[Brett Matthews and Vatche Mavlian are the pen and ink behind the Star Wars Tales #10 comic story, "Free Memory," as well as a new Spider-Man/Daredevil one-shot, "Neighbors." Brett's writing is also featured in episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, and Vatche's art can be found all over the place, including other Star Wars comics for Dark Horse. You can check out Jathniel's review of "Free Memory" here. Jathniel managed to track the creative pair down and grill them for our benefit.]

Echostation: Where or how did you come up with the idea for "Free Memory"?

Vatche Mavlian: This one is Brett's.

Brett Matthews: I had been contracted by Dark Horse to do a short Star Wars Tales story. It was a 'pitch anything you want and we'll say yes or no' kind of scenario. Needless to say, your mind goes all sorts of places with an assignment like that. The only thing I knew for certain was that I wanted to tell a story within the Classic Star Wars universe and a tale that very well could have happened -- I didn't want to contradict anything the movies lay out needlessly. I like stories that have their heart in the right place, events that ring true practically and emotionally. Free Memory just sort of sprung out of that, the big plus being I could service a whole bunch of characters I held near and dear within a small page count.

ES: How did you end up working together on "Free Memory"?

VM: I got an email from Scott Allie saying that he might have something in my ballpark and we took it from there.

BM: Really, the credit here goes to a guy named Scott Allie over at Dark Horse. He's the editor on the Angel book I work on over there as well as being a writer himself. He also served as editor on Free Memory and basically floated a bunch of art samples my way. I think from the very beginning we were both just blown away by this C3PO/R2D2 piece Vatche had submitted. It took about two seconds to decide from there.

ES: Scott Allie…Scott Allie. That seems to be a recurring name. Maybe I can get him for my next interview ... I noticed that you worked together on a Spider-Man/Daredevil (one of the greatest team-ups ever) one-shot.  What else can we expect to from you in the future, either together or solo?

BM: Spidey/DD is turning out absolutely fantastic. As I write this, V's just about finished with the art and it's simply breathtaking. Big love here to Stuart Moore as well, the editor on the book. He gave us the rope we needed to hang ourselves and then didn't let us. I'm very proud of 'Neighbors' and think people are really going to like it a lot, especially fans of Free Memory's tone.

V and I do have a project or two on the horizon together, but it's still too early on to say much more than that. We're both busy guys, but speaking for myself, I can't imagine a better working experience with anyone else. I think we complement one another nicely and our sensebilities mesh well. I thoroughly enjoy writing most anything that V's gonna draw. Stay Tuned.

VM: I enjoy the way Brett tells a story... it's so easy transferring his vision to pictures and he captures the characters' persona very well. I really look forward to anything else that may come our way... what that might be I can't say for certain. We got some ideas but that's all they are for now. I don't do too many solo projects and don't have one planned in the near future.

ES: Is there a possibility of more Star Wars work in the future? If so, can I get a preview? :)

BM: I'd love to do more Star Wars with V but there's also nine million things we haven't even done once yet. Still, if there's a universe that bears revisiting, it's Star Wars. It certainly could happen, especially as long as there's a guy named Solo running around.

VM: Star Wars is something that is etched into my brain from childhood and the prospect of doing more Star Wars stories sounds pretty cool but I don't have anything planned.

ES: Who are your influences? And whom would you like to work with?

BM: I guess Frank Miller would be the most obvious answer in the Comics industry. 1986 was a pretty big year for me as a kid. Dark Knight and Watchmen both hit that year and they had a pretty profound influence on me. I remember knowing how meaningful the books were as I read them, even if I didn't yet know how to articulate why. They kind of made me want to learn in order to fully understand them, and that's a pretty tall order for a ten year old to take from a comic. So I'd have to say classic Miller, and anything by Alan Moore. . I tend to be attracted to the visual writers.

Warren Ellis so gets it done with Planetary -- it's always worth the wait and that's saying something.

As far as artists go, There's so many great artists out there (Vatche at the top of that list) that it's hard for me to mention just one or two.

VM: Oh gosh, do we have that much time? Let's see ... Foster, Williamson, Raymond, Frazetta, McFarlane, Shultz, Gianni, Wrightson, Buscema. I'm not sure who I'd like to work with ... how about big George ... maybe you could set me up ... hmm?

ES: Sure, I’ll set you up with big George. I’ve got his home number around here somewhere … What did you think of Episode II?

BM: Man, that's a loaded question... I look at it this way: it's miles better than Phantom Menace, and there are moments within the film that stand shoulder to shoulder with any in the entire trilogy. There are also a lot of missed opportunities, in my opinion. Being the big fat romantic I am, I wanted the love story between Anakin and Padme to be handled with a bit lighter a touch. A more topical and realistic take. But then again, I'm one of those people who likes Empire far more than the other films for just that reason.

VM: Awesome! Very novel like... more than the others I think. Destroyed 'Lord of the Nerds'... man was it tough getting through that one.

ES: Lord of the Nerds? So I guess you aren’t looking forward to "The Two Towers"

VM: Nope... it's too over worked and artsie.

ES: What advice do you have for our readers that are aspiring artists/writers?

BM: This is the toughie and the question I think I'm asked more than any other. The problem is, comics are such a visual medium that it's tough to really qualify yourself as a writer. Talent is always the best thing you can have going for you, and outside of that all you need is a person who's in a position to help you out read your stuff. Again, it's not like being an artist where you have immediate and tangible proof of your talent. Also, I think most people are born thinking they have the ability to write well. I don't know why, but it's something you run into over and over again, especially in the comics business -- a lot of people out there think all you do as a writer is fill in balloons, which sucks. So I guess the bottom line is write often and write well. It sounds a bit ridiculous but without doing that, you're going to have trouble getting anywhere. Then find someone who is willing to read your stuff -- if you've got talent, things can happen pretty quickly from there.

VM: Back in college when I was still bouncing around the idea of doing comics some day, I bumped into a visiting animator who said a lot of young artists think that comics is all about superheroes and what's popular today. I suppose that is true. Things are a little better today but it's important to try different genres and look at different types of comics and artists ... And be active and go out and play sports. Don't become consumed by the industry.

ES: They say everyone has a twin. Who is your twin in the Star Wars universe?

BM: I have no idea who my twin in the Star Wars Universe would be, or if we're talking looks or disposition. Either way, like any guy, I'd want to be Han. You just know Han got the chicks. Realistically, I think I'd take Wedge. He's a real go-to-guy that doesn't need to be center stage all the time and is extremely good at what he does. That suits me fine.

VM: Hmm, the fish-head general! Just kidding... I can't put a finger on just one character. Luke and Anakin when I was younger -- both are very restless and felt held back at one point or another. But I've gone through a rebelious Solo phase and nerdy C3-PO.

ES: Any final words?

BM: No final words outside of support the comics industry. Reward quality work with your hard-earned cash -- vote with your dollar. And have fun with comics, because that's the whole point.

VM: Live long and prosp... *@$!, I deserve to be beaten for that. May the force be with you!

ES: Yes, you do deserve to get beaten for that. Boba Fett is on his way.

Many, many thanks to Brett and Vatche for their time on this interview. For more information please visit the following websites:

Vatche Mavlian - http://www.vatchemavlian.com
Dark Horse Comics – http://www.darkhorse.com

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(Jathniel Velázquez has been trying to build a full size AT-AT to scare the neighbors dog from coming into his yard. He is also the Baron-Administrator of Star Wars: New Horizons.)