I guest-edited the all-comics August 2010 issue of Sunstone magazine. As part of the issue, I interviewed Mike Allred, which I then adapted to comics form. Upon further reflection, it was decided that the interview was not understandable by people not already familiar with Mike or his Madman comics and so instead, magazine editor Stephen Carter took an aborted essay I had begun for the magazine a year earlier and together we worked it into a more neophyte-friendly article on Allred's Mad Mormon Wonderland.

But the comic took me forbleedingever to make and so I am posting it here instead.

As you look at it, you will notice that there is a sideways image in the middle of every page. Originally, my plan was that those sideways images would be oriented correctly when you turned the page to my interview and in order to read the interview proper, you would have to turn the magazine to the side. For your convenience, I have preturned the comics, but this means you'll have to turn your head to read the center image. Them's the breaks.

Please click on the images to see them at a larger resolution.

Note that while these are no longer the massive, print-ready, really big files they once were, they're still quite large and may take a while to load if you do not live in Seoul or Tallinn.

Notes: 1) The photographs are courtesy of photographer Jonas Seaman. He does great work. Check out his site. 2) These pages were originally intended to be placed on their sides, so that the panel in the middle would read naturally, but to read the interview proper, the magazine would need to be turned on its side. I've preturned them for you here. You're welcome. 3) Below the images is the straight text of the interview.

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Theric: Let's start with the moment you suddenly became famous as the guy who ditched his stellar career to draw the Book of Mormon. The media was perplexed I remember, but what did your colleagues think?

Mike: I think they've always thought I was a bit crazy.  But I was happily surprised to find how supportive all my friends were.  Most of my best friends are in the biz.  And I was especially surprised at how interested they were.

Theric: Any regrets? Any plans to finish someday?

Mike: No regrets really.  Business-wise I could have bees a bit mor savvy other than running on pure enthusiasm. I'd hope to finish.  Just don't see how without a big bag of money dropping on me.  So we're just building the ol' nest egg up again.

Theric: But let's get into Madman, which is my big interest. He's probably the only superhero in history who spent an entire splash page fighting a giant frog and thinking "Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? What is it all about?" and spending the next few pages fighting robots, believing in God, talking to a mad scientist and making iron-rod references. Madman's world is a crazy Mormon Wonderland. How did that happen?

Mike: To be painfully honest, I would have to admit that over time Frank Einstein has become me, or at least my filter to express myself.  And so he often becomes my sounding board.

Theric: Mind if we delve into one example that I find particularly fascinating?

Mike: Okay. What?

Theric: So, background for readers who might not read Madman (though they should), could you give us a brief spiel on Frank and Joe?

Mike: You tell me and I'll tell you if I agree.  Heh heh. Joe is frank's ideal.  And she loves his efforts to be a good person.  

Theric: Thanks. So a couple years ago, Joe seemed to die and then there was a perplexing, extended-wordless sequence that ended with this:

Come to find out, Joe is now sharing a body with another woman and that's who Frank . . . married? Am I crazy in finding a polygamy metaphor here?

Mike: Nope. You got it.  Subtle, huh? I'm descended from my great great grandfather's (Reddick Allred) second of three wives.  He actually went to prison for it (with George Q. Cannon)  I have a copy of his journal and am fascinated by his life and circumstances. Just another example of how my interests are filtered, although hopefully subtly, through Frank.

Theric: Eventually, mad scientist to the rescue, they get separated [see attached image, also a lousy copy]. Over the thousand-plus pages of Madman you've talked a lot about the importance of having a body and the importance of eternal love and asked plenty of questions about eternity and godliness and more. But here, with this two-girls/one-body story, you've created a bizarro parallel Mormon world like has never been seen before. I have to believe that this isn't just a lark for you, but that these questions offer you the opportunity to play with ideas and figure things out. What did you learn from this storyline?

Mike: I personally don't know if I learned anything.  I was really more interested in the reactions and thoughts of others, which never really came beyond "put Joe back like she was!"

Theric: The Three Nephites have also shown up in Madman stories. I've read that you regret doing that. Why? Or, if you don't regret it anymore, why not?

Mike: I don't remember saying I regret it, but if I did, maybe it was due to a perceived lack of respect, which wouldn't be the case.  In the church I've found it a subject that is discouraged.  Most of my closest friends in the church are up to discuss pretty much anything.  But sometimes someone will think an interesting discussion can lead to mocking, or remove the sacred nature of something. In general that's how my Book of Mormon adaptation has been divided.  Some have reacted with disaproval for the format, medium, or what ever reason, while others see it as a teaching tool.

Theric: Let's talk about one more sequence from Madman --- the haunted house story, where one of Frank's friends from the preexistance shows up and gives him a brief outlay of eternity from before to after. You couldn't be any more Mormon in that passage. What kind of reactions do you get from your readers when you tell stories like this?

Mike: Great curiosity.  It's a terrific way to get people talking and asking questions. Theology is in almost all entertainment.  I want my beliefs to be reflected in my work.  Again it's my best avenues for personal expression.

Theric: One last question. Is it just me, or are Frank and Nephi totally the same guy?

Mike: Hah! I think it's just you.

Theric: Thanks you, sir.

Mike: Thanks you too.