​The Discipline - An interview with Writer Peter Milligan

Interview Conducted by Paul Fiander
The Discipline is what I love about comics, the story mixed with sex, ancient grudges and personal introspection draws the reader in and keeps them on a knife edge throughout each issue.
We had a chance to interview the writer and co-creator of the series Peter Milligan in anticipation of the 1st Trade volume releasing in October.
THE DISCIPLINE, VOL. 1 TP
​Story By: Peter Milligan
Art By: Leandro Fernandez
Published: October 5, 2016
Diamond ID: JUL160795
Peter's responses are in Bold
1. Hi Peter, firstly can you nutshell the rather complex story contained within the Discipline?

The Discipline is the story of a young woman who's emotionally and sexually frustrated with her life,  so goes looking for a little excitement...and finds an awful lot more than she could possibly have bargained for. 


2. Was the story always intended to go this way? I believe it was originally scheduled to released via Vertigo?

Yes, the story was always going to be dark, twisted, with a strong sexual element.   One of my initial ideas was that these sexual acts would be revealed as much more than they might initially seem to our hero, Melissa, or us.   And that hasn't changed. It was originally scheduled to be released by Vertigo.  The Discipline doesn't play safe - the sex is full-one and it's certainly shocking to some people - and when you're dealing with a story like this you take a risk that there might be difficulties in it getting released.  When they saw what was developing Vertigo decided it wasn't for them.   It was our right to create what we wanted to and it was Vertigo's right to decide they didn't want to publish.  I have no problem with that and it gave me the chance to work with Image.

It was probably tougher for then Vertigo editor Will Denis. He'd worked on the book with us from the beginning and I know he believed in it and for him it was a bit of a kick in the creative teeth when it didn't happen with Vertigo. 
3. You are well known for your big 2 Publisher material as well as 2000AD among others, how have you found the world of creator owned titles with Image?

I might be mainly known for the "big two" but my first important work in the USA was with smaller publishers - Eclipse, Pacific - it was with them that I worked with Brendan McCarthy and Brett Ewins on Freakwave and Strange Days. 

But yes, in later years most of my work has been with DC and Marvel and they've been great at different times. Image does feel different. For a book like the Discipline, where the content is very adult and the storyline very complex and where a lot of it has been either written or tightly worked out Image is really perfect and I am really grateful for them for existing, so Leandro and I could publish The Discipline, a book we're both really proud of.   Things are done differently at Image and at first this is a little weird. What allowed Leandro and me  to largely forget about the  logistics and concentrate on the creative side of things is the guy we brought in to edit and essentially midwife the whole thing: Sebastian Girner.  He has experience with working with Image and has been terrific. 


4. Melissa (the central character) is a complex character to say the least, was she difficult to write?

I want a bit of difficulty - I want complexity - in my main characters.  One thing I was interested was the theme of stepping out of your usual world or milieu.  Melissa comes from a blue collar, somewhat dysfunctional family, so the wealthy Manhattan she now lives requires her to straddle two worlds. There's a kind of skill in that but it also exerts its own kind of pressures.  When she finds herself entering the dangerous, highly-sexual, and incredibly strange world of The Discipline she has to call on all her milieu-shifting abilities to survive. 
​5. The artwork within the discipline by your co-creator Leandro Fernandez is a huge selling point of the series, how do the two of work in terms of the actual production of the series?

I think we work in a pretty standard, traditional way.  I send full scripts to Leandro and he draws it.   But he's a very creative person so might have visual or story ideas, which we then discuss and that might change either narrative or art a bit.   I think it's a really good relationship because it's based on trust. if Leandro has an issue with something or has an idea for a different strategy to achieve something I know he has thought it through well.    That doesn't mean I'll agree totally but I know he's given serious thought.  Again, working with Sebastian means that Leandro and I can mostly concentrate on the creative side of things. 


6. The book has adult themes throughout, do you think this is an important part of the story you are trying to convey?

Yes.  And it's important to show it.  This story isn't about sex but sex plays an important role in Melissa's transformation, so not to show it, candidly, would be ridiculous. 


7. The conflicting powers in the Discipline are not clearly defined in to wholly good or bad, is this kind of ambiguity difficult to write? 

Again, it's what I look for, what I find more interesting and more true. Yes, it's more difficult to write than some clearly- defined "good and evil".  But I want difficulty. And I want ambiguity. 


8. Could you see the Discipline working as TV show or Film or do you think that it works best as a comic?

I think most things that start life as a comic probably work best as comics.   That said, I feel that because of its range, the nuances of its characters, and its themes The Discipline could successfully work as both TV and Film, probably more TV.  
9. One of the focal points of the series is a painting that fascinates Melissa, where did it come from?

My imagination. And all the time I've spent in art galleries staring at paintings.   The painting itself is particularly influenced by those dark, brilliant works of the great Goya--amazingly re-realized by Leandro. 

​
10. What is the future of the Discipline?

Leandro and I intend to do at least one more chapter/storyline, probably two.  And then, who knows....

For our Interview with artist and co-creator Leandro Fernandez click here