Interview: Fringe Comic Book Writer Mike Johnson

The second issue of the Fringe comic comes out tomorrow, January 28th.

According to the Wildstorm website:

The secret history of Walter Bishop and William Bell continues in this exclusive tie-in to the hit Fox show Fringe! Witness their first attempts at pushing the boundaries of science and reality!

Comic Book Resources has an interview with one of the writers, Mike Johnson, who reveals what will be happening in Fringe #2, and the rest of the Fringe series:

Johnson revealed the next chapter in Bishop and Bell’s early history is explored in “Fringe” #2, on sale on this week. “Things get even weirder for them,” laughed Johnson. “By this time, [Bishop and Bell] are sharing a lab and starting to experiment with things that the university would probably not approve of, if it knew about them.”

"Fringe" artwork by Tom Mandrake The budding relationship serves as the plot thread stringing the six-issue miniseries together. A series of backup features, telling done-in-one mysteries, are also included. “Each issue in the series is divided into two parts: the first half, or A-story, will continue the story of Bell and Bishop, while the second half, the B-story, will be a self-contained short story with unconnected characters that plays on a different Fringe-y concept, with subtle ties to the show itself,” Johnson explained. “The A-stories with Bell and Bishop form one over-arching story that culminates in both ‘Fringe’ #6 and the pilot for the show, so make sure you watch it again. And the B-stories are each self-contained short stories. We are all huge fans over here of ‘The Twilight Zone’ and ‘The Outer Limits,’ the classics, so our B-stories are homages to sci-fi parables like the ones in those shows.”
"Fringe" artwork by Tom Mandrake

Johnson said Walter is an interesting character to write because in the “Fringe” comic stories, he’s a “different guy” than the one we see on the show. “He’s young, he’s just starting his career, and most importantly he’s not crazy,” offered Johnson. “At least not in the conventional way, but we put hints in there that all will not end up well in his world.

“As for Bell, we’re playing with the idea that he will end up the richest man in the world one day, in charge of the biggest corporation in the world, Massive Dynamic, but he starts as an idealistic young scientist.

”While he said we may see Olivia and Peter at some point in the comics, Johnson added, “Just not in the way you might think.”

Readers will also be introduced to some new supporting characters in “Fringe” that play important roles in the shared history of Bell and Bishop, but they have not yet been introduced on the TV show proper. “Or have they?” Johnson teased.

You can read the full interview at ComicBookResources.com

J.J. Abrams Interview: iF Magazine

iFMagazine.com has an exclusive interview with Fringe co-creator J.J. Abrams, discussing the role mythology plays in the show, the dynamics between it’s characters, how to keep viewers week after week, and how Anna Torv is like Fringe's Clint Eastwood.

Click here to read the interveiw:

Exclusive Interview: 'STAR TREK' DIRECTOR J.J. ABRAMS GOES OUT ON THE 'FRINGE' WITH HIS NEW SERIES

The creator gives iF the scoop on his new series and tells us why Anna Torv is his Clint Eastwood in the new series

By CARLOS DELGADO, Contributing Writer
Published 1/27/2009

With Fox's new hit series FRINGE currently hitting mid-season, it was about time we caught up with co-creator J.J. Abrams to talk about the role mythology plays in the show, the dynamics between it’s characters, how to keep viewers week after week. And if you're expecting some big scoop about STAR TREK, well, that's a whole other article down the road.

iFMAGAZINE: When people talk about FRINGE, a lot of times they talk about the mythology, but also, they talk about the father/son relationship between Walter Bishop and Peter Bishop [Joshua Jackson]. Did you realize how important that was going to be or did that just sort of develop?

J.J. ABRAMS: I’ve always been obsessed with the father/son dynamic, or parent/child. In FELICITY, ALIAS, or LOST. Mostly that’s been [co-creators] Damon [Lindelof] and Carlton [Cuse]. That relationship is always a primary one, and in a weird way, Olivia’s character [Anna Torv] is just now finding her real connection to this world. Not just what her job is but [emotionally] why this world of FRINGE science is intrinsically connected to who she is.

iF: What about Anna Torv’s character, Olivia Dunham?

