PREVIEWSWORLD Exclusive: Interview With Tank Girl's Alan Martin & Rufus Dayglo

Aug 20, 2009

On the off-chance that I’m released from my shackles to take time to chat with the big boys and girls who create the comics that I love, I jump at the chance to speak with those who I think may be fellow gonzo enthusiasts. I found such two men when I was approached by Titan Books to interview Tank Girl creators Alan Martin and Rufus Dayglo. The following conversation is a result of madmen walking on the water, enjoying the smell of napalm.

1. V. Brusio: Alan, you along with Jamie Hewlett created the Tank Girl character. Now that you're once again in the driver's seat, have you thought of new qualities/quirks/quandries to bring to the character for this specific series? Or have you instead concentrated on what kind of new bloody endings lay in store for those who cross Tank Girl?

Alan Martin (AM): You're crediting me with some kind of control over my working methods there.

The fact of the matter is that when I start a story, I have no idea where it's gonna go or what it's gonna do.

I guess I've brought all of the accumulated madness that's built up in my own life in the interim years and I'm starting to vent that through the comics: the first comeback series (The Gifting, 2007) was all spit and venom and fury, so I must've been in a very angry place.

The following series (Visions of Booga, 2008) was much more laid back and concerned with Hippies and The Beat Generation, so I must've been winding down somewhat there.

Skidmarks is a lot more fun and slapstick, even though it does have its darker moments. So things have balanced out in the end.

2. Brusio: Rufus, since Tank Girl has been seen in both comics and in theaters (the 1995 Tank Girl movie), have you locked horns over how you may have wanted to experiment/accentuate original character designs?

Rufus Dayglo (RD): I come from an animation background so, like Jamie, I’m into Warners Looney tunes, and Chuck Jones stuff, so we have a similar starting point.

I wanted to do something that was true to what Tank Girl is (I hate it when artists and writers needlessly 'reimagine' characters) and hopefully something that I'd want to read as I'm a big fan of the comic, as well as being the pencil botherer.

Alan and I pretty much just write and draw what amuses us, and hopefully other people will like it, too. Otherwise they can sod off and read Superpants, X-Friends, and debate if Wolverine would shank Batman in the prison showers.

3. Brusio: With Titan Books releasing the Skidmarks mini-series and providing "Remastered" editions of the Martin/Hewlett's Tank Girl, plus your monthly strips in the Judge Dredd Megazine, have you considered venturing with the character into new media, such as motion comics?

AM: Things are being experimented upon in our underground laboratory as we speak. Several companies have approached us about iPod applications and digital versions of Tank Girl comics. Watch this space.

RD: I'm hoping Soldier of Fortune magazine will let us do Ordnance reviews, and maybe snuff comics for Razzle.

4. Brusio: What new apocalyptic geographies can we expect to see in this new ongoing Tank Girl series?

AM: Skidmarks runs (in a meandering fashion) from one coast of Australia to the other. So expect Australian geographies!

5. Brusio: It's been said that the two of you work on your stories up to the deadline. Could you give us a glimpse into how the two of you brainstorm under the gun?

RD: We've gone beyond brainstorming into the realms of Blind Panic. We work often up to and...er...just over the deadline. Deadlines are like fat fanboys: they should be reversed over. Repeatedly. In a tank. Alan will occasionally ask me what I'd like to draw, but more often he'll completely surprise me — and himself. It's great...kinda like juggling hand grenades with your teeth.

AM: Yes. I should be working on a script for Tank Girl's next appearance in the Judge Dredd Megazine right now. I'm two days late. Rufus is waiting. My job and career are doing a dainty pirouette on a razor's edge. Goodbye!