Interview by: Rob Wrecks
1. Now as you are someone who needs no introduction to our readers here at IndieComiX, we're going to head right on into the fun of questions! July 27th saw the start of a new Kickstarter for the 3rd issue of Flesh of White. And by now, the funding goal has gone beyond its initial funding goal and as well into a successful funding. What kind of feeling does it give to not only yourself, but to Erica and Amanda as well to see things going as well as they are?
It’s humbling, honestly, to see the funding roll up so quickly. Amanda and I launched the Kickstarter campaign on the first evening and then went to dinner and just stared at our phones watching the pledges come in and texting back and forth with Erica. To say it was exciting would be an understatement. For Flesh of White, that kind of response is really a testament to the high level Erica and Amanda have achieved crafting this story. It’s gratifying to see their hard work and skill rewarded with loyal support from our corps of supporters.
2. What are a few reactions to this title that you've seen or at least heard about from those with Albinism since the start of Flesh of White?
While we’ve not received direct feedback (that I’m aware of) from anyone actually with albinism since we launched Flesh of White in early 2013, we have received a great deal of communication from those involved with folks coping with the difficulties of having albinism in east Africa. We’ve been contacted by aid workers, by charities and by citizens of Tanzania. They are glad to see yet another light shined on the atrocities perpetrated on these people, in hopes that awareness will lead to action. Speaking for Erica and Amanda, I know we all want that same result.
3. Every title from Inverse Press has pretty much gone through Kickstarter in order to be able to get life going for it. Has this been something you yourself have found to be a bit of a draw back due to the waiting period for each Kickstarter?
There’s actually not much of a waiting period for Kickstarter. The bigger factor for us is production time. We release books – and only launch Kickstarter campaigns – as they are completed, so that is what dictates our release schedule at this point in time. Kickstarter limits us to one campaign – and, thus, one book – at a time, but, so far, that hasn’t slowed us down. Besides, there will be ways to work around that limitation, should things get tight: campaigns for full series instead of individual issues, for example.
4. And if there is a feeling of a drawback to using Kickstarter. Do you hope to one day no longer have to rely on the website in order to bring Inverse Press titles to life?
We’ll always use Kickstarter, so long as it is an additional and viable marketplace for our comics. That said, we definitely have plans that will expand our publishing footprint outside of Kickstarter and get our books into the direct market. Some of those plans are already in-progress, and we hope to have news in the next couple of months. Kickstarter offers too much in the way of getting our books and associated products in the hands of our supporters and new readers to ever stop relying on it. Besides, honestly, it’s FUN to prepare and run Kickstarter campaigns. There’s an excitement to collaborating with our readers to build a product that would be difficult to duplicate through standard retail sales (although we look forward to those, too).
It’s humbling, honestly, to see the funding roll up so quickly. Amanda and I launched the Kickstarter campaign on the first evening and then went to dinner and just stared at our phones watching the pledges come in and texting back and forth with Erica. To say it was exciting would be an understatement. For Flesh of White, that kind of response is really a testament to the high level Erica and Amanda have achieved crafting this story. It’s gratifying to see their hard work and skill rewarded with loyal support from our corps of supporters.
2. What are a few reactions to this title that you've seen or at least heard about from those with Albinism since the start of Flesh of White?
While we’ve not received direct feedback (that I’m aware of) from anyone actually with albinism since we launched Flesh of White in early 2013, we have received a great deal of communication from those involved with folks coping with the difficulties of having albinism in east Africa. We’ve been contacted by aid workers, by charities and by citizens of Tanzania. They are glad to see yet another light shined on the atrocities perpetrated on these people, in hopes that awareness will lead to action. Speaking for Erica and Amanda, I know we all want that same result.
3. Every title from Inverse Press has pretty much gone through Kickstarter in order to be able to get life going for it. Has this been something you yourself have found to be a bit of a draw back due to the waiting period for each Kickstarter?
There’s actually not much of a waiting period for Kickstarter. The bigger factor for us is production time. We release books – and only launch Kickstarter campaigns – as they are completed, so that is what dictates our release schedule at this point in time. Kickstarter limits us to one campaign – and, thus, one book – at a time, but, so far, that hasn’t slowed us down. Besides, there will be ways to work around that limitation, should things get tight: campaigns for full series instead of individual issues, for example.
4. And if there is a feeling of a drawback to using Kickstarter. Do you hope to one day no longer have to rely on the website in order to bring Inverse Press titles to life?
