MOONSTONE MONDAY-ED CATTO INTERVIEW
Ed Catto, Retropeneur, C & A Enterprises, LLC, partnered with Moonstone Books
AP:ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Ed, welcome to ALL PULP and to Moonstone Monday!ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Tell us about yourself, some personal as well as professional background?
EC:ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Sure, thanks for having me!
ÃÂÃÂÃÂàIÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂm a marketing professional and have spent my career building brands such as OREO, Snuggle, Chips ÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàAhoy!, Lysol, KIA and Napa.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàBut IÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂm also a long-time comic fan, and have worked with Marvel, DC, Valiant and Reed ExpoÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs New York Comic Con developing strategy and marketing initiatives.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàDeveloping Captain Action Enterprises, LLC, with my partner Joe Ahearn, seems a natural extension of both my marketing skills and my passion for comics.
AP:ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ What is your involvement with Moonstone Books?
EC: We shopped our first property, Captain Action, around a bit when we were looking to develop the new comic series.ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Moonstone was really the best place for us to find a solid partner committed to working together to build an engaging series.ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ
We work closely with the whole Moonstone team to develop our series, manage the monthly ebb and flow of producing the comics, and to develop new initiatives. Examples include our digital relationships with ComiXology and Panelfly and our new partnership with Overdrive, the group that manages digital comics and books for libraries worldwide. Some of the other programs have been more straight forward, like the enamel/cloisonnÃÂÃÂÃÂé pins we created for The Phantom and for Captain Acton.
WeÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂve been thrilled with our partnership with Moonstone. ItÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs been a great place to be creative and work with fantastic talent.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàAnd now our titles with Moonstone are growing to include Zeroids, Savage Beauty, Lady Action and Captain Action Classified, the new 60ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs series featuring the ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂoriginalÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàCaptain Action.
AP: Captain Action seems to be your primary property. Can you give us some background on Captain Action as a character?
EC:ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ After the success of G.I. Joe, Stan Weston created the Captain Action toy line for Ideal.ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Just as G.I. Joe could change into an army soldier or an astronaut, Captain Action could change into superheroes.ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Originally he could change into a plethora of heroes including Spider-Man, Captain America, Batman, Superman…even The Green Hornet and Buck Rogers.
On the very basic level, Captain Action is all about imagining the possibilities of oneself.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàThe idea is that ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂyou can be anything you want to beÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàbut always tempered with ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂbeing yourself is pretty cool too.ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂàWe try to bring that into our Moonstone series.
He has a rich cast of characters too, including his arch-enemy, Dr. Eville, his sidekick, Action Boy and his amazing amphibious car, the Silver Streak!
AP: Can you talk about the process of how you came to be involved with Captain Action on a business level?ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ This is also probably a good place to have you explain the term you use on your facebook page to refer to yourself..Just what is a retropreneur?
EC: Our company, CAE, LLC is based on the idea of taking old properties that still have appeal or a nostalgia value, polishing them up and getting them out there once more ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàboth for original fans and a whole new audience too.
So ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂweÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂre kind of entrepreneurs with throwback/retro perspective. We get a lot of positive feedback when we offer our business cards to folks and they see Retropreneur. ItÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs a little whimsical, but itÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs memorable!
AP: Why Moonstone for Captain Action?ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ What about Moonstone appeals to you to help get the legend of Captain Action out to the masses.
EC: ÃÂÃÂÃÂàMoonstone has been a great place to serve as a launch pad for many of our own ideas, but publisher Joe Gentile also provides great guidance and insight.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàPlus, heÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs a tireless worker, so thereÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs always a sense that heÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs working hard for us and our books.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàThe Moonstone extended family, with Dave Ulanski, Lori G and the whole crowd, including solid folks like Marshall Dillon have been a joy to work with.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàAnd Mike Bullock, the Phantom/Black Bat/Lions, Tigers and Bears writer, has been a great compadre.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàWe worked with him on our Phantom/Captain Action miniseries and are working even more closely developing our upcoming Savage Beauty Series!
MoonstoneÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs also a publisher with a big tent. WeÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂre publishing a superhero comic, and robot/Zombie/Sorority Girl comic and a jungle comic..and they all seem to fit perfectly under the Moonstone banner.
In 15 years, MoonstoneÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs been good and honest with creatives too.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàSo when we call up our favorites to say, ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂHey, wanna work with usÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ, they know that Moonstone is a reliable outfit.
AP: How do you make a concept like Captain Action, one that started as a toy decades ago, relevant to the modern audience?
EC: ÃÂÃÂÃÂàWe ask ourselves that every day. And IÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂm not sure if thereÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs an easy answer. But weÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂve worked hard to ÃÂÃÂÃÂàbe true to the characters, while finding fresh voices and innovations.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàWe want to keep the core of what made the toy interesting in the first place (otherwise, why bother with it?) and yet spin it out so youÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂll be pleasantly surprising the old fans and still providing engaging, welcoming entertainment for new fans.