ABRAMS: Here’s what’s cool -- not only do the next episodes start to connect things that are out there, but it also reveals that this experience is not the first time she’s crossed paths with "fringe" stuff. And again, you have to be careful, because you can get too mythological. But like I was saying, a lot of mythology storytelling, it’s just about doing the job to make it palatable for people who don’t study your show. You can’t expect someone, given a week of busy life, to come back next week and be like, “I’m back.” Some people will, but most won’t. But you just have to say, “Okay, if I’m new to this, I don’t want to get into it.” Which is why [last week's] episode… it [began] with a woman who’s been kidnapped. To me it’s like, I’m compelled to watch that episode. Like "who is she? Why was she grabbed? What does that mean?" It’s cool.

Also by the way, another little stupid secret. I think Anna, Olivia, who are a little adrift -- who is she? When I start to think of her as Clint Eastwood, when I start to think of her as the typical, as the relentless woman of few words but driven to… it’s like a weird thing where I started to like get a sense of who she is. Because she’s pretty great at being tough and dark. And then when she has moments of levity, you love her. In this one episode, her sister visits, and at like the worst f*cking time. And she’s got a little daughter, so it’s this great counter point and it makes me feel like, “Oh my God, she’s like me!” Like a crazy day, but when it comes to the important stuff, family, you have to turn all that off. I think Anna’s terrific playing that driven thing with moments of sweetness. But she’s a very different person to write for than Jennifer Garner, Evangeline Lilly or Keri Russell. It’s been interesting.

iF: But she didn’t seem that tied to John Noble’s character, Dr. Walter Bishop.

ABRAMS: Well, she wasn’t . And now she just comes to depend on him for the… you’ll see that there’s a connection that goes far deeper than her job.

iF: Since FRINGE is a new show, how hard has it been to find the show’s voice?

ABRAMS: It’s been hard because I was finishing STAR TREK. It’s Alex [Kurtzman], it’s Bob [Orci], it’s Jeff [Pinker], it’s me. It’s a little bit broken up in that way. But I feel like we’ve started to find the voice of the show a few episodes ago. And the ones that start to air now makes me, for me, feel like… like I can tell you what episode of FRINGE isn’t, where before I was like, “Well that could be our show!”

iF: What isn’t it?

ABRAMS: Well, it’s not one that is so mythology based that you have to go, “I don’t understand what the plot is.” It’s that weird balance of what’s the story you’re telling. It’s so obvious. Once you figure it out and you go, “Oh my God!” you’re like, “no sh*t.” But it’s what that personal story, that little baby step of the character, and how does this connect to the weirdness of the week. How does that reveal that thing? How does that become and it’s all about externalizing that internal step. But it’s that thing where every time you talk about it, people talk to me, it seems cheap but when it works, it’s exciting.

Joshua Jackson Interview: Regis and Kelly

Joshua Jackson was on Live with Regis and Kelly, talking about Dawson's Creek, theater, hockey, and of course Fringe. During the interview, they played a Sneak Peek clip from the FringeThe No-Brainer episode , which I have edited out and placed in the Fringe Spoilers section.

Exclusive Fringe Scheduling News

The FringeTelevision.com exclusive inside source checked in this weekend and revealed some interesting Fringe scheduling and director news. I don't really consider any of this to be spoilery, so I have posted them here, instead of in the Fringe spoilers section.

• Fringe 115: directed by Fred Toye, air date 4/7/09
• Fringe 116: directed by Brad Anderson, air date 4/14/09
• Fringe 117: directed by Akiva Goldsman, air date 4/21/09
• Fringe 118: directed by Bobby Roth, air date 4/28/09
• Fringe 119: directed by Nelson McCormick, air date 5/5/09
• Fringe 120: director TBD, air date 5/12/09
• Fringe 121: directed by Fred Toye, air date 5/19/09

Notably absent is Fringe 122, however JJ Abrams indicated that he was interested in directing a season finale...

