Simons files on each crew member can be seen below.Hadrians Wall#1 hits stores Sep. 14.
How did the idea come about?
We feel like we write really well for him.
Rod Reis
So this idea pops back up on my radar.
That was the genesis of it.
Hadrians Wall has been on my mind recently because of the Wall inGame of Thrones.
Rod Reis
Why did you decide to name both the series and the ship after it?
Very isolated, very lonely.
Alec and I are both big history guys.
Rod Reis
The ship in our book is a survey ship that goes out to unexplored space.
This nine-person crew is all alone.
Here weve got Simons files on each of the crew members.
Rod Reis
Murder mystery stories like this, when theyre done really well, are character study pieces.
The investigation is a vehicle to explore these people, their pasts, their histories, and their secrets.
Our book is no different in that regard.
Rod Reis
So the crew of Hadrians Wall, Ill start first and foremost with Annabelle Madigan.
Annabelle is really why Simon took this job in the first place.
She is the deceaseds widow, she is a chemist aboard Hadrians Wall, and shes also Simons ex-wife.
Rod Reis
Then theres the captain, who is not for this job whatsoever.
Weve got Selina and Franklin.
Franklin clearly did not like Edward, the deceased, but again, is that motive enough to kill?
Rod Reis
This case and this investigation will bring a lot of those stories to light.
What were some of your favorite inspirations for this comic?
Its funny, I loveFireflybut havent seen it in years.
Rod Reis
I remember what youre talking about now, so maybe there was a subconscious influence.
Presenting those investigations in that way came naturally to me.
I know Rod was heavily influenced by those.
Rod Reis
I just want to talk about Rod for a second.
This guy is incredible.
He is a superstar, and this is only his second book as an illustrator.
To see the way hes grown betweenC.O.W.L.andHadrians Wallis incredibly inspiring.
Were all really excited for people to see him cut loose and show what hes capable of.
This is a creative dynamic that we all just want to keep perpetuating.
We want to do more books together.
We want to grow together, andHadrians Wallis just the second of many projects to come.
What did you guys learn from working onC.O.W.L.that helped with this?
Alec and I have been writing together for a very long time.
Weve become more refined in our pacing, and also in our tastes.
Any book is really a relationship between you and your collaborators.
A relationship grows and changes, and thats been the case here.
It can be just a lot of talking heads.
So working with someone as talented as Rod is a godsend.
Even in those interrogation scenes, he finds a way to find them visually captivating.
I dont think youre ever bored reading the book.
What are you most excited for people to see?
