Rich Koslowski and I worked together at Archie Comics. Rich got my start as a professional on the Archie comic, Sonic The Hedgehog, and, since then he has worked on virtually all titles including the blockbuster Archie Meets Kiss and Archie vs Predator specials. In addition to his work at Archie, Rich has worked at Marvel and Image as well as self-published some exciting comics. I have been an admirer of Rich’s work for years. Rich was nice enough to stop by First Comics News to answer a few questions about his latest project, F.A.R.M. System.
First Comics News: Who is Alexander Ellison?
Rich Koslowski: Alexander Ellison is the founder of the F.A.R.M. SYSTEM facility that recruits and trains prospective, super-powered talents that he (and they) hopes will then get contracted to a Major League Super-Team!
Alex is a former pro sports agent. Some years back he figured that the Minor League farm system that Major League Baseball teams use to nurture young talent might also be used in the world of superheroes. A system that takes these eager young recruits and trains them under the protective umbrella of the F.A.R.M SYSTEM and its trainers, costume designers, marketers, sensitivity trainers, psychologists, and fellow recruits. Alex, along with a handful of other agents, then shops these talents around to the established Super-Teams out there looking for a big payoff. Cuz, let’s face it, if there were guys out there running around in their tights and underpants, they’d want to get paid for their troubles…not every superhero has the kind of dough like Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark, right? If you’re getting your teeth kicked in by Doctor Doom you’re going to want Dental!
1st: Is Ellison one of the good guys or a con man?
Rich: Ha, ha…! I think he’s a little bit of both. I mean, don’t we all look at these sports agents out there these days and feel our skin crawl just a little bit…? He does have his recruit’s “best interests” in mind, but he doesn’t always mind getting his hands a little dirty to seal a big deal. Alex’s story will continue to grow as I do more books. Yes, there is a sequel in the works as I write this.
1st: Who is financing Ellison’s F.A.R.M. System?
Rich: Alex has been able to finance it himself. He made a great deal of money as a sports agent and invested it all into this business. He started out with one recruit (the Gymnast) and grew the business quite rapidly. He’s a pretty smart dude.
1st: Who is Armor Man?
Rich: Armor Man is the team leader of the super-group, The Revengers! He wears a suit of very powerful combat armor. He’s also Alex’s main foil! They have a somewhat sordid past and it is touched upon in Book 1. They do not like each other. They do not trust each other. But they kind of need each other. Armor Man and The Revengers are the top dogs in the hero industry and Alex is in the Hero Agency world. The Revengers give the best deals/contracts and Alex has the best talent.
More of their contentious relationship is developed in Book 2. And Armor Man’s past gets revealed and it kicks ass!!!
1st: Who is the Gymnast?
Rich: The Gymnast is the very first recruit signed into the F.A.R.M. SYSTEM by Alex. He’s been in the system for 16+ years…kind of floundering, getting “The Call” only on a few occasions, and, sadly, it never lasted very long, and he was always “sent back down.” He has no superpowers. He’s one of those fairly common, dime-a-dozen, highly skilled at hand-to-hand combat, acrobatic, good leadership qualities kind of supers. He is also a former world-class gymnast who competed in the Olympics. His specialty was the Rings, so he has a set of rings he carries around that shoot out high tensile steel cables with grapplers on the tips that allow him to swing around like that Spider-Guy! Unfortunately for The Gymnast, there’s not a lot of demand for heroes like him. But he’s the most determined guy out there and he never gives up! He has sacrificed everything to see his dream come true. Everything!
He’s the very first character I developed for the book. I was fascinated by the idea of those Minor League baseball players who never get “the call.” It’s sad. They work so hard and are so talented…sometimes it’s just a matter of bad timing, or bad luck…sometimes they’re just not good enough. There are a ton of these types of characters in my F.A.R.M SYSTEM because let’s face it, there aren’t a lot of Supermans running around out there.
1st: Who is Mister Incredible?
Rich: Mr. I is formerly Mr. Incredible. He claims he had the name first and Pixar stole it from him. “His lawyers are working on it.” But when friends, agents, and marketers suggest he just change his name, he won’t even consider it… won’t stand for it! Even when he doesn’t have a legal foot to stand on! He’s very big on principle.
He has the ability to “bend light” so he becomes unseen/invisible. And he’s a bit of a kook! His role in Book 1 is pretty bent (no Spoilers!). He’s also the butt of a few jokes. I like him for comic relief.
1st: Who is Thimble?
Rich: Ah, yes…Thimble! She’s a Shrinker. And, sadly, just like The Gymnast, Thimble has floundered in the system for a while. Groups out there don’t tend to take Shrinkers very seriously in my world…they don’t value their power set as much as others. Alex is working very hard with Thimble, however, and we see–through her story–the marketing side of super-heroing. It’s an interesting aspect of the system. One I think the readers will very much enjoy.
1st: In the world of the F.A.R.M. System do superhero teams pay their members?
Rich: Yes, it’s all about the money! SHOW THEM THE MONEY!!!
1st: How do the superhero teams generate income?
Rich: That hasn’t been answered yet in the book. But, most are partially subsidized by the government. Some have money from team members that are wealthy. Reward money. And, most importantly, Marketing/advertisement/endorsement deals!!! McDonald’s pays a lot to have the world-famous archer, Quiver, endorse a Big Mac!
1st: How does corporate sponsorship for superheroes work?
Rich: Just like in our world and sponsorships for athletes or actors. Again, if superheroes were real can you imagine how much the Walmarts, Targets, and Taco Bells would pay them to be in a commercial?! There is a segment in Book 1 that addresses this. Our costume designers are shown sewing on new patches by a new corporate sponsor. Another fun aspect that parallels the world of baseball and sports endorsements.
Money money money…!!!
1st: Who are the Revengers?
Rich: The Revengers are the biggest, bestest, coolest super-hero team on the planet! Every young recruit dreams of being “called up” to that team! Led by Armor Man they are the team that takes on the baddest of the bad! They are a huge part of the book and look to be a huge part moving forward.
For me and my characters, it’s important to show what my FS recruits are aspiring to be a part of. The mansion scene in book 1 took me FOREVER to draw!!! Man, super big props to guys like Jack Kirby, John Byrne, John Buscema, George Perez, Neal Adams, and the hundreds of other talented artists that led the way in comics drawing scenes like these. During the writing and art process of this 208-page book I really came to appreciate, more and more, what other creators do and accomplish in this business.
We really have the greatest hobby on earth!
Thanks, and I hope that those of you who pick up the book enjoy it and I truly appreciate your support!
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