The following is an interview with Ben Kahn regarding the upcoming release of the middle grade graphic novel, Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars, through Oni Press. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Kahn about their shared creative process in working with artist Georgeo Brooks to bring the world and characters to life on the page, what they hopes that readers may take away from their stories, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars through Oni Press! For our readers who may be unfamiliar with the story, how would you describe its overall premise?
Ben Kahn: Thank you! Mr. Muffins is about eleven-year-old Reuben Mahmoud when he gets pulled into an intergalactic war after an alien crashlands and tells him that the chosen one destined to save the galaxy is…Reuben’s pet corgi, Mr. Muffins. Soon, Reuben, Mr. Muffins, and their new alien friend Cassara are heading to outer space to face the dreaded Hakar Empire. Reuben may have wanted to avoid his homework and responsibilities, but now he and Mr. Muffins are responsible for the fate of the universe!
BD: What can you tell us about your shared creative process in working with artist Georgeo Brooks to not only bring these incredibly fun characters to life on the page, but in crafting a story that is both out-of-this-world fun and relatable for readers?
BK: Georgeo and I teamed up really early on in Mr. Muffins’ development, and it was incredibly helpful being able to have his art in mind while writing. It was such an advantage being able to picture the story in Georgeo’s amazing, lively, animated style.
For the alien designs, we did a lot of back-and-forth discussion figuring out the right influences for the design. I love the axolotl influence Georgeo gave our alien protagonist Cassara, and the jagged, almost dinosaur-like features of the enemy Hakar soldiers.
And the design for Mr. Muffins’ final opponent in the book…I’d love to say more but can’t without spoilers. Just know it’s something great!
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 Reuben’s story may connect with and impact readers?
BK: I think Mr. Muffins is really a story about the universal bond between kids and their pets. That, and really cool space battles. I grew up with dogs, and I know how special that connection is. And it’s Reuben at that time in life when he’s not just a kid, he’s starting to have responsibilities. And he’s figuring out what that means when it comes to supporting those he loves.
BD: What makes Oni Press the perfect home for this story?
BK: Getting to work with Oni is one of those Bucket List career items. It’s amazing getting to work with such a storied publisher that’s produced great middle grade and YA comics like Tea Dragon Society and Cheer Up, as well as all the sci-fi craziness and action of the Rick & Morty comics and Scott Pilgrim series.
And the support they’ve shown Mr. Muffins has been above and beyond. Georgeo and I got to work with some great editors over the course of working on this book, and they encouraged us to expand our ideas and make this the absolute best, most complete comic it can be.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
BK: I definitely have to highlight Immortals Fenyx Rising: From Great Beginnings, the first comic that Georgeo and I did together. It’s a continuation of the video game’s storyline and is a super fun Greek mythology adventure!
And then some other works of mine you should check out include Renegade Rule, a GLAAD Award-nominated YA graphic novel, and my prose debut, Elle Campbell Wins Their Weekend.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars and your other work?
BK: You can find out more about Mr. Muffins at the Simon & Schuster website and pre-order it wherever books and comics are sold. And to find out more about my previous work, visit benkahncomics.com. You can also sign up for my newsletter to keep up with new announcements. And then finally, you can catch me every Friday on a new episode of Progressively Horrified, a horror movie analysis podcast.
