The Mystical Emerald-Man #2 Commentary
Collin discusses the second issue: writing philosophy, inspiration, and metaphysics.
So I discussed in the last blog post about the beginnings of Emerald-Man, and now I will discuss the philosophy behind my designs in Emerald-Man, as well as some theological philosophy. Without further adieu, lets show the cover.
When I wrote the first issue, I was tempted to show a cover similar to this: the character triumphantly in his costume facing the vague forces of evil. However, I have hated the practice of dishonest covers for some time: ever since I was a kid reading comics in the early 2000’s. I know they tend to sell better when you have something to lure you, but when I have been writing and drawing this comic series, I told myself I would try to retain a sense of integrity. Which meant covers needed to be honest and represent what you are going to see inside.
For issue #1, I made the risk of Stephen only being on the cover, not Emerald-Man despite his alter-ego being the titular character. It did, indeed, hurt initial views in retrospect. Because the release of my second issue saw more readership on both Webtoons and GlobalComix initially. (This has since changed thanks to further promotion.) I think I know why. The fact is, most people do judge books on the cover. This is true in the bookselling business. They use enticing covers to get audiences. Such tactics can be seen as necessary in a world that is reading print books less and less.
I decided to do a cover reminiscent of old Batman: a spotlight on the titular character against a brick wall, threatened with outstretched arms holding automatic pistols. Despite disliking the old cover marketing tactics in old comics, I admit they used to also have fascinating covers. No disrespect to modern cover artists, but I feel they are focusing too much on making covers into portraits and don’t tell enough of a story on the cover itself. Covers should be like a preview of what is inside, and those are always the ones I appreciated. Heck, even the tacky ones with word balloons were some of my favorites.
This extends to my writing philosophy for Emerald-Man. It is heavily inspired by the gold and silver age of comic books. This is done by choices of costume colors, designs of characters, and the way characters are written. Notice, for example, how many of the characters dress up in suits, or how scientists are dressed in old, hollywood-styled labcoats. Or how some characters talk in old 40’s slang. Bob (the blonde haired gangster) for instance tends to call Carolina “broad”, or how Mario Valentine ends his sentences with “see?” and has darkened eyes like Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone.
Some might wince at how I add such tropes into a story stated to take place in modern days. This is the way I look at it: Emerald-Man is a work of fiction, and superheroes are known for being, frankly, goofy. (Which is why I roll my eyes when people want them to be taken “seriously.”) Superheroes relish in their camp and silliness. It is playing it utterly straight with the silly costumes and dialogue and settings that, despite how everything looks so colorful and zany, you are still moved to joy or tears when reading one with strong emotional beats.
There is also the presence of animated film and television productions, such as The Incredibles or Batman: The Animated Series which take similar aesthetic choices. For The Incredibles, the stories, despite having modern technology, take design inspiration from the 60s superhero stories and, particularly, James Bond. (Look at Syndrome’s lair in the first film and compare it to the SPECTRE base in You Only Live Twice. They are incredibly similar, down to being in a volcano!) Or how about Batman: TAS which has a dark, dreary Gotham which, despite the use of modern handguns, computers, etc. looks like it is perpetually in the 1940’s. These inspirations are why I have made my choice.
Sometime in the future, I imagine someone will ask why I am putting Bible verses at the beginning of my issues. This can repel readers who are not interested in Christian works. Simply put: I practice Christianity. When I started making this comics, I had ideas of compromising some things for the sake of further fame and glory. However, I remembered that I need integrity, and follow what scripture states.
“Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” -1st Corinthians 10:31
I partake in the world when I publish these things. I have to remind myself that creating Emerald-Man, despite how it is indeed my creation, is also part of stewardship over the earth. It is our responsibility as humans to tend to the earth and tend to each other. Therefore, I place the verses at the beginning to do two things:
The verses often give an idea of what the issue is about.
The verses foreshadows the contents of the story.
There is a third reason: frankly, my family is very religious as well, and I don’t want them getting the wrong idea. I do not follow pagan or wiccan religion. Rather, I am fascinated by the early Celts and Britons who once followed their druidic faith and some of the legends surrounding them. (Which, by the way, is still shrouded in a lot of debate with historians.) In particular, the relationship between humanity and the world.
