Strange Days for Jody Houser On IDW’s Orphan Black

by Vince Brusio

Ever listened to the Doors “Strange Days”? The song would make a great soundtrack for BBC America’s TV show Orphan Black. But whereas the Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek estates probably didn’t pitch that idea to BBC America, IDW Publishing did pitch if they could do a comic series based on the television property. And the answer that came back was “yes.” So now we get to enjoy a new Orphan Black mini-series which rolls out next February, and the series co-writer Jody Houser was more than happy to give us some insight about the work that culminates in Orphan Black #1 (DEC140469).

Look for Orphan Black #1 (DEC140469) in comic shops February 25.

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PREVIEWSworld: So for those out there who may not be familiar with Orphan Black, what can you tell us about the storyline?

Jody Houser: The show is about a con artist who comes back to town to make good with her daughter, sees a woman who is her mirror image jump in front of a train, and decides to steal the dead woman's identity to get the money for a new start for her family. Of course, that's only the first five minutes of the pilot, so it's goes far deeper and stranger places pretty quickly. It's great character-driven sci-fi show about identity and all the pieces that go into it. Also, clones!

PREVIEWSworld: What is it about the show and the characters that made you think this story was a natural for a comic adaptation?

Jody Houser: The comic was already in the works when I came on board, but I think the great thing about doing a book like this is having the opportunity to delve deeper into the characters. The ensemble on the show is so wonderfully developed, but at the same time, there's only so much story you can fit into a 10-episode season. The show focuses on the idea of who we are beyond our genetics, and having the opportunity to further explore what shaped these women into the individuals they are is a lot of fun. I think fans will really dig it.

PREVIEWSworld: What were some of the most challenging hurdles to jump in writing this new title? How quickly did your email inbox fill up with people who thought you should put ideas A, B, and C into motion?

Jody Houser: This is my first licensed book, so that's a challenge in itself, albeit a fun one. It's great to have a rich world to play with, especially when you can work moments into the comic that put a new twist on a scene from the show that we thought we knew.

There were primarily phone calls rather than emails when it came to hammering out the details of the story, but it's definitely far more of a help than a hindrance to hear from the folks working on the show. After all, they've already put a ton of time and energy into developing the characters and their universe.

PREVIEWSworld: Without divulging a spoiler, what scene would you most likely want to blog about that speaks to the fun factor for Orphan Black?

Jody Houser:  In terms of the comic, one word: Childhoods.

PREVIEWSworld:  If people can read more about what you’re doing for this series as it progresses, how could they follow you online, and comment?

Jody Houser:  I can be found at @Jody_Houser on Twitter and I have a Tumblr ask box. I look forward to hearing from Clone Club! And if you have Amazon Prime streaming and haven't watched Orphan Black yet, it's well worth checking out.

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