As the artist of Powers, which is published under Marvel Comics’
Icon imprint, Michael Avon Oeming has a regular, high profile assignment. While
some creators might just settle into a grove, content with having a
creator-owned title that has run 50 issues with numerous trade paperback
collections, some in multiple printings.

But while Oeming is still
thrilled with the success of Powers, he’s not content. Since the series
became a hit while still at Image Comics, he’s pushed himself creatively,
writing some projects, inking others, and developing new properties. He’s also
started making short films. Scoop talked with Oeming about Powers
and his other projects.

Scoop: Marvel has delayed the Powers hard
covers. What’s going on there?
The Powers Hardcover has been
delayed until October or November. We decided to make the book oversized, so
production on the 400 page plus beauty is taking longer than anticipated.

Scoop: A lot of people probably don’t remember when it seemed like
doing Powers as a color book was a real roll of the dice. How has the
success of the series changed your career?
It gave me one? No really, I
was out of the Biz when Powers happened, so having Powers actually
blow up was amazing and a great relief that I could quite my security guard job.
I got shot at twice. Sure, it was spit balls from my supervisor, but they still
hurt.

In a lot of your projects, it’s clear that you’re really trying
to stretch yourself. Each of them has had its own distinct tone and direction.
What lead you to create Bastard Samurai, for
instance?
Highlander 3. What a piece of crap. I just want to see
people fight with swords on rooftops in the rain, is that too much to ask for?
So we had to do it right.

Scoop: And where did Parliament of
Justice come from?
I was on vacation with the wife in NYC, we were on
the 40th floor of some great hotel. We went to the Strand in NYC a great
bookstore, and I got this book of old NY and in it was this old photo of some
quirky guy who was dressed at a costume party pretty much like the way Parly is,
and really the whole story came to me in about an hour.

Scoop: Hammer
of the Gods, which you worked on with Mark Wheatley, is probably the most
franchise-like project you’ve done after Powers. How did that
develop?
During my time off of comics, I had been playing around with
wanting to do Norse myth stories. It slowly developed from there. I had trouble
with the ending and asked Mark to script it and fix the end for me. He really
liked the little work I had done on it and he added his own touch. Im really
happy with how it came about. Plus we got a film deal from it so that didn’t
suck.

Scoop: You also created Six, which came out first as a
comic and then as a short film. How did that come about?
Can we talk
about you? I’m sick of me.

Really, Six started as a short film
idea- I wanted to do a short action story, so I built it around that. The comic
came about because it seemed natural and easy to do. The short is on my
secondary site www.OemingFilms.com

It’s done well, I’m even being flown
to Spain next month for the Semana Negra festival (www.semananegra.org) to show
it. We are working on a follow up mini as well, then eventually release all the
books and the DVD together. I’m shooting a new short next
month.

Scoop: With the various tasks you’ve performed — writer,
artist, inker, creative director — is it safe to say that you consider yourself
a “storyteller” rather than a “comic book artist”?
Absolutely. It’s a rap
my friends are sick of hearing, especially Brian. I don’t see the difference
anymore between my art, writing or directing. I see them ultimately as the same
thing- storytelling.

Scoop: What are your current
influences?
None as I am a genious that works in a vacuum. You dont know
the history of psychology, I do. Oh , and in that vacuum are Alex Toth, Mike
Mignola, Brian Bendis, Will Eisner, Frank Frazetta, Steve Rude, Bruce Timm,
Jordi Bernet, Mike Baron and Robert Plant. Yes, Robert Plant, I steal dialogue
from his lyrics all the time in Thor.

Scoop: What are the long term
influences you still see in your own work?
Mignola. Even when my work
doesn’t look like him, I’m often thinking of his work when Im doing
it.

Scoop: What projects should we expect to see from you in the near
future?
In August comes Wings Of Anansi (also seen on my site)
which I’m writing, its drawn by Greg Titus from Image. In November is Blood
River, which I’m also writing. It’s drawn by weird NJ artist Brian Quinn and
co-written by Beta Ray Bill and Six co writer Daniel Berman.
Currently I’m drawing (when I’m not drawing Powers) the Cross Bronx a
four-issue mini written by me and Ivan Brandon of NYC Mech. It should be out
next year.

People can keep track of these and other projects by joining
my email newsletter at oeming@aol.com.