GVN Talking Comics Interview: Philip K. Dick Award Winning Writer Ben H. Winters For Oni Press 'Benjamin #1'
Author Ben H. Winters has exercised his immense writing talent in a myriad of media. His is the creator of CBS' acclaimed TV series Tracker and author of the Edgar Award-winning and Philip K. Dick Award-winning 'The Last Policeman' novel trilogy. So, it came as no surprise that he would eventually try his hand at comics. Starting with EC's Cruel Universe , and Underground Airlines. Now Ben is tackling his first full-length comic by Oni Press, the part series, Benjamin# 1 with artwork by acclaimed illustrator Leomacs (EC's Epitaphs from the Abyss, DC Black Label's Rogues).
Here is the synopsis of this exciting new book as stated in their previous press release:
In the tradition of Philip K. Dick's A Scanner Darkly and Thomas Pynchon's Inherent Vice comes a uniquely fascinating and hilariously deranged excursion into the metatextual nexus where existence and oblivion, past and future, genius and madness, and glitter and grim reality all meet just beyond Hollywood Boulevard in the first of three prestige-format, ad-free issues unlike anything you've ever experienced . . . in this timeline anyway . . .
More than just a writer, more than just a science-fiction icon, Benjamin J. Carp was a cultural revolutionary. Across 44 novels and hundreds of short stories—including the counterculture classic The Man They Couldn't Erase—Carp pushed the boundaries of literary respectability for the sci-fi genre and his readers' perception of reality itself . . . until decades of amphetamine abuse and Southern California excess finally ended a mind-bending career that always just escaped mainstream success. He died in 1982.
Until 2025 . . . when Benjamin J. Carp awakens, alive, in a burned-out motel on the fringes of Los Angeles. He remembers dying. He knows he shouldn't exist. Is he a dream? A robot? A ghost? A clone? A simulation? In his own time, Carp pondered all of these scenarios intensely through his fiction—and now, as he treks from Studio City to Venice Beach and onward into the paranoid sprawl of 21st-century Los Angeles, he will be called to investigate his greatest mystery yet: himself.
In advance of the release of Benjamin #1 , we had the opportunity to catch up with the talented writer to discuss his career, his turn at comics and his newest venture with Oni Press and artist Leomacs. So, let's welcome award-winning writer Ben H. Winters to GVN Talking Comics. The Origins of his Writing
GVN: Thank you for taking a moment to chat, Ben. Since this is our first conversation, I'd like to begin by discussing your creative beginnings. When did you first develop an interest in writing, and which authors inspired you to pursue that goal?
BEN: Well, thank YOU! Like so many writers, I'm absolutely desperate for attention, so any chance to talk about myself is a real gift, and I don't take it for granted. I've always loved to write—always loved to tell stories of all kinds. When I was in third grade, I wrote a series of stories called Piggy Wiggy, in which the title character (a pig) would always die in some convoluted way in the end. A huge, huge hit with everyone over at Taylor Elementary, I assure you. And now that I think of it, most episodes were illustrated by my friend Victor Chang, so those were officially my first creator-owned comics.
Favorite authors is such a tough question. There are so many, from so many different times of my life. I have had transformative experiences reading Patricia Highsmith; reading Alan Moore; reading George Eliot; reading and listening to Stephen Sondheim. As a kid I really loved any sort of sci-fi or fantasy that was also funny or tongue in cheek; so obviously Douglas Adams, and Terry Pratchett, and I loved the 'Myth' books by Robert Aspirin. I could go on—boy, could I. I haven't even mentioned Charles Dickens. The Impact of Music and Comedy
GVN: Even before you began writing, you had a diverse range of interests. You were a member of the punk band Corm and also participated in the comedy group Mama's Pot Roast while attending Washington University in St. Louis. Did any of these experiences influence your writing, or were they simply other ways for you to explore your creative side?