For issue 2, this is the concept of the earth crying out. This is where we get to some of the metaphysical aspects of Emerald-Man. Remember last blog where I asked where Emerald-Man’s power came from? The initial idea was “magic”, but then I pondered: what really, truly is “magic” for Emerald-Man?
In college, I learned about the idea of the “metaphysical”, or at least a summarized version of it. That the spiritual is ideally perfect, and that the material is imperfect and sinful. This is a school of Platonic thought. While this is basically beginner’s philosophy, it is largely a concept that took the world by storm in the first century AD with Neo-Platonism and the Gnosticism.
For Gnostics, there was a belief that they needed to ascend beyond the physical (that is, the imperfect and sinful) and become united with the spirit, in heaven where they could be perfect and good. In contrast you have heathenism, which is the indulgence of the material.
I take a different stance on this: the material and spiritual can be together. In fact, it is man’s unique nature that they are both flesh and spirit. That is where our true power, our magic, comes into play. As a species, humanity has one task, whether you have a religion or not: to take care of this earth, which we so clearly rule. It is humanity’s stewardship which gives us power over the earth. Where we can build great towers, create canals that divide continents, and create art that can show the beauty of the world to those who have never seen it.
So what happens when we ignore it? That is called “neglect”, and that is one of the most heinous sins a person can commit. It is why weeds grow in our gardens, or why you find pests like mice or rats coming into your house. When we ignore the call of stewardship, we find ourselves defeated by nature, who tries to take over us. Nature that is tainted with a spirit of chaos, and it cares little about us. Which is why we need to control it, nurture it, so it obeys us.
Now, do not take the point of this as, “you are neglectful for not taking care of the garden.” On the contrary, sometimes neglect can come from focusing on the wrong things. For Stephen Barnes’ neglect, he failed to stand up for his business and for Carolina, despite it being his position. He neglected the call to action, to steward over his friends and family and watch out for them, out of a sense of fear.
This was Danu’s point in this issue. Stephen did not understand his position as a man: we are material like the rest of nature, but we are also spirit. That spirit, the image of God, is what makes us rule the earth and it’s creatures. It gave us a meaning of stewardship. But man neglected this stewardship, and defied his purpose, and instead wanted to pursue power in the wrong things. Therefore nature has turned against us, and we have lost control over it.
Emerald-Man’s magic, then, comes from his spirit. His use of faith and willpower in order to tell creation to obey him. He took back his role as a steward over the earth and to bend it to do the will of good and what is righteous and holy. Emerald-Man also has power over creation, using the earth’s elements to make new things to assist him. This, in my opinion, is good and what the earth is intended for. Hence why that is portrayed as a joyous moment when Stephen finally grasps it.
There is, of course, an evil version of this stewardship. J. R. R. Tolkien in Lord of the Rings showed this with the villainous Sauron and the lands of Mordor. If you are familiar with the series, you likely know what I am talking about. But for those who have not read the books: Sauron bends the earth to do his evil bidding, and distorts it with chaos and destruction. Evil’s nature is not one of stewardship and creation. Evil is capable only of perversion, of destruction. It takes what is good and twists it for the sake of pride. In this pride, Middle Earth and Sauron’s minions suffer, neglected as he searches for the One Ring to get his power and glory back.
It is truly ironic that Sauron is defeated by the ones who follow lifestyles of hard work: a ranger king (and his companions) returning to his role of stewardship over the lands (and ousting a bad steward), and hobbits who live humble lives of gardening and farming. Characters who care for others and care about the world they live in, and are willing to die to preserve it’s beauty in humility and honor.
I will explore this nature of evil in further issues, but I feel this is the groundwork for magic in Emerald-Man. The force of spirit over Creation, and how we control it. We can either respect the earth and use it for good, or we can distort it and corrupt it and neglect it for selfish gain and evil.
Do note: I am not comparing myself to Tolkien by any means. (He will always be a greater writer than I.) However, I think there is truth in his works. That, and he understands what magic is, and I have found no equal to his brilliance on the subject. Why not share what the greats have to say, and embrace it?