With a new comic, miniseries, and TV show, Beau Smith’s creation, Wynonna Earp, is having a good year. Scoop recently spoke to Smith about how he got into comics, improving Guy Gardner, creating Wynonna Earp, the comic’s influences, the TV show, what’s to come, and other areas of his career.

Scoop: Were you a fan of comics as a kid?
Beau Smith (BS): Mesmerized at the age of 5. I can’t really describe it, but I still remember the first time I saw a comic book – Batman #143. I couldn’t read the words yet, I remember being so drawn in by the art, the characters and what I perceived as movement. The art of storytelling with words and pictures. I could hardly wait to go to school and learn to read. Much to my chagrin, I found out they don’t teach you to read anything on the first day of school. That began my lifelong love for comic books. My parents told me that as long as you don’t leave them laying around you room, we won’t throw them away. (That was an idle threat, they loved reading, they could never toss out reading material.) 

From that day forward, I never really stopped buying, reading, collecting comic books. Except for a short period in high school and college when I was out doing things that would put me in jail if I were to do them today. (Stories you don’t need to hear.)

I realized I wanted to create comic books a couple of years later in third grade. Back then, little boys all wanted to be cowboys, astronauts, test pilots, or Army men, I told my teacher I wanted to write and draw comic books. Back in 1963, comic books or wanting to write comic books hadn’t earned the respect or billions of dollars in revenue that they have today. I was promptly told that I should study on non-fiction and write for a newspaper or magazine. Not being flippant, I told the teacher I’d rather make stuff up, and then trotted off to play with my friends. So yes, I was a fan of comic books as a kid.

Scoop: In the earliest days of your career you wrote letters to comics. What was the inspiration behind this career springboard? 
BS: It was at a time in my life that I knew if I were going to make my childhood dream of creating comic books come true, it was a now or never. Sales and marketing were my day job, so I decided that since I didn’t live in New York City, where 90% of comic books were published, did not know any editors personally, and had no connections at all, I was going to have to sell and market myself to these publishers if I were to have just the chance to be able to write for them.

So what I did was this, I would buy my weekly supply of new comic books, take them home, read them, and then write a letter of comment to each book and their editor-assistant editor. So if I bought seven comic books that week, I wrote and sent out seven letters. I tried to make each letter entertaining, gave them my pros and cons, and I was always civil. To market myself to the editors, I needed to set myself apart from the other letter writers, I signed my full name, Stephen Scott Beau Smith, I researched and studied what the other letter writers were doing, I didn’t see anyone else doing that, granted, there were other letter writers that wrote really thoughtful letters and had their own unique names, guys like “T.M. Maple,” a/k/a The Mad Maple, and Uncle Elvis Orten. I learned a lot from these fellas.

To make a very long story short, I had over 300 letters printed in various comic books for the next few years, got to know some editors and assistant editors, they sent me advance copies of comics and eventually asked me to pitch them some story ideas. I went to conventions, met them face to face, developed relationships with them, and got hired by them. While other readers were busy trying to meet comic book writers and artists, I was making connections with the people that could hire me to create comic books. Thirty years later, I’m still doing it.

Scoop: That’s a very interesting way to get started. What was it like working on Guy Gardner for DC Comics?
BS: Freedom. It was a wonderful time to be writing comic books for DC Comics. It was before things got truly corporate. It was still the age of innocence. Editors were trained and professional editors, by that I mean they were true editors, not just traffic cops. Marketing departments from corporate didn’t stick their whole hand in the creative pie, the kitchen still belonged to the creators to do what they do very well, create. Editors knew storytelling and they knew how to let writers and artists do what they were trained to do.

I will always thank Chuck Dixon for suggesting me to editors Kevin Dooley and Eddie Berganza to let me step in when he knew he was going to leave the book. I am in debt to Kevin and Eddie because they believed in me and let me put my creative voice to Guy Gardner and the supporting cast of DC characters they so generously let me play with. It was a really fun 2-1/2-year run (#20 through #44 and two annuals) that I will never forget.

