Mark Russell talks 'Death Ratio'd' and the natural consequences of social media

AIPT Comics

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NEWS

1. 'Spawn Kills Every Spawn' launching in July 2024
2. 'Firefly: 'Verses' #1 to tell alternate history
3. Marvel sheds new light on 'Infinity Watch' annual crossover out in July and August 2024
4. ‘Thundercats’ scores second story arc starting July 2024
5. X-Men Monday 250 (Tom Brevoort!!!!)

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Toxic Summer #1 (Derek Charm)
2. Immortal Thor #10 (Al Ewing, Carlos Magno)

Nathan:

1. Deadpool & Wolverine: World War III #1 (Joe Kelly, Adam Kubert)
2. Space Ghost #1 (David Pepose, Jonathan Lau)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Nathan - X-Men #34 (Gerry Duggan, Joshua Cassara)

Dave - Lester of the Lesser Gods #1 (Eric Powell, Lucky Yates, Gideon Kendall)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Dave: Ain't No Grave #1 (Skottie Young, Jorge Corona)
2. Nathan: The Boy Wonder #1 (Juni Ba)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White & Green #1 (Shalvey Cover)
2. Nathan: Poison Ivy #22 (Jessica Fong)

Interview: Mark Russell - Death Ratio’d (Artist Vladimir Krstić aka Laci) out May 29

DEATH RATIO’D is a one-shot story where social media rules life and death. The horror-comedy tells a fast-paced, cautionary tale about systems designed to control expression and behavior and explores how society organizes itself when ratings affect your day-to-day life. With humor, horror, and the repercussions of nonexistent humanity, DEATH RATIO’D offers readers a fresh look at how today’s social practices can be pushed to the extreme and do anything but bring the world closer together.

1. Mark Russell, thanks for joining us on the AIPT Comics podcast for the second time! To start, Death Ratio’d…man this is a work of genius. Where did you start with this scary look at a social media nightmare future?
2. How do you personally feel about social media?
3. Do you feel like this is where we’re heading?
4. Laci’s art reminds me of Steve Pugh’s in a way, which makes me wonder, do you look for a certain kind of art style when you have the chance to find a collaborator?
5. What do the sight gags - giant carrot, Fruit Coffin - look like in the script?
6. Is there a theme or question you keep coming back to in your work? Why?
7. If Death Ratio’d were a song, what would it be and why?
   1. Elliot Smith
8. Batman: Dark Age has launched, your follow up so to speak to Superman: Space Age, how would you say these two titles are similar, how are they different?
9. Was it daunting recontextualizing and rejiggering Batman’s origin?
10. Mike Allred…thoughts?
11. Marvel listed FF: Life Story to prepare for the new MCU FF movie, any thoughts on what they might be pulling from your work?
12. Speaking of Marvel, you’re writing a story in Blood Hunters, what can we expect?