The following is an interview with writer Eric Palicki regarding the recent launch of the punk rock horror series, Black’s Myth, from AHOY Comics. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Palicki about the creative process of bringing this story to life, how The Clash and Buffy the Vampire Slayer impacted the series, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the release of Black’s Myth #1! For those who may be unfamiliar, what can you tell us about the premise of this punk rock horror series?
Eric Palicki: THANK YOU! Black’s Myth tells the story of Los Angeles P.I. Janie Jones “Strummer” Mercado. When the case of a lifetime falls in Strummer’s lap, she finds herself drawn into LA’s secret supernatural underground, forcing her to face her own past and revisit a world she abandoned years ago.
BD: The series deftly weaves together noir, fantasy, and supernatural elements to create its own unique storytelling narrative. What kinds of influences went into the inspiration behind this series?
EP: Well, Strummer is named after Joe Strummer, frontman of The Clash and one of my personal creative heroes. The mix of horror and quipy humor comes from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I wanted to attach that sensibility to what would have otherwise been a very dark mystery, something very close to The Maltese Falcon, even including an is-it-genuine-or-not MacGuffin.
BD: What can you tell us about your shared creative process in working with co-creator Wendell Cavalcanti to bring the story to life, as well as cover artists Liana Kangas and Jamal Igle?
EP: Wendell and I have been making comics together for almost fifteen years, beginning with my very first comics—little, 4-page stories lost to the ages—and most recently on Atlantis Wasn’t Built for Tourists, our Lovecraft-meets-Sergio Leone series from Scout Comics. Wendell and I are operating on the same wavelength after all this time, so our collaborations are a dream, and I hope we can keep making comics for years to come.
Liana and Jamal are both pals, but their inclusion here was all the work series editor Sarah Litt, who made the book better in so many ways by being a part of it. I love Liana’s pulp-paperback-but-neon approach to the regular series covers, and the variants, both Jamal’s and Steve Pugh’s for issue 2 are brilliant.
BD: As with all of AHOY Comics’ releases, Black’s Myth will contain incredible extra features. What can readers anticipate by way of stories and creators from this latest release?
EP: The decision on the bonus features is made by the senior staff at Ahoy, way above my pay grade, and I don’t get much in the way of advance notice. I have to tell you, though: It’s nice to be as surprised as everyone else when I see the book on the shelf. I mean, Peter Bagge’s a legend, and seeing an illustration of his in a book with my name on it? Awesome.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Janie’s story may connect with and impact readers?
EP: Both Strummer and her partner Ben are outcasts in a way, and the punk rock element of Black’s Myth is the story of them finding each other and then becoming a part of a larger community of outcasts. It’s amazing how much more comfortable you become in your own skin when you’re among people who understand you. In my initial pitch for the series, I focused on how this mirrors my own journey into the comics community.
BD: Are there any other upcoming projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
EP: YES! The latest anthology I co-edited, DEAD BEATS 2: London Calling (There’s that pesky The Clash again!), will be in finer comics shops in October and is now available for pre-order.
Also, Christopher Peterson and I are presently Kickstarting a brand new graphic novella, MANTICORE, about a young woman who inherits her grandmother’s pet monster. The campaign is live here.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Black’s Myth?
EP: The first issue is in stores now! You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram (@ericpalicki) for up-to-the-minute details.
