The following is an interview with Pat O’Malley regarding the recent release of the Popscars: Volume 1 trade paperback. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with O’Malley about his shared creative process in bringing the world and characters to life on the page, what he hopes that readers may take away from the story, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the recent release of your trade paperback, Popscars: Volume 1! For our readers who may be unfamiliar, how would you describe the series’ premise?
Pat O’Malley: Thanks, Barbra! It’s been a long time in the works, so to finally have this book sitting on my shelf feels like a major accomplishment. For anyone new to Popscars, it’s a Hollywood revenge story about a girl in a pink ski mask (Pinky) and the famous movie producer she is out to kill, who happens to be her father. It’s a gory soap opera that I promise you haven’t read anything quite like this before.
BD: What can you tell us about your shared creative process in working with artist Santi Guillen to bring the world and characters to life on the page?
PD: This is my first comic book–anything, so having Santi’s art bring my story to life feels like I really lucked out. I spent many years writing and developing this story, which is partly based on a short film I made called POP. It was set in Hollywood, and some characters from it crossed over into the comic—like Mary, Mika, and Heath—and, of course, the thumbtack drug. Because of that, I had plenty of visual references from my own work to share with Santi. I also had lots of sketches for the rest of the characters, especially Pinky. But when Santi’s first sketch of her came back, all of a sudden, she had a ponytail! All my sketches of her were without one (which is why she loses it in issue 2), but after we took it away, I realized she needed it. It’s part of her signature look.
So, there was a lot of back and forth, and Santi brought new elements of Hollywood to life through his art, making the story feel very real and very violent—he captured the Hollywood I was after. Over the course of working on this book, we’ve become friends.
BD: Do you foresee revisiting the Popscars world or its characters for future story arcs, or expanding the story into other entertainment mediums?
PO: I am already in the process of working with a new artist on a Popscars spin-off I hope to announce soon, once we are a little more settled into the work, and I have Volume 2 written!
I definitely have more to tell in this world, more to get out of my system. I could absolutely see Popscars being adapted into a gritty, low-budget indie movie. Something raw and rough around the edges. It would have to have some serious girl power behind the camera, though. Pinky is ready to kick ass in all mediums, in my opinion.
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 Pinky’s story may connect with and impact readers?
PO: Punch Publishing is my comic company, and our logo is “Stories that hit back.” I think Pinky embodies that in a way that makes this story special. She fights back against her traumas, she doesn’t let anything bring her down. She might be doing things a little too violently, but that’s what makes comics a perfect medium for this story. She can let out her rage and frustrations, and it’s a safe space for the readers to, as well. This book was nothing if not therapeutic to create. I hope people see in her something more relatable than some of the more mainstream female superhero characters that are maybe too idealized.
BD: Are there any projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
PO: Jurassic Parkour 4 is about four crime-fighting dinosaurs who retire after a tragedy—only to get pulled back in for one last mission… if their knees and bad backs will let them! It was my latest project, and we just fulfilled our Kickstarter. Now, we’re figuring out how to get this story out to a wider audience.
Another project, No H2O, is a comic I wrote while making Popscars, and it’s being released as a graphic novel with Wise Acre Comics. It’s Mad Max for kids!
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Popscars: Volume 1 and your other work?
PO: I’m on instagram (@punchpublishing) and you can purchase Popscars at Punchpublishing.com! I love to hear from people who are into the projects I’m working on, so message me and say hi!
Thank you, Barbra, for your interest in this book and taking the time to do this interview! I really appreciate it!
