vol. 1” by VIZ Media, and “Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze” by Titan Comics. Similarly, only four comic book series outside of Marvel and DC made it to the top 50 comics of 2024. Among them were revived ’80s titles like Image’s G.I. Joe and Transformers, IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Dynamite Entertainment’s Thundercats.

However, this period is shrouded in uncertainty for every sector of entertainment. For instance, the film industry and comic book markets are both showing signs of difficulty in launching new, original stories without a well-established distribution system, such as the one that Diamond Comic Distributors has provided for many years. This undertaking can be quite challenging and carries significant risk.

Books

At the forefront of attention, Comic-Con serves as a reminder that comic books continue to be the core essence and spirit of the bustling pop culture event.

The similarities between movies and comic books are numerous, leading to the logical combination of Scott Free Productions and Mechanical Cake, as understood by all parties.

Scott Free is unmatched when it comes to delivering exceptional work in science fiction, action, and borderline fantasy genres, according to Sanders. Collaborating with him seems like the perfect fit. Working on a comic book is similar to creating a movie or TV show but with even more intricate details. Every element in each panel is carefully placed, just as you would do in a film or TV production. If done correctly, it essentially creates a storyboard that anyone can understand. Our goal is to establish a universe where other creators can spin their own tales as well.

As a film enthusiast with a keen eye for intricate visual narratives, I found myself inexplicably captivated by Scott’s work on the movie, given his history as a skilled comic book artist.

Moran stated, “It’s astounding to see Ridley sketch; he’s a visionary who transforms ideas into drawings, then into reality on paper. Flipping through his storyboards feels like watching the entire movie unfold. Essentially, comics offer this unique art form.

Bill Sienkiewicz is one of the well-known artists contributing to the development of the visual style for “Modville,” particularly by designing cover art for the series. According to Sienkiewicz, he finds the blend of “grunge” technology in the narrative appealing as it evokes a sense of familiarity from the past.

Sienkiewicz finds ‘Modville’ fascinating because, although it doesn’t mirror ‘Blade Runner’ exactly, it carries enough similarities that it seems related. He appreciates the opportunity to delve into complex themes about what makes us human and moral. When working on a monthly book series, he can subtly hint at these ideas without needing immediate resolution, making the narrative intriguing for its own sake.

Publishing path

In a competitive market, “Modville” has blazed its unique trail as well. Initially, it will debut with high-quality, 200-page hardcover books, later shifting to softcovers and expanding its reach. Unlike conventional comics or graphic novels, these releases won’t be reprinted, making each one a special, limited item. Elliott, the founder of Mechanical Cake, aims to ensure that the work is accessible to the public while also allowing the creative process enough time to develop without being pressed to fulfill market demands.

Elliott stated, “Currently, more books are being released through Kickstarter than most others. This approach of collaborating directly with your audience, those passionate about what you’re creating, is incredibly valuable in today’s context.

Instead of feeling compelled to release a new publication every month like many other publishers, we prefer to wait until our work is fully prepared. This approach mirrors how European publishers handle graphic novels and how traditional novel publishing used to operate.

As a cinema enthusiast, I’ve got a thing for serialised stories that keep unfolding, much like monthly comic books and graphic novels do. Unlike what you might expect from retailers or consumers, I find it intriguing when these narratives maintain a consistent rhythm while still standing out from the crowd. One of my top-selling comics in the past year has been “Saga,” an extraordinary space opera/fantasy series penned by Brian K. Vaughan from Image Comics. It’s an epic journey that keeps readers hooked, and its uniqueness is a big part of its appeal.

Grimshaw simply emphasized, ‘What truly matters is to be genuine. If your books boast compelling narratives and vivid illustrations, they’ll captivate readers. Shortcuts or flashy gimmicks won’t endure; they only offer temporary success. I admire books with talented storytellers and skilled artists.’

Entertainment & Arts

In the 2022 film ‘The Batman,’ Paul Dano took on the role of the Riddler, and later, he delved into the character’s backstory by exploring it in a comic book series.

Ridley Scott’s influence

As a movie reviewer, I found myself captivated by the masterful touch of Ridley Scott in this cinematic endeavor. Not only did he lend his name to the project, but he also played an integral role in molding the narrative and offering discerning insights into the art direction. It quickly became apparent that Scott possesses a unique ability to perceive how colors on screen can resonate with viewers emotionally, much like how they can evoke feelings in readers when read in a book.

Initially, the hues appeared more intense and vibrant. Scott suggested, “Perhaps we could tone it down, make it less saturated.” At this moment, I understood that he recognized the distinctiveness between comic books and movies. Our conversation was about how comics utilize color in a manner unattainable in film. In films, a more subdued color palette is often employed to evoke emotions in a unique way, compared to comics. Elliott made this observation.

In his own words, Scott shared that he initially began his journey as an artist, meticulously crafting each storyboard for his movies. It’s truly fascinating to observe how effortlessly the visual narrative of ‘Modville’ emerged instinctively for him.

In my perspective, Scott’s and Negron’s artistic inclinations appear remarkably compatible. Negron’s creative and narrative styles are quite diverse: they range from the nostalgic technology and vivid visuals reminiscent of “The Rocketeer,” to a unique Southern Gothic ambiance that stems from his Baptist upbringing.

Initially, when Negron shared his initial version of “Modville” with director Scott, he was asked to tone down some overly contentious and unnecessary aspects. Despite spending years on the script and illustrations, Negron understood later that Scott wasn’t attempting to alter his vision; instead, he wanted to ensure it would captivate readers enough to keep them engaged.

He said, “A crowd of 6,000 turned against me.” To soften things for ‘Modville’s’ introduction, we made some adjustments. I believe it was a wise decision.

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2025-03-28 23:01

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