She rose from the muddy banks of the riverbed like a corpse tearing itself loose from the grave while the quiet woman stood by and watched. Those are the first nine panels of Terry Moore’s latest indy-comics epic Rachel Rising and while those panels are gripping, unsettling and gorgeous his story only becomes more mysterious and engaging as the pages and issues pass. And yet, despite all of its creative success and critical acclaim, Rachel Rising is struggling to survive.
Recently, Terry Moore, the writer/illustrator/publisher and indy-comics legend behind the series took to Twitter and discussed the challenges of creating a small-press comics series with a surprising and disarming level of candor and honesty. The discussion, fuelled by writers and artists like Joe Hill, Adam Hughes and Eric Powell, created a small phenomenon in the world of comics and the popular #saverachelrising hashtag. The series is still struggling but at least people have started talking about it. And that’s a good thing. Because I want to see Rachel continue to rise.
Much to my delight, Terry Moore agreed to answer a few questions in the present tense.
- Rachel Rising is…
Terry Moore: …a delightful comic for the whole family if you are The Addams Family.
- The first comic that blew my mind was…
Terry Moore: …Archie. It was like regular life, only more fun. Pretty cool for a 9 year old reader.
- The first comic that I ever worked on professionally was…
Terry Moore: …Strangers In Paradise.
- I choose to create and sell my comics independently because…
Terry Moore: …my music career went nowhere because we didn’t do our own songs. I’ll never make that mistake again.
- My experience working for Marvel Comics was…
Terry Moore: …fun. Great group of guys then, [Runaways and Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane were] fun books.
- My favourite superhero is…
Terry Moore: …Supergirl. But she is written and drawn all wrong. I wish I could have had a run on her and give her a new set-up to make her equals with the big boys. She’s too powerful to be a sidekick.
- My favourite non-superhero character in comics is…
Terry Moore: …I always had a crush on Joe in Madman. She’s sweater-girl cute and her boyfriend is a total weirdo. How great is that? Thank you, Mike Allred for getting me through many long, cold Siberian winters.
- My experience making Strangers in Paradise was…
Terry Moore: …like being in a popular band. Just fantastic and unique.
- The best drawing advice that I can give is…
Terry Moore: …you do best what you do most. I’ve been drawing 10-14 hours a day for years. That’s how you reach your art’s happy place.
- The best writing advice that I can give is…
Terry Moore: …Read. The more you read the more you’ll feel at home with language and internal things that have to come out intelligently.
- The proudest moment of my career is…
Terry Moore: …When Harlan Ellison wrote a sharp-tongued endorsement for Echo and told me Ray Bradbury was a fan of my work. That’s two things but they share one exclamation point for me.
- Rachel Rising is unique in that…
Terry Moore: …I’m writing it. Nobody knows the twists and turns I’ll take.
- Rachel Rising is compelling because…
Terry Moore: …It’s a horror story with hope. The pretty girls look at terrible truths and search for more than survival, they want a better tomorrow.
- The most fulfilling part of creating Rachel Rising has been…
Terry Moore: …The fan support. God bless them, they’ve kept me going through the difficult process of keep keeping up retail order.
- The most challenging part of creating Rachel Rising has been…
Terry Moore: …Staying one step ahead of brilliant readers. My god you people are smart!
- In the 21 years that I have been a professional cartoonist, the biggest change that I have seen happen to the comics industry is…
Terry Moore: …The complete collapse of publishing? How’s that? Get your attention? Navigate that, tadpoles.
- I am inspired by…
Terry Moore: …creative people of all types. Love ‘em.
- I am fearful of…
Terry Moore: …Congress.
- I am at my best when…
Terry Moore: …alone at a drawing table. That’s not normal, but I like the results.
- The one thing that every person should do before they go to bed tonight is…
Terry Moore: …read one of my books!
- I still love comics because…
Terry Moore: …they let me live like I’m still 17. Groovy!
- The best work of my career is…
Terry Moore: …Next.
Rachel Rising is available in single issues and collected editions at comics stores and digitally on the Comixology app. It is published monthly by Terry Moore’s Abstract Studio.
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Theodore Wiebe is a writer living in Calgary. You can follow more of his important nonsense on Twitter (@TheodoreWiebe) or Tumblr (writingafterdark.tumblr.com).
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