Our Late Arrival
We first arrived to the Long Center at 7:50, ten minutes before the event was to begin. I was anxious for several reasons; would my spouse be interested in this? I’ve shared my interest in comics with her, but to take her to a graphic novel inspired show with voice and sound effects performed by live actors? That’s a little different. Every step from the parking lot to the auditorium was made with a mix of anticipation and hope that this performance would be something for both of us to remember.
Rewind to March 2010. I was attending Staple! Independent Media Expo in Austin where I first met Jason Neulander, creator of The Intergalactic Nemesis live action graphic novel. Our booths were set up adjacent to one another – diagonally across actually. I could see the full length banners of his “nemesis” characters as we both sat in our respective areas indulging spectators with our wares. Although close in proximity, we didn’t get a chance to speak until that Sunday during a Dragon’s Lair sponsored panel. We shared the table with many other comic creators, learning indie publishing secrets, marketing strategies, and histories. I was first impressed with his unconventional path into the comics industry — a theatre background. I was genuinely interested in his story and we traded info after the panel was over with the hope of interviewing him at some point on our Part-Time Comics podcast.
Back at the Long Center we realized that once you get in, there’s a long line you have to wait through before you can even be seated. Due to demand, they had decided to consolidate the seats. Since we received our tickets in the mail months ago, they reassigned us to seats that were closer to the main stage. Even before the event, the merchandise table was bustling with activity. Many people were buying comics in sets of 7 for $30 in addition to a series of beautifully designed posters that portrayed dynamic scenes from the performance. Sound effect kits and props were also available to attendees who were interested in the audio performance aspect. The tie-in was as brilliant as Jason’s PR prowess prior to the show. He deftly played the roll of carnival barker, getting people excited about the event while telling them where they could purchase his merchandise.
All the Suspense! Twice the Drama!
One of the things that was apparent from the get-go was the strength of his versatile and dynamic cast. Each of the three voice actors moved expertly from one character to another, making the audience believe each was distinctly different. This worked well, especially in scenes where they were required to play the heroes and villains simultaneously. The foley (e.g. special effects guy) was right on with the sound props, from the lightning (for which he shook what looked like a large sheet of plexi-glass), to the wind howling, to the shuffling of feet down a corridor. In true comic fashion, the acting was portrayed in a 30s, over the top style that was reminiscent of early radio broadcasts such as the Shadow. The score melded nicely with the actors and the sound effects. We both found ourselves fully engrossed with the story and by intermission we were hungry for the second half of the performance to begin.
Multimedia Infusion of Intergalactic Proportions
At no point throughout the show did I feel disengaged from the story, characters, sounds, or art. Being a little apprehensive about how this would play to a person not that interested in comics, I was surprised to find that my wife really enjoyed it. It was a nice throwback to the old days of radio with a modenn twist. Many of the people we saw as we were leaving must’ve felt the same as they were lined up to purchase merchandise and get a chance to talk the the person who created it all. I would highly recommend this fun and quirky adventure to anyone who is looking for something more than your typical movie, graphic novel, or podcast. It does an excellent job of keeping the audience interested and drawing them in with timely cliffhangers, dialog, and visuals. Head on over to The Intergalactic Nemesis Blog to find out when you can catch the next show. I know I’ll be looking forward to the next installment.