The following is an interview with Edgar Award nominee and Philip K. Dick Award winner Ben H. Winters regarding the recent release of the collected hardcover edition of Benjamin with Oni Press. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Winters about his shared creative process in working with artist Leomacs to bring the story and characters to life on the page, the themes that he hopes may resonate with readers, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the recent release of the collected hardcover edition of Benjamin! In looking back at the development and creation of the series, what can you share with us about your creative process in working with artist Leomacs that really made this series unique to your body of work?
Ben H. Winters: Well, thank you so much for the congratulations! The truth is, I’ve done very little comic-book writing in the past, and now I fear I’m spoiled, because I will assume that every artist is as intuitive and dynamic as Leomacs. Every time this book gets weirder and more expansive and more inter-dimensional, every time Benjamin stumbles into some new reality or version of the universe, Leomacs found a way to make it vivid and unique. The whole process turned out to be not only artistically satisfying, but really joyful — it was like no matter where I wanted to go, he was with me step for step. Now when I go back to writing novels, I have to try to match that level of vividness with mere words!
BD: No matter the creative medium, your characters are always so incredibly dynamic and layered. In terms of your own creative process, how do you approach each new project?
BHW: That is quite kind of you to say, and I hope it’s true. As much as a strong premise or bucketful of twists and surprises are fun, there is no good story without good character. Who is the hero and what is the journey — what do they want and what do they need…and how does their adventure move or transform the reader (or viewer, or listener, or whatever!)?
BD: How do you feel that Benjamin’s story and its discussion of legacy and identity have connected with and impacted readers, especially in light of the incredible critical and fan response to the series?
BHW: I’m just so grateful people found this book, and were amused and/or inspired by Benjamin’s quasi-comic, quasi-supernatural search for identity. Like him, like everybody, I am just stumbling around the world trying to figure out what I’m doing here, and having people write to me and say, “Man, that comic really made me think,” helps me answer that question just the tiniest bit for myself. I’m very excited for more people to find the book in this gorgeous compiled edition. Thanks for helping me spread the word.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
BHW: Anyone who likes Benjamin might enjoy perusing some of my works of fiction — the most recent being a sci-fi adventure novel called Big Time that came out a couple years back!
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell fans who want to learn more about Benjamin and your other work?
BHW: I have a website, that’s just benhwinters.com, but maybe the best thing is to subscribe to my substack — benhwinters.substack.com
