A criminal underworld shaped by the social structure of bees might sound unusual, but for writer A.J. Lieberman and artist Mike Henderson, it’s the perfect setting for their gripping new series, The Hive. In a recent interview with writer A.J. Lieberman and artist Mike Henderson, I had the chance to dive deep into their fascinating new Image Comics series. With its blend of neo-noir grit, supernatural hivemind powers, and characters teetering on the edge of morality, The Hive promises to take readers into a world as complex and dangerous as a swarming colony.
For Lieberman, the fascination with bees has long been brewing. “I’ve been fascinated with bees and have wanted to use their societal structure in some way for a long while,” he explained. The idea crystallized when he began exploring the concept of the hivemind. “The saying about a like-minded group being a hivemind stems from the phenomenon that bees in a hive can seemingly instantly act as one,” Lieberman said. “That was a pretty cool place to start a story.” From there, the idea evolved into a noir-tinged crime tale anchored by a formidable queen bee crime boss, Shay.
At the heart of The Hive is Mason Shaw, a self-described “worker bee” who stumbles into a deadly conflict between rival hives. “Mason Shaw is a complicated guy,” Lieberman said. “He starts out as a ‘worker bee’ who finds himself way out of his depth when he gets dragged into the world of the two hives who are fighting each other.” But don’t expect Mason to take on the archetypal “chosen one” role. “Anyone thinking that Mason will rise up and save everyone, that won’t exactly happen,” Lieberman teased.
Henderson, who brings this buzzing world to life with his famed art, describes Mason with less charity: “I think ‘No one’ is a bit generous! He’s a bit of a dirtbag, and that’s why he’s been fun to draw. But he is starting to get the impression he could at least be MORE, if not better.”
Central to the story is the idea of hivemind powers—abilities that allow characters to control others with words. Crafting a visual representation of these powers posed a unique challenge for Lieberman and Henderson. “We tried a few ways—complicated circles for word balloons, rings that would spread out across the panel—but everything either got too complicated or too silly,” Lieberman shared.
Ultimately, they landed on a more stripped-back approach with “out-of-focus” lettering to depict the eerie and sinister nature of the ability. Henderson echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of grounding the powers in the real world. “The challenge was to come up with somewhere in the middle and, again, keep it as grounded in the real world as possible.”
Of course, any hive needs a queen, and Shay is no ordinary monarch. Described as both formidable and fearsome, Shay wields immense power and an unwavering belief in her own authority.
“What makes Shay both formidable and fearsome is her absolute belief that she’s right,” Lieberman said. “Power only gets flexed when someone questions its source, which is what will unfold in The Hive.”
While the first arc delves deep into the power struggles and gritty world of The Hive, Lieberman promises an ending that will leave readers buzzing with excitement.
“When readers reach the end, something is revealed that is so…unexpected and mind-blowing, but completely organic to the story, that I cannot wait to see the response,” he hinted. This twist not only redefines what readers thought they knew, but also expands the world in thrilling new directions.
With its promise of “sex, violence, and bees,” The Hive is a story that’s equal parts provocative and innovative. For fans of crime drama, supernatural intrigue, or just something wholly unique, Lieberman assures, “Anyone who’s a fan of any one of those elements will be rewarded.”
As Mason Shaw’s journey unfolds and the hives collide, one thing is certain: The Hive is buzzing with potential, and readers are in for a wild, unpredictable ride.
You must be logged in to post a comment.