'Local' Matters: Brian Wood

BRIAN WOOD HAS told wonderful tales about Vikings, superheroes and future worlds.

But his slice-of-life stories in comics like "Demo" (AIT/Planet Lar) and "Local" (Oni Press) are where he really seems to shine.

The 12-issue miniseries "Local," illustrated by Ryan Kelly, which was recently collected in a massive, gorgeously designed graphic novel might be his magnum opus.

The book follows Megan McKeenan over a 12-year period, with each issue of the book set in a different locale, from Portland, Ore., to Brooklyn, N.Y., to Richmond, Va. The stories are slice-of-life type tales that expand your view of the character, though in some stories, Megan is squarely in the background. It is fascinating to watch as Megan, who starts out as a lost, confused young woman, grows into a capable adult right before your eyes.

But what is most amazing about the book is how well Wood and Kelly are able to capture each location and give the book a real homey feel, despite the vagabond nature of the book.

"All the locations chosen were either where I or Ryan were living at the time, were places I had visited, or places that I knew had very supportive indie comics shops and readerships," Wood says. "I wanted locals to be able to read 'Local,' I wanted them to be able to find copies in their hometown."

Wood did a lot of research, and enlisted locals to help him out, but he is quick to point out one of the major reasons that it is so geographically accurate.

"Despite spending three times as much time on research as I did on actually writing the book, the real credit for this should go to Ryan Kelly, who really brought the locations to life," Wood says.

Wood genesis for "Local" came about after he had finished another similarly structured comic book series, "Demo."

"I found that I really enjoyed working in that format, the single issue short story, linked to others thematically," Wood says. "I wanted to start up another project like that."

At the time, Wood was in a "self-imposed exile" in San Francisco, and was missing the East Coast so much that he kept analyzing it, trying to discover the root of his homesickness, he says.

"It got me thinking about themes that would end up in 'Local,' ideas about how where you're from that shape you, can identify you, and vice versa," he says.

These days, Wood is kept busy doing work with DC Comics' Vertigo imprint, including his Viking comic, "Northlanders" and his alternate reality story about a war-torn New York City, "DMZ." And the author has another new project he's recently announced, which should excite fans of "Local."

"Once again, I'm revisiting the 'Local' publishing format and doing a new run of 'Demo' stories," Wood says. "I can't stay away."

Written by Express contributor Scott A. Rosenberg
Image courtesy Oni Press