One big revelation that comes out of these air dates, is that there will be another big block of repeats coming soon. Fringe episode #112 airs on Jan 27, #113 airs Feb 3, and #114 airs Feb 10, which means there will be another seven weeks of re-runs until #115 on Apr 7! The reason for the break, of course, is they need the time to shoot the episodes. However, once it comes back, it looks like it will run straight through until the end.

BTW, We've created a new Google Fringe Air Date calendar, in addition to our Fringe Birthday calendar, which we will update with the episode dates and names as they become available.

Fringe at NY Comic Con 2009

FRINGE will be making an appearance at the NY Comic Con on Sunday, February 8th at 1:45 PM. The event will feature "a Q&A with cast and producers, and an exclusive video presentation created specifically for the NYCC audience."

Scheduled to appear at the show will be FRINGE executive producer Jeff Pinkner, and cast members Anna Torv ("Olivia Dunham"), John Noble ("Dr. Walter Bishop"), Lance Reddick ("Phillip Broyles"), Kirk Acevedo ("Charlie Francis"), Blair Brown ("Nina Sharp") and Jasika Nicole ("Astrid Farnsworth").

Admission to Sunday's show is $30, and tickets can be purchased online at NYComicCon.com.

UPDATE: Here is some more info on the FRINGE appearance.
Note: If you are planning to attend, and would like to report for FringeTelevision, send me an email.

LOL FRINGE: Caption Contest for Bound

Welcome to the first LOL FRINGE Caption Contest!

Make a funny LOL caption for this image, or pick your own from the Fringe Gallery for Bound. The best entry will be featured on the website next week.

What do you win? Love and respect from your fellow Fringe fans. :)

Rules:

• Please make your entry "family-friendly"
• Post your captions in the comments and/or links to your image with captions
• Captions can be added to photos using the LOL Builder at ICanHasCheezburger

Click here to see current entries:

Fringe Scenemaker 111: Bound

Scenemaker is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Fringe. This episode shows the making of Olivia's escape from the spinal tap warehouse scene in Bound.

You can watch previous episode's scenemaker videos here.

Fox Fix: Kirk Acevedo Interview

Fox Fix has a new interview with Kirk Acevedo, who plays Charlie Francis on Fringe. Host Jessica Holmes asks Kirk if his character is a good as he seems, does he know more than he lets on, and does he have feeling for Olivia? He also shares his interesting theory on how he thinks Fringe and Lost might be related.

Fox Fix also has an interview with J.J. Abrams and Roberto Orci, which we have posted in the Fringe Spoilers section.

Fringebusters: Bound

Each week, Popular Mechanics brings in experts to analyzes the science of Fringe, and separate the science fact from the science fiction.

For the latest episode of Fringe, "Bound," they bring in two experts: Scott Gardner of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Manter Laboratory of Parasitology, and Carol Post, Purdue University professor of medical chemistry and molecular pharmacology, to discuss:

• Should you be scared of a spiny slug growing in your stomach?
  
• Could an overgrown common cold virus "cell" turn into a vicious killer?
  

PopularMechanics.com: Cells Skirt Reality and Supersize on Fringe: Hollywood Fact vs Fiction

Fringe Promo Photos: Bound

Here are the Promotional Photos for Fringe episode 111 - Bound.
(for those that avoid the Fringe Spoilers section.)

Fringe Episode Review: Bound

Hi Fringe-philes, Adam Morgan here, a newcomer to FringeTelevision. I'll be posting weekly reviews for the rest of season one, sharing my reactions, thoughts, and theories with you. Feel free to disagree with me in the comments!

