MIND MGMT is an American comic book series created by Matt Kindt and published through Dark Horse Comics. The first issue was released on May 23, 2012, to positive reviews and received a second printing in April 2013. The series continued to receive positive coverage during its run, but Kindt's art style was a common point of criticism. The series concluded with issue 36 in August 2015. The story has been collected into six hardcover and three omnibuses.
The story is about Meru, a true crime writer who searches for the truth behind a mysterious airline flight and discovers a secret government agency of super spies, espionage, and psychic abilities. Henry Lyme, the former top agent, has gone rogue and is working to dismantle the organization.
The film rights were optioned by 20th Century Fox in December 2012. Producer Ridley Scott and screenwriter David J. Kelly began pre-production in January 2013. A television adaptation was announced in 2017.
Publication history
Development The idea for MIND MGMT came from the title, which one of Kindt's friends gave to him.Bradley, Drew (August 20, 2012) "Minding MIND MGMT: A chat with Matt Kindt ", Multiversity Comics (accessed January 29, 2013). He worked on the concept for over a year, and the plot was outlined in a twelve-page synopsis.Carroll, Michael (June 28, 2012) "Interview: Matt Kindt, writer and artist for MIND MGMT", Geeks of Doom (accessed January 29, 2013).Fallavollita, JP (June 27, 2012) "Exclusive Interview: Matt Kindt On The Mind, The Artistic Process And His New Monthly Series, MIND MGMT", Biff Bam Pop (accessed January 29, 2013).
After partnering for one of Kindt's previous works, 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man, Dark Horse Publisher Mike Richardson asked Kindt to pitch another book.Hickey, Daniel (April 26, 2015) "C2E2: Spotlight Matt Kindt Panel Recap", FA Comics (accessed August 20, 2015) Kindt sent the proposal for MIND MGMT and was happy when it was accepted because Dark Horse was "the only publisher able to pay me a living wage and also let me do exactly what I wanted no matter what." The series was initially approved for over 50 issues, but Kindt pruned away excess material and reduced the run to 36 issues. Despite the reduction in length, the final product is still almost identical to the original pitch. Diana Schutz, editor of 3 Story, was originally slated to work with Kindt again, but the project was handed to newly promoted editor Brendan Wright very early in production. Kindt described their input as "invaluable" and considers Wright to be a collaborator.(October 4, 2012) "Brendan Wright upped at Dark Horse," Comics Beat (accessed January 29, 2013).
Although Dark Horse had approved 36 issues, there was still a chance the book could sell poorly and receive an early cancellation. The decision would be made after receiving the final sales number for the third issue, meaning Kindt was only guaranteed six issues. Not wanting to risk the series being cut off in the middle of a story, he designed the first six issues to stand alone if necessary. Kindt pencilled two endings for the last page of issue six so he would be prepared either way.Joy, Charles (July 1, 2014) "Exclusive! Talking Mind MGMT with Matt Kindt!", Unleash the Fanboy (accessed August 20, 2015)
Kindt took on additional comic scripting work while making MIND MGMT, but MIND MGMT was always his top priority. He scripted six issues at a time, then worked on the art during the hours his daughter was at school. At any given time, he would have one issue completed and ready to print.
Kindt said naming characters was the hardest part during the story's creation. Meru Marlow, the main character, is named after a Webster University student who attended a class taught by Kindt. Henry Lyme, another main character, is a reference to "Harry Lime" from the Orson Welles film "The Third Man" and is visually based on Zach Galifianakis in "The Hangover".Renaud, Jeffrey (February 4, 2013) "Matt Kindt Manages "MIND MGMT" Into An Ongoing Series," Comic Book Resources (accessed December 7, 2013) Other supporting cast get their names from a mix of real people, film references, and even everyday objects, like Perrier mineral water.
MIND MGMT was Kindt's first solo monthly series.O'Shea, Tim (April 9, 2012). "Talking comics with Matt Kindt". Comic Book Resources (accessed January 29, 2013). After creating several original graphic novels, Kindt felt the format was becoming too "easy" from a creative standpoint.Peagler, Seth (February 20, 2013) "Heroes Interview :: Matt Kindt," Heroes Online (accessed February 25, 2013) He wanted to create a monthly series partly out of nostalgia, and to create a dialogue between readers and himself during publication. As an incentive to draw in readers who would otherwise wait for the collected edition, each issue included material which was not reprinted in the collected editions.Boisson, Nick "Matt Kindt goes monthly ", Comics Bulletin (accessed November 12, 2012). Kindt stated he enjoyed the experience and the increased interaction with fans, even to the point of saying he may never do another graphic novel.
Publication A six-page preview of the first issue was included with 3 Story: Secret files of the Giant Man, a one-issue continuation of another work by Kindt, in April 2012.3 Story: Secret Files of the Giant Man one shot, (w/a) Matt Kindt, Dark Horse Comics April 2012Zalben, Alex (April 16, 2012) "" Geek News MTV (accessed January 29, 2013). The same month, three short stories were released online for free to promote the series.MIND MGMT promo 1 , Digital Dark Horse. (accessed January 29, 2013) They were later printed as issue #0 in November 2012.