My time working with artists, Mitch Byrd, Dan Davis, Phil Jimenez, Brad Gorby, Aaron Lopresti, Rick Mayes, Flint Henry, Sergio Cariello, Joyce Chin, and other top notch DC artists was nothing short of a true gift. Everyone attached to that book brought their creative ingredients to the meal we were cooking for the readers.

I did what I set out to do with the character, Guy Gardner, I made him got from a one note, one Batman punch jerk joke, to being a truly likable character, one with heart and one with depth. A character that was steeped in testosterone without being cliché. A manly character that could be respected and not ridiculed as many strong male leads are today. Guy Gardner was the ride of a lifetime and I had my foot full throttle on the gas the entire ride.

Scoop: You were taking the character in a new direction. Were you able to tell the story the way you wanted?
BS: Yes, I did, and then some. Again, I have to credit Kevin Dooley and Eddie Berganza for being so generous with letting me freely play with DC Comics toys in their sandbox. I not only got to make the character of Guy Gardner likable, but I also got to do my fair share of saving some other DC comic book characters from extinction, characters like Wildcat, Lady Blackhawk, Arisia, Lead from the Metal Men, as well as a few others that needed a lifeline out of four color limbo. I got to earn Guy Gardner respect from other DC characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman, Hawkman, and even Lobo. I got to create Warrior’s Bar, a place for all DC Characters to come and relax, I got to create a supporting cast for Guy Gardner in the form of Buck Wargo and The Monster Hunters as well as Mega villains like Sledge and Dementor. It was the best time ever for me. I got to change the character of Guy Gardner and I got to close the door on the character the way I wanted to in issue #44 and the Guy Gardner Annual #2. Guy and I got to ride off into the sunset the way I wanted to.                 

Scoop: That sounds very fulfilling. Tell me about the concept to development of Wynonna Earp?
BS: The concept of Wynonna Earp is one of legend, legacy, and the law. Wynonna is the great-great-granddaughter of famous lawman, Wyatt Earp, a man that hunted down the worst fugitives the old west had to offer. Wynonna Earp is also a U.S. Marshal in modern times, but instead of hunting down regular fugitives, she hunts down paranormal fugitives as a part of the most covert division of the U.S. Marshals, The Black Badge Division. We get to see her go from raw, reckless rookie at the age of 27, to a leader with a legacy and a law to enforce.

Scoop: Why did you choose Wyatt Earp to be your protagonist’s ancestor?
BS: As a kid, the same time I was discovering comic books, the TV landscape was filled with TV westerns. I loved reading about the old west and the story of Wyatt Earp, his brothers, and friend Doc Holliday fascinated me. It had all the things that I loved about the old west, but it also pulled me in with it’s underlying story of family and friendship. I used to write stories in my school notebook about Wyatt Earp and his brothers fighting monsters. As a kid, I also loved the Universal Monsters, so I figured why not combine these two interests into one action packed story.

Scoop: What is most appealing to you – the horror or western aspects?
BS: Definitely the western aspect. As a kid and even today, horror, real horror scares me, disturbs me, so it’s not a realm I like to walk into very often. When I do, I want the fictional hero to be what I am not: without fear. I write the hero to be somewhat fearless when confronted with horror, my heroes are more afraid of regular relationships and sharing emotions, more than they are of big scary monsters. I like them to be a bit quirky. I like my heroes as well as villains to be…different, with their own slant. No cardboard cutouts allowed in my books. 

Scoop: What’s it like bringing her back for another round of stories?
BS: It’s like someone handing you bags of donuts and paying you to eat them. Ted Adams, CEO and Co-Founder of IDW Publishing has always believed in Wynonna Earp from the first time he heard me mention the idea of Wynonna back in the early 1990s. He has always championed the character to be more than a comic book, to be a TV series, to be a household name globally, to be all it can be. Twenty years later, we’re almost there.

