INTERVIEW: RYAN FERRIER ON IDW’S D4VE

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D4VE #1 cover by Fiona Staples

Ryan Ferrier is a writer as well as letterer whose work includes The siblings James as well as Tiger attorney from Challenger Comics. You may have likewise seen Tiger attorney in Image’s Shutter. Now, his book with artist Valentin Ramon, D4VE, has discovered a house at IDW. Westfield’s Roger Ash contacted Ferrier to discover more about this book that takes location in a world where the robots have conquered humanity.

Westfield: I like the idea of a robot having a mid-life crisis. Where did the concept for this series come from?

Ryan Ferrier: The genuine story–the meat of this journey–comes from D4VE’s mid-life crisis, perhaps even more than the huge action-invasion stuff. Don’t get me wrong, there is a great deal of that in the book, as well as it’s super fun. however really, this is a tale of breaking free from a life that is completely unfulfilling. feeling stuck as well as trapped in all elements of the day to day, understanding you can do more. That most definitely is a feeling that resonates with me. I felt completely trapped extremely early on in my life–I worked at a soul-sucking desk task just like D4VE, as well as there is a great deal of me as well as Valentin inside this series. I understand Valentin can associate a great deal to it, as well as that’s what made this story as well as this partnership with him mean so much to us. however we likewise didn’t want it to be all doom as well as gloom. There’s definitely a great deal of real-life, relatable struggles–especially those that include entering your 30’s–but we likewise wished to cut with that with some truly exciting, over-the-top action, as well as we tried our hardest to make the book truly funny. We’re definitely proud of what we believe is a great balance between all that, while still keeping an underlying message. It’s been extremely cathartic for both Valentin as well as I to be able to craft our own lives into the story. For some reason, having the book set in this odd-yet-familiar future, full of robots, just added one more level to the fun as well as world-building of D4VE.

D4VE #1 preview page 1

Westfield: What can you tell visitors about the story as well as who are a few of the primary characters they’ll meet?

Ferrier: D4VE–the former star defense-bot turned desk-job-slave–is the primary character of the story, as well as he’s extremely much a flawed character, albeit somebody we wished to be relatable, sympathetic, as well as eventually redeemable. though he is physically eliminated from humanity–as are all the characters–he extremely well might be somebody you satisfy on the street tomorrow. D4VE learns as well as grows as the story goes on, as well as is rather complex; not unlike any type of human character. His wife, 54LLY, is an important character in the book, as well as in many methods acts as a tether to D4VE’s struggle. If there were any type of genuine “hero” in the book, it would definitely be her. one more character that quickly ended up being our preferred to produce is 5COTTY; while I won’t state exactly how he fits into the story, as that occurs at the end of problem one, he is at very first the overall opposite of D4VE: he’s young, brash, fearless, as well as likewise a giant, unfiltered, trash-talking, potty-mouthed bit jerk. He’s the youngster you like to hate, as well as he truly does grow on you, just as he did Valentin as well as I. Admittedly, he’s been the most fun to work with, as well as we’re truly excited for visitors to get to understand him. The rest of the cast is fleshed out with some truly fun, unique characters, as well as we hope that people dig them. We put a great deal of care into producing a diverse cast, each with their own arc as well as voice.

Westfield: You mention “big action-invasion stuff.” Is there anything more you can state about that?

Ferrier: D4VE isn’t completely a slice-of-life comic, not by a long shot…there is some series action happening, as well as the fate of the 34RTH, as we phone call it, is most definitely in D4VE’s hands. There are some truly big, interesting action set pieces, as well as a great deal of body parts torn off as well as fists flying with things as well as weirdo battle cries. The more D4VE’s life spirals out of control, the more that is showed in the dilemma that befalls all of the robots, as well as just wait up until you see what Valentin’s cooked up, visually. There are pages, sequences, that made my eyes bug out the very first time I saw them. We went into D4VE wanting to push whatever to the limit, as well as even with the action, we’re quite excited for people to see exactly how nutty we’re getting with it.

D4VE #1 preview page 2

Westfield: Your collaborator on the book is Valentin Ramon. What can you state about his contribution to the book?

Ferrier: There truly are no words to explain exactly how important Valentin has been to D4VE. There would be no D4VE without him. Valentin is absolutely astonishing at building worlds with a succinct tone as well as realism, however likewise an impeccable interest to detail. He’s a genius. as well as he’s totally hilarious. He as well as I both have a extremely similar handle the world as well as mindset as well as approach to pushing things, so when we came together to do this, it was a breath of air. It ended up being completely realized the moment we hit the ground running, as well as it’s been outstanding every page since. Valentin as well as I informed one one more with every beat, as well as the partnership has been something that creators try for with every project. I have no question Valentin is going to be a huge, mega-star, as well as I’m thrilled that I had the possibility to experience his wizardry early on in both our careers. I would, no concerns asked, work once again with Valentin any type of day, as well as we are definitely working together on much more.

Westfield: D4VE started as a digital comic. Why did you choose to bring it to print?

Ferrier: We were really, truly lucky to have D4VE discover a house with Monkeybrain. Chris (Roberson) as well as Allison (Baker), who run Monkeybrain, have been so incredibly encouraging, welcoming, as well as supportive since day one, as well as the entire partnership has been incredible. So we’re beyond grateful to them for the possibility to have D4VE among a household of such excellent work. moving ahead from there, Valentin as well as I always wished to discover a house for D4VE in the print-market, as well as we are of program thrilled to have that house in IDW. The icing on the cake being that the series is getting the single-issue treatment as well. We’re just so pumped that D4VE has a possibility to reach new visitors as well as ideally they dig it as much as the digital-first audience has. The response to the book has been overwhelming, which is amazing; being such a personal story, there’s always that fear that includes putting something with a great deal of heart in it out into the ether. It’s an incredibly interesting time, we can’t wait!

Curb Stomp #1

Westfield: You’re likewise composing Curb Stomp for BOOM! Studios. Is there anything you’d like to state about it?

Ferrier: Curb Stomp is a book I’ve been working on with Devaki Neogi (artist) as well as Neil Lalonde (colorist) for rather a while now, as well as we’re over the moon to have that at BOOM! Studios. They are just an outstanding publisher to work with, as well as are dedicated to making excellent comics. That being said, it’s a great deal different from D4VE. It’s a genuine street-level, punk rock survival story about an all-woman street gang called The Fever, who discover themselves actually fighting for their lives as well as their turf in the midst of a major gang war spanning three boroughs. Devaki is just incredible, as well as I believe her work is going to strike people’s minds, as well as Neil’s coloring is seriously next-level. We’re all truly tapped into this bright, vibrant, punk rock vibe, as well as I believe there’s going to be parts in this series that decrease some jaws. like D4VE, there is a great deal of heavy reality we’re trying to drop–a great deal of grim stuff that occurs right outside our doorsteps–and we’re getting away with some truly ultra-violent stuff. however it’s going to be a ton of fun, as well as we’re proud of the characters we’re bringing with it. problem one is coming out in February, I believe, as well as the response to the statement has been really, truly cool.

D4VE #1 membership Cover by Valentin Ramon

Westfield: any type of closing comments?

Ferrier: To state I’m excited for 2015 is an understatement, as well as I’ve been truly fortunate to line up this work–none of that might have been done without the assist as well as support of so many people, including the fans as well as readers–so to everybody I state say thanks to you for making this scruffy nerf-herder’s dream move to a reality. There’s likewise one or two more surprises for 2015 coming genuine soon, as well as I couldn’t be more excited.

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D4VE #1