Smashing Atoms With Sean Howe
Give Our Regards To The Atomsmashers!
Rob Levy
How did you get the various writers involved? Did you call them or did they seek you out?
I made up a list of a few dozen of my favorite writers, then set about finding which of them were comics readers. It was easy in the case of a few, such as Jonathan Lethem and Glen David Gold, who had dropped comic-book science in their fiction work. Others, such as Tom Piazza and Chris Offutt, were surprises. I didn’t know they read comics until they asked.
Were there any writers who wrote pieces that got cut form the book?
Yes, but it was more deadline-related than anything else.
Do you think that the comic book medium is respected more now than it was in the past?
Absolutely. I never would have imagined that I’d have women approaching me after readings to tell me they were embarrassed that they’d never read comic books!
You get to edit cool things for Criterion’s DVD liner notes. Do you select the films you want to write about?
I didn’t write the liner notes, but rather had the rewarding experience of assigning and editing the notes, which meant I could pair my favorite writers with their favorite movies. Jonathan Lethem, Luc Sante, Gary Giddins, Geoffrey O’Brien, and Tom Piazza were among the Atomsmashers contributors with whom I’d worked on liner notes.
What do you think of the wave of comic book movies that are out now?
I tend to be disappointed in comic book movies. Oddly, I thought that The Matrix, which was not based on a comic, was what a comic-book movie should feel like. That said, I love that Hollywood is getting the word out on comics, especially when it’s Harvey Pekar or Dan Clowes.
How long did it take you to organize, edit and publish the book?
The entire process was just under two years.
What is your next project?
I’m working on several projects, each vastly different from one another, and each in the very beginning stages: trying to develop a television show, writing some fiction, and perhaps doing some more DVD production.
What comic book title would you like to write for?
If I was to work with a pre-existing franchise, I think I’d have plenty to say about Ant-Man.
Give Our Regards To The Atomsmashers! is published by Pantheon (www.pantheonbooks.com)
