DF Interview: Chip Zdarsky brings us in ‘The Domain’ a classic superhero story which is, in fact, a comic from another comic

 

By Byron Brewer

 

When three best friends discover a crashed UFO, they also discover technology that gives them incredible abilities! But there's a catch: only one of them can use the powers at a time! Can their friendship survive the power's temptation? In the pages of Image's Eisner-winning series, Public Domain, Syd Dallas and the team at Dallas Comics reimagine their classic character The Domain for a new audience, and... this is that comic!

 

This special series, written by Chip Zdarsky (Batman, Newburn) with amazing art by Rachael Stott (Fantastic Four, Doctor Who) and Eren Angiolini (Justice League: Last Ride), is a classic superhero story for those coming in fresh, and a fun meta story for readers of Public Domain! I chatted with Chip about the miniseries.

 

Byron Brewer: Chip, The Domain is a spinoff of your Eisner Award winning series Public Domain, but not a typical spinoff. The Domain is the comic-book-within-a-comic-book of Public Domain. Is knowledge of Public Domain necessary to enjoy The Domain? Could you please take a moment to talk about how the spinoff is part of the parent comic?

 

Chip Zdarsky: Well, in the new arc of Public Domain, a new comic company has been formed: Dallas Comics. They have the rights to create new comics featuring a classic character named The Domain, so this will be that comic! And no, you don’t need to know anything about Public Domain to enjoy The Domain. We’ve treated it as its own thing, a brand-new superhero book. But if you do read Public Domain, you’ll get a more enhanced experience reading it, knowing all the “behind the scenes drama” around its creation in Public Domain!

 

Byron: As a spinoff (LOL) of the first question: Why was there a desire on your part to actually produce a real-world superhero series which IS the comic Syd Dallas and Dallas Comics are doing in Public Domain?

 

Chip Zdarsky: It just made sense! I love comics and didn’t want to pass up an opportunity to have this be a thing that readers could pick up in the store as if they lived in the “Public Domain” universe. It also lets me create a proper superhero origin story, which isn’t something I’ve really done before!

 

Byron: Focusing on The Domain, can you introduce your protagonists here and talk a little about the absolutely cool “catch” to the use of their powers and how you came up with this dilemma for them?

 

Chip Zdarsky: Yes! In the original (fake) comic, The Domain was a superhero named Max Widlfort. His power was that he had heightened abilities and could steal the abilities of anyone in his radius. But now, in this reimagining, the power is shared by three friends: Dez, Liz and Dave. Only one can use the power at any time, and each of them have their own ideas on what it should be used for, which causes complications!

 

Byron: Can you give readers a little overview (without spoilers) of the five-issue miniseries?

 

Chip Zdarsky: Well, our three main characters discover hi-tech bracelets at an alien crash site and soon realize the power they contain. But an alien crash doesn’t go unnoticed, and so they soon have the government after them, plus some unsavoury aliens who want the power for themselves. It’s a story about power and how to use it, but also it’s fun and funny (hopefully)!

 

Byron: Talk about the awesome art of Rachael Stott and Eren Angiolin and your collaboration on The Domain.

 

Chip Zdarsky: They’re both amazing. Rachael has secretly been laying the seeds for this in Public Domain by providing the art that our characters have been creating, so it’s nice to finally reveal this larger project!

 

The only problem with her and Eren’s amazing art is that it’s so much more detailed and better than my art in Public Domain. So we have very cartoony characters creating more realistic characters, which is both wrong and mind-breaking.

 

But it’s gorgeous, so I can’t complain!

 

Byron: Chip, what other of your coming projects are you able to tell our readers about?

 

Chip Zdarsky: Nothing really? The White Trees sequel, The Whisper Queen, is currently coming out from Image Comics. I have other secret creator-owned books in the works as well, but my main gig is still just plugging away on Batman!

 

Dynamic Forces would like to thank Chip Zdarsky for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. The Domain #1 from Image Comics is slated to be on sale July 10!