BEN: Oh, it's all writing. It's all building the muscles and learning the tricks of it, whether you know it or not. In the band I was the bass player (and not a very good one) but my main role was as the lyricist, and it was an early foray into putting words to interesting use. It was also an early experience in collaboration—my primary writing partner was our guitar player, John Davis, who went on to have an illustrious rock and roll career (notably in the DC post-punk band Q and Not U).
As to college comedy, that was mostly just me finding my tribe, as one ought to do in college. But you do learn a lot about writing through improvisation. Namely that you need to take risks; be unafraid of embarrassment; trust your own ideas. Take the leap. Just go. That's what I cherish about that time in my life. The Transition to Writing Comics
GVN: You have successfully written in various media, including fiction, audio, poetry, screenplays, and television. All of which has been critically praised. Thus, it made sense that you tackled the comic book genre, starting with EC's 'Cruel Universe.' Did you have to make any changes to your creative process when taking on this new challenge, or is storytelling just storytelling, no matter what the medium?
BEN: Well, I don't know if all of it has been critically praised, but I'll take the compliment. I guess I have a restless creative spirit, which is another way of saying that sometimes success as a creative person involves hustling, i.e. taking the gigs, you can get.
There is a formal challenge to comic writing, which is just, you know, how do you lay out a comics script? How do you clearly communicate to your editor and artists what it is you're imagining? And then the artistic challenge is in concision: you want each panel to pull its weight, so to speak. A novel can expand outward forever—it shouldn't, but it can—where a comic needs to work within those allotted 32 pages or whatever it is.
Having said that, I do accept your premise: storytelling is storytelling. The fundamentals of good characters, interesting situations, surprising events, catharsis, theme…these are all applicable across the various media. Oni Press 'Benjamin'
GVN: Your latest comic series, titled 'Benjamin,' is your first creator-owned project with Oni Press. It marks the beginning of a three-issue exploration of life, death, and everything in between, illustrated by the talented Leomacs. How did this project come to be, and how long has it been in development?
BEN: I met Oni Publisher Hunter Gorinson at a crossroads at midnight on a full moon night, and he offered me the opportunity to write a three-issue prestige series in exchange for my immortal soul. I said I would need to talk it over with my lawyer, but he said there was no time for that. In retrospect, I guess I probably should have insisted on a more traditional contract, but I'm very proud of the comic, so, you know—pros and cons. Working with Leomacs
GVN: As I mentioned, you are collaborating with Leomacs (EC's Epitaphs from the Abyss, DC Black Label's Rogues). How did this partnership come about, and how did his work enhance the story?
BEN: Oh, man – he is so great. The partnership was pure comics-world matchmaking; since I am relatively new to this world and had no existing contacts in the art world, I relied on the incredible editor Sierra Hahn to point me toward possible pencilers, and Leomacs just seemed like he'd be perfect. And he was!
Oni Press Gives 'Benjamin' the Deluxe Treatment
GVN: Through Oni Press, Benjamin is getting the deluxe treatment with enhanced design elements, deluxe cardstock covers, and a select group of variant cover artists. Was this part of the selling point to you for agreeing to work with Oni, or was it merely their way of giving Benjamin the quality it deserved?
BEN: Oh, I love this story so much, and was so excited to tell it, I would have said yes even if they were going to print it on a pile of greasy napkins. But I am absolutely honored to be getting the deluxe treatment and delighted for Leomacs to see his work so lovingly presented. BENJAMIN_001_Cover-B_LEOMACS BENJAMIN_001_Cover-C_MWARD BENJAMIN_001_Cover-A_MWARD BENJAMIN_001_FullArt_WARD Future Projects
GVN: Thank you again, Ben, for your kind indulgence. Before I let you go, I want to give you the chance to promote any other new projects you have upcoming.
BEN: Benjamin is my main focus for now! I hope people get a chance to read and enjoy and reach out to let me know what you think! If you're dying for more Ben, my most recent novel is called BIG TIME and that came out last year. Thanks so much!
Oni Press Benjamin# 1 by Ben H. Winters and Leomacs is coming to comic stores near you on June 18th.
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