Douglas Rushkoff has written a number of complex books examining subjects ranging from contemporary religion, to pop culture, to technology. Rushkoff has been a best selling author for many years, but its only recently thats hes dipped his toe into the comic book world with the Vertigo book Testament. Teamed with artist Liam Sharp, Testament examines a near future where a band of renegades have teamed up to combat threats to freedom.
Great interview. Nice to see that the first Testament trade has finally come out (been wanting to start reading the series for a while now, but I'm not much of a single-comic-issue buying guy).
Been a Rushkoff fan for some time and naturally I find his idea of an SG-type female art movement fabulously appealing.
Same here. I've read a number of Rushkoff's books and am always impressed. What a brilliant and creative mind. Rare to find someone who is so intelligent but also so open and willing to explore and bend.
I'm a huge fan of Rushkoff too. I hit the comic shop bright and early when a new issue of this comes out.
I think Testament might be my favorite thing he's ever done. I love that he's got the story going on in multiple layers, between Biblical stories, the modern story, and the story going on with the gods outside the frames and playing with dynamics between those. One of the things that makes this work so well is the fact that he's so well-informed; if he hadn't done his research on the context and history of the Biblical stories he's got running and opted for a run-of-the-mill retelling, it wouldn't work.
He's missing the bus on the single issue of comics thing, though. If you prefer the story in a more self-contained format so you can read one arc at a time, that's one thing, but it's not hard at all to get the monthlies. Most comic shops will pull whatever you want and hold it for you, the publishers offer subscription services where they'll mail them to you, and there are numerous other online stores that offer mail subscription services. It takes no effort whatsoever to collect the monthly issues.
Every book I've bought by him has become incredibly dated within a few years. I hope the comic will have a bit more longevity, but Christ, Cyberia looks ridiculous these days.
Whatever secret rebel base Missy is in, I hope she reads this:
"What if you combined what SuicideGirls is with a knowledgeable reclamation of the archetypal feminine principal? What you get is something that's entertainment, money making, on the very edge of sex industry, totally cool, fashionable, hot and sexy, and aesthetically interesting, but then also like a female art movement."
courtneyriot
STAFF
Los Angeles, CA
SEP 13, 2006 08:00 AM