We’ll always use Kickstarter, so long as it is an additional and viable marketplace for our comics. That said, we definitely have plans that will expand our publishing footprint outside of Kickstarter and get our books into the direct market. Some of those plans are already in-progress, and we hope to have news in the next couple of months. Kickstarter offers too much in the way of getting our books and associated products in the hands of our supporters and new readers to ever stop relying on it. Besides, honestly, it’s FUN to prepare and run Kickstarter campaigns. There’s an excitement to collaborating with our readers to build a product that would be difficult to duplicate through standard retail sales (although we look forward to those, too).
5. Continuing with our discussion about the use of Kickstarter, is there ever a feeling of being overwhelmed when you've managed to go past the funding goal?
Honestly, that’s the point at which I STOP feeling overwhelmed! There’s a real sense of relief once the funding goal is reached, and we know we’re going to be able to take a book to print. More than that, there’s a feeling of appreciation for all our supporters who relentlessly back our work and make funding possible. THAT grattitude is certainly overwhelming, I’ll say that.
6. Are there any plans to add Inverse Press titles to ComiXology's Submit program?
Right now, we have three titles available via Submit: Clown Town (the full graphic novel), the Eyes of the Hurricane one-shot, and Last Ride for Horsemen 1. Those can all be purchased HERE: https://www.comixology.com/Inverse-Press/comics-publisher/428-0
Clown Town, of course, is our first long-form comic, written by me and with art by Amanda Rachels. It’s a transformative story of killer clowns on a mission to avenge the abuse of children… by meting out dark, brutal justice. Eyes of the Hurricane, written by me and Roberto Acosta and fully illustrated by Amanda, is a tale of one man’s encounter with a tiny race in need of his help during the very real catastrophe of Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Last Ride for Horsemen 1, written by me and with art by Nathan Smith and colors by Gavin Michelli, is the first of four, self-contained Steampunk/Old West-themed volumes chronicling the descent of the Apocalypse onto the last town in creation, beginning with the arrival of the destructive plowman, Famine.
I anticipate that the Flesh of White will be the next title we publish digitally via Submit. We’ll let you know as soon as we have a date on that release!
7. What can fans expect to see next from Inverse Press?
Roadkill du Jour 4, written by me, is almost complete! I’ll launch a Kickstarter campaign to fund it in mid-November, and this campaign will offer the opportunity to get the entire series all at once. So, you can now follow ALL of duJour’s journey to rebuild his biker gang and get revenge on the witch who cursed him to eat only roadkill for all his days.
After that, likely in January, we’ll publish The Absentee 2, the next chapter in our sci-fi horror story of a clean energy harvest that leaves a test pilot possessed by an extradimensional demon that uses his own body and identity to destroy his life, while our hero is away using the demon’s form for good.
That will be followed closely by Flesh of White 4, bringing our most poignant series to a close.
Erica is also bringing her creator-owned titles, The Black Hand and Antithesis to Inverse Press in 2015, and we hope to have release dates on those very soon.
Naturally, there are a number of other projects percolating, but not on such a defined schedule at this point. News on those as they develop!
Honestly, that’s the point at which I STOP feeling overwhelmed! There’s a real sense of relief once the funding goal is reached, and we know we’re going to be able to take a book to print. More than that, there’s a feeling of appreciation for all our supporters who relentlessly back our work and make funding possible. THAT grattitude is certainly overwhelming, I’ll say that.
6. Are there any plans to add Inverse Press titles to ComiXology's Submit program?
Right now, we have three titles available via Submit: Clown Town (the full graphic novel), the Eyes of the Hurricane one-shot, and Last Ride for Horsemen 1. Those can all be purchased HERE: https://www.comixology.com/Inverse-Press/comics-publisher/428-0
Clown Town, of course, is our first long-form comic, written by me and with art by Amanda Rachels. It’s a transformative story of killer clowns on a mission to avenge the abuse of children… by meting out dark, brutal justice. Eyes of the Hurricane, written by me and Roberto Acosta and fully illustrated by Amanda, is a tale of one man’s encounter with a tiny race in need of his help during the very real catastrophe of Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Last Ride for Horsemen 1, written by me and with art by Nathan Smith and colors by Gavin Michelli, is the first of four, self-contained Steampunk/Old West-themed volumes chronicling the descent of the Apocalypse onto the last town in creation, beginning with the arrival of the destructive plowman, Famine.
I anticipate that the Flesh of White will be the next title we publish digitally via Submit. We’ll let you know as soon as we have a date on that release!
7. What can fans expect to see next from Inverse Press?
Roadkill du Jour 4, written by me, is almost complete! I’ll launch a Kickstarter campaign to fund it in mid-November, and this campaign will offer the opportunity to get the entire series all at once. So, you can now follow ALL of duJour’s journey to rebuild his biker gang and get revenge on the witch who cursed him to eat only roadkill for all his days.
