The following is an interview with writer Louis Southard regarding the upcoming release of the comic book, Flash Gordon Quarterly #1, through Mad Cave Studios. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Southard about his shared creative process in working with artist Nuno Plati to bring the western-themed story to life on the page, why Mad Cave is the perfect home for this new take on the Flash Gordon universe, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of Flash Gordon Quarterly #1! What can you share with us about your contribution to the Flash Gordon universe with this new story?
Louis Southard: Thank you so much! First off, I’m very proud to be part of Mad Cave Studios’ new Flash Gordon relaunch with this even being my very first work-for-hire gig. As such, they’ve entrusted me with being one of the first writers to crack open the Flash Gordon multiverse with the new series of Flash Fiction short stories.
Basically, writers and artists are allowed to let their imaginations run wild with introducing the iconic cast of Flash Gordon characters into different and wild settings or genres. That said, the quote-unquote Earth-2 co-created by myself and the amazing artist Nuno Plati can be found in our story, “The Battle of Little Mingo.”
To tease a bit of the tale, there is a town under siege! And yet, there is still hope! A brave sheriff and his loyal deputy find themselves in a battle to the death against the forces of a nefarious regional governor. Who will live? Who will die? Anything can (and will) happen in this thrilling raygun-slinging adventure!
BD: On the heels of your Western-themed work with the comic book collection, Comics Are Dying, how would you describe your shared creative process (alongside artist Nuno Plati) in breathing new life into the Flash Gordon world set in the Wild West?
LS: Well, I’ll be honest in saying that Comics Are Dying: The Comic was a stressful project for me. Not for a lack of passion or anything, but because I was basically the director behind every aspect of the book. I wrote the scripts, edited, had to check in with the over 100 artists and colorists, pay everyone on time, design supplementary material, and a whole lot more whilst still trying to maintain a social life and healthy sleep schedule. *haha*
Fortunately with “The Battle of Little Mingo,” I am simply part of the team. We all report to our fantastic editor Chas! Pangburn, and he is really the mastermind behind all of this. When this was started, we sat down for a meeting and I brainstormed some ideas. The best ones were sent off to be reviewed, and the wild west version of Flash Gordon came out the winner. While admittedly space-westerns are incredibly fun and cool stories, I think my background writing the Midnight Western Theatre wild west comic book series was what sealed the deal on that decision. Not to brag, but I write a great cowboy. *haha*
In terms of collaboration, I wanted to make something with a lot of style and fun. Obviously, you want to do something different and something that feels worthy of being its own separate thing. So, I wrote a script with a story filled with as much heart and action as 8 pages will allow. Artist Nuno Plati got that vibe 100% from the script, and he ran wild with a fun mixture of classic sci-fi and pulpy western. With his experience working at places like Marvel or Image, you can trust in just letting him jam out and he will come back to the team with some phenomenal pages. He’s truly a great partner to have in all of this.
BD: What makes Mad Cave Studios the perfect collaborative partner for this series?
LS: Their ambition and transparency. I’ve worked with quite a number of publishers in my career so far, and I am constantly blown away by Mad Cave. As a creator, it is a breath of fresh air to work in such a professional environment. Their editors and staff are top-notch. They all make me very happy to be working alongside them.
Other than that, they really go for some bold and innovative ideas when planning a publishing strategy. Just look at everything they’re doing with Flash Gordon. With the flagship title, its sister book Flash Gordon Quarterly, the Defenders of the Earth team book, the all-ages version, and the classic reprints, they’ve left no stone unturned. I think that’s all great when trying to reintroduce these characters to a new generation and it also shows they’re committed to the brand.
Even allowing me to be part of the relaunch is making history in the nearly 100 years of Flash Gordon. Not only am I the first Gen Z person to write a Flash Gordon comic, but at 24 years old I am also the youngest person to ever write one, as well. I think Mad Cave looks to all generations for their lines of books, which is especially great in this new age of comics. I’m simply honored to be part of that.
BD: If given the opportunity, are there any specific Flash Gordon characters that you would like to revisit for future installments in the universe?
LS: You just opened a Pandora’s Box there. *haha* Whether it’s in the main universe or my wild west universe, I would love to bring back this obscure villain called Pyron the Comet Master.
He’s this nutso type of character who flies around in an artificial comet ship, has a femme fatale sidekick named Flamma, and is the leader of an army of lizard men. When I learned about him, it was love at first sight. *haha*
So, my plea to any loyal readers out there is to tell Mad Cave that the people yearn for Pyron. If you want to go one step further and wish to get it trending, post at Mad Cave with the hashtag #WeWantPyron.
BD: Are there any other projects that you would like to highlight for readers?
LS: As of right now, there’s nothing on my immediate docket that I am at liberty to speak about. I can assure readers that more Louis Southard originals are coming, but I must be quiet out of fear of punishment. *haha* What I can do is shout out some of the fellow creatives that I share the Flash Gordon Quarterly with!
First up is writer Dennis Culver with artist Pasquale Qualano. Those two kick off the book with an exciting tale about King Vultan of Sky City. You don’t want to miss out on that one, as it connects to the main Flash Gordon universe found in the flagship title.
Next is my Flash Fiction buddy Jordan Thomas who, along with artist Russell Mark Olson, takes our cast to a noir setting with “Flash Detective Services.”
Finally, artist Nuno Plati and I are doing a wild west story where…wait, I already told you about that. *haha*
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Flash Gordon Quarterly #1 and your other work?
LS: For anyone interested in picking up Flash Gordon Quarterly #1, I always recommend ordering it at your local comics shop. If unavailable, you can order a copy directly from Mad Cave or Amazon, as well. It will be out on September 4th, so you have plenty of time to decide!
For anyone interested in learning more about me or my past works, you can google my name: Louis Southard. There, you’ll find my website, social medias, and possibly even my deepest, darkest secrets!
To end on a serious note, thank you so much to the readers, and I hope you check out our book! There’s a lot of love in it and I think it shows! And, thank you again to Fanbase Press for taking the time to speak to me! I really appreciate it.
