DF Interview: Frank Barbiere explores the legacy and impact of storytelling in ‘The Author Immortal’

By Byron Brewer

Hector Ramirez is a failed writer who gets the opportunity of a lifetime: to help reboot the fantasy book series that defined his childhood. But when he discovers the original author has mysteriously vanished into his fictional world, Hector is pulled into a realm where stories are alive, and some are willing to kill to stay in control.

Critically acclaimed writer Frank Barbiere (Five Ghosts, Violent Love) and watercolor artist Morgan Beem (Swamp Thing: Twin Branches, You Belong Here) invite readers into the storyworld in The Author Immortal. The moment I saw the scribe was returning to monthly comics, I was on-board for an interview with Frank Barbiere. Here’s what he told me.

Byron Brewer: Frank, my friend, it has been awhile. When I first started doing this over a decade ago, we talked on many Barbiere titles: A New Avengers annual, Howling Commandos of SHIELD, Violent Love, Five Ghosts, more. It seems that The Author Immortal is your return to monthly comics. Is the “return” going to be the one which your fans have been waiting for? Will you be staying, creating and inspiring for a little while?

Frank Barbiere: I've been itching to get back to monthly comics for a while now, but I had been waiting for the right project. I did a lot of work early in my career, and I need a break to reassess what I really care about in the stories I was telling. The Author Immortal is my primary focus right now, as we hope to keep it going for a good, long run. There are a few other projects I'm slowly developing, but I've learned what it takes to put my all behind a book, and for the moment, The Author Immortal is all-consuming!

That being said, I've been co-writing a book that I'll be announcing soon at Comixology Originals, which I've been thrilled to work on over the last few years. My previous series with them, Astonishing Times, is available now, as well as an OGN called Elixir with collaborators Victor Santos and Ricky Mammone at Dark Horse Comics.

Byron: Every creator (even me) has always thought of doing some material on the art of storytelling, I’d say. But you are doing it – kinda – in The Author Immortal! Tell readers how this “monthly comic” came to be, and how this ongoing touches on telling stories, even if it may be sideways.

Frank Barbiere: It's true, we all want to write books about writing and storytelling. I've been fascinated with the craft and mythology of storytelling my whole life, and some of that fascination snuck into Five Ghosts back in 2013. With The Author Immortal, I feel like I finally found the right collaborator in Morgan Beem and the right angle to pursue: mainly, the death of the author. The book feels extremely timely, and thanks to Morgan is absolutely beautiful. We really wanted to address the fact that stories have lost a lot of trust with modern readers, and thematically, that's a significant push for us. What happens when you're ready to move on from a story, but it's not done with you yet?

Byron: Who is Hector Ramirez and how did his best day ever become the adventure readers are about to undertake, all because he himself was a voracious reader as a child?

Frank Barbiere: Hector represents all of us who struggle for recognition. He's a "failed" writer insofar as he did not manage to make writing his full-time career, but still remains obsessed with his favorite books from his youth. He's a bit of a self-destructive character struggling against his flaws, and while he may not make the best decisions, we hope he feels realistic and relatable. One thing I've learned in life is that crazy things can happen when you least expect them, and the catalyst for our story thrusts Hector headfirst into a "dream come true" that will turn out to be a lot more like a nightmare in many ways.

Byron: Can you tell us anything about the original author of the fantasy book series that defined Hector’s childhood? Is there any relationship at all between this author and our man Ramirez that can be discussed without spoilers?

Frank Barbiere: E.L. Vossler is a pre-Tolkien fantasy writer who published a hit series called The Mage's Apprentice. At the peak of his fame and ability, he mysteriously disappeared, and now the books have fallen out of print and out of the public consciousness. Hector has remained a staunch fan, and a professor who lectures and studies Vossler's work. Hector actually named his own kid after one of Vossler's characters; I've been fascinated by the deep connection we share with fiction and how it manifests in the real world, and Hector is a great lens for this. Ultimately, his connection drags him into an adventure he never saw coming, and over the run of the series he'll learn a lot more about Vossler than he ever imagined.

Byron: Spotlight here some important characters in The Author Immortal, if you are able.

Frank Barbiere: While we've mentioned Hector and Vossler, the other main character is Hector's teenage kid, Al. Originally named after a character from Vossler's books, Al is struggling to assert their own identity and cope with the fallout of their parents' divorce. They have a rocky relationship with Hector, and due to circumstances outside their control, are forced to accompany him on a research trip. Al is a modern kid with a lens into what it means to deal with the wake of our parents' obsessions and legacies, and I look forward to readers getting to meet them.

Byron: Talk about the awesome work of watercolor artist Morgan Beem.

Frank Barbiere: Morgan is an exceptional talent who will eventually be regarded as one of the best of her generation.. The privilege of getting to collaborate with her is immense, and I'm so thankful for all the love and care she's putting into the book. It was through seeing Morgan's work that this story really took form, and she's bringing a lot of life, excitement and fantastic design to it. I really hope this work breaks her out into the mainstream, as she deserves it and every page of this book is absolutely jaw-dropping.

Byron: Unfair question, but I’ll give it a go if you will: Juxtapose being a comics writer (especially monthly comics) to your work in the video game industry, more specifically as the lead writer at Skydance Interactive … or another example of same.

Frank Barbiere: Games is even more collaborative than comics, and it's a joy to watch projects come to life and get to know all the different parts of the process. The writer definitely takes a lot more of a backseat as games are gameplay-driven, but there's a thrill to recording voice-over and hearing actors perform your lines. It's a really fun process, but comics will always have my heart. There's something special about working on projects with three or four people, really owning it yourself, and having it be exactly what you want it to be. While games have a much larger reach, they are a highly intensive process with many people involved. For me, comics will always be the most precise distillation of my vision for my own projects, and I feel fortunate to get to work in both.

Byron: Frank, what can you tell us of any coming projects in which you are involved, inside or outside comic books?

Frank Barbiere: As I mentioned, keep your eyes peeled for a new series from me at Comixology Originals. Other than that, you'll have to wait and see!

Dynamic Forces would like to thank Frank Barbiere for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. The Author Immortal #1 from Image Comics is slated to be on sale October 1!

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