The following is an interview with Jordan Alsaqa (Cooking with Monsters, Nasty) and Randy Stone regarding the release of their sci-fi superhero series, Bullet Adventures, through Altruist Comics. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Alsaqa and Stone about their shared creative process in bringing the story and characters to life on the page, the bonus stories that readers will have in store within the first issue, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of Bullet Adventures! How would you describe the premise behind this modernized superhero tale?
Randy Stone: The series springs from the Silver Age set Bullet one-shot that Jordan and I collaborated on a few years ago. I loved the character, and we found an interesting way to bring him back from what was originally meant to be a one-and-done story. The monthly title dives into some time travel, and our elderly protagonist gets a new lease on life, and fans can experience all-new adventures due to some de-aging of our hero.
BD: What can you tell us about your shared creative process in bringing this larger-than-life story and its characters to life on the page?
Jordan Alsaqa: It’s been a creatively rewarding experience working with Randy and developing stories together. We see eye-to-eye on story ideas more often than not, and when we don’t, we always manage to compromise. Some of the stories Randy has pitched started as ideas I’d never have wanted to pursue on my own, but figuring out an approach I’d be interested in has led to some of my favorite scripts I’ve written in my career so far.
RS: My collaboration with Jordan has been some of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences in comics. It really is a great partnership where we bounce ideas off each other, and there have been countless times where we have elevated things that the other has brought to the table. Let’s be clear, though, Jordan does the heavy lifting with his scripts, and I get to sit back and enjoy the story when the first draft comes in.
BD: In addition to the main storyline, there are two backup stories included with the first issue. What can you tell us about these stories and how they complement one another?
RS: I wanted to round out our main story with other shorts that fall under “Adventures.” This could mean anything from classic capes to swashbucklers or sci-fi. Issue one includes a “Sensational Swan” story with art by Russ Manning Award winner and Image Comics’ Lovesick creator Luana Vecchio. I wrote that with PD Loupee. We’ve also got the first installment of “The Backdoor Pilots” by Dino Caruso, Alex Diotto, Paul Little, and Adam Wollet. The concept is so clever, and the execution is top-notch. It’s such a treat and I’m honoured to run this ongoing backup here. I wanted to give a platform to other emerging creators and spotlight their stories, as well. You’ll see the first published work of some people alongside shorts from more established artists and writers. Ultimately, the book is jam-packed with amazing work, and readers will get more bang for their buck!
BD: What makes Altruist Comics the perfect home for this series, especially given that it is the publisher’s debut title?
RS: I’m in a unique position being a co-creator of the series, as well as the publisher via Altruist Comics. That said, I’m also the book’s biggest fan, so I’ll do anything I can to see this come to life and reach a wider audience. I’ve put out various one-shots before, but an ongoing superhero series on store shelves is a dream come true!
Without having to answer to a larger publisher, we can take Bullet Adventures in surprising directions and push the story to its limits.
JA: I think Bullet Adventures is a perfect showcase for Altruist Comics’ mission to create throwback superhero stories that still embrace modern sensibilities. We’ve done our best to provide a fresh continuity of one-and-done adventures that can remain accessible even as we slowly build out a larger narrative.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
RS: As mentioned earlier, Jordan and I first collaborated on the Bullet one-shot, which I’ve made available for FREE at altruistcomics.com/bulletdownload
I’d love for your readers to give that a download and know that it gets better and better with each issue.
JA: Absolutely check out the one-shot to get a better sense of our hero’s origin! Beyond that, I’d recommend my own YA series, Cooking with Monsters, from IDW, and Raise Hell! on Comixology. They’re fantasy and horror-comedy series, respectively, but they’re not too tonally dissimilar from what we’re going for with Bullet Adventures, with a focus on character, humor, and action.
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell fans who want to learn more about Bullet Adventures and your other work?
RS: Whether fans are burned out on Big Two or just want to try something new, it’s fun to get in on the ground floor of something cool like this. The entire series comes from my love of comics and superhero books in particular. The stories are engaging, and the art, colours, and letters rival the highest quality books out there.
