Back To Black

Everyone’s favorite misery-guts Nemi Montoya has a strong will, an anarchic streak and a penchant for promiscuity...but, don’t worry, she’s a romantic at heart. Her honest approach to life, love and liquor lands her in one painfully funny moment after another, so close the curtains, break out the black hair dye and open up this wise-cracking comic-strip collection.

LISE MYHRE INTERVIEW

Titan Books: How did you first come up with the character and was it easy to get her published?

Lise Myhre: I had tried out various characters and pretty much decided comics weren't for me when Nemi showed up. Illustrating a girl whose background and style I could personally relate to made the comics get so much better, and it allowed me to be honest in a way that made writing easier. I was very lucky and got picked up by a newspaper shortly after she made her debut in guest appearances in the Norwegian The Far Side Gallery magazine.

How much has the character evolved since the strip first began?

Immensly. She´s not your typical comic book personality, you know, where they´re either sad all the time, angry, happy, naive, smart... She´s all of those and more, like real people usually are. It took time to build her personality, as each side came gradually, and I had to be really sure every time I let her evolve, once it had been in print, I couldn´t take it back. In the beginning, she was sarcastic, independent and a little angry all the time, those were the only things I was sure I wanted in the beginning. But eleven years later it would be a sad read if that was all there still was.

What impact do you feel Nemi has had on the 'goth scene' in Norway?

They´ve all been very supportive and cool about Nemi since the get go. I´m not going to sit and take credit for changing the scene, though. I do know that we all got a little tired of being mistaken for Satan worshippers back in the nineties, and with Nemi now being very well known in Norway, it has brought some positive associations as well, to people who wear black, and made people realise we´re not all burning down churches.

Do you have a favorite Nemi strip or image that you've drawn?

I have many favorites, but most of them are full pages. I love making the strips, but more space allows me to build up an atmosphere you don´t have time for in four little panels.

Are any of the Nemi storylines inspired by events that actually happened to you or people you know?

The trick is to find situations that are common enough for people to relate, so that it doesn´t turn out as one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Sometimes I´ll find inspiration in real people, but most of the time, fiction is more believable.

Did you have any difficulties with translating the book/comic into English?

I don´t do the translations myself, and we´ve had several people working on it over the years. It´s interesting how different languages seem to change Nemi's personality a little every time. Not necessarily because of what she´s saying, but it gives the characters a different feel. Translating comics can be challenging; even though the words are easy, strips have this compressed text where every twist, turn and choice of expression is vital.

How different are you to Nemi, do you share the same outlook on life?

Somewhat. I love her, and I guess I have as much in common with her as I do with my people friends. She´s never been my mirror image.

At what point did you realise that Nemi had entered into the public consciousness?

Nemi is a household name in Norway. Seeing her name in headlines that had nothing to do with her (you know, "Nemi would love this band") then I started realising how big it had become.

How long can you see Nemi continuing for and is there a point at which you would stop?

I´ll keep doing this as long as it´s fun and people enjoy it. The day it stops being fun, it will show, and that will be the day to move on.