Interview: Nathan Edmondson & Consultants Discuss THE ACTIVITY

The Activity is a military based thriller like no other and part of that uniqueness lies in attention to detail. Writer Nathan Edmondson has worked with former military specialists as consultants on the book and been able to use their information to dig deeper into the world of special forces. For issue #7 Edmondson has consulted a group of Navy S.E.A.L.s to tell a tale with details only they could provide. We recently spoke with Edmondson and two of his consultants on The Activity to find out what readers can expect from the next arc of the book.

Aaron Long: The first arc of The Activity is wrapped, what was your favorite part of the first issues??

Nathan Edmondson: My favorite stuff is all the stuff that’s hidden in there that will come out in later issues.  That, and the personal moments that Mitch excelled at illustrating.

AL: You’ve been working with Navy SEALS as consultants on The Activity, can you discuss how that came to happen and what that process has been like?

NE: The SEALs were consulted with really just for issue 7, and readers will see why when the issue hits stands next month.  On every other issue, past and future, we consult with members of the “Green” side–the Army side.  There isn’t an issue we’ve put out that wasn’t written in consultation with, or edited from notes by, members of the US Special Forces, Special Operations or intelligence community.  For example, issue 6 was co-scripted with a Major from the 3rd Special Forces Group.  Issue 9 with a tier 1 soldier whom we can’t name.  On almost all of our issues, embedded Special Forces reporter Kevin Maurer has given us very detailed input–he has been a particular advantage because he isn’t bound by any operational security rules.  You’ll also see in issue 8 some influence from a member of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

AL: As consultants, your involvement with The Activity is not all that common in comics. What made you decide to become involved with this title?

Kevin Maurer: I saw an advertisement for THE ACTIVITY and picked up the first copy. What impressed me about the book was the level of detail in the story and art. I thought Nathan and Mitch did the little things right from putting the action in actual bases where these forces live to the uniforms and weapons. That kind of attention to detail is important to me because when things are wrong it takes me out of the narrative. I wrote Nathan an email commending his work and we just started talking. I’ve enjoyed answering questions or finding sources to help them flesh out ideas. To be honest, some of my favorite calls usually start with Nathan and I talking about an upcoming issue or mission like  how SEALs might take down a ship. From there, I get the fun part because I get to call some of my sources and hash out a raid and that is never dull.

Edmondson & Gerads

Jack Murphy: I first became aware of “The Activity” when I saw a USA Today article about the comic and thought, “Wow, even those guys have a comic book about them!”  As a novelist and a non-fiction writer and commentator on SOFREP.com it was only a matter of time before I wrote a short piece about ISA based on open source material.  This was when Nathan contacted me.  When I read the comic I thought that the ideas Nathan was playing with were intriguing and that he was dedicated to making sure his material was accurate and faithful to the Special Operations Soldiers who actually conduct these types of missions so I was more than happy to act as a technical adviser for “The Activity”.

I should note that I don’t actually provide information about ISA to Nathan.  Even as a former Ranger and Special Forces Sergeant, I actually know little about this unit.  They are very compartmentalized and most of the time the rest of the Special Operations community doesn’t have a clue as to what ISA is doing.  I do help make sure that the weapons, tactics, and verbiage used by the soldiers in “The Activity” is accurate and help to provide some advice about how to make the plots more realistic and reflect current operational scenarios encountered by US Special Operations soldiers around the world.

AL: Can you discuss what readers can expect from the next arc of The Activity?

NE: Lots of connections to the first arc, long plots being unfolded, and some intra-ISA drama.  You’ll get to see Uzbekistan, the South China Sea, the Phillipines and Somalia, among other locales.  Some spy work and some seriously hot firefights.

AL: Any final words for Comicosity’s readers regarding The Activity?

NE: Follow Mitch (@mitchgerads) and myself (@nhedmondson) on twitter, and if you’re an XBOX fan, you can battle with us on Modern Warfare 3 on Wednesday nights.

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