'RV9' Interview: The Hunted Become The Hunter
Nov 07, 2019
by Troy-Jeffrey Allen
Secret societies? Check. Assassin on assassin violence? Bingo. A mad rush to escape death? Yup.
In RV9, the name of the game is "cat-and-mouse." But who is the predator and who is the prey? That's the big twist that kicks off the plot to writer Ben Godsmith and artist Travis Mercer's new series from Mad Cave Studios. At the center is a woman named "Velveteen." Sick and tired of having the Order of the 9 constantly on her heels, Velveteen is about to turn the tables on her pursuers.
In the following interview, Ben Goldsmith explains how his action-packed project came to fruition, who the players are, and what type of reader will be incapable of resisting RV9.
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PREVIEWSworld: How did RV9 come about as a project?
Ben Goldsmith: Mark London, Gio and I had many conversations about this incredible world and its iron-willed hero seeing through not only her own abdication but the fallacy of her upbringing. At the heart of it, this story is about the moment we all throw off the shackles of our parents and own our lives fully and without apology.
PREVIEWSworld: Is this more sci-fi than action-drama?
Ben Goldsmith: Reverse that. More action-drama than sci-fi. The world around us changes and we adjust, but nothing really changes. We still fight to survive and love. Something as simple as "Where are we going to sleep?" or "Who can we trust?" don't adhere to whatever number iPhone is on the market. These characters are an embellishment of that philosophy.
PREVIEWSworld: Tell us about Velveteen and the Order of the 9. What makes them central to the story?
Ben Goldsmith: Velveteen is the part of us that is life and energy. She is the reign of youthful zeal given the wheel. The Order is the tired part of us that craves control and stability after a lifetime of zeal goading us into actions.
PREVIEWSworld: Talk a bit about working with the artist. What made Travis Mercer the ideal collaborator for this project?
Ben Goldsmith: T-Merc is a monster. He studied under Brett Booth and it really shows. Especially when he works traditionally, which he mostly does. This is a dramatic art style if I have ever seen one. He is a quiet and humble dude, but don't let that fool you. He lets the pencil do the talking. In the opening scene, I had written an opera house and it was based on an Italian opera location. He not only nailed the difficult piece but added holographic singers on the top of the building as a way of revealing the future elements of the setting. Most people won't even notice the level of detail he puts in there.
PREVIEWSworld: What type of reader is RV9 for?
Ben Goldsmith: Readers like myself... skeptical, hopelessly romantic, and invested.
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Troy-Jeffrey Allen is the producer and co-host of PREVIEWSworld Weekly. His comics work includes BAMN, Fight of the Century, the Harvey Award-nominated District Comics, and the Ringo Awards-nominated Magic Bullet.
