Jamie Hewlett to return to Tank Girl?

[Colin YNWA]

Well this is certainly interesting.

My wife [actress Emma de Caunes] had never read the story, So she went and bought all the books. Then she then forgot about them, and I started looking at them and realised that, apart from the last three or four strips I drew in that 10 year period, pretty much 90% of it was shit. Really, it was. I spoke to [Tank Girl writer] Alan Martin, and he remarked on how it had been so successful, yet the execution on our part was so bad. I said that "now we're in our forties, and I can draw much better, and you're a much better writer, wouldn't it be great to revisit Tank Girl, do a one-off graphic novel, but do a really good one, and really knock it out of the ball park?' So we might do that next year. It's a great character, so anarchic; just a tool for us to rant about all the shit we hate.

So like that'd be interesting. I know Tank Girl wasn't too well received in the Meg (I've not read those stories) but what I have read I've always liked and if nothing else it'd be interesting to see what Mr Hewlett would do these days. Not convinved we'll see it, but it'd be nice if we did.

Full interview here.

http://uk.phaidon.com/agenda/art/articles/2012/december/05/ten-questions-for-graphic-artist-jamie-hewlett/

Via Robot 6 (via CBR).

Oh and not wishing to end on a base note, but I did not know who Jamie Hewlett was married too and ya know... well done Jamie Hewlett is all I can say!

[LARF]

She is Jet girl...

[Dandontdare]

[Jimmy Baker's Assistant]

Heh, and very apt.

"Pretty much 90% of it was shit" seems like a low figure, but I was never a fan (though I love Hewlett's artwork elsewhere).

[I, Cosh]

I said that "now we're in our forties, and I can draw much better, and you're a much better writer..."

Even supposing this part is true, it would appear to be completely missing the point of Tank Girl. The affection I have for the early stories is all about the youthful verve and silliness. Which I felt was pretty lacking in the Meg stories.

[maryanddavid]

Id have a look at that if it ever happens. I liked the Deadline run, for exactly what Cosh says, just the silliness and fun of it.
I did like the run in the meg at the start, but the problem for me was that it outstayed its welcome, if it had been split into 4 month sections and alternated with something else, I think it would have been more welcome.

[gdwessel]

Yeah, I loved TANK GIRL back in the day, and still think it *looks* nice, but I haven't cared to read new TG in ages. Like others, the Meg strips did nothing for me. Like a band still touring on its old hits 20 years later while not offering anything new quality-wise.

[The Adventurer]

I've been enjoying the Tank Girl revival quit a bit, getting Hewlett back for one more rodeo would certainly have my interest.

[Goosegash]

The problem with the Meg Tank Girls was nothing to do with the art, I thought Rufus did a great job throughout. The problem was the scripts had the awful forced wackiness of a middle-aged man trying to remember how he used to write stuff when he was much younger. The anarchic spirit of the original just wasn't there any more, just a lot of very lame gags.

[Karl Stephan]

Then she then forgot about them, and I started looking at them and realised that, apart from the last three or four strips I drew in that 10 year period, pretty much 90% of it was shit.

I like how he's committing himself to do an even better job than before (if that's even possible). The other guys have been doing great work (especially Rufus Dayglow and Jim Mahfood of late), but Jamie is the man and his contribution would definitely draw a lot of interest.

I have to agree, however, that the wackiness doesn't translate well into a long form scripts, like Visions of Booga, for example. Maybe it's time to reinvent the character to give her a bit more depth and make way for more sophisticated storytelling if that's what Alan really wants. But then would she still be Tank Girl since she's

just a tool for us to rant about all the shit we hate.

So, shorter, punchier stories are in order, but then people have been complaining about the meg strips (which are just that). Dunno where they'd go from here to be honest.