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Ex-Con #1. Cover by Tim Bradstreet.

Duane Swierczynski is the writer of such comics as X, judge Dredd, Deadpool vs. X-Force, Bloodshot, as well as more. Now, he’s composing Ex-Con as part of Dynamite’s creator driven comics. Westfield’s Roger Ash got in touch with Swierczynski to discover more about this upcoming release.

Westfield: What was the genesis of Ex-Con?

Duane Swierczynski: Nick Barrucci as well as Joe Rybandt got me drunk, locked me in a room, then told me not to find out unless I had five problems of a criminal offense comic prepared to go. Worst part of all — they didn’t even leave me paper or a pencil. Do you understand exactly how much blood it takes to totally cover the walls of a seminar space with panel descriptions as well as cuss-laden dialogue?

Okay, I youngster (they really provided me crayons as well as a legal pad). The story started with a short synopsis Nick as well as Joe had cooked up: “Ex-con gets sprung from prison owing a favor to a criminal offense boss.” then I went off as well as just started riffing, as well as discovered that the story was moving in some truly strange directions. Which thrilled me to no end.

Ex-Con #1 preview page 1. Art by Keith Burns.

Westfield: What can you tell us about the story as well as who are a few of the characters we’ll be meeting?

Swierczynski: Cody Pomeray is a grifter as well as con guy with a strange gift: he can checked out his mark’s “lights,” which tell him if they’re lying, or in love, or greedy, as well as so on. One day, though, he runs a short con on the wrong guy — a powerful genuine estate mogul who has Cody sent to prison as well as arranges for him to be killed. however his life is spared by Barnaby Creed, an similarly powerful criminal offense lord currently serving at the state’s pleasure. In exchange, Cody has to do a special bit “favor” for Creed when he’s paroled. Which is when things truly get interesting…

Ex-Con #1 preview page 2. Art by Keith Burns.

Westfield: Why did you choose to set the series in the ‘80s?

Swierczynski: I like it when stories are set in a specific location (in this case, L.A.) as well as time (in this case, the late 1980s) since it assists define the rules of that world. For instance, nobody’s utilizing their cell phone in this story to get them out of a jam. Also, I’m a significant fan of 80s criminal offense flicks like To online as well as die In L.A. as well as police officer as well as The Grifters, as well as I wished to play in a similar sandbox.

Ex-Con #1 preview page 3. Art by Keith Burns.

Westfield: What is the charm of a criminal offense comic for you?

Swierczynski: I’m a significant fan of criminal offense novels (which is what I compose when I’m not doing comics), as well as criminal offense movies — as well as it seems like criminal offense comics can take the very best of both worlds — hardboiled prose as well as dialogue, together with vivid action as well as moody noir moments. Hell, I just can’t get sufficient of criminal offense stories in general. I’ll take ’em anyway you’re serving them up.

Ex-Con #1 preview page 4. Art by Keith Burns.

Westfield: You’re working with artist Keith Burns on Ex-Con. What can you state about your partnership with him?

Swierczynski: I was extremely lucky to be paired with Keith — we’re approximately the exact same age, as well as have a similar fascination with both the City of Angels as well as the 80s in general. I understood our partnership clicked in the extremely very first problem when I saw the very first pages as well as saw exactly how much gleeful fun he was having. as well as it ended up being fun to keep Keith guessing throughout; he declares he didn’t understand where it was headed up until he checked out the last script. Which is the biggest compliment I might have received.

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Ex-Con #1