Beyond the superhero fare of the major comic publishers, and even beyond the most common genres covered by independent creators, comic book writer/artist Steven Walters has chosen to focus on a topic rarely covered in comics… real life. A story six years in the making, Suburban Folklore follows the lives of five individuals as they come to grips with the realities of entering adulthood.

The New York native talked to PCS about the release of the Suburban Folklore collected graphic novel, his goals as a storyteller, and the difficulties of self-promotion.

Kayode Kendall: How have you been, with the book finally done and out?

Steven Walters: I’m actually doing fine, I have this new idea, and I’m “pitching” it to myself.

KK: Something in the vein of Suburban Folklore, or something brand new?

SW: It’s something a little new, but with the lowbrow feeling of “Folklore”. It’s a little edgy, and angry.

KK: There’s always room for edgy and angry. Before we get into that, how did you come up with Suburban Folklore?

SW: Well for the most part, I wanted to tell a story that wasn’t “safe”, about friends and that part of life that is purely about human development – the 20’s. I was just going for honesty and letting the chips fall as they may story-wise.

KK: Having read the book, I think it paid off. There was definitely a lot of it that spoke to me, personally.

SW: Thanks. I think… I really believe that people don’t want bullshit anymore. They want/need stories that are going to tell them that they are not alone. Instead of telling a narrative and that’s that. Because it spoke to you personally, I feel that at least for one person out there I did my job.

KK: So, would you say that that’s always been your goal as a comic creator?

SW: In a way. If I didn’t have something new to bring to the table, I would’ve never done the book in the first place. For me, I want to tell stories that aren’t “conventional”. I think that there’s way too much of that already.

KK: I can imagine it hasn’t been easy bringing the book to life.

SW: It’s had it’s up’s and down’s, the book was a lesson, and a trial and I think that life has a way of “weeding” out hopes and dreams to get to that next level…the journey’s not over yet.

KK: Now, for those who may not know, you and I actually did time together in good ol’ artist’s alley. Obviously, doing conventions is a big part of getting the book exposed.

SW: Hahaha yeah, I did a lot of soul searching at conventions, they are the beast. A book like Suburban Folklore is so small when competing with a convention that’s dominated by superhero fiction. You have to find your audience, and that’s hard to do, ’cause the people who are reading this book aren’t the ones concerned with Spider-Man taking off his mask, and that audience is really small in conventions.

KK: Is it safe to assume something like SPX (Small Press Expo) has worked more to your advantage than a Wizard World-type convention?

SW: To be honest, I haven’t seen much of a difference. I’ve only had slight success at a Wizard World show because there are so many people, and it last a little longer. I find that there is a lot of polarization. On one end, you have Suburban Folklore going against Marvel and DC, and on the SPX side you have Suburban Folklore going against Fantagraphics/Top Shelf/ Drawn and Quarterly, and their creators, who draw the big crowds. I’m a minority of a minority at these shows, but you have to figure ways of getting people to pick up the book, and the people who have, have liked what they read/see.

KK: Ah, a Chasing Amy Reference! Now we’re getting somewhere!

SW: LOL! You like that, right?

KK: So, the struggle to get your book noticed go beyond it just being a self-published book about everyday people.

SW: Yeah, and it’s a story that I feel really creates real situations, and characters that are diverse. I think it’s a book that’s not telling you that hope is around the corner. I think it’s a book that tells you that life is hard, especially when you’re in your 20’s, but you’re not alone. These characters go through it too. And I seriously think that scares people, to read a book and it’s a mirror or their own life.

KK: I can see your point. I think too many times, people focus on comics as escapism.

SW: But what’s better than life?! I think the worst feeling is the feeling that NO ONE understands you. Everything in this world is put so you can focus on something that’s not you. It’s the reason we watch Lost, and read Spider-Man, and watch King Kong. I’m not saying I want to be the “self-help” graphic novelist, but it’ll be great to see or read something that says…” Yeah, I feel that way too”.

KK: Are there are ever people taken by surprise by the overall premise of your book? Sometimes there’s the assumption that a black comic book writer/artist would more naturally do something set in the inner city.

SW: The mail that I do get from the book, is usually how much they enjoy the book, I’ve never had the book dissected or anything. I really don’t think that people who haven’t bought the book from me personally know I’m black. I think that it would be common for people to think that I would do something about the inner city. There are so many crime books, that I’ll be “just that guy”.

