mummy_1_cover_aTitan Comics have teamed up with Hammer to produce a new line of stories featuring some of the classic Hammer horror properties – starting with The Mummy, whose first issue hits stores on November 9. Veteran British writer Peter Milligan answered a few questions from Paul Simpson…

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Starting with the obvious, how did you get involved with this project?

Obvious question, obvious answer. I was invited into the London offices of Hammer. Among the things we discussed was The Mummy. They wanted to know if I could come up with a new angle on The Mummy story. I was sent all the Hammer Mummy movies, which I diligently watched. I’d seen most of them but that was a long time ago. I spent some time pacing up and down and wondering how this Mummy thing could be approached from a new and interesting angle.

Were you a fan of the Hammer horror movies prior to starting on this – and if so, which “era” did you prefer? The “period” pieces, or the “contemporary” ones?

I really liked some of them. I took a probably quite pathetic but understandable youthful interest in the Hammer “Karnstein” trilogy, Vampire Lovers, etc.

I think the best movies were probably period. Somehow, they all seemed to have a period quality, even when they tried to be contemporary. That was the bloody charm of Hammer, I suppose.

the_mummy_1_preview-2What parameters were given to you for this? Was the 2016 setting a given?

I was very free to come up with something new. Hammer were very open to ideas. I wanted to set the story largely in 2016 and Hammer were happy to go along with that. I think they wanted the story, though with a new angle, to have some kind of Hammer quality to it: that was good, because I did too.

Did you go back to any specific movies to emulate their style, or was your intent to honour the ethos of Hammer rather than the specifics?

I think I certainly wanted to honour, or at least embrace, some kind of sensibility that some of the Hammer films had. A very British kind of eccentricity that operated alongside the horror. And there are a few specifics – one character in particular – who directly relates back to Hammer Mummy movies. I like having this connective tissue with the earlier stories. I always considered this to be the latest in the line of Hammer Mummy stories so I wanted this small but telling link with the earlier tellings of the legend.

How much involvement have you had with the Hammer team – have they had to approve everything at each step, or were you given latitude once the storyline was approved?

One of the pleasures of this project has been the story-meetings I’ve had with people from Hammer, and latterly David Manley-Leach from Titan. We had a number of very productive meetings where the story was worked through. Of course I had my theme, my angle, and my story, but there’s always room for talking, for adapting; for creative discussions. Once everyone was happy with the story I was going to write I’ve been free to write, and as is always the case when you get down to writing, you sometimes veer away from the story you’d worked out. This hasn’t been a problem. It’s been a normal kind of editorial process, with occasional notes or thoughts. All in all, a good, enjoyable creative process.

In practical terms, every writer/artist team works together differently – do you provide full scripts detailing each panel, or broadstrokes and dialogue?

I provide full scripts. Every panel described, with dialogue. I’m happy for the artist to get creative, as long as it’s in service to the story and makes senses.

hammer-mummyWhat’s been the most challenging aspect of this project?

Really, the beginning. Coming up with a way to make a Mummy story feel fresh and relevant. After watching a lot of Mummy movies I quickly realized that guys running around wrapped in bandages couldn’t be horrific any more. There were a lot of things I knew I definitely didn’t want. The slightly “hammy” feel that these things can have.

And what’s been the most rewarding?

Working with the people on this project, and coming up with a story and an angle that I’m really happy with.

If you could choose another Hammer property to work with – whether it’s horror like Dracula or SF like Quatermass – which would you go for?

Funny you should ask that: I’m looking at a few right now. Watch this space.

 

 

Issue 1 of The Mummy is released on November 9th

Peter Milligan will be answering questions at the launch event for The Mummy, a life drawing class by the Art Model Collective on November 18 at 6.30 p.m. at The Underdog. Click here for details.

Thanks to Will O’Mullane and Chris Thompson for their help arranging this interview