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The Dirt Beneath The Rose

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by Vince Brusio

A creator-owned series. A publisher not picked. A new artist untested. Merdith Finch knew what she wanted to do, but wasn’t sure which door to open so that she could find her own personal Oz. She knew Rose #1 (FEB170548) had to be put on paper, no matter what. Now, in this PREVIEWSworld Exclusive, Meredith explains the toil that went into the soil which planted her rose at Image Comics, and how that flower grew into a new series.

Rose #1 (FEB170548) is in comic shops April 12.

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Vince Brusio: How about giving us a primer for this new series so that readers can get up to speed on Rose #1 (FEB170548). What should we know about the story at this point?

Meredith Finch: Rose opens with dying land and a kingdom in turmoil after a bloody civil war.  The queen, Drucilla, is obsessed with destroying every last shred of magic in her realm.  No one can stand up to her now that the Guardians, and their magical companions, the Khatz, have disappeared. Enter Rose.  In an ugly and often brutal landscape, Rose has somehow managed to maintain a sense of innocence and wonder, until that brutality hits a little too close to home. “Rose” is the story of a young woman who holds the key to freeing her homeland from oppression, but only if she can learn to harness the power within.  She is the last of the guardians. 

Vince Brusio: Who are the movers and the shakers in Rose #1? What new characters do we meet?

Meredith Finch: Issue one really gives you a great introduction to the main characters in our story. You meet our central characters, Rose and the khat Thorne. You also get some great insight into why Drucilla is so bent on the destruction of the kingdom. Sir Dante is Drucilla’s praetorian. And, of course, no oppressive society would be complete without a band of rebels to help our hero on her quest. 

Vince Brusio: Give us a glimpse into the production of this book. How do you and Ig Guara work together as a creative team?

Meredith Finch: Beyond being a hugely talented artist, Ig is just an incredible person.  He just has this amazing ability to roll with whatever craziness I send his way. When we first started Rose, I was definitely nervous to work with someone new.  The only two artists I had worked on a series with before were David (Finch) and Miguel (Mendonca).  If I’m honest, I think we were both nervous. A creator-owned project is a big risk and at the time I didn’t have a publisher, I just knew this was something I had to do.  But I also very strongly believe that a writer’s job is merely to inspire his or her artist.  I can describe a scene, but it’s the artist who makes that a visual reality.  Right from the beginning I was very clear that if Ig felt that there was a better way to tell the story/the scene then he should follow his instincts.  By the time we had finished issue one, we were pretty much in sync and with every new page, with every new issue, our trust in each other grows, and I think we get deeper into each other’s heads. I couldn’t image Rose without Ig.  He has permanently marked that character for me. 

Vince Brusio: What sets the mood for you when you work on this title? What music is playing in the background? How do you transport your mind from the 21st century to a life that’s full of fantasy?

Meredith Finch: Dave and I joke often that I was born in the wrong century, so it’s not as difficult as you might image for me to transport myself into the fantasy realm I’ve created.  But, if I’m having trouble figuring out a scene or what to do with a character, I just pick up a pencil.  The physical act of writing on a piece of paper slows me down and seems to allow me to shift gears.

More often than not, I work in silence, but there are times when you have to step away from a scene, and the mood that you’re in when you return is exactly contrary to the emotional tone you are wanting to set. At those times I find music can really help.  I generally try to pick something that has the same emotional feel as the scene I’m writing.  If it’s a really sad scene, I’ll keep playing songs that will make me cry until eventually I do. Similarly, if I’m wanting to feel really empowered and strong for my character, I pick songs that makes me want to kick some butt. Strangely, I never need help writing the angry scenes… hmmmm.

Vince Brusio: If you were doing a signing, and someone walked up to the booth to ask you about this series, how would you describe it to this anonymous fan? How would you convey your passion and enthusiasm?

Meredith Finch: What you have just described is the bane of my existence. It is so incredibly difficult for me to break down the complex ideas that I have in my head, and now on the pages of a comic book, into a 10-second blurb about why you should buy my book. That being said, I would say that Rose is a journey of self-discovery and an exploration of what true strength is. It’s the story of a young women with the power to save her kingdom, but only if she can only learn to believe in herself. And if you believe that comic books are about the art… this is also a book that gets back to the core of what comics used to be… balancing a great story with really cool, really beautiful artwork. You simply can’t afford to miss it.

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Vince Brusio writes about comics, and writes comics. He is the long-serving Editor of PREVIEWSworld.com, the creator of PUSSYCATS, and encourages everyone to keep the faith...and keep reading comics.

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