The following is an interview with critically acclaimed writer Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gun, Harrow County) regarding the upcoming release of the horror/fantasy comic book series, The Autumn Kingdom, through Oni Press. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Bunn about his shared creative process in working with artist Christopher Mitten to bring the story to life on the page, his interest in stories about magical weapons, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of The Autumn Kingdom! For those who may be unfamiliar, what can you share with us about the premise of this new folk horror tale?
Cullen Bunn: The Autumn Kingdom is the story of two sisters, Sommer and Winter, who find themselves beset by a horde of evil creatures from a dark faerie realm. They are lost and alone as the goblins and trolls and redcaps and much more terrible things close in around them. Luckily, they have found an ancient faerie-killing sword, and they are putting it to good use against the forces of darkness.
BD: What most excited you about your first-time collaboration with artist Christopher Mitten to bring this mysterious story to life on the page?
CB: As a fan of Chris’s work, I just really wanted to see him draw one of my stories. Beyond that, though, I was thrilled to see his interpretation of these large, wild, crazy monsters and such interacting with his very grounded, very sweet interpretation of Sommer and Winter and their family. It’s just such a terrific juxtaposition.
BD: Earlier this year, you collaborated with Oni Press to bring a collected library omnibus of The Sixth Gun to fruition, the story of which also featured a “cursed” and powerful weapon. What makes the idea of the magical weapon such an impactful and interesting archetype in storytelling?
CB: Some of my favorite stories center around magical weapons. One of the themes that has always interested me—something I’ve danced around with in The Sixth Gun and in The Autumn Kingdom—is the idea of control. Are you controlling the weapon? Or is it controlling you? That’s an interesting angle to The Autumn Kingdom, especially because the sisters both wield (and feel the influence) of the sword they find. There’s another magical weapon or two to be found in the pages of this new comic, too, but I’ll keep them a secret for now.
BD: What makes Oni Press the perfect home for this story?
CB: I’ve done several books for Oni Press over the years. They are terrific to work with. Something I like is that Oni wants the books of mine that they release to complement each other. If you like one of the titles, you’ll probably like the others. The Autumn Kingdom plays really well with the other books in my Oni Press collection.
BD: Are there any other projects that you would like to highlight for our readers?
CB: You mentioned The Sixth Gun, which has just been collected in these glorious collections. I highly recommend that series if you haven’t had a chance to check it out. Brian Hurtt, Bill Crabtree, and I will be returning to that world next year. I couldn’t be more excited.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about The Autumn Kingdom and your other work?
CB: I publish a weekly e-newsletter in which I talk about all my projects, my interests, and my work. I think it’s a lot of fun and an open window into the life of a writer. It is hands-down one of the best ways to get more information about any of my projects, and you can subscribe by visiting www.cullenbunn.com.
