The following is an interview with Saida Woolf regarding the release of the comic book series, Soulstream, from Scout Comics’ new all-ages imprint, Scoot. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Woolf about her creative process of bringing the story to life, the impact that it may have with readers, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of your comic book series, Soulstream! For those who may be unfamiliar, how would you describe the series’ premise, and what inspired you to tell this story?
Saida Woolf: Thank you, I’m really excited for the release of Issue 1 in January! Soulstream is about a girl named Marie who discovers a portal to another world while on a hike with her brother. She’s tasked by the Mage Goddess to use the power of the Ocean Bracelet to transform into Soulstream and, with the help of her friends, save this alternate world. It’s a magical teenage superhero story with lots of fantasy elements, and I’m beyond excited that it’s being published. Soulstream is the story I’ve always wanted to read.
BD: What can you tell us about your creative process in balancing both the writing and illustrative duties, and what (or who) have been some of your creative influences?
SW: Since I make Soulstream entirely by myself, it takes up most of my time, but it’s definitely worth it. I always start by writing a script for each issue, and I usually visualize the scenes and panel layouts as I’m writing them down. It definitely makes last-minute story changes a lot easier, since I have full creative control over the entire process. As far as creative influences for Soulstream, I take a lot of inspiration from not only superhero comics, but also from the magical girl genre of anime, and that influence tends to manifest in the form of sparkly magical effects, transformation sequences, and a few of the costume designs.
BD: Soulstream will be the premier title of Scout Comics’ new all-ages imprint, Scoot. What makes Scoot the perfect home for your story?
SW: I think an all-ages imprint like Scoot is a great fit for my comic, because I truly believe that Soulstream is a story that not just kids, but also teenagers and adults, can thoroughly enjoy. Through this imprint, Scout has created a great “safe-space” for kids and their parents to find age-appropriate stories to enjoy, and also for teenagers and adults looking for more lighthearted comics to read.
BD: At Fanbase Press this year, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Soulstream will connect with and impact readers?
SW: Throughout the story, the protagonist, Marie, struggles with her own anxiety and self-doubt. I hope that readers can connect with and relate to Marie and discover that it’s okay to be emotional and sensitive because those traits don’t make you any less strong. Soulstream is also a superhero story with a female lead and a female majority cast, which was important to me.
BD: Are there any other upcoming projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
SW: Since I’m still in high school and don’t have a lot of free time, Soulstream has been my primary focus for the past year and a half. This summer, a trade paperback containing issues 1-5 of Soulstream will be published, and I’m already looking forward to creating more Soulstream content in the coming year.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Soulstream?
SW: Readers can follow me on social media @SaidaWoolf and @Soulstreamcomic, and can also check out the Scout Comics website.
