The following is an interview with cartoonist Eduardo Medeiros (Roderick and the City of Morhil, Funny Creek, Open Bar) regarding the upcoming release of the coming-of-age graphic novel, Battle in the Flower Gardens, through Comixology Originals. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Medeiros about his creative process in bringing the story and characters to life on the page, what he hopes that readers may take away from the story’s themes, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming digital release of Battle in the Flower Gardens! What can you share with us about the genesis behind the story, and how would you describe its premise?
Eduardo Medeiros: Thank you! And thanks for having me. Battle in the Flower Gardens is a story that has been with me since I started making autobiographical comics back in the beginning of the 2000s. It’s actually from way before that, because it’s truly personal. The story is about Luke, and he’s in that phase where he’s not a kid anymore, but he’s not a teenager either. It’s a story about trying to fit in, be accepted, and, above all, about friendship. It’s the story of a typical summer that will echo forever in him.
BD: What can you tell us about your creative process in bringing this story and characters to life on the page, and how much of your own experiences influenced your narrative?
EM: It’s mostly based on my own experiences. I had a good memory of that time, so I went to talk to some old friends and neighbors from back then to see if my memory wasn’t betraying me. I tried to be honest with all my memories and with the kids we were.
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 Luke and Mitchell’s story may connect with and impact readers, and what, if any, conversations do you hope that it might inspire?
EM: I think everyone can relate to being a kid trying to develop their own personality. It’s a phase when you are on your own, trying to discover who you are and who you want to be. It’s the loss of innocence. I hope it inspires conversations about what decisions or actions we made as kids that echo in ourselves to this day, and how much we can forgive ourselves.
BD: What makes Comixology Originals the perfect home for this story?
EM: Comixology Originals has been a great home for creativity. I had absolute freedom and support to tell the story I wanted. I also think digital distribution opens doors to reach readers all over the world simultaneously, which is incredible for an indie story rooted in personal memories.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
EM: Absolutely! Funny Creek was our first Comixology Original and has a powerful story. I also published Open Bar through Oni Press, which is a story I’m extremely proud of—and if you like Battle in the Flower Gardens, you’ll love that one, too. My most recent Comixology Original was Roderick and the City of Morhil, which is the first story featuring this character that I love so much. I have a bunch of stories with him, and I really want to keep telling them.
Roderick and the City of Morhil is now available in print this month from ABLAZE.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Battle in the Flower Gardens and your other work?
EM: I have my website, www.hellatoons.com, and my Instagram account, instagram.com/hellatoons, where I’m always updating everything related to my work. I hope you all give Battle in the Flower Gardens a chance to be read, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it.
