The following is an interview with Chris O’Hara regarding the launch of a Kickstarter campaign for the all-ages comic book series, Refuge: Chapter 1. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with O’Hara about his shared creative experience in working with artist Lucas Jensenn to bring the story and characters to life on the page, the incredible backer rewards available with both of the campaigns, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the recent launch of your Kickstarter campaign! What can you share with us about the story’s premise?
Chris O’Hara: REFUGE: Chapter 1 is the beginning of Pavel’s epic adventure. After a cruel war has taken everything from him, Pavel escapes the battlefield to find refuge in a mountainous cavern. But his safety is short-lived as he discovers he is not alone.
BD: How would you describe your shared creative process in working with artist Lucas Jensenn to bring this incredible world and characters to life on the page?
CO: It’s been a true joy! This is Lucas’ first comic and he’s been completely invested since day one. Lucas has a way of capturing cinematic panels and stylized characters perfectly which made him a match made in heaven for this series. Lucas is very charismatic and enthusiastic about the story, characters, and cause which definitely comes through in his art. As the writer you need to trust your artist fully and, thankfully for me, that’s pretty easy.
BD: You are no stranger to crowdfunding, having successfully run several campaigns for various projects. Why do you feel that crowdfunding has been such a valuable resource to ensure the success of today’s comic book creators?
CO: It’s really the only option we have. Crowdfunding allows for fans and other creators to help support and bring these stories to life which would be extremely difficult otherwise. That said, some of the platforms have become challenging to navigate to say the least. With an oversaturated market, it’s much more difficult to find a natural backer on Kickstarter. You really need to build your own fanbase and rely on repeat backers to fund future projects.
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 Pavel’s story may connect with and impact readers?
CO: REFUGE is a silent comic. That’s right, no speech bubbles or narration. This was a pretty challenging task to tackle, but we decided to go this route to remove one more barrier to entry. Since the series is ‘silent’, REFUGE can have the same impact on a reader from Africa as it can in America. No need for translation and with its universal themes of conflict and family, it can appeal to all readers no matter where they are from.
BD: In light of the crowdfunding campaign, are there any particular backer rewards or tiers that you would like to highlight for our readers?
CO: We pride ourselves on having some of the most competitive prices available in the Kickstarter space. We have some variant covers that are killer, as well as some cool bundles that even include a coloring book! We have a ton of variety and it’s all at an extremely high value.
BD: In addition, what can you tell us about the series’ involvement in your Comics for a Cause initiative?
CO: Comics for a Cause is our way of giving back with the power of comics. The indie scene has been fairly tumultuous in recent history with drama and in-fighting and at BentBox we wanted to set ourselves apart. So, we decided to use a select number of our comics and link them to different charities/non-profits. Wingless helps support Tiny Super Heroes, Blossom helps support the Smile Train Foundation, and now REFUGE will join the cause by supporting World Vision. World Vision is an awesome organization that helps refugees (specifically children) all across the globe. We were even given the badge of ‘Proud Supporter’ which is a huge honor.
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell readers who want to learn more about the Refuge: Chapter 1 campaign and your other work?
CO: BentBox is slowly becoming the go-to place for unique and engaging stories and REFUGE is no different. That said, since we are making this as consumer friendly as possible, we need all the backers we can get to make sure this dream comes true! Please support the campaign and then spread the word far and wide! You can check out other BentBox titles on our GlobalComix account or by visiting www.bentboxcomics.com.