I’m stoked to keep the Wynonna Earp stagecoach rolling. I’ve got a new family in the cast and crew of the TV series that truly loves and believes in the character as much as I do. Emily Andras, the writer and showrunner of the Wynonna Earp SyFy series has added amazing layers to the core of the story that I have created, Melanie Scrofano, the wonderful actress that plays Wynonna Earp on the TV series has truly brought my Wynonna Earp and Emily’s Wynonna Earp to life on the screen.

This has brought a chance for the whole world to share and enjoy a character that means so very much to us all. On the comic book series, I have been blessed to be working with artists Chris Evenhuis and Lora Innes, as well as the rest of the creative team of Jay Fotos and Robbie Robinson. Dream come true time! It has also been an extra treat to co-write a few issues with cast members Melanie Scrofano and Tim Rozon (Doc Holliday) from the TV series. We are like kids at Christmas!

Scoop: Speaking of Doc Holliday, can we expect any other historic figures?
BS: Yup. In Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday #1 and #2 by myself and Tim Rozon, we’ll be introducing a character based on historical cowboy detective and lawman, Charlie Siringo as well as old west serial killer, Boone Helm. I’ve only just begun to make my childhood dreams become real. [Note, check our Off the Presses section for a review of Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday #1.]

Scoop: Valdez gives Wynonna a run for her money and obviously there’s more to her than meets the eye. Will we learn more about who she is soon?
BS: You’ll learn more about Valdez in Wynonna Earp Legends: The Earp Sisters that I am co-writing with Melanie Scrofano. I really have to watch it when I’m writing Valdez in the series. I love the character, in fact, so much I could easily end up writing the whole book about her. She is a truly multi-layered character with so much depth to her origin. I have only scratched a micro layer of it. You’ll find out more in the upcoming issue. Valdez has her own unique voice in the series. She is a cross between Mr. Spock, The Terminator, and Ellen Ripley from Alien.

Scoop: What are the differences between the earlier Wynonna Earp comics and the current series?
BS: The earlier comic book series that I created in 1996 is Wynonna at the peak of her career (age 35-45) the new series is her Year One at the age of 27 when she is a raw, reckless, broken young woman trying to find her place in this paranormal world that she’s been thrown into. I think it’s a unique and fun way to tell her origin, 20 years after her introduction. I’ll say this, her middle years are going to prove to be the most exciting and interesting. That’s all I’m going say at this point.

Scoop: What’s coming up next in the series?
BS: The next series, Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday and The Earp Sisters will deal with Wynonna’s relationship with Doc Holliday and her own personal growth. In The Earp Sisters we see a more in-depth view of her sister relationship with Waverly Earp, her younger sister. We’ll go into not only what ties them so close together, but also what has driven them apart for the last three years. We’ll also be introducing the new major Big Bad in Boone Helm. In my opinion, probably the most philosophical bad guy created in comic books in the last decade. He has a very cerebral view on life, death, and how they should be conducted, he is also the first recorded serial killer in American history. Boone Helm should prove most interesting for the readers. Tim Rozon found this historical character and brought him to the table when we were planning our two issues of Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday. Make room in the Bad Guy Hall of Fame for Boone Helm, folks.

Scoop: What do you think of the TV show?
BS: I love it. It is so much more than I could’ve ever dreamed of. I have taken the comic book version to the widest audience I was capable of in the last 20 years, Emily Andras has taken this loaf of bread that I have created and she has made sandwiches for the world. She has added so much depth and layers to Wynonna Earp that the character now has a worldwide audience, not only hungry for more of the TV series, but for the comic book series as well. More non-traditional, new readers, 80% female have been brought to Wynonna Earp, the comic book series because of Emily, the cast and crew’s hard work. It’s an amazing thing to be a part of.

