Adam Rose is the writer of “Corollary,” a short sci-fi comic in the Origins Anthology (Kickstarting now!). In a universe where every twin only survives as as their sibling, one woman survives against all odds. Now an intergalactic celebrity, she’s traveling through space with a dark secret… We talked with Adam Rose about how to start writing comics, his graphic novel, and his inspirations.
I’ve been a passionate comic book reader forever. I’ve been writing short stories, screenplays, and sketches for years and then jumped into the wild world of comic book writing twelve years ago. I had an idea that had to be a graphic novel, and that first comic script was a labor of love and a huge education in learning about the form. A few years ago, Markosia Entertainment published my middle-grade graphic novel: Playground: Attack of The Gurgle Bots. I’ve also had short stories published in various literary magazines and am currently wrapping up work on a new graphic novel.
Your short comic, “Corollary,” will appear in our tenth comics anthology. It’s a really inventive concept—can you tell us about the inspiration behind it?
The concept behind “Corollary” came from my six-year-old daughter asking, “If someone’s twin dies, do they die too?” A giant light bulb exploded in my head! I wrote that short comic and then kept going. I actually have it going beyond the four pager and see it as a galactic epic the likes of Saga.
You also write short fiction and have had a graphic novel published! Can you tell us about those projects?
A few years ago, Markosia Entertainment published my middle-grade graphic novel: Playground: Attack of The Gurgle Bots. Its premise: What if someone had all the powers of the playground? When they play Freeze Tag, they really freeze you! I’ve also had short stories published in various literary magazines. The most recent pieces can be found in The Door is a Jar and In Parentheses.
“Corollary” is my first, but I have been on a roll and written a few more. I really enjoy the short form comic and hope to be a part of more anthologies in the future.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to branch from prose fiction into comics, or vice versa?
Do a lot of reading and research! It took me years to get into a groove with the pacing and beats of a comic. Scott McCloud, Will Eisner, Alan Moore, and [Jack] Kirby have helped me. I’ve also read a lot of comic book scripts and reverse engineered the works of some of my favorite creators.
What’s important to you in a work of fiction (comics or prose)?
Character and story are the driving forces of comics and prose. I know that sounds obvious, but a concept can not carry a story.
Who are your writing heroes, and other people who inspire you?
That is a list that would be tough to fit in but here are a few: Colson Whitehead, Amy Hempel, Jonathan Hickman, Matt Kindt, Attica Locke, Ted Chiang, and Donald Barthelme.
What fictional character do you identify most with, and why?
A cross between Charlie Brown and Hal Jordan with a splash of Ignatius (Confederacy of Dunces).
Are you working on any new projects?
Yes! I am revising a prose novel and writing a new noir graphic novel.