After that, likely in January, we’ll publish The Absentee 2, the next chapter in our sci-fi horror story of a clean energy harvest that leaves a test pilot possessed by an extradimensional demon that uses his own body and identity to destroy his life, while our hero is away using the demon’s form for good.
That will be followed closely by Flesh of White 4, bringing our most poignant series to a close.
Erica is also bringing her creator-owned titles, The Black Hand and Antithesis to Inverse Press in 2015, and we hope to have release dates on those very soon.
Naturally, there are a number of other projects percolating, but not on such a defined schedule at this point. News on those as they develop!
8. Out of all the titles from Inverse, which one would you personally love to see get either a TV series or Movie adaptation?
Wow, that’s asking me to select among my children for a favorite… But, if I MUST choose, I honestly think Flesh of White would translate smoothly to a television series full of horror and real emotion and relatable gravitas. The tension that Erica and Amanda establish – and remarkably maintain – throughout the series would captivate audiences in the same, taut manner as The Walking Dead or True Detective. I believe that.
That said, what I wouldn’t give to see a Roadkill du Jour Adult Swim-style animated series…
9. You mentioned that Erica is bringing two of her own titles known as Black Hand and Antithesis sometime in 2015 to Inverse Press. Is there any info you can share on what those two titles will be about? Or is it all hush hush for the time being?
Here's what I can tell you (thanks to Erica for the inside info):
The Black Hand is a medieval fantasy horror tale following Victoria Addair, whose near death experience left her with a black hand imbued with the power to eviscerate the undead. At odds with her superiors, Victoria is sent to the far north, where she faces an ancient evil and an unrelenting force of the cold, while trying to save a young boy's life.
Antithesis is a science-fiction story revolving around the lives of two young women - Sammie and Rachel - from dramatically different parts of the same town. As the girls dare to cross the barriers dividing their hometown, they uncover a mystery of alien origins, where only one is allowed to survive.
10. Quite a few publishers tend to have a shared universe for their comics, is there any plans to do something similar at Inverse?
Not at this point. We always dabble with new ideas, and Erica and I have batted around a few concepts that might involve a shared universe concept, but nothing that's forthcoming soon. The stories we've published or are planning to publish are so disparate in theme and are set in such different worlds, I'm not sure a shared universe could cohesively involve any of those concepts at this point. Although the idea of the Clown Town clowns going after the child-hunting Witch Doctor from Flesh of White does have me intrigued, now that I think about it...
Editor's Note: Many thanks to Kevin for agreeing to allow me to pick his brain again on all things Inverse Press! Be sure to check out the Facebook page to see all the latest updates!
Wow, that’s asking me to select among my children for a favorite… But, if I MUST choose, I honestly think Flesh of White would translate smoothly to a television series full of horror and real emotion and relatable gravitas. The tension that Erica and Amanda establish – and remarkably maintain – throughout the series would captivate audiences in the same, taut manner as The Walking Dead or True Detective. I believe that.
That said, what I wouldn’t give to see a Roadkill du Jour Adult Swim-style animated series…
9. You mentioned that Erica is bringing two of her own titles known as Black Hand and Antithesis sometime in 2015 to Inverse Press. Is there any info you can share on what those two titles will be about? Or is it all hush hush for the time being?
Here's what I can tell you (thanks to Erica for the inside info):
The Black Hand is a medieval fantasy horror tale following Victoria Addair, whose near death experience left her with a black hand imbued with the power to eviscerate the undead. At odds with her superiors, Victoria is sent to the far north, where she faces an ancient evil and an unrelenting force of the cold, while trying to save a young boy's life.
Antithesis is a science-fiction story revolving around the lives of two young women - Sammie and Rachel - from dramatically different parts of the same town. As the girls dare to cross the barriers dividing their hometown, they uncover a mystery of alien origins, where only one is allowed to survive.
10. Quite a few publishers tend to have a shared universe for their comics, is there any plans to do something similar at Inverse?
Not at this point. We always dabble with new ideas, and Erica and I have batted around a few concepts that might involve a shared universe concept, but nothing that's forthcoming soon. The stories we've published or are planning to publish are so disparate in theme and are set in such different worlds, I'm not sure a shared universe could cohesively involve any of those concepts at this point. Although the idea of the Clown Town clowns going after the child-hunting Witch Doctor from Flesh of White does have me intrigued, now that I think about it...
Editor's Note: Many thanks to Kevin for agreeing to allow me to pick his brain again on all things Inverse Press! Be sure to check out the Facebook page to see all the latest updates!