ZomBCon 2011: Q & A With Rotten Creator Mark Rahner

Oh, Rotten…why do we love you so? We adore you for the zombies, of course – and not just one type, there are so many vicious varieties to enjoy! Maybe it’s the old west backdrop that adds such a tasty twist. But then again, there are the secret agents – and not some namby-pamby 007 wannabes either, but a spike-through-the-eye breed of man’s man. Really, is there anything we DON’T love about this fantastic comic series?

Waiting. The fact that we’ve had to hold out for issues 10 and 11 is the only thing I can think of – but the wait is over! Mark Rahner, one of the creators of the book, will have copies of the second TPB volume of Rotten (“Revival of the Fittest”) at ZomBCon this weekend. Since #10 and 11 were never released individually, this book is the only way to get your hands on the whole story. So head on down to the Exhibition Hall at ZomBCon (in the Emerald Ballroom), say “Howdy” to Mark and get one of the best TPBs on the shelf!

Mark was kind enough to answer a few of our questions before the event started, and it went a little something like this:

Surfin’ Dead/Zombie Zone News: Okay, we’ll start off with the obligatory ZZN/ZomBCon question: Why zombies? And do you have a favorite story/stories (comic, movie, etc.) in that genre?

Mark Rahner: Why zombies? To paraphrase Mallory when asked why he wanted to climb Everest: because they’re there … and eating people.

I’ve loved zombies since the original “Dawn of the Dead” warped me when I was a kid. And the prospect of doing a genre mashup of zombies, westerns and agents gave me what I believe is clinically referred to as “nerd wood.”

Other favorites are of course the original “Night of the Living Dead” and Fulci’s “Zombie” – which is playing at the Egyptian in Seattle on ZomBcon weekend. It’s a rare treat to see that stuff with other degenerates. I mean fans. I’m also drawn to more off-brand titles like “Dawn of the Mummy,” which you can figure out from the title, and “Cannibal Holocaust,” which isn’t technically a zombie movie but is still remarkably unpleasant.

ZZN: In your interview with Dread Central, you mentioned that you and co-writer Rob Horton “write the characters of Wade and Flynn in our own voices”. Do you each have a character that you do separately, or is it all collaborative? Either way, is there one best represents you?

MR: Basically, Wade sounds like me and Flynn sounds like Horton. Wade is a foul-mouthed, angry brute and Flynn is more thoughtful and urbane. They even bear slight physical resemblances to us. It makes writing the dialogue a hoot.

ZZN: Rutherford B. Hayes doesn’t get a lot of love – obviously because of the parallels with George W. Do you the series could end with a time-traveling species of zombie that could eat ol’ George, too?

MR: I’m stealing that idea.

Anyhow, eating “W” would leave a lousy taste in even a zombie’s mouth. I’d settle for trying him for war crimes. We’re essentially carrying on the tradition of George Romero, Rod Serling and other creators who had strong doses of satire and commentary in their fantasy and horror. And it can be very satisfying, very cathartic. We had a zombie that was – excuse me – a dead ringer for Sarah Palin in one issue. And Wade said, “Shut the fuck up, you brain-dead bitch,” before putting her down with a spike to the forehead. Ahhh …

Issues 10 and 11 – which weren’t printed as single issues and are in the Vol. 2 trade collection – feature a preacher named “Father von Becker,” who we’re hoping will be just as fun for readers.

ZZN: Between the different species of zombies, the question of what’s causing the outbreaks and this mysterious Aubrey character, you’ve created quite the intricate web of conspiracy. Do you have an end game for Rotten, or are you just seeing where the ride takes you?

MR: We’ve got it completely planned out, although we keep adding stuff because all sorts of irresistible stuff has come up in the years since we plotted everything. In that sense it’s sort of the opposite of “The Walking Dead,” which I think Robert Kirkman has said he wanted to carry on indefinitely. “Rotten” is finite and building to something.

ZZN: How long would you like to continue the story? And in what form?

MR: I don’t have an issue count, but I can tell you that 20 years from now, you won’t be seeing a DC-style relaunch of “Rotten” for a younger generation. Unfortunately, our publishing schedule has come to resemble the one for “Planetary,” which was a great comic but sporadic. We’re grateful for the people who have stuck with us.

ZZN: You’ve mentioned that Rotten was close to becoming a TV series before it was a comic, and well before the Walking Dead TV phenomenon. Do you think that you would ever pitch the idea again, now that it’s been proven that there’s an audience?

MR: You bet! We still think it would be great as a completely balls-out series the way they’ve been handled on HBO, Showtime and Starz. And it’s got the advantage of being something you’d like if you dig “The Walking Dead,” but still very different.

ZZN: Do you follow any other comic creators’ work?

MR: Yeah, but you’ll have to excuse the incestuousness of my tastes. John Layman’s “Chew” makes me laugh out loud. Ed Brubaker’s stuff is also very smartly written. But they’re both my friends, so there’s your full disclosure. How about “The Boys” from Dynamite? No conflict there.

ZZN: Is there anyone else appearing at ZomBCon that you’re excited to see? (Besides me, of course;)

MR: Well, coming in a distant second to you is Judith O’Dea from “Night of the Living Dead.” There’s David Emge from “Dawn,” Ian McCulloch from “Zombie,” Tom Savini … good guest list if you’re a big horror nerd. And if you’ll allow me a moment of sappiness, it’s also nice to see people from those cult films that are so far out of the mainstream get a lot of attention and affection from fans who are all gathered in one place.

ZZN: What would you do in case of an actual zombie outbreak?

MR: Pretend to be a Teabagger so I’d blend right in.

ZZN: What would be the band, album or song that would provide the soundtrack to your zompocalypse?

MR: There’s a very cool, haunting song from Fever Ray called “Keep the Streets Empty for Me” that I used in a video for Rotten. (Click this link to check it out.)

ZZN: Any last words/news for Rotten fans?

MR: We’re hoping to have some con exclusives for sale on ZomBcon weekend, so look for the big ROTTEN banner if you go.

Also, please like ROTTEN COMICS on Facebook and follow @rottencomics on Twitter. And tell your local comic shop to order ROTTEN VOL. 2: REVIVAL OF THE FITTEST, or you’ll torch the place!

ZZN: Thanks so much for answering all of our questions!

Again, for those of you at ZomBCon this weekend, Mark will be in the Exhibition Hall in the Emerald Ballroom. Drop by and show Rotten some love!