Scoop: What’s it like seeing characters you created brought to life on TV?
BS: The first time I saw Melanie Scrofano say “Wynonna Earp—U.S. Marshals,” I got the famous goosebumps everyone lays claim to. Even after a whole season, I still find it surreal to see character and things I created come to life on the screen. Even with 30 years of writing comic books and video games under my belt, I still find it so hard to believe. I wish every creator could feel this in their lifetime. It’s not the cake, it’s the icing and sprinkles!

Scoop: Are there any major differences or storylines that you like or dislike about the show?
BS: There are a lot of differences, but they are differences that both Emily and I have borrowed off each other to make our own versions not only better, but of the same flesh. We both have created “hybrids” of Wynonna Earp that are different yet the same. There’s nothing about the TV series that I don’t like, well, maybe the fact that I wish it was on all year round. I have the unlimited budget in the four color world of comic books, I can have Wynonna and the gang go anywhere, do anything, I love that freedom. On the other hand, Emily has an hour long show to go in depth with dialogue and character that I don’t have within the confines of a 20-page comic book. We both work off the platforms of our given crafts.

Scoop: In October in issue 8 you introduced Officer Nicole Haught. She’s become a fan-favorite on the show. What can we expect from her character in the comic?
BS: You’ll see more Officer Haught in Wynonna Earp Legends: The Earp Sisters, and you’ll learn more about her and just how she fits in with the comic book series. Again, I think both the viewers and the readers will enjoy that slant we take with Officer Haught. They will get what they love with a unique twist.

Scoop: Last July at Comic-Con the Wynonna Earp TV show panel was filled to capacity and during the autograph session you and the cast had a huge line. What was that experience like on your side of the table?
BS: The only other time I have ever experienced that in my career was when I was writing The Undertaker (WWE Wrestler) for Chaos Comics in 1999. He and I did a signing at SDCC and our line rivaled that of Jim Lee. The lines for our Wynonna Earp signings and panels have been capacity every time. It’s been amazing. It’s a wonderful mix of hardcore, lifelong Wynonna Earp readers and the new, first time TV series viewers-readers. I have been meeting some very wonderful and caring fans. I have to say, it’s nice to be liked.

Scoop: You’ve written in comics, letter columns, how to column on the comic industry, and in business columns. What’s your favorite style of writing?
BS: Writing comic book scripts is my favorite, hands down, it’s what I’ve wanted to do since third grade, but I really enjoy writing the columns as far as communicating with people. I’ve been blessed in the fact that my publishers/editors within the circle of those that employee me to write columns, let me speak in my conversational voice to the readers. I really feel like it’s just me and the readers sitting around talking about stuff that we have a common interest in. The topics are mine and I get to share them with folks. It’s storytelling on another level.

Scoop: Your career in comics has been varied, from writing the stories to analysis on the business side, as well as working in sales and marketing. Are there other avenues in comics that you’d like to explore?
BS: I’ve been lucky to have my cake and eat it. I create characters and comics, I decide how characters and comics should be sold, distributed, and placed in marketing. I get to satisfy the business itch that I’ve been trained and educated for. Having done both creating and marketing comics for 30 years in the comic book industry, I would love to try the position of Creative Director for a publisher. That would enable me to not only help create a universe of new and established characters, but to also find creators to mold and shape this world to it’s fullest potential. I think it would be a most satisfying position to be in.

Scoop: What’s next for you?
BS: To continue to stay out of jail and to keep writing and telling stories. Right now, besides writing Wynonna Earp, I have a miniseries at Dark Horse called “200 People To Kill,” I write my pop culture column, Beauology 101 for Westfield Comics on their site, and I am currently talking with a couple of noted comic book publishers about creator owned projects of mine as well as a possible long established superhero series that may be due for a comeback. We’ll see how talks go. I’m on Twitter @BeauSmithRanch and Facebook. Seek me out.