The following is an interview with Jonathan Hedrick regarding the recent Kickstarter campaign for the horror comic book, Hospice: Tunnel of Love, and his other projects. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Hedrick about the shared creative process of bringing Tunnel of Love to life on the page, his work on series Brackish and Atticus & The Magical Pillow Fort, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the launch of your Kickstarter campaign for Hospice: Tunnel of Love! For those who may be new to the shared comic book universe of Hospice, how would you describe the overall series, and what can you tell us about this latest installment?
Jonathan Hedrick: Thank you! Hospice is an ambitious shared universe horror project that started in 2023 for the first season’s trade, created by a powerhouse team of creators: Travis Gibb, Frank Martin, Jamie Primack, Russell Nohelty, David Byrne, and Michael Watson. Together, they delivered a chilling, interconnected world that pushes the boundaries of horror storytelling, blending their unique voices into a haunting experience unlike anything you’ve seen before. Each story is standalone and has the unique style and flair of their respective creators.
My story, Tunnel of Love, is the second installment of Season Two! Young Dick and Margaret are on their first date at the local Harvest County Fair in 1955. After finally mustering up the courage, Dick asks Margaret to go on the “Tunnel of Love” ride with him. She happily agrees but quickly wishes she hadn’t. What horrors lie on the other side of this dark and evil attraction?!
After everything goes dark on the terrifying ride, Dick wakes up 70 years older with no recollection of the prior decades of his life. He’s surrounded by people claiming to be his family and is trapped inside an assisted living facility called “Rising Suns Hospice.”
BD: How would you describe your shared creative process in working with artist Gabriel Ibarra Núñez to bring this story and characters to life on the page?
JH: I’ve worked with Gabriel (Gabo, for short) for years. Our first collaboration was during a series I wrote called The Recount which was published by Scout Comics in 2020. Gabo has a very realistic style which helps the reader immerse themselves more into the story. I don’t know how he does it! It’s like his hand is a Xerox machine!
BD: Why do you feel that crowdfunding has been such a valuable resource to ensuring the success of today’s comic book creators and publishers?
JH: Crowdfunding is a godsend in this ever-changing climate that the comic book industry finds itself in. It’s not only a great way to raise capital to produce a project, but it’s also a fantastic way to get the audience more involved with the final product. There’s a connection to the readers that I don’t always get with a title that goes straight to the direct market. Also, creators have a lot more control over how their project looks and is delivered.
BD: In light of the crowdfunding campaign, are there any particular backer rewards that you would like to highlight for our readers?
JH: One that I’m really excited about is an 8-page script commission from myself. I feel there’s a lot of people who want to start making comic books, have great ideas, but don’t know quite how to execute the first few steps. And many creators are backing projects from their peers. So, this is a cool reward for someone who’s new to comics, or for somebody who wants to invite another creator to collaborate on an already existing IP.
BD: In addition to your Kickstarter campaign, you have also recently released Brackish #1 and Atticus & The Magical Pillow Fort #1 which are available to readers via GlobalComix. How would you describe their respective premises, and what should readers anticipate next in the series?
JH: Both series are completely different! I like to describe Brackish as a dark romance set deep in the Florida swamps. Think of it as a modern Romeo and Juliet story if you’d like an elevator pitch.
While Atticus & The Magical Pillow Fort is Candy Land meets Alice In Wonderland. It’s an all-ages story about a young boy who builds a pillow fort on a rainy day. But when he crawls inside, he quickly realizes that this is no ordinary pillow fort.
What these stories have in common is that the subsequent issues will dive deeper into both worlds. We’ll learn more about the two families who have been feuding for decades in Brackish.
And Atticus will journey further into a realm of possible impossibilities!
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to share with our readers?
JH: Speaking of GlobalComix, the first two issues of my superhero series called Capable are available to read for free on their app! The premise for Capable is: What if people with disabilities suddenly gained superpowers that were opposite of their handicap? It’s a title that I’m extremely proud of. All 7 issues are on GlobalComix now.
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell readers who want to learn more about the Hospice: Tunnel of Love Kickstarter campaign and your other work?
JH: Visit our Kickstarter page for Hospice: Tunnel of Love now to learn more about the project, read a free preview, see the variant covers, and browse through the rewards to find one you can’t live without! Then, check out my website, JonathanHedrickComics.com, to find out more about my other comics, watch teaser trailers for most of them, and sign up for my free newsletter.