After a listless seven-week hiatus, Fringe stormed back last night with its best episode yet. Bound was like a shot of adrenaline into the show’s ongoing narrative, filled with action, suspense, mythology, and considerable character development. I was a fan before tonight, but I think in a few years I’ll look back and remember Bound as the episode that hooked me for good.

From a production standpoint, everything worked. The dialogue was crisp; Michael Giacchino’s score was perfect; the location shots were gorgeous; the direction was compelling (especially the low-frame-rate action sequences); and most perhaps importantly, the chemistry between cast members hit an all-time high.

From a narrative standpoint, Bound covered a lot of ground...

Click here to read more...

Dunham Done ‘em

One of Bound’s greatest strengths was its focus on Olivia Dunham. We met her sister, her old rival, and learned a few new things. First, that she is lethal. My jaw literally dropped when she single-handedly took out half a dozen men and escaped from the warehouse. Second, that she can be vulnerable, too. Anna Torv did a marvelous job conveying conflicting emotions in this episode, oscillating between fear, distress, and anger. I was worried that her sister’s appearance would become subplot fodder, but their scenes together were nicely tied into the main theme of the episode: Olivia’s struggle to persevere under any circumstance.

Mystery of the Week

Of course, I chose to eat dinner while watching this episode, on a night that features gastrointestinal slugs and spinal taps. Per usual, this week’s scientific mystery seemed tangential at first, but wound up connecting right back to the ongoing story. Two renowned epidemiologists were poisoned with giant single-celled cold viruses that grow to maturity even faster than Lorraine Daisy Alcott’s baby in The Same Old Story. The biggest question here, as usual, is why?

In the Pilot, Phillip Broyles theorizes that someone is using the whole world as their lab, with human beings as test subjects for bizarre experiments. But as the show progresses, this explanation becomes less and less relevant. If you wanted to experiment with a weaponized parasite, why on earth would you target two prominent epidemiologists? It doesn’t add up. Unless it’s more than an experiment. A demonstration of power, perhaps? A cunning move in a worldwide game of human chess? More on this later.

Mitchell Loeb and the Big Tease

As Walter might say, Mitchell Loeb gives me a case of cutis anserina (goose bumps). First he was just another agent the team saved from a parasite (a tentacled fellow that looked like the villain from Monsters, Inc). Then he was a double-agent who used that incident to get information out of a dead man. Then he was a wall-phasing bank robber. The guy gets around.

In Bound, Mitchell is revealed to be even more than he seems once again. We all assumed he was a villain since the end of episode 107, In Which We Meet Mr. Jones. But Loeb’s seemingly genuine confession to Olivia in the interrogation room makes him sound like a misunderstood protagonist. JJ Abrams is up to his old tricks. See Benjamin Linus and virtually every character from Alias.

They weren’t kidnapping Olivia to kill her, but to save her. Who is “they”? And who or what were they saving her from? Loeb’s next lines were the highlight of the night for me: “Do you not understand the rules? What we're up against? Who the two sides are?” Talk about a can of worms. In just a few seconds, Loeb revealed a huge, fundamental layer in Fringe’s mythology.

We were initially led to believe the Pattern was some kind of experimentation by Massive Dynamic. I think we’ve moved beyond that now. To make a Lost analogy, I think that’s like “the Monster is a dinosaur” or “they’re all in purgatory”. Now it appears as though there are two competing factions contributing to the Pattern, both of whom aim to achieve still-illusive objectives that somehow directly involve Olivia Dunham and the research of Walter Bishop. Brilliant. It hints at so much yet to come.

Overall, this was a huge breakthrough for the show. Almost like a second pilot. I’ve enjoyed Fringe from the beginning, but was waiting for an episode to launch the story into the stratosphere with the greats like Lost and The Prisoner.

I think the wait is over.

