Collectively, Jonathan Hickman, Mike del Mundo, Nick Spencer, and Mike Huddleston have made deeply important comics and helped influence the modern industry at-large. But in late 2021/early 2022, they opted to take an even bigger leap with 3 Worlds / 3 Moons (or, since everything truly great needs an acronym, 3W/3M).
The short of 3W/3M is that it’s been described as a “brand new comics universe,” where the creators have “a place we’ll be telling stories in for years to come.” But since its launch, 3W/3M has spiraled into something truly epic — not just a shared universe of great comics, but a multimedia-spanning means to reconsider narrative storytelling and even distribution. It’s an ever-growing solar system of inventive worlds and characters that updates comics for a savvier, more digital-centric age. You’d be better off getting lost in their stories yourself to see the true scope of 3W/3M, but one things clear: it’s a brave new chapter for great comics.
But it’s certainly not always the most welcoming for new fans, which is why the creative team have opted for a new project: a Kickstarter for 3W/3M [ONE]. The omnious, informatively-titled 3W/3M [ONE] will be available as a deluxe hardcover or three standalone prestige editions, and “contains the core stories that set the stage for everything to come.” Those are:
- Foundations by Mike Huddleston and Mike del Mundo: It’s the debut of Tajo Vallar, who “undertakes a doomed mission to a distant moon full of magic and mystery.”
- Shift by Jonathan Hickman and Mike del Mundo: Here, a BD-style story about a “millennia-long cycles of magic and science, as we meet two great players in eternal conflict — who will help shape the age to come.”
- Arrivals by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Spencer: This is a “guided tour” of 3W/3m, including “chapters from some amazing special guest artists along the way” and which “directly leads into what will come next.”
Oh but wait, there’s even more, as 3W/3M is also offering a “full slate of deluxe hardcovers collecting nearly everything we’ve released so far at 3w3m.com.” That includes “three 200-page graphic novel sourcebooks” and “two 200-page anthology volumes,” all featuring a “murderer’s row of comics talent.” (That list includes Jeremy Haun, Mike Oeming, Juni Ba, Christian Ward, Caitlin Yarsky, and James Stokoe.) The sourcebooks offer some vital insight, including:
- Systems: The book “details the fundamental structures of these worlds and moons; from their governments and economies to their religions and cultures — and beyond those, to the schools of science and magic that tower above everything.”
- Maps: This is a “comprehensive atlas for our new universe, revealing the cities, sites, monuments, and ruins that permeate its landscape.”
- Histories: It “serves as the definitive exploration of the lost centuries and cycles of the universe at large. Includes detailed timelines, first-hand prose accounts of the events within them, exhibit images, and much more.”
And, of course, there’s heaps more stories as well as corresponding goodies, bonuses, and incentives (head here for all the deets). No matter what aspect of this campaign piques your interest, it’s all a great springboard into a giant, wholly consuming storytelling experience, and one that manages to kick down these doors with high-quality packaging.
In addition to the Kickstarter (which is live as of this afternoon), we also got the chance to talk to Hickman, del Mundo, Spencer, and Huddleston about all things 3W/3M. That includes not only this massive campaign, but their proudest achievements, some remaining goals and objectives, and even what might come next for new stories/ideas.
Courtesy of 3W/3M.
AIPT: How would you describe the scope or the stories attached to 3W/3M?
Jonathan Hickman: Our mission statement surrounding the whole project is to create a new fictional universe that we, and all the people that come in and collaborate on 3W/3M stories, can use as a canvas to cut loose creatively.
And I think that over our first three years that’s what we’ve seen happen. It’s honestly a lot of fun and it seems to be working.
AIPT: What kind of novelty or newness does 3W/3M present as an “alternative” to modern comics? Why do something different in the first place?
Nick Spencer: The opportunity to go build something directly with and in front of the audience was pretty thrilling. Normally, there are all these layers between the creator and the reader, and the process of making something can take months between when we’ve finished and it’s in your hands. So being able to upend all that, and create something where there’s an immediate connection, that was a huge part of the upside. And it’s always fun to try to do something new.
Mike Huddleston: I think the interaction with our community has been the most exciting part for me. Talking through new concept designs or upcoming story ideas with our audience has made it feel like we have an extended team of co-creators more than just readers. Combine that with the number of artists and writers who’ve worked with us already and our universe got really exciting really fast.
Mike del Mundo: On the art side, creating the universe visually with just two artists, I believe is pretty unique, at least in comics. Majority of the time we’re locked up isolated alone in our studios, so being able to collaborate with another artist is a gem. Huddleston and I share similar aesthetics and open mindness that the process has been an artistic playground for us, from exploring different styles and sharing art breakthroughs that we’ve applied to this world.
Courtesy of 3W/3M.
AIPT: How has the response been overall? Has it surprised you in any way whatsoever? Did it shape how the universe has evolved since launch?
NS: I think we were all shocked by the response, in the best possible way. We had no way of knowing if anyone would show up. So to see this find an audience, and even better, to still have that audience three years later, that’s just incredible. And it has certainly impacted the shape of the universe, getting this instant feedback and having a community “in the room,” so to speak.
MDM: Adding to what Nick said, having a dedicated community engaged in the building process has been super valuable for creating the universe. For instance, when readers comment, “I love that scuba design, but how does he breathe in that thing and move with such weight?” it does make us think a little more. While we may not always follow community suggestions exactly, the engagement is valuable. There is a type of good energy you get from a dedicated community, like a cheering squad.
MH: I think the response from our community and other creators definitely has shaped the universe. With a small team often you only get to hint at parts of your universe or its history, but there’s been so much enthusiasm from everybody to jump in and flesh out each little corner of the universe. It’s made 3W/3M feel alive in a way I hadn’t experienced before.
AIPT: What should fans who support the Kickstarter know about 3W/3M before they actually begin reading
JH: Nothing really, this is literally a ‘new’ universe starter kit.
AIPT: Similarly, is it intimidating, nerve-wrecking, etc. to make that transition and “open up” 3W/3M with this Kickstarter?
NS: I’d say it’s more exciting than anything. We knew that the previous phase, the really intensive universe-building part, had an audience but it wouldn’t be for everybody. There are people who love that stuff, and there are people who’d rather just come into a thing fully formed. So to have something now for that latter group, the ability to hand them a book or a set of three comics and say “start here,” that’s a really rewarding point to get to.
Courtesy of 3W/3M.
JH: And, honestly, it’s just a good idea to try new approaches to reach more people.
MH: I’m excited for the Kickstarter. I think we’ve all been making some of our best work at 3W/3M so I’m happy to let more people in to see what we’re doing.
AIPT: Are there things you would’ve done differently in this campaign?
JH: Sure. Of course. Especially right when we started, but that’s how I feel about every project that I do. Saying that, we’re all pretty proud of where we’ve ended up.
MDM: I feel like the point of the campaign was to show the audience our creative process, including our mistakes and the adjustments we made along the way. It’s a fly-on-the-wall type of project, so showing the audience what we wish we would’ve done differently was the heart of the exercise.
AIPT: What’s been your personal favorite accomplishment, moment, etc. so far?
JH: I really enjoyed the energy right out of the gate — the first creative steps of making something. That’s always my favorite part of any project I do. Most recently, I’m really proud of the book that Mike Del Mundo and I did for this.
Oh, and I love when we get together once a year and sign books and prints and talk about new ideas. That’s where we look at what worked well the past year and what we should change going forward and, best of all, what new projects we want to take on.
Courtesy of 3W/3M.
MH: I’ve loved working with this team, getting together for shows, and the chances we’ve had to meet our community in person. It’s all been really fulfilling. I think my favorite part of 3W/3M has been collaborating with del Mundo creating the visuals for the universe. Mike is an incredible artist and it’s been both challenging and really rewarding partnering with him. I think we push each other to make the next cover better or the next design weirder. I’ve loved it.
MDM: The book that Hickman and I are working on is very special to me. It will be my very first creator owned long form book, so that’s pretty big. Also the synergy of artist to writer was super cool to experience. I would design a character that Jonathan would describe and he would rewrite the character based on the design. It’s kinda like broken telephone, the journey changed through each conversation but we still end up with something awesome. Also it just encompasses everything I love to draw, from sci-fi themes to fantasy to anthropomorphic animals, to a well-written story.
Also collabing with one of my favorite artist to create this universe has been a gem. Huddleston inspires me in so many ways, from our back and forth talks about our favorite art books, animations, etc to just seeing his process and blowing my mind with the art he brings. He pushes me and has influenced my art in so many ways.
Also, designing this world and the characters that live in it and seeing all our collaborators interpreting our designs in their own ways was amazing to see.
Skottie Young interpreting my Young Tajo design on a cover was pretty damn cool.
AIPT: What comes next for 3W/3M after this Kickstarter?
NS: We sort of have this roadmap that views everything we do in phases. And this, 3W/3M [ONE], really marks the end of one phase and the beginning of the next one. Over the next year, we move out of the universe-building part- now it’s time to take everything we did there and bring it to life through story. That’s the first thing; but then we’ve got more stuff in the works that really adds to that, while taking advantage of all the cool stuff you get to do with a direct, digital platform, too.
JH: I mean, we have plans, but the cool thing is that they almost always change because we think of something better to do.
MH: We get back to telling stories. These first couple years were just laying the foundation for the worlds, now we get to have fun exploring them.
MDM: Dessert!
The following art is from Arrivals (One and two) and Shift (three and four), respectively. Courtesy of 3W/3M.
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