Jamie Lee Curtis can now add “comic book writer” to her ever-growing resume. The Halloween icon took to the stage at San Diego Comic-Con alongside co-writer Russell Goldman and artist Karl Stevens, alongside Titan Comics chief Andrew Sumner. A trailer for her graphic novel Mother Nature, alongside commentary from the creators, laid out the story: Teenager Nova Terrell witnesses her father’s horrific death. At the same time, she works on a project for the Cobalt Corporation. Desperate to expose Cobalt, Nova starts investigating their mysterious “Mother Nature” project – and discovers a malevolent spirit is aiming to wreak vengeance upon those that imprisoned it.
Curtis did not mince any words about the inspiration behind the project, saying that it very much had its roots in real-life issues. “I don’t know if you’ve heard of YouTube or Instagram, but this is real,” she said. “You can turn on the TV and watch this happen. We’re f***ing the earth.” She revealed that the origin of the story came to her when she was a teenager but didn’t fully take root (pardon the pun) until she worked with David Gordon Green on the Halloween revival. After further discussions with her husband, Curtis wrote a 40-page treatment.
Still the graphic novel version of Mother Nature didn’t fully click until she talked to Goldman about it. Goldman helped flesh out Curtis’ treatment into a full screenplay, and then Stevens entered the picture. “I brought cartoons from The New Yorker, and one leaped out at me,” Curtis said, referring to a piece Stevens did. She and Goldman had nothing but praise for Stevens – and it’s well deserved, as his artwork feels very photorealistic. Stevens, for the most part, was happy to be working on a graphic novel. “I have a deep love for genre,” he said.
So did Curtis. She admitted that she had a “very dark mind” and actually outlined most of the major deaths within Mother Nature. Those deaths are extremely graphic: People are burned alive, and a piece of wood penetrates a man’s skull Final Destination style. But the most striking image features a two-page spread where a man’s head is crushed by a boulder. Stains of blood trickle through an entirely white background, giving the impression of a tree watered by blood.
In fact, that image was the original cover that Curtis wanted for the graphic novel version. Sumner then revealed that 100 copies featuring that cover would be sold at the Titan Comics booth starting tomorrow. Curtis, Goldman, and Stevens already received their copies but will personally sign the rest.
I’m definitely looking forward to Mother Nature – good horror has its roots in real-life fears, and it doesn’t get much more real than the reckoning mankind has brought upon itself with climate change.
Mother Nature will be available wherever comics are sold on August 2.
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