Pilgrim's Progress: Bryan Lee O'Malley on 'Scott Pilgrim'

WHEN BRYAN LEE O'MALLEY first appeared at the Small Press Expo in Bethesda in 2004, his second graphic novel, "Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life," had just been released and hadn't really taken off.

When O'Malley returns to the convention this weekend, he'll have four books from the ultra-popular "Pilgrim" series completed and there is a film in production (which O'Malley unfortunately is not able to speak about), starring the new it-nerd Michael Cera of "Superbad" and "Juno" fame (and he's returning to theater's this Friday with "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist"), and "Sean of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz" director Edgar Wright is at the helm.

Needless to say, when O'Malley makes his way to the Maryland suburb, he'll be one of the favorite creators at the convention, which caters to the more indie-favorite creators of the comic industry.

This year's event features some high profile guests, including Ben Katchor ("Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer"), Jason Lutes ("Berlin"), Tom Tomorrow ("This Modern World"), Raina Telgemeier ("The Baby-Sitter Club"), Lauren Weinstein ("Goddess of War"), Keith Knight ("The K Chronicles"), O'Malley's wife, Hope Larson ("Chiggers") and, making an incredibly rare stateside appearance, Dutch cartoonist Joost Swarte, who's work is recognizable from the cover of the New Yorker.

O'Malley spoke with Express about his comics and the convention.

» EXPRESS: What do you like about a show like SPX? What makes a show like SPX different from the stereotypical comic conventions like San Diego?
» O'MALLEY: I haven't been to SPX in a few years now, but my first time at SPX was right after "Scott Pilgrim" Vol. 1 came out, before it was popular or had any real support, and I really felt welcome at the show. I felt like there was a lot of diversity in terms of what the creators were bringing to the table. I made friends at SPX in 2004 that I will probably stay friends with for the rest of my life.

» EXPRESS: What goodies will you be peddling at SPX?
» O'MALLEY: We'll still have copies of the Colour Special that we printed earlier this summer, as well as posters, stickers, T-shirts and other junk.

» EXPRESS: How is the next "Scott Pilgrim" volume coming along?
» O'MALLEY: I'm working on pages for the fifth "Scott Pilgrim" book at the moment. It's slow going, but I'm hoping to release it at the beginning of February and debut it at the New York Comic Con.

» EXPRESS: The book incorporates video game elements into the story. Do you ever feel your life is like a video game?
» O'MALLEY: I think the video game elements are more about memory and storytelling than literally about video games. It's a medium through which to tell the story of your own life, rather than being actually the way you live your life.

» Marriott Bethesda North Hotel, 5701 Marinelli Road, Bethesda; Oct. 4 & 5, Sat. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sun. 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., $8 one day, $15 for both; 301-822-9200. (White Flint)

Written by Express contributor Scott A. Rosenberg
Images courtesy Bryan Lee O'Malley / Oni Press

» Click here for a quick guide to SPX 2008.