BOOM! Studios: TAKE 10! is an interview series asking writers and artists about their new series or graphic novels.
One of the most renowned creators in comics, New York Times bestselling and Eisner Award-winning writer and artist Jeff Lemire, along with the incomparable letterer Steve Wands, brings his first ever creator-owned, ongoing series to BOOM! Studios with an oversized opening chapter of the supernatural in MINOR ARCANA, coming to comic shops September 2024.
Theresa, the prodigal daughter of a small-town “psychic” tarot reading fraud, begrudgingly returns home to care for her ailing mother after having left home for good–or so she thought. Arriving back in her childhood hometown seemingly untouched by time, Theresa learns that there may be more to the magic than she originally believed. And with that, she finds herself caught up in a town that desperately needs her help…
MINOR ARCANA #1 launches the first of the four major story arcs of the new ongoing series from Jeff Lemire and BOOM! Studios. Mirroring the suits of a tarot deck, the story arcs will be collected into The Book of Wands, The Book of Swords, The Book of Cups, and The Book of Pentacles respectively.
1. What was the most challenging aspect of working on this series?
Jeff Lemire: I’m writing, drawing, and painting the monthly book myself, so that is a huge time commitment. For me, coloring the book myself is the most challenging part, but also the most rewarding. I’ve already seen my painting skills leap dramatically since beginning. Since I am generally very busy, with multiple projects for multiple publishers, I had to make sure I was really ready to commit to doing Minor Arcana. But in the end, there was no other project I wanted to spend my days working on. The story itself has just flowed out and new ideas keeps coming all the time, so I’m definitely in this one for the long haul.
2. Could you explain the title?
JL: Obviously, Minor Arcana refers to the Minor Arcana of the tarot deck. But in this case, it’s also a play on the fact that the story takes place in a small town, and the “magic” we see is very much linked to the lives and stories of the people that live there. So, for me Minor Arcana also alludes to “small town magic”.
3. What is the elevator pitch for the series?
JL: The estranged daughter of a phony small town “psychic” and tarot reader returns home to take care of her ailing Mom only to learn that she may have the real psychic abilities her mom has only been pretending to have. Now she finds herself deeply connected to the very town and people she’s spent her life running from.
Moreover, she soon realizes that everyone in the town seems to embody one of the archetypes from the Tarot and there may be even more going on than she ever could have imagined.
4. What does your writing and drawing space look like?
JL: It looks like a cross between a comic book store and an art gallery. My studio is pretty big and filled with books. And the walls are filled with my collection of original comic art from all my favorite artists. My desk is surrounded by incredible work by artists like Dave McKean, Mike Mignola, Gipi, Keith Giffen, Jaime Hernadez, Peach Momoko and so many more. Constant inspiration everywhere I look.
Right now I also have A LOT of different tarot decks lying around and I even have my own crystal ball too.
5. What was your biggest inspiration for Minor Arcana?
JL: If Black Hammer was my love letter to all the superhero comics I read growing up then Minor Arcana is my love letter to the first wave of Vertigo books I loved as a teenager. Sandman, Hellblazer, Shade the Changing Man and especially House of Secrets by Steve Seagle and Teddy Kristiensen which was a big inspiration for this book.
6. What are you reading now and what’s on your pull list?
JL: Right now I am reading Peach Momoko’s Ultimate X-Men, Pornsak Pichetchote and Jesse Lonergan’s Man’s Best, Mark Waid and Dan Mora’s World’s Finest, Department of Truth by James Tynion and Martin Simmonds. And I just read an incredible graphic memoir by my former teacher and mentor, Maurice Vellakoop, called I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together.
7. Describe your ideal way to sit down and read a comic or graphic novel.
JL: I love to read comics at night mostly. My days are spent making them, so I don’t get a chance to really enjoy reading until later in the day. I also love hitting a coffee shop right after a visit to the comic shop and looking through all the new stuff.
8. What is your favorite writing/drawing snack or drink?
JL: Coffee, coffee, coffee and more coffee.
9. Who would you cast in your dream movie or TV adaptation of the series?
JL: Theresa has a lot of attitude but you quickly see that’s just a shield protecting a much more wounded and complicated person. I think Kristen Stewart would be great. She has a great screen presence, and the depth to pull it off.
Maybe Kate Blanchett as her mom, Vickie. Vickie has a huge personality and would be a lot of fun for any actress. And maybe someone like Ed Harris or Michael Keaton as her grandfather, Budd, who is an enigmatic, but important character in the story.
10. What piece of advice would you give to the main characters? What about the villains?
JL: I wouldn’t give any advice because seeing Theresa stumble her way through all of this and watching her make mistakes is a big part of the fun and drama of the series. As for the villains, there’s not a lot of black and white in Minor Arcana so there’s not a real traditional “bad guy”. At least not right away.
MINOR ARCANA #1 will be available in comic shops September 4, 2024. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play.
