Comics100 Bullets and Phoenix writers Brian Azzarello and Stephanie Phillips break down their twisty new sci-fi crime saga LIFEWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Comics100 Bullets and Phoenix writers Brian Azzarello and Stephanie Phillips break down their twisty new sci-fi crime saga LIFEWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: DSTLRY)
How these two stories crash together in different and surprising ways is at the heart of LIFE. Newsarama caught up with Azzarello and Phillips to find out more…
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(Image credit: DSTLRY)
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Newsarama: Brian, Stephanie, congratulations on the excellent first issue of LIFE! I’m interested to know where the idea to present this comic as a flip book came from and how that informed the two main stories you’re telling here?
Brian Azzarello:Why thank you. The idea for LIFE actually came from two ideas and probably a couple beers at Cigar City Tap Room in Tampa. Stephanie was telling me about a project she was looking to develop – a futuristic, interplanetary heist story. As she explained her tale, it dawned on me that an idea I was working on, which dealt with prisoners forced to serve out multiple life sentences, could be grafted to hers, so I mentioned it. Lucky for us she felt the same as I did – maybe even more excitedly. I think she was the one who came up with the flip-book idea as something that DSTLRY would be into. She understands what gets Chip and David gung ho.
Stephanie Phillips:That all sounds about right. It’s something we spent a long time working together before bringing it to DSTLRY and making it real. It’s exciting to finally see it in print and out in the world.
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Phillips:Right, and there are times where you will both like and hate all of these characters in equal measure. I think that makes the questions we’re asking about justice even more impactful as we question our own relationship and understanding of the characters.
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The ethics of criminal punishment are a clear theme here. How does LIFE explore this theme and what drew you to telling this story?
Azzarello:Well that’s a question that’s been struggled with forever. How does a moral society deal with immoral people? And who’s to say what’s immoral in the first place? Is the death penalty immoral? Is life imprisonment moral? What if the ability existed to keep criminals alive and imprisoned for hundreds of years to live out their sentences? Does that make immortality immoral? My head hurts…
This is both a prison break and a heist story. Does mashing these two genres together give you the opportunity to tell a new kind of crime story?
Azzarello:Is there a new kind of crime story? Maybe A.I., maybe. I think what we’re doing is a new kind of setting for a crime story. The interplanetary aspects, the living your multiple life sentences, that kind of stuff. But at the heart of every crime story is an ego and a mistake. Been that way since Cain murdered his brother.
This is your first time writing together. How does your collaboration work? Did you take one half of the book each, or did you each work on both stories?
Phillips:It’s a mix. We work really closely on all of it, switch parts as needed, and try to go back-and-forth on different scenes for Danijel. It’s definitely unlike any way that I have worked, and I’m glad.
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How was working with Danijel Zezelj and Lee Loughridge on the book? What does their art and coloring bring to LIFE?
Azzarello:It’s been fantastic working with Danijel again after too many years. Back in the day I thought that he was an artist that “gets me.” Well, he still does. His work is thick and moody; perfect for these stories. When we asked him about a colorist he immediately said Lee. Looking at the work the two are doing together, it’s easy to see why. Another “gets me” thing, right?
Phillips:It’s my first time working with Danijel and it’s been a great experience. Brian mentioned his work as someone he thought would immediately fit the setting, and seeing him and Lee create this world has been inspiring on our end as well.
No spoilers, but the first issue ends – whichever way around you read it – with these two strands about to crash together. What can you tease about #2?
Azzarello:That it follows #1? Look, the strands are going to criss cross and separate and events that seem a certain way to one side might wildly diverge to the other. But let’s never lose sight of the fact that both sides are criminals, people that have little regard for law, so anything can happen. And anything does. I don’t even want to breathe a word about #3.
Phillips:Not sure I could give a better teaser than that…
LIFE #1 is out now from DSTLRY.
Check out our interview with Tula Lotay and Becky Cloonan abouttheir Eisner Awar-winning folk horror Somna.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
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Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”