Stray Thoughts

• Not much Walter this week, but he still shined when given the chance. His coy remarks about Peter’s feelings for Olivia were cute, and a great way to create tension between two stoic characters. Also, his cavalier slug-trapping maneuver got the biggest laugh of the night from me.
  
  
• Not much Peter either, but Josh Jackson continues to do a great job establishing Peter as a level-headed, resourceful go-to guy. The man gets stuff done, and I like that. I was worried at first, given his Dawson’s Creek pedigree, but Josh has won me over. I’d like to see him get more physical in the future, and can’t wait to learn more about his past. And the man certainly dresses dapper for a globetrotting-opportunist-slash-black-market-entrepreneur, what with the pea coats and scarves from the Gap and all.
  
  
• Broyles was a thrill to watch this week as well. Lance Reddick is so…severe. I’m hoping he gets to do some physical stuff too sometime soon. I’d like to see him take down Sanford Harris, for starters (who didn’t impress me, acting-wise).
  
  
• That was an extremely long cold open.
  
  
• Between her more-than-palpable good looks and her more-than-capable resourcefulness and intelligence, Dunham is becoming the best female lead on television.
  
  
• Lost fans: did Loeb’s speech on “rules” and “sides” remind you of the dynamic between Ben and Charles Widmore?
  
  
• Kudos to Michael Giacchino for that beautiful variation on his main Fringe leitmotif at the end of tonight’s episode. I want a Fringe soundtrack later this year.

Adam Morgan is a writer for both the page and screen in Chicago, and blogs daily on writing, film, pop culture, and strange news at Mount Helicon.

Walter's Lab Notes: Fringe 111 - Bound

Here are Walter's Lab Notes from the Fringe episode Bound. Also pictured are a cheesesteak sandwich, a slug virus, a photo of some sort of organism, and Betty's slug tracks. In the notes, Walter mentions:

• Ouranos, also know as Uranus, and Cronos are from Greek mythology
• Buri and Borr (Bor) are from Norse mythology, the Grandfather and father of Wōden (Wotan), also known as Odin.
• The quote is about "The Kraken", from Snorri Sturlson's "The Prose Edda"
• ROUS - Rodents Of Unusual Size, a term from The Princess Bride

Click here to read the text of Walter's Notes

- Project 1087 - Exploration 1 -

First an overgrown protozoan wrapped 'round the heart; now a mommoth virus grown in the belly. How difficult it proves to separate myth from fact, and fact from myth! Gigantism abounds in legend. The giant Ouranos begat Cronos, also a giant; and from his belly burst the Olympians, themselves giants in the eyes of men. And likewise did Buri beget Bor who begat Wotan...

Straightway the Allfather cast the serpent into the deep sea, where he lies about all the land; and this serpent grew so greatly that he lies in the midst of the ocean encompassing all the land, and bites upo his own tail.

So said Snorri of the overgrown serpent. Always giants within giants within giants — of course! This gorgeous creature is not, in fact a giant virus. The rhinovirus takes the form of an icosahedron, not a slug. No, she is a gigantic human cell — from Dr. Kinberg's own intestinal walls — mercilessly overtaken and supersized by the giant virus that infected her.

SUPERSIZED! A new word in my lexicon. Such a brillian concept: to order a tasty meal and, with one simple command, expand it in all dimensions. The wonder and horror of it; for how could I not observe the astounding synedoche between the consumers and the consumed? Giants within giants again. To What othe purposes might this remarkable technique be applied? Squashes that will squash the county fair records? In class mammalia, order rodentia, the rise of the ROUS's? Even we hominids might take part. More than a few females might wish to grow thier assets; men, too.

But, caution is essential — for the pace of protien production must have been astonishingly rapid to sustain both cellular growth and .. oh, my. This volume of cytoplasm could only have one purpose: large-scale viral production. Within this slug-like sack, there could be millions of copies of its pathogenic parent. Extra care must be taken to contain her. No more afternoon walks for Betsy, I suppose. Wait... where did I see her last?