CR – What can you tell us about the city of Metropolis for those
who aren’t familiar with it?
SM – Metropolis is a futuristic city of fantastic proportions where
the minority enjoys all the city has to offer while the majority lives in slavish
conditions below the city, working around the clock to keep the city running.
CR – So, being a futuristic city, it’ll have all sorts of
high-tech gadgetry and—
SM – No, no. Not at all. See that’s one of the things I really
dig about the film. Metropolis is not set in our future: it’s the future as seen from
the 1920s, before modern electronics and all that. Air travel hasn’t moved beyond
biplanes and zeppelins. You’ve got the classic automobiles, but now they’re
everywhere. Some roads are as high as the skyscrapers are tall! It’s like everything
they had back then, they still have, but in massive quantities.
CR – What are your plans for the series?
SM – At the end of the film, John Fredersen was still Master of
Metropolis, and he was entertaining his son Freder’s notion of Citizens and Workers
living in harmony. Well, the series begins 20 years later. John has passed away, and
Freder and his wife, Maria, have disappeared, so now the only remaining Fredersen is
David, the son of Freder.
David’s been adopted and has pretty much denounced his heritage. He has no
interest n politics; he’s perfectly happy with the status quo. However, the
Establishment – this group of cold, power-hungry men who now rule Metropolis –
well, they have other plans for David. So David ends up being this important figure that
both sides – Workers and Citizens – want to either control or destroy. And
David’s 17. He just wants to hang out with his best friend and his girlfriend, you
know?
CR – So Metropolis is not your typical sci-fi/action series?
SM – Oh, I don’t think so. Anyone who’s read The Waiting
Place knows that there’ll be an emphasis on characterization and interpersonal
relationships. And, really, Metropolis is the kind of series where I can pretty much tell
any kind of story that Caliber will let me.
CR – Will those who’ve never seen the film be able to follow
the comics?
SM – Absolutely. Like I said, the story’s set 20 years beyond
the film, so it’s almost like having a clean slate. Plus I sort of recap the film in
the beginning of issue one in a really cool—Well, I think in a pretty cool way.
<Laughter> There’s also issue zero, which is the forty-page adaptation of the
film, coming out later on.
CR – Is there anything else you’d like to tell people about
Metropolis?
SM – Yeah, a whole bunch. But I can’t give too much away, you
know? I guess all I can say is, I really think people will dig this book. Let
your retailer know you want it! Please! I’ll be your friend!