AP: Do you have any other projects with Moonstone currently?
EC: Zeroids was another Ideal property from the sixties. They were a sort of early Transformers ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàrobots from space.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàWeÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂve brought that back with a vengeance. The first issue just met huge critical acclaim and the second issue will be out in about 2 weeks.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàThen weÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂll continue on in 2012 with an ongoing Zeroids monthly comic.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàFor this one, we worked with writer Aaron Schapps to create a SciFi mash up of several concepts, including robots, zombies, aliens and, of course, sorority girls.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàIn fact, the series real protagonist is a college sophomore named Destiny Zero. She has sort of a Dorothy-in-Oz relationshipÃÂÃÂÃÂàto the Zeroids!
After that we have a Captain Action Winter Special! And what a special this is! ItÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂll include:
A classic Captain Action tale of a beautiful French double-agent and a communist Yeti penned by Beau Smith and expertly rendered by the great Eduardo Baretto.ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ
1.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàLady Action in ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂThe Spy Who Snowballed MeÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàby our favorite British madman, Tony Lee with art by Reno Maniquis.
2.ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ For the first time ever, Green Hornet will team up with Captain Action in a prose story by Matthew Baugh.
3.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂàCovers are by Mark Wheately and Ruben Propocio ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàitÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂll be a quite a package.
Then weÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂll debut Savage Beauty in February! This is a re-imagining of the old Jungle Girl Comics, but with a modern day twist.
Starting with a generous sneak peek at New York Comic Con, weÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂll be inviting readers to take a walk on the wild side withÃÂÃÂÃÂàSavage Beauty, our new comic series that tells the stories of sisters Lacy and Livvy Rae. This series focuses on their travels throughout modern-day Africa as they are called upon to help right wrongs, protect the innocent and punish evildoers. As reporters forÃÂÃÂÃÂàAfrica Adventures Online, the Rae sisters are guided by the mysterious Mr. Eden to assume the identity of the mythical goddess Ayana. Disguised as this “Savage Beauty”, the two girls fight modern-day pirates, hard corps militias, corrupt politicians and various other real-world adversaries torn from today’s headlines.
Savage BeautyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ will take you on an exciting journey as the Rae sisters discover their purpose in life, even as they make a real difference in the world.
Plus the comic book series intends to make a difference too – each issue will donate a full page to partner causes such asÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Oxfam, Just A DropÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ andÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Invisible Children, among others.
And our first issue will be oversized, with a Savage Beauty story, a classic reprint of the first Jungle Girl ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàSheena, and special features including lost promotional art to 60ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Raquel Welch Jungle Girl movie pitchÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂæand weÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂll be offering it all for just $2.99.
And future covers read like a whoÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs who of comics ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàPaul Gulacy, Mark Wheately, Dave Hoover, Chris Short and even a few non-traditional surprises!ÃÂÃÂÃÂàSeries write and co-creator Mike Bullock has a long list of hot stories that we canÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt wait to publish.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàWeÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂre really excited for this project!
So much else going on too: Our Phantom-Captain Action Hardcover is coming out and it looks gorgeous.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàWait till you see the wonderful John Byrne cover on issue #1 of Captain Action Classified. Future storylines in that title include a Berlin Wall story with NaziÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs and LSD, and a story that features the Beatles in Paris right before their historic Ed Sullivan appearance.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàAnd be on the lookout in November when that British Bombshell, Lady Action appears in the prose collection of short stories in the anthology: Chicks in Capes, edited by Lori G!ÃÂÃÂÃÂàLook for the lovely Nicola (Wonder Woman/Secret Six) Scott cover!
And convention-wise, we have two more this season. IÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂll be a guest of Honor at the 35th Annual Ithacon in Ithaca, NY September 25th, and then weÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂll have strong presence again at booth #2380 at New York Comic Con October 8-10th.
AP: What is the appeal of reviving old toy characters/lines and giving them new life in the modern era?ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ
EC: ÃÂÃÂÃÂàIn one sense, itÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs a big-boys-big-toys kind of thing.ÃÂÃÂÃÂàWe like to play with entertainment properties and get down to their essence, and then build them back up again in an engaging story.
In another sense, itÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs what every kid does with every Imagination-based toy. They make their own story up. WeÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂre doing just that- with a talented group of collaborators- and itÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs a great challenge to put it out there and see if anyone likes it!
AP: Any future projects you care to let the ALL PULP pulpsters in on?
ÃÂÃÂÃÂàEC: Our biggest news isnÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt quite ready yet, but itÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs so very, very close. WeÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂll be making a big toy announcement soon ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàhopefully before New York Comic Con ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàthat both new and old fans will be jump-out-of-their-seats excited about!
AP: Thanks a lot, Ed!
EC: ItÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs been a pleasure ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàthanks for having me!
