The following is an interview with Cullen Bunn (Harrow County, The Sixth Gun) and George Kambadais (A Place in the Heart), creators of Z2 Comics’ upcoming comic book series, Grave Lilies. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Bunn and Kambadais about the inspiration behind the sci-fi mystery series, their creative process in working together, how the series maneuvers through various storytelling genres, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of your creator-owned comic, Grave Lilies! What inspired you to tell this sci-fi mystery?
Cullen Bunn: I think it was a love of the genre (or sub-genre, if you prefer) that really inspired me to write this book. I’ve always loved stories about characters with remarkable powers, shadowy agencies chasing them and hoping to exploit them, and wild and twisted conspiracies. All of those elements feature heavily into Grave Lilies, but I also wanted the book to rely less on heaviness and more on having fun.
BD: In its first issue, Grave Lilies successfully navigates multiple genres with ease, including sci-fi, political thriller, and mystery. How do you feel that the story embodies all three of these genres so seamlessly, and what do you hope that readers will take away from the issue?
CB: Grave Lilies manages to walk the tightrope connecting all those genres, because we worked pretty diligently to make sure all of those elements needed each other to make the story work. The science fiction elements fall apart without the mystery. The mystery falls apart without the intrigue we’ve set in motion. If any one of those elements were missing or changed, you wouldn’t be reading Grave Lilies. I hope readers fall in love with these five mysterious characters the way I did, and I want them to worry about them and wonder what they represent in the world we’re building.
George Kambadais: I think Grave Lilies wouldn’t work otherwise. For me it’s mostly a big mystery story and all the other genres work in favour of our big reveal at the end of the first story arc. I hope readers will have as much fun as I had working on this story and want to read more.
BD: How did you come to work together on Grave Lilies, and how would you describe your creative process in telling this story together?
CB: George and I met through Twitter. He was sharing some artwork he had done based on my Marvel series, Fearless Defenders. I got in touch with him, and we seemed to hit it off. And I really loved the idea of doing something with an artist with his fun and upbeat style. I feel like the creative process has been pretty seamless and fun. In the early stages, I wrote character descriptions and George would send me these amazing designs. The scripting process goes pretty much the same way. I stay out of George’s way as much as possible, and we wows me with every page he completes. ,
GK: I’m a big fan of Cullen’s work. Around two years ago, he was working on Venom and Fearless Defenders for Marvel. I loved both of these titles, and I did a couple of fanarts. I think Declan Shalvey, the artist of Venom at the time, who I really admire and respect, saw a fanart of Mania, a character that he and Cullen created for Marvel and sent it to Cullen. After that, Cullen contacted me and (after I jumped and ran in my apartment for a couple of minutes from excitement), we talked about the possibility of working together on something. In the next days, he sent me some character descriptions, and I instantly fell in love with the girls. Our process is pretty simple. He sends me a script, I read it, I did some layouts, and every page I finish I send it to Cullen. He gives me a lot of freedom to do my thing, and I love that.
BD: George, did you have a specific art style in mind when you first read the concept for Grave Lilies, or do you feel that your design evolved over time after working through the script with Cullen?
GK: Actually, at the time Cullen first sent me the character descriptions and the story, I was working on The Double Life of Miranda Turner and the first sketches of the girls I did were more cartoony. After I got the script, I worked on them again, I researched clothes and styles, and now they look a little different than then. Every artist evolves over time, and I think my art evolved, too.
BD: Cullen, this marks your first series with Z2 Comics, as well as the publisher’s first foray into superhero stories. What makes Z2 Comics the perfect home for Grave Lilies?
CB: Z2 is just so excited about this project, and they really got behind some of the interesting things we wanted to do story and art wise. I couldn’t be more excited to be launching this project with them.
BD: Are there any upcoming projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
CB: Well, in addition to Grave Lilies, I’m still working on Harrow County at Dark Horse and The Damned for Oni Press. I’m also writing Monsters Unleashed and Uncanny X-Men for Marvel. I tend to keep a lot of projects going at one time. It keeps things lively.
GK: Grave Lilies aside, I’m working on a mini series for Two Headed Press with another one of my favourite writers right now, Chris Sebela. I’m also talking with a couple of other writers about the possibility to work with them on creator-owned stuff, but I can’t say anything right now.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Grave Lilies and your other work?
CB: Readers can follow me on Twitter (@cullenbunn) or visit my website (www.cullenbunn.com). You can also visit the series website at www.gravelilies.com.
GK: Readers can follow me on Twitter (@GeorgeKambadais) or visit my website/tumblr, www.gkambadais.com.