KK: So, what do you think you can do to keep from being “just that guy”?

SW: Produce work that’s not going to look or feel like anyone else’s and promote, promote, promote.

KK: How has it been promoting Suburban Folklore, now that all the issues have been collected as a graphic novel?

SW: The same as a convention, but still difficult. You have to play the name game basically. I have to convince people that: (1) This is a book that’s worth it, and compete with the hundred other “indies” out there, and (2) getting time/press on forums in which superhero fiction dominates the market. It’s easier now that the graphic novel is out. I don’t have to convince people the next one will be better. It’s all there, and that is a relief.

KK: Do you think you’ll go the graphic novel route for your next project, then?

S: Always, the second I felt the book in my hands, that’s what I want to do from now on, create graphic novels. It’s just a joy to see all of that story and art in one format…it’s amazing.

KK: So there’s no real downside?

SW: None that I’ve seen so far. I think the independent monthly series is going away these days. You can’t compete with Marvel and DC, and you have to convince readers and retailers that your series is going to be on time and serialized. It’s just too much…at least in my opinion.

Doing the whole self-publishing thing, I never think about making money in the sense that I might make a profit. I always try to break even. I just want to put out the best book that I can and hopefully a publisher will save me from self-publishing.

KK: When did you decide you wanted to put out your own comic in the first place?

SW: It was actually on a whim, my friend/fellow artist Rob Reilly was putting together a book, and he said I should do one too, and over the course of a few months I thought of a couple of ideas, and Suburban Folklore was just more appealing so history was made.

KK: I remember the book you and Rob did, Convention Confessional, which was pretty hilarious.

SW: Thanks, he’s working on Volume Three right now.

KK: Would you say the two of you have had experiences that extreme at conventions, or were these just exaggerated incidents?

SW: All of the experiences stem from real moments at conventions. Are they exaggerated? Yeah, for comedic purposes, but that’s what makes that book work. You know when it ventures to that comedic side, and you tell yourself “that couldn’t have happen”, but trust me…it did.

KK: Well, having met Rob, I’m more than willing to take your word for it. He’s a wild one!

SW: That he is.

KK: So what can you tell us about your next project?

SW: Basically it’s a bunch of short stories I’ve done during Suburban Folklore, and I’m in the middle of writing and drawing a couple of them. It’s going to be another graphic novel and I hope by the time it’s ready I will have had a publisher backing me.

KK: Any chance of revisiting the characters from Suburban Folklore?

SW: Never. I said all that needs to be said concerning them. I want the book to be like a great vacation. One that’s so good, and you have the photos to remember all the good moments.

KK: Always good to have closure.

SW: Yeah. I don’t want to have a book that I can’t get away from. I can let go of this. I don’t need these characters to “stand the test of time”.

KK: So, no “Suburban Folklore” movie in the works, huh?

SW: Funny enough I’ve had people interested in optioning the rights for either film or television, but Hollywood moves too slow. It’s all talk right now.

KK: Do you feel a lot of creators take that into account when they come out with a book? Should that be a factor?

SW: I really don’t know. I’ve seen my share of books that I wouldn’t be surprised if they became a movie or a TV show, but I think it should only be a factor if you feel that it CAN exist as a comic/graphic novel or a movie.

I would love to see how a person can convince me that Suburban Folklore would be a good TV show or movie and be serious about it…I never wrote it to be anything else than a book, but I can see why they’ll be interested in it.

KK: Fair enough. So any convention plans for the near future?

SW: Not really, I’m trying to get it into comics store in the fall. Right now it’s exclusive at www.ourobor.com (my website), ‘cause I ran into money to produce it at this time rather than later. I just want the book to be in as many venues as I can so people can see this complete story.

KK: Any final thoughts for our loyal readers?

SW: Just that I think you won’t be sorry once you’ve read “Never made to last, stories of Suburban Folklore” I truly think it’s an honest story about friendship, life and love.

KK: Well, we appreciate you taking the time to talk, and the best of luck to you on your next book.

SW: Thanks K.

For more information on Steven Walters and Suburban Folklore, check out www.ourobor.com and www.myspace.com/ourobor

For more information on Rob Reilly and Convention Confessional, check out www.skatoonproductions.com