IDW Publishing

January 2006

Brian Wood’s Supermarket Opens Its Doors in February

Buyer beware! Welcome to the future world of “The Supermarket”–a city ruled by the economies of the legitimate and black-market alike, all of which is overseen by the vying factions of the Yakuza and the Porno Swede crime families. Supermarket is a new four-issue dose of anti-cosumerism, violence and humor courtesy of Eisner-nominated writer Brian Wood (Demo, DMZ, The Couriers) and artist Kristian Donaldson (Doomed), who provides lush, powerful artwork and makes this future world as real as if it were now.

In Supermarket, sixteen-year-old convenience store clerkette and suburban wise-ass Pella Suzuki unexpectedly finds herself caught up in the middle of it all. She is heir to an empire she couldn’t possibly inherit and up against hitmen from both factions to see that she doesn’t.

IDW threw a couple of questions at the talented team behind Supermarket in between their shopping sprees and back-alley dealings.

IDW: In Supermarket, is the setting of a near future ruled by materialism and economics used as an element to propel the story you wish to tell? Or is it more along the lines of the story being used to create a commentary on the less than flattering elements of materialism and economics?

BRIAN: A bit of both? I am making a statement on consumerism, but in a kind of ridiculous, over-the-top kind of way. Sort of the way I comment on loyalty in The Couriers, you know, if you can see it through the constant shower of bullet casings. But I think if I had to say one or the other, Supermarket is a story based on universal themes, drenched heavily in this world we've built, albeit one of super-cities, massive class divisions, brazen crime families and really diverse takeout food.

IDW: Supermarket seems like it should naturally have an accompanying soundtrack (there’s an idea for some commercialism marketing). Was there anything in particular that you listened to while creating the book? Or, what sort of music do you think would best compliment the book?

BRIAN: Well, I keep dropping classic Wu Tang quotes all over the place in regards to Supermarket, so that's be a good place to start. Filthy, urban stuff, old, but not too old, something relentless and abusive, but in the best way possible. For some reason "Los Angeles Times" by Xzibit sticks in mind, and maybe some 1960s soul for a bit of class. But if I said any of that in front of Pella, she'd roll her eyes at me, the hopeless oldster.

IDW: The script for Supermarket is definitely a bit looser than some other scripts–as there is no real defining direction for specific panel count or placement. What are the freedoms and challenges for both the writer and artist when working with a format as lose as this?

BRIAN: As an artist myself, I always try and give my artist as much control and leeway as they want. This is how I write nearly everything. It gives them the power to compose the page, add or remove panels if necessary, and get their own storytelling style into the mix. I figure I can spend 30 seconds writing a page of comments, but poor Kristian here's gotta spent eight hours on it, so I want him to have as enjoyable an experience as possible.

IDW: One last thing... $24.99 for a six-pack of cheap domestic beer (in the comic)? It’s hard enough knowing that fuel prices will continue to rise and that owning a house will be more and more difficult than ever–but twenty-five bucks for a sixer?! What’s the going rate going to be for a quality import beer? Tell us your vision of the near future isn’t that bleak.

BRIAN: All I know is if I were running a convenience store in some disgustingly rich gated community, I'd be constantly pushing the envelope of how much is too much to charge. Why not? Spread the wealth around. Make that money trickle down. But then again, I live in New York City, and I'm used to paying $10+ for a six-pack of my favorite beer.

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