Ty Templeton on Mr. Comics
by Bryan Munn
Sept. 28, 2005: After existing as a licensed property at several U.S. comic book companies, the Planet of the Apes franchise has somehow found its way to Canada and a new publisher, Mr. Comics. Publicity material and website text for the publisher is being written by industry veteran, cartoonist Ty Templeton who, as Ty "The Guy" Templeton, has adopted the freewheelin', avuncular style of the EC comics hosts and Marvel Comics' Stan "The Man" Lee for this new project.
Editor Templeton is enthusiastic about Mr Comics in general and the Apes in particular.
"So far, our first three projects are comics I'm DYING to put out so other people can read em! This isn't product at Mr. Comics, it's our babies," he raves.
The new imprint is itself the product of two key individuals: Templeton, a Toronto cartoonist with vast experience in the trenches of Marvel, DC, and most recently, Simpsons Comics; and Steve Valentine, entrepreneur and publisher.
As Templeton tells the story, the company is "based out of Toronto and its principal backer is a man named Steve Valentine, who's made a little money in the board games business and he's had a lifelong love of comics, and wanted to get involved as more than a fan. He'd been publishing small press comics in Ontario when I met up with him, with small circulations...energetic stuff, produced mostly by newcomers, you know. But and when I found out he was thinking about the licence for Planet of the Apes, as a way of expanding into a larger market, I crawled over glass to work on it."
The Apes franchise holds a special place in the heart of Templeton, who has also worked as an actor: "Planet of the Apes was my introduction to the world of sf films as a kid. It's in my blood. Just like working on the Simpsons Comics are a dream to me, so is this. So I'm editing, co-writing, and doing some art chores on the book. As our publisher started to see the work come together on Apes, he wanted to start doing other projects, and expanding. This is a fun project for everyone involved."
This planned expansion fits into the new publisher's overall philosophy of showcasing accessible work in the style and spirit of earlier generations. Templeton explains their reasons for publishing and the talent involved:
"Love of comics is the primary reason. I know that's corny, but there it is. In my case, I wanted a chance to work on the Apes, for one thing, and I wanted to give some opportunities to a) some talented friends who deserve the work, and b) some of the amazing newcomers I see at conventions who I can't BELIEVE aren't working already. We have some work coming up from a couple of new guys who make me sick they're so talented, and under twenty five. They should fall from a CLIFF, they're so good."
The roster of artists and writers include Salgood Sam, Tom Fowler, Gabriel Morrissette, Bernie Mireault, Marcus Moore, Dan Slott and James Fry.
On the question of Mr Comics' chances of survival and thriving in the Northa American retail comics market and plans for graphic novels and the bookstore trade, Templeton was bubbling over with confidence and enthusiasm.
"Our first Apes series is going to be collected up into a graphic novel at the end of six issues. And we'll be putting that into the bookstore market, one hopes. What do I think our chances are? Well, if it's a matter of putting out good comics, and not overextending ourselves, I figure our chances ain't too bad. Most of the companies that fail, do it through mismanagement...spending more than they make, etc. and sometimes, they just put out comics no one wants to read."
Finally, Templeton draws a sharp contrast between Mr Comics and the product of other adventure comics producers and certain recent trends: "I make this pledge...we're NEVER going to put out a comic I wouldn't want to read. And there's no rapes, no dead wives, no pointless blood. I make comics I'm proud of, and comics that are literate and fun and can be read by adults who are interested in MORE than the gratuitous nonsense that populates most "Mature Readers" titles. So....no topless sword carrying vixens, no heads coming off nuns, no blasphemy, no sex crime, but comics you'd want to read twice. FUN."
Mr Comics
Profile at Silver Bullet's "All the Rage"
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