Let Mind Management Take The Wheel — Matt Kindt Discusses ‘Mind MGMT: New And Improved’

Matt Kindt’s Mind MGMT, a series about a secret government agency of super spies and psychic abilities, originally ran for 36 issues from 2012 to 2015. Kindt, the writer and artist behind Dept. H., Revolver, and Gilt Frame, is revisiting the series – sort of – in Mind MGMT: New and Improved. Before this new series debuts on June 24 from Oni Press, Comicon caught up with the acerbic Kindt to discuss the new (and improved) series as well as why he wanted to revisit his first monthly series.

Tom Smithyman: OK, what is “new and improved” about Mind MGMT?

Matt Kindt: Better art. Better writing. Better paper and ink. I’m using fancier water colors that are honey-based. I’ve streamlined the word count and made more intelligent word choices to make it easier to read. It’s going to require less attention span this time and is designed to wash over you like calm ocean waves lapping against warm sand.

Smithyman: Sounds soothing! Mind MGMT was your first monthly series, so I assume it has a special place in your heart. Is that why you keep coming back to it?

Kindt: I forgot how much work it takes to do a monthly comic, writing, ink, color, lettering, design, and covers all on my own otherwise I never would have come back to it. Having a short memory is a good thing sometimes. Gets me to work harder than I ordinarily would.

Smithyman: Did you have any trepidation about revisiting this series?

Kindt: I’m just disregarding the original series altogether. It was full of lies, honestly. I’ve created a new character for this series called…”The Eraser” and she’s made everyone forget all that happened before so I can forget it too and start fresh. This book is for new readers so why bother with all that old stuff?  I think the only way to start a series like this again is to have a careless disregard for all that happened before.

Smithyman: You are writing and drawing the series, just as you did with the original and many other projects. Do you crave full creative control or are you OK of letting go of some aspects of your stories?

Kindt: Comics work best when it’s a perfect blend of art and story. The easiest way to get there is to just do it all yourself. One single vision with no one getting in the way. But there are a handful of artists over the years that I’ve worked with (and continue to work with) where we are able to synthesize our efforts into something that feels like it was the vision of one person.

Brian Hurtt: And I did this one time. I penciled something and he inked it and vice versa. What was interesting was that the both versions looked different from one another and they both looked like neither of us. They were a strange hybrid that looked like this third creator did it. And the best collaborations have this feeling. The whole debate over who is more important to the comic book making process – the writer or the artist – doesn’t make sense to me. If you can separate the two then it’s not a good comic.

Smithyman: Mind MGMT has had a lot of iterations over the years. In addition to the original series and its spinoffs, it’s been optioned as a film and television series and is even a board game. Why do you think this story is so popular across different media?

Kindt: I think it’s the alliterative title. And it’s the nature of Mind Management. It’s a title and an idea that wants to be in every popular form of entertainment. The bigger the reach, the more it will be able to help those minds in need. Those minds that are looking for direction. Or for someone to tell them not just what to think and how…but also when.

Timing is important. Thinking is hard. Trust me, I’ve tried it. It’s a real hassle. Decision fatigue…that’s a real thing. So I’m hoping readers will just sit back…let Mind Management take the wheel. We’ve got this.

Smithyman: The first issue has a number of variants and blind bags, including some that are extremely rare – one has only five copies. How much fun are you having with this series?

Kindt: This is deadly serious stuff. The blind bag itself is essential reading. I’ve included a short story on it that contains real insights into the series and easy-to-follow instructions on how to use the “blind bag” once you’ve opened the comic. It’s foil for a reason. I don’t believe in wasting anything. That includes foil bags and back covers of comics and that 90 percent of our brains we don’t use.

Smithyman: Since you are adding a “new and improved” modifier to Mind MGMT, are there other series of yours you’d like to revisit? Could we see a new and improved Grass Kings or Dept. H?

Kindt: I’m currently in the process of working on a new book that combines every idea from my previous books as well as a few other ideas like G.I. Joes on acid and global conspiracies into one new one-stop-shop-and-read book called Fort Psycho. It is new and improves everything I’ve ever done and has upgraded art by my good buddy, Brian Hurtt. I highly recommend it.

Smithyman: I have no idea if you’re serious or not, but I’d totally read it if it’s real. Best of luck with the new series!