Our Creator Interview series returns with a set of amazing and insightful interviews with multiple creators of the Ghost Machine team. For our first interview, we've got Geoff Johns, Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Ghost Machine, the newest imprint of Image Comics. Having recently released new titles like Rook: Exodus, Redcoat, and Geiger, we just had to reach out and ask for an interview.
GlobalComix: For those new to your work, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your favorite projects you’ve been a part of?
Geoff Johns: I was born in Detroit, live in Los Angeles, and I love comic books. I have since I first started reading. The graphic form and serialized storytelling captured my imagination immediately. As a writer, I’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with the best artists in the industry, both historic and modern, including Gary Frank, Jason Fabok, Bryan Hitch, George Perez, Ivan Reis, Jim Lee, Francis Manapul, Oliver Coipel, John Romita Jr, and too many others to list. The projects I enjoy the most are reflective of those collaborations, particularly with Gary Frank as I’ve been working with him for almost my entire career on Superman, Batman: Earth One, Shazam!, Doomsday Clock, Geiger, and Junkyard Joe. The best comic books come from the best collaborations and relationships. That’s why Ghost Machine is built off talent and the best kind of people there are.
GlobalComix: What drew you to create Ghost Machine and how did the Mad Ghost branded titles such as Geiger and Junkyard Joe kickstart the creation of this new imprint?
Geoff: Gary and I wanted to try something new when we were wrapping up Doomsday Clock and I had spoken to Eric Stephenson for years about doing something at Image. Finally, the time was right, and Gary and I launched Geiger. Then Junkyard Joe. Again, the best books come from the best collaborations, and Eric and Image Comics are the perennial creator-owned destination. Ghost Machine evolved out of those books, Image, other creators feeling the need to try something new and build a better business to do it.
Spread from Geiger #1
GlobalComix: Something that makes Ghost Machine unique is that it’s a shared universe but also composed of creator-owned titles. Do you feel like this is the shape of things to come in the comics industry where top creators gravitate towards projects where they have more of a stake in the game?
Geoff: We took years to discuss and ultimately build Ghost Machine the way it is because we concluded that we are stronger together as a team, united in every way. The power of the artist is amplified when we’re together. So we carefully and meticulously built it that way from the ground up. But this isn’t just “stake in the game” we own the company together. We own the characters and titles together. We get to design this how we want it, from choosing schedule and paper stock to participating in each other’s success. It’s a support group, creatively, too. And it’s become family. This is special because of all the people who are a part of it.
GlobalComix: In the indie manga community, there are collaboratives called “Dōjinshi Circles” which are networking creators who collaborate on projects. Was there any inspiration from this system? Do the Ghost Machine creators collaborate across titles?
Geoff: Our inspiration is the original Image founders but going one step further and linking ownership fully and completely. We do have plans to collaborate across the titles (we already do in terms of sharing creative for fun and feedback), but we are about making sure the individual books stand on their own. Thematically and tonally. This isn’t about crossovers. This is about great comics on every level. People have even remarked about our cover and paper stock. Everyone has a choice to select the best, they just don’t. It might sound small, but this, along with scheduling, it all matters. We will continue to learn and grow as we continue, but we have a lot of experience in what works and what is challenging, and we’ve done our best to build the way forward.
GlobalComix: Is there anything new or innovative Ghost Machine is trying to sell comics to direct market retail or digital comics market?
Geoff: Characters. We have new characters. And we’re creating beyond superheroes. But the storytelling, we want the best. The best art. The best colors. The best lettering. And we have the best team, so we can deliver that.
GlobalComix: You’ve worked on some of the most iconic comic titles over the years. What sort of influence have they brought to how you architected the Ghost Machine Universe?
Geoff: Character first. Emotional stories intertwined with the action. Longform storytelling. Our stories center around our characters. That’s always been the most important element in comics to me. That’s what we all focus on. That’s really the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the influence, but it’s the most important.
GlobalComix: Ghost Machine has already given us some memorable characters such as Geiger, Redcoat, and Junkyard Joe - all with a historical or future-fantasy bent. How do you feel these and other Ghost Machine characters speak to the current 2024 zeitgeist?
Geoff: Most of the characters taking center stage in comics today were created in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. Their very creation is reflective of those times. We want stories that are born out of today. What we’re all feeling, facing, processing, fearing, confronting, celebrating and hopeful for. We want new for the audience of today and their stories are born from that.
GlobalComix: What is the ultimate goal of the Ghost Machine Universe besides creating some kickass comics - could we one day see a cinematic universe completely owned by comic creators?
Geoff: The ultimate goal is to build a character company, which all starts with the comics. These are not mini-series created to sell a film or tv show, they are comic book series first and foremost. The rest will come in whatever fashion it comes, we’d love to see the GEIGER tv show move forward or watch a REDCOAT film or play a ROOK: EXODUS video game, but again, that will come when it’s meant to.
GlobalComix: Will you be adding more creators to the Ghost Machine roster? What do you want to see from aspiring creators who are interested in working with you?
Geoff: Yes, we will. It’s all about talent, productivity, and collaboration. And at Ghost Machine we work hard and we play hard. We like to have fun. As a group, our best times are at cons hanging out together. Those are the times I look forward to the most. Look, this wasn’t easy to build. We all gave up a lot. We sacrificed a lot. But we all believe in what we’re doing to our very core. Taking the power back because we are the creators, we want great books out there, great comics, great characters, a company that is owned by the creators and run by the creators. We want to be the example to the next generation. You can do it. That’s why we really mean it when we say, we don’t want young talent today dreaming of working for Ghost Machine, we want them to dream of becoming an owner and operator. Control your own destiny. It’s possible.
GlobalComix: With so much experience in writing behind you, is there any advice that you would give to up-and-coming writers who want to break into indie or mainstream comics?
Geoff: I always tell them: write. It’s both the easiest thing in the world and the hardest. Everyone has ideas, but few can execute. You need to execute. Write that script you are thinking about. Then write another. Give them to people for feedback. Learn from what you’re doing. But produce. If you just think of writing, you’ll be doing it forever.
Thank you so much to Geoff Johns for sitting down with us to share some of your insights and the history behind Ghost Machine. I know us at GlobalComix are excited to see future issues.
If you want to keep up with all the amazing work Ghost Machine is putting out, we've got a list of pages and profile links right here for you:
- Follow Image Comics to get updates on all the latest titles and releases
- Find titles from the Ghost Machine collection here
- View and purchase the latest PDFs from Image Comics, including the newest Ghost Machine titles here
- Follow Geoff Johns on Twitter
- Keep up with Geoff and his travels on Instagram
- Follow Ghost Machine on Instagram