The first issue was published May 23, 2012, and the series ran monthly through November 2012. In December, a short chapter appeared in Dark Horse Presents vol 2 #19 as a prologue to the second story arc."January 2013 Solicitations", Newsarama (accessed November 12, 2012). The series returned to a monthly schedule in January 2013. The first issue was reprinted at a discount price in April 2013.Press Release (December 17, 2012) First Issue Reprint Massive and MIND MGMT, Dark Horse (accessed January 29, 2013) Additional short chapters appeared in Dark Horse Presents vol 2 #31 (December 2013) and Dark Horse Presents vol 3 #7 (February 2015) and acted as introductions to the fourth and sixth arcs respectively.Press Release (December 4, 2013) "PREVIEW: DARK HORSE PRESENTS #31," Comic Book Resources (accessed December 7, 2013)Bradley, Drew (March 25, 2015) "Minding MIND MGMT: Issue 31 and DHP 5 ," Multiversity Comics (accessed April 10, 2015) A one-page bonus strip written by Alex di Campi and drawn by Kindt was included in the third issue of Archie vs. Predator, published jointly by Dark Horse and Archie Comics in June 2015. The final issue (#36), also known as NEW MGMT #1, was published on August 26, 2015.Press Release, May 11, 2015 "new-mgmt-in-august Exclusive – Matt Kindt's MIND MGMT under new mgmt in August ," Comic Book Resources (accessed May 29, 2015)
A 200-page hardcover collecting issues #0–6, collectively titled "The Manager," was released April 3, 2013."Dark Horse Comics FEBRUARY 2013 Solicitations", Newsarama (November 12, 2012) (accessed January 29, 2013).(November 10, 2012) "Dark Horse February", Comics Continuum (accessed January 29, 2013)) It was followed by "The Futurist" (collecting issues 7–12, Dark Horse Presents #19 short, and five strips originally published as webcomics on i09),Dark Horse Press Release, "MIND MGMT volume 2 – The Futurist," Dark Horse (accessed May 30, 2013) "The Homemaker" (collecting issues 13–18), "The Magician" (collecting issues 19–24 and the Dark Horse Presents vol 2 #31 short), "The Eraser" (collecting issues 25–30)Camancho, Jess (February 16, 2015) "Soliciting Multiversity: Dark Horse's Top 10 in May 2015 ", Multiversity Comics (accessed April 10, 2015) and "The Immortals" (collecting issues 31–36, and the Dark Horse Presents vol 3 #5 short).
In 2013, Kindt mentioned the possibility of MIND MGMT annuals or additional mini-series exploring the history of the series.Bradley, Drew (September 2, 2013) "Minding MIND MGMT – Matt Kindt Speaks: Interview ," Multiversity Comics (accessed December 7, 2013) In 2018, he crowdfunded a read-along comic and vinyl record with voice actor Clint McElroy through Kickstarter.Lehoczky, Etelka (September 1, 2018), "From A Read-Along Record To A Profane Tarot: The Year's Quirkiest Crowdfunded Comics," NPR. Retrieved September 10, 2018
In 2018, the 36 issues of Mind Management were collected into three volume softcover "Omnibus" edition for publication in 2019. The first volume, published February 21, gathered the issues #0-#12 along with reprinting content from the individual issues that was not published in the hardcover graphic novels.
A new four issue miniseries, MIND MGMT: Bootleg, was released between July and October 2022. Each issue was drawn by a different artist, including Farel Dalrymple (#1), Matt Lesniewski (#2), David Rubin (#3), and Jill Thompson (#4).
Plot
The Manager MIND MGMT is a government agency of spies, formed during or after World War I, who have psychic abilities.MIND MGMT #1 (w/a) Matt Kindt, Dark Horse Comics (May 2012) Henry Lyme is recruited as a child, and becomes their greatest agent.MIND MGMT #5 (w/a) Matt Kindt, Dark Horse Comics (September 2012) The work exhausts him, and Lyme is retired to Zanzibar. While there, he has a breakdown and loses control of his abilities, causing the city's inhabitants to murder one another.MIND MGMT #6 (w/a) Matt Kindt, Dark Horse Comics (October 2012) Lyme decides MIND MGMT is too dangerous to exist, and flees. In an effort to cover his escape, he accidentally causes everyone aboard a plane with him to develop amnesia.
Meru, a true–crime writer, investigates the amnesia flight two years later. She finds a lead in Mexico, where she meets a CIA agent named Bill. They are attacked by two former MIND MGMT agents, but escape.MIND MGMT #2 (w/a) Matt Kindt, Dark Horse Comics (June 2012) Meru eventually locates Lyme, who tells her his story. Meru learns she was a child in Zanzibar during the massacre and was saved by Lyme. He erased her memory of the event and arranged a foster family for her. During her investigative career she has located Lyme several times, but he continuously causes her to forget. She leaves determined to expose the truth about MIND MGMT, but falls asleep instead. Waking in her apartment, she decides to uncover the truth behind the amnesia flight.
The Futurist