Acclaimed comic book creators Brian Stelfreeze and Doug Wagner are teaming up for a new ongoing comic series Thomas River, starring an eponymous secret agent that has to deal with the increasingly volatile state of American politics while investigating a coordinated terrorist attack across several of the United States' biggest cities, with the stakes immediately becoming explosively personal for River. The creative team, joined by colorist Michelle Poust and letterer Ed Dukeshire, has decided to crowdfund the series' launch through Kickstarter, with its own special tiers of incentives for backers.
In an exclusive interview with CBR, Stelfreeze and Wagner discussed how the project came together, what River embodies in present-day America and how Stelfreeze chose to develop this project as his first role as an ongoing comic series artist since his 2016 relaunch of Black Panther with Ta-Nehisi Coates.
CBR: Brian, Doug: How did this project all come about?
Brian Stelfreeze: I think most of the stories Doug and I come up with start off as an answer to one of two questions: "You know what really pisses me off?" or "You know what would really be cool?"
Doug Wagner: Huh. I’d never thought of it that way, but that’s 100% true. With Thomas River, I remember Brian calling me and saying he had this idea for a scene. It’s the Presidential scene in the first issue. Yes, that’s all you’re getting. As usual, his idea was fantastic, but it was just a single scene. I asked if there was more to it, and Brian asked, “What if everything you just assumed about that scene was wrong?” I fell in love with Thomas River from that moment. An operative in a story steeped deep in misperceptions and incorrect assumptions made by River and the reader? That’s just deviously too interesting to me.
How has it been working together on this project? How is your working relationship?
Stelfreeze: The awesome thing is that we don’t have a working relationship. We only have a friendship. I constantly talk to Doug about what I’m working on, and he does the same so when we're working together on something; there really isn’t an adjustment. We do have a bad habit of trying to one-up each other, but I think that translates into the fun of the stories we do.
Wagner: I don’t see that as a bad habit at all. Personally, I love it and can’t get enough. I always feel like we’re pushing each other to be better than we have ever been. Wait. What was the question? Oh, yeah. Brian’s correct. For some reason that I find inexplicable, we work seamlessly well together. The only way I’ve ever been able to explain it is that neither of us brings egos to the table. Our sole focus has always been creating a story he and I would want to read.
Brian, you haven't done interiors for an ongoing title since your Black Panther run. What made this title right to jump back into that role?
Stelfreeze: I only take on projects I feel challenged by. Black Panther forced me to really do a lot of research and expand what I know as a storyteller. Thomas River is the same. I don’t like my comfort zone and this book kicks me way out of it.
How has it been working with colorist Michelle Poust and letterer Ed Dukeshire?
Stelfreeze: Michelle has been my assistant for quite a few years now, and she’s pitched in on a number of projects. She really understands the cinematic nature of colors and her approach brings a nice energy to the book. My art doesn’t seem finished until I see it with her colors. Ed is like having a great drummer in your band. His lettering is clean and has an awesome flow.
Wagner: I honestly don’t think I can put into words what an absolute joy working with Michelle and Ed bring to my life. They’re both amazing artists and collaborators, and two incredible people to boot. They both help make it look like we know what we’re doing...we don’t.
Describe Thomas River and what he embodies for you guys.
Stelfreeze: We wanted to do something that’s both crazy exciting but also grounded in the real. Not one of these 15th generation privileged agents of perfection but a guy you might’ve grown up with. A secret agent tasked to save the world but who also has a lunch appointment with his mom. When someone like that has to make life-and-death decisions, they have to think of everyone. Would there be a difference in the meaning of right and wrong for a guy like that?
Wagner: I see Thomas River as the epitome of the promise of America. He believes in integrity, truth and fair play. He believes in a world where everyone can be happy, content and decent. He also knows not everyone will choose that path, and it’s his duty to correct it.
Why bring this project to Kickstarter? What are some incentives you're providing to help entice prospective backers?
Wagner: I know this is going to sound silly and overly simple-minded, but we wanted to try something new. We’ve both been working in traditional publishing for decades, loved every second of it, and have no plans of changing that aspect of our lives. However, we started Thomas River out of pure love for the concept and recently realized for Brian and I to make this book our primary focus, we were going to need a way to fund that dream. Kickstarter seemed like the obvious, and most intriguing, path.
Brian, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention your time on Black Panther again. Looking back, what are you most proud about your time on the character and what does he mean to you personally?
Stelfreeze: I think it’s natural to see yourself through the eyes of superheroes. It’s cool to aspire to that moral clarity and having the power to exercise it without fear. The classic superheroes give us the ability to celebrate who we wish to be. I see Black Panther as something different. Through the people I’ve talked to in interviews and at conventions all over the world, I’ve learned that Black Panther provided a character through which they could see who they are and in some ways that was more important. It was quite a humbling experience to see that pride and acceptance. Things like that change you as a storyteller and some of that will spill into